The photography industry is competitive. While a photography business needs to have an excellent product offering, it must also market effectively. The following is a list of marketing ideas which a new photographer who recently started his business should consider.
1. Display your work at local businesses. This is a win/win for both the business as well as the photographer. The business gets a facelift with new fine are images for its walls. The photographer gets increased exposure.
2. Give away free sessions at charitable auctions. By doing this, not only does the photographer increase his reputation among the community, he also gains contacts with a number of people who have the disposable income and inclination to purchase photography products. Also, the photographer will feel good about contributing to a good cause.
3. Offer summer holiday specials. A photographer is generally not busy during the summer months. Most photographers are swamped during the holiday season. To even out the workflow, a photographer can offer family portrait sessions for holiday cards in the summer months. Not only does this help the photographer manage his work flow, it also helps his clients by removing one additional task from their holiday to do list.
4. Use Facebook as a marketing tool. Tag your clients with one of their best images. This will allow all of their friends to see your work. Make sure your contact information is on the image.
5. Create a compelling web page. The page doesn’t have to be the best in the world – only the best when compared to the top ten on relevant search engine searches for your area. Those businesses are your competition.
If your website is better than those other 10 pages and your website is on the first page of search results, well qualified clients will find you.
6. Send out a regular email newsletter out to your previous clients. Doing this will keep you in the forefront of their minds. When they need a photographer you will have a good chance of being called.
These tips have proven successful for many photography businesses. While new photographers should adapt to his unique circumstances, he should incorporate, wherever possible, the tried and true.
Vanessa and Steve are Laguna Beach Wedding Photographers who teach classes to a number of other Orange County Photographers.
