BLOGGING FOR BUSINESS

I have hereby declared it marketing week on the Brand Camp blog, and we will have DAILY posts this Monday through Friday. How’s that for getting you off your tush and into a marketing push for your business?

First, reader questions. These bad boys seem like blogging questions, but they’re really marketing questions that get to the heart of how you’d like to be perceived as a business blogger.

Jon noticed that one of the top mistakes famous photographers make was ‘no blog.’ Jon realized he didn’t have a blog. He has corrected the situation. But he has questions. His queries are shown in italics, and my answers are below each one.

1. How many pictures from a particular shoot should I display?

This is totally up to you.  Totally.  I like to leave some element of surprise for a portrait ordering appointment, so I don’t show 20 images at a time.  If, however, your client has already ordered, show off!  Some wedding bloggers show off 45 images at a time, while others blow me away with 2 or 3 carefully curated selections.  (See Kuperberg, Anna.)

The number of images to show is simply a reflection of whether you’re teasing clients with previews or showing off for the wider world of the internets.

2. Are the pictures too big?

Honey, that’s like asking if your penis is too big : “Of course not!”  Images can almost never be too big for blog display.  (Unless they suck.  But yours don’t.)

3. I of course do not have a lot of traffic to the site, since I am still creating it, but regarding comments, should I have them set to ‘not display’ if there aren’t any comments?

I err on the side of displaying comments, if only so that first comment leads to an additional 3 or 4.  Also, thank commenters with an e-mail, a Facebook message, or a tweet — some little something to let them know you appreciate the effort – and you’ll get more comments in no time.

Oh, and be sure to comment BACK if there’s a further question asked in the comments section.

Part of marketing your business is paying careful attention to your readers, making friends, and being accessible when they need you!

4. How many posts should I have on the page?

My only comment here is to avoid any blog design that involves having to click on a post to ‘read more.’  People are lazy and won’t click.  When they don’t click, they don’t read.  When they don’t read, they don’t comment, and you don’t get to make friends.

And then you’ll have flashbacks to being the lonely kid at the Kindergarten table singing to yourself while everyone else has snack time and chatters together.  Make yourself accessible.

5. Should I add a watermark to my images?

Um, hell yes.  Personally, I don’t care if you steal my cheesy Brand Camp graphics, so they’re not watermarked, but any images I put up on my blog are watermarked with my website address.

Why the website address?  Because if and when that image is stolen, those viewing it can still visit my website — or the thief will have to go through the extra trouble of cropping it out before posting. 

Also, on a purely photographic note, be sure to make sure your images are their very best by sharpening for web before posting anything to your blog.  (See Totally Rad Actions‘ A Better Web Sharpen.  It’ll change your life.)

6. Should I only post pictures related to the business?

Please don’t post snaps of you doing keg stands on the weekend, but be personal.  Show me your latest home improvement project, your obsession with Photojojo, your latest artsy work, or your new pet.

The more personal you are in your blog, the more connected your readers will feel with you.

Thanks for reading, peeps!  Please feel free to leave any of your photo biz/marketing related questions in the comments, and I’ll pick my favorites to answer later in the week!