How to Take Your Game Audio Website From "Suck" to "Success"
No matter the occasion - be it a first date or a job interview - we all know the power of a first impression. We fuss over our outfits, spend hours in front of the mirror, and then freak out anyway. It's a nerve-wracking social dance, but we keep doing it because, let's face it, first impressions matter.
Well, the same goes for your game audio portfolio and website. Your website is often the first thing a potential client looks at when assessing you for a job, and you better believe they're judging you. In this article, we'll discuss the common mistakes that make your website a fashion faux pas and how to fix them so you can charm your clients!
A client's reaction to your awful website.
It's All About -Me-
The biggest mistake most game audio freelancers make on their website is making it all about themselves. Do you know what that means? It means blabbing about their service, their passion, their background, and even their life story. (I'm sorry to break it to you, but no one cares that you started playing the oboe at 5 and "have been passionate about music ever since")
"Me me me" website vibes
Here's what your clients do care about: themselves People come to your website because they have a problem, and they want to know if you can help them solve it. So, if you want to win their hearts (and wallets), you have to make them the focus of your website.
Position yourself as someone who understands their problem and has the expertise and authority to solve it, and you will be on your way to game audio greatness.
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Too Much Text
Next up is the all-too-common sin of website text overload.
Here's the thing - your potential clients are busy people with short attention spans and scrolling thumbs. They don't want to wade through long diatribes of useless text to figure out if you can help them with their project, especially if you're just one of 100 freelancers who applied for an open position.
So, what's the solution?
You have to clarify your message.
Yes, we do.
Just like the classic elevator pitch, you have to imagine you have 10-15 seconds max to grab your client's attention and give them enough reason to stay and look around.
You need to get to the point quickly!
Split your core messages into bite-sized chunks and, as a matter of thumb, the longer a text needs to be, the further down the page it should be located (if it isn't on another page completely).
This same concept goes for your reel. If it takes more than 10-15 seconds for something truly interesting to happen in your reel, those potential clients are probably already on to the next one.
Game over.
Your Website Looks Like Crap
We've all seen them at some point or another. Websites that have mismatched colors, horrible formatting, or pictures of the freelancer that look like middle school class photos gone wrong.
Say "goodbye potential client!"
I get it, building a website can be tough. Unfortunately for us in the audio industry, people judge with their eyes first. If your website looks like crap, people may assume that you are... well you get the idea.
You don't need to be a design genius to create a great-looking website but you do need to pay attention to the basics - colors, fonts, images, and overall layout.
If you feel your talent in this area is lacking, consider a skill exchange with a designer or even hiring someone to do this for you. The bottom line is this - if your website is as visually appealing as a bowl of cold oatmeal your clients may not stick around long enough to find out how great you actually are!
Takeaway
If you've been wondering why your website doesn't seem to be attracting any clients, these three issues might be the culprits.
"A bad website is like a grumpy salesperson."
Jacob Nielsen
Remember, your website is your first impression to potential clients, so make sure it counts! Keep it concise, customer-centric, and visually appealing, and you'll be sure to catch the eye of even the most discerning game developer. Do you want feedback on your website? Or do you have any examples of fantastic websites you want to share with the community? Leave the links in a comment below and I'll check them out!
I created The Game Audio Pro with the goal of helping others understand the fundamental business skills that are often the difference between success and failure for freelancers.
If you're ready to take your game audio career to the next level, download my guide to The Most Important Mindset for Game Audio Success.