Do you need a website for your acting business? Is this something you need to spend your time and money on right now? In this post, we’ll look at the benefits of a website, who looks at them, when you’ll need one, and what the heck needs to be on it. Let’s do it!
BENEFITS OF AN ACTOR WEBSITE
There are some great benefits for having your own acting website. The most important of which is that nobody else will be able to create a site using your professional name. For me, this was super important! I purchased the .com, .net, and .org of my professional name to be sure that I can control what is placed there.
If you have the funds to do this, I recommend grabbing your domain name, even if you aren’t creating a site right now. You can have the domain redirect to your profile on Actors Access or IMDB for now.
Next up, your website serves as a directory to all of your stuff on the web. Your casting profiles will have your best work showcased, but it can’t possibly house all of your brilliant performances. A website is a great way to help fans find more of what you do. But be discerning. If you act, sing, make candles, and practice real estate, that can be confusing to someone trying to cast you. Keep your website on-message about what you do as a performing artist.
WHO IS LOOKING AT YOUR ACTOR WEBSITE?
Most often, people surfing your website will be fans who’ve seen your work or people who’ve followed your email signature link (because of course you put it there). Every once in awhile, casting might land there if they’ve googled you. But more likely, they’re looking at your demo reels and IMDB instead. Why? Because they’re busy folks and know that you’ve edited your reels to include the highlights. Why go searching through the riff-raff?
But just because casting directors aren’t the main people looking at it doesn’t mean you should discount this tool altogether. Never underestimate the power of fans and growing your following slowly. Your fans will be the backbone of your entire career. So if you have things to show them, do it!
WHEN DO YOU NEED AN ACTOR WEBSITE?
If you’re acting career is still in its beginning stages, it’s too soon for a website. If you’re still piecing together enough work to make your first killer demo reel for your casting profiles, you don’t need a place to corral all that content.
In fact, a website at this stage would just kinda look a little… “Meh.” It won’t hurt your career, but it just reminds folks that you haven’t done much yet. Spending your time and resources getting your website perfect is time better spent on building your tools to book more jobs.
On the other hand, if you’ve done a ton of work, in “big projects” or even simple sketches for Youtube, a website would be a great place to house all of your amazing content. Show us a media page with embedded videos to binge-watch all your brilliant performances. By doing this, your website becomes a service to your fans! They don’t need to scour the internet to find more of what they already love. You’ve handed it to them in one easy-to-find place. You’re so thoughtful!
WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO GO ON AN ACTOR WEBSITE?
Below are my quick tips on what should go on your website and what to avoid.
- Your name, one great photo, and quick access to your best content right on the home page and “above the fold.” Don’t make people have to work too hard to find the info they need to see your talent.
- Contact information. It doesn’t matter where you put it, as long as it’s easy to find. No phone numbers or addresses, just your email OR your rep’s contact info.
- Resume or links: these are not a requirement. But if you feel like it, you can add links to your IMDB or casting profiles and a downloadable version of your resume.
- Promo photos: if you have fun pictures of you on set or other headshot looks, give them a place on your site. WARNING: too many headshots is not sexy! No more than three of each look when posting headshots. And seriously, even that is too many!
HOW “PROFESSIONAL” DOES MY SITE NEED TO BE?
I promise you, you don’t need anything crazy-fancy. I promise. If all you made was a Google site with your name, contact info, photo, and reel on a white webpage, you’re good. If you want to be fancier than that, head to Wix or Squarespace and use one of their simple templates. You don’t need a lot of bells and whistles and you certainly don’t need a professional web designer. Don’t get tempted by the sweet siren of false signals.
Your website is a service to your fans and anyone who needs more information about you, nothing more. Don’t overthink it. Instead, go create a ton of great work to feature on your site and give your fans more of why they came here.