Does an actor need their own website? This is a question that comes up now with the rise of social media. There’s no denying the fact that social media is the next wave taking over the world of news, shopping and entertainment. Sites such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube not only have tremendous outreach, but can make celebrities overnight. Justin Beiber is a perfect example of this. He was discovered as a kid on YouTube and quickly launched to fame with the right marketing. So participating in these sites is essential in terms of getting your brand the right exposure.

What about a website? How does one go about doing that? How important is it? Does just having an agent or manager suffice when it comes to marketing? These are questions that need to be looked at. Just having representation is no longer enough. We need to create a clear and concise marketing idea of who we are and what we are selling. This not only applies to our headshots and videos, but to our website as well.

Time is money in Hollywood and the people that are in position to hire you want to get as much information they can get in just a click of a button. This not only helps them see who you are but get a better idea of your talent. There can be a gallery of headshots to show the range of characters as well as having a demo and video clips of work.

Sometimes actors don’t take the time to play up the business side of Hollywood. We have to utilize all the tools at our disposal to highlight our talent. It’s the right balance of creativity and business.

A creative and informative website will show you off in your highest light. Hollywood is essentially about packaging and marketing. To do this we have to first have an idea of the way we want to be seen. This includes the layout, colors, and content. It’s important to collaborate with a great web designer that ‘gets your vibe.’ Working together the process can be fun and very rewarding.

No longer can we just rely on our representation to do that work for us. We have to get out in front of the marketing and how we fit into the pieces of the Hollywood puzzle.

Using social media as well as having your own website is a great way to promote yourself in a highly competitive business. We can’t afford to miss the valuable opportunity that we have in a rapidly changing entertainment environment. Staying up with the latest technology is an essential step to do that.