Category Archives: best

EVERY STRIP CLUB NEEDS A BOUNCER.

Your strip club (see this post, if you’re confused) is now flourishing!  Those techniques you mastered after Marketing School have filled the club nightly, and Crystal’s g-string is stuffed full of singles at least four times a night.  But…there’s a problem.    You serve Chimay, your clients want Bud Light.  The club offers lap dances starting at $95, and some clients want to pay $15.

You, my friend, need a bouncer.


In the online world, prices are often your bouncer.

Listing your session fee, base package price, and/or basic wedding collection price can be effective in wedding out your less-than-ideal clients.  (Listing no price leaves too much room for assumptions about how ‘cheap’ or ‘expensive’ you are!)

Text can be your bouncer, too.

Using adjectives to describe your work as ‘classic’ will deter those who are looking for modern images.  ‘Upscale’ or ‘elegant’ can trigger the dollar-signs that keep clients with a Craigslist budget from looking any further into your work.  ‘Alternative,’ or ‘rock’n'roll’ text can attract the indy crowd, while clothing guidelines touting the wonders of smocking on children’s clothing will please the traditional consumer.

Let your images do some bouncing, too. Show only what you want to sell, one hundred percent of the time.

If you don’t want to sell a single image of a couple looking at the camera, don’t post one.  If you’ll puke before shooting a couple on the beach at sunset, avoid showing those images to anyone.  Ever.  Teach your clients how to dress though the images you place in your portfolio, and help them choose locations and portrait scenarios the same way.

Oh, and take a tip from Crystal: call security when a client sets off alarm bells.

If an evil client happens to slip past the bouncers, deal with ‘em efficiently and break ties if at all possible.  That pain-in-the-ass client only gets worse when you ignore him, give her bad customer service, or try to appease her with freebies.  End the relationship as soon as humanly possible.

If you have any other tried-and-true bouncer methods, I’d love to hear ‘em!

karen gunton - March 9, 2010 - 6:09 pm

i have an alarm bells client. how does one ‘call security’? i have no idea how to politely but firmly get rid of a high maintenance client. anyone have ideas to share?

EVEN STRIP CLUBS GO OUT OF BUSINESS.

I got back fab black & white scans of an abandoned strip joint, shot on a roll of 120 film shot with my Diana camera.  Since I’m not about to throw ‘topless go-go’ pics on my babies and kids blog, I had to find a way to share ‘em here.  Thus, this post.

If you provide hot girls and cold beer at reasonable prices, you’ve got a time-honored business model working in your favor.  Strip clubs should be profit MACHINES.  But  just because you have the prettiest, thinnest, hottest, _____est dancers doesn’t mean people will find you.

You’re nodding your head.  You’re like, ‘duh, Kristen, of COURSE people won’t find out about Crystal Delicious and her miraculous pole-dancing on their own!’

So why do you assume people will find out about your artwork on their own?

You’re talented, you have great photos, you have a website.  And no one cares.  You’re dancing for an empty auditorium.

How do we go about filling that auditorium?

Generate buzz.

If you owned a strip club, I would hope you would attempt to generate buzz locally.  Postcards, posters, and business cards shuffling from hand to hand help generate buzz.  That giant dude standing on the corner, passing out pink 4×6″ signs with Crystal Delicious on ‘em?  That dude is filling your auditorium.  As an artist, strive to have marketing materials circulating among customers, potential customers, and other businesses AT ALL TIMES.

Differentiate.

That giant dude also knows the power of differentiation.  You’re selling your club, yes, but you’re also pushing Crystal Delicious pretty hard.  No other club has Crystal!  Stand in awe of her upside-down-kerfuffle-lutz moves!  What would a giant dude wearing brass knuckles be pushing on the street corner if those postcards were about your business?  What will make you stand out like Crystal does?  (Need a dose of differentiation?  Try Marketing School.)

Reward your loyal fans.

George has sent twelve guys to your club in the past month.  Oh, and he’s urging his buddy to book his bachelor party with Crystal.  George needs to be rewarded for his loyalty!  The same goes for the bride who urges two other brides to book, or the Mom who hands out your business cards to her entire preschool!  Get those women some freebies, some special pricing, or a bottle of wine — never forget to reward the people who spread the word about your business to others.

Optimize your web assets. (Heh, I said assets.)

After hitting the local scene, I would hope you’d be a touch tech-savvy and optimize your strip club for search engine placement.  This is a slower build, and people might not find out about Crystal’s pole-dancing right away, but over time and with the right resources you’ll have clients making a trip to your joint as a destination!  SEO School has the tips you need to optimize your web assets for search engines.  Promise.

Outsource.

Finally, while you’re waiting for your strip club to hit it big, I would outsource wherever possible.  This doesn’t appear to make much sense, because your inclination is to do everything yourself.  But spending four hours cleaning the entire club means you wasted four hours that could have been spent on marketing.  Do you make more money by having clean toilets and no customers, or by having a small cleaning staff and a club packed with people?

Any other strip joint/photography buzz-generating tips for us?  Share ‘em!  And let me know what you think of today’s post, pretty please?

Amy Nieto - March 7, 2010 - 3:53 am

I am officially changing the name of my biz to Crystal Delicious… specializing in newborns and maternity!

Kelly Tarleton - March 5, 2010 - 1:22 pm

Am loving this post! I fall into the category of wondering why I don’t have clients and the answer is that I haven’t asked for them. A silly epiphany, but a lesson all the same. And you illustrated it perfectly with your analogy – a great application of your photos!

Christine - March 3, 2010 - 12:05 pm

Sometimes, the owner of the business might be better off spending four hours cleaning the club and outsourcing the marketing. It is all about knowing your strengths & weaknesses!

Brilliant post – and fabulous photos too! Thanks for sharing them!

amanda - March 2, 2010 - 2:24 pm

loved it. loved the pics. now i just need you to come personally kick my arse so i’ll get off it and get those marketing materials into the hands of potential clients!

erika - March 2, 2010 - 11:23 am

I love that you came up with a whole marketing post surrounding strip joints just so you could post those pictures =)

The business side of this can all really be overwhelming, especially when getting started so it’s a good point to make that you can outsource even when you’re starting out to help get things moving.
Great images won’t get themselves noticed. Something to think about for sure!

Crystal Delicious is also an amazing stripper name.

Chase - March 2, 2010 - 10:50 am

Great post.

Another point to remind people is to not forget what got them there. Customer service? Attention to detail? What made you, you? That is a key part of your success and some people when they get big/more income forget the keys that opened those doors for them.

Justin Kownacki - March 2, 2010 - 10:45 am

When a foolproof biz model like a strip club goes belly-up <> it forces even legit biz owners to re-examine what they’re NOT doing to keep their own businesses afloat.

I found similarly non-PC wisdom in a recent LA Times article about the best heroin business model ever unleashed. A good example of a bad idea is still a good lesson, if you can see it as such.

That LA Times article:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-blacktar14-2010feb14,0,4784251,full.story

Jeanette LeBlanc - March 2, 2010 - 10:45 am

Brilliant Kristin, just brilliant. Not that you’re saying something that hasn’t been said before, but the way you married solid info, relate-able analogy (who can’t relate to pole dancing – come on!) and humor. Brilliant – you’ve got my brain buzzing this morning, and not for cold beer and hot girls :)

J.

Samantha - March 2, 2010 - 10:17 am

Thank you for keeping me thinking about the business side of this business!

Chris - March 2, 2010 - 10:13 am

I’ve been following your blog for a few months now and I have to say, this is one of the funniest posts and honestly one I want to share with others. Great job! And thank you for all the great tips along the way. I’m just starting out and they have have definitely given me lots to think about.

EFFECTIVE WEB DESIGN WITHOUT FLASH

It was the day Apple announced the iPad.  First, I laughed at the name.  And then I realized that if Apple keeps refusing to work with Adobe Flash, it has to go.  This means yet another website build, yet another chunk of change being yielded to a team of pros, and yet another iteration of my brand.

Of course, you can argue that Flash is still relevant, but HTML is simpler. I’m all about simpler.  So I set about creating a framework to display my images that could convey my brand without overwhelming the work.  The questions I asked myself, that I challenge you to ask about your website…

Is the website easy to navigate? Are all the buttons easily located?

The buttons on the new website are visible at all times, remain stationary through page changes, and have boring names.  Those boring button names like ‘FAQ’ and ‘Info’ and ‘Contact’ mean that website visitors will know what each one does.  ‘Blow it up!’ and ‘411′ and ‘Buzz me!’ are cute, but not necessarily effective.

Does the website look the same on every computer?

The website will never look exactly the same for every viewer, but the elimination of image and website scaling (common in Flash templates) makes uniform user experience a distinct possibility.

Is all the website text relevant?

No fluff, just enough of your features and benefits being highlighted to distinguish your brand from others.  Potential clients know just enough to know if they want to know more.  (Need brushing up on features and benefits?  Marketing School is for you.)

Who needs a splash page?

I know the major industry web template providers have splash pages, but I don’t get the point.  Stuffing keywords on an HTML page because the rest of the Flash website is invisible to Google just isn’t a sound SEO strategy.

Have you hired a professional?

This is the most expensive website I’ve ever purchased, but it looks the least flashy.  Fabulous coding with search engine optimization hints provided by Naomi Dunford’s SEO School are hidden from view while my images take center stage.

Want your own HTML website?

Take a look at the super-sleep Kimtown HTML sites, or consider modifying your Wordpress blog to be a blog-site using the Prophoto 3 theme. Save $10 with code BNDCMP717 — if it doesn’t work immediately, just email customer support at Prophoto.;)

What about the website?

Oh yah. View the new, super-simple site for Essential Imagery.

Amy Nieto - March 7, 2010 - 3:50 am

Love the new website! Currently, re-redesigning my website and am very glad with the job I am doing :)

Kelly Tarleton - February 26, 2010 - 11:16 am

Love the simplicity of your new site! I’m currently redesigning an .html site and this came at just the right time to serve as the validation I needed for not taking the Flash route.

erika - February 25, 2010 - 9:53 pm

I’m so glad there are other people joining the anti-flash campaign! I’ve hated Flash since the mid- 90s when it was introduced. Everything about it is just a pain in the butt and hasn’t gotten any better.

That said, yay for the new site!!! I hated how the old one hijacked my entire monitor with the enormous slideshow =)

Mark Andrew Higgins - February 25, 2010 - 8:08 pm

Hi Kristen! Thanks for the goodies for Inspire Boston! I love my website, but hate FLASH. I talked with BigFolio and they are hoping to preview a html 5 based template at WPPI. As soon as it’s available bye bye FLASH!!!

stone - February 25, 2010 - 2:25 pm

I freaking hate (I know my mom said not to use that strong word … but I do) my (shall remain nameless) flash website. It’s SO slow and SO clumsy. I love my html blog. Plus smartphone view-ability is key.

Becky - February 25, 2010 - 2:22 pm

I was about to use Autoviewer to create a portfolio for my website when ProPhoto3 was rolled out. I purchased that instead and have been really happy with the gallery feature that allows me to keep my portfolio, information, and blog all on one site. Yea for Pro Photo! :)

Jon - February 25, 2010 - 1:55 pm

I totally agree with you. I think Flash is a product that’s “flashy”, but most of the time it ends up becoming cumbersome and a major bandwidth hog. With the introduction of javascript frameworks such as jQuery and MooTools, I don’t think there is anything you can accomplish in Flash that you can’t with these frameworks (i.e. galleries, menus). Best part, they are lightweight and very easy to learn and implement. Heck, I use them on my sites and have had no issues.

Ok that’s my $0.02. Great article as always!

johnwaire | photo - February 25, 2010 - 1:45 pm

me likey the new super-simple site :) schweet!

MARKETING WEEK: MINIMIZE YOUR INVESTMENT.

I got some questions about how to get displays to work for you.  One photographer said she feels like ponying up $800 for a display and getting zero return is just not working. I know of a lovely local who ponied up over $10,000 for fancy marketing brochures.  She keeps them in the basement of her storefront because they were too expensive to give out to just anyone

How do you minimize your marketing investment while maximizing your impact?

Make good use of graphic design.

Grab a marketing brochure template from Design Aglow or Sarah Q, then customize it a touch to include your branding elements.  Switching out a background and a font will go a long way toward helping your brand stand out without hurting your potential client’s eyes or insulting their design sensibilities.

Simplify your message.

If you’ve mastered Marketing School, use your brochure to outline your unique selling proposition and your company’s features and benefits. That’s it.  No pricing menu — too overwhelming.  No specials or time-sensitive promos — you’ll have to throw away brochures, for sure.

Find a vendor to produce reliable, cost-effective results.

Sure, 25 5×5″ metallic postcards from WHCC are stunning — but at over $1 each, they don’t provide enough information about the business for the cost.  I recently got 1,000 8-page brochures printed on recycled paper stock from Got Print for less than $500.  The same brochures from other vendors are twice as much, while old-school catalogs from BellaGraphica are about $4 each.

When it comes to displays, rely on collages to sell your work.

A single 20×30″ canvas featuring your favorite four to six images and logo will go a long way toward selling your work.  Buying 6 20×30″ canvases for a space is going to put you back $600-$800, a costly solution when you plan to change the images out every four to six months.

If canvas isn’t your thing, feature a large(ish) framed print.

Not a custom-framed print.  Just a 16×20″ print in a frame that costs less than $50.  Hit up a thrift store for an antique frame or spray paint one from your basement.  Troll the aisles of Target until the perfect frame pops into your cart.  Get creative without breaking the bank.

Potential clients passing by your work won’t be looking at the frame, they’ll be looking at the image.  Save the custom framed samples and corners for your studio or your in-home sales sessions.

Becky - January 30, 2010 - 1:43 pm

I love the collage idea for displaying in businesses, and Design Aglow just came out with a template for large canvas collages that’s only $35 which would definitely save time on creating layouts. Another option I’ve been considering is Standout Prints. While I don’t offer them as a product, they are a less expensive option for a modern looking setting.

Michelle Posey - January 29, 2010 - 4:31 pm

Yes! I discovered the thrift-store frame secret while preparing for a bridal fair recently. The frames looked awesome and not a one cost more than $25 (some with mats, too!). They weren’t looking at the frames, but I think having photos in a nice looking frame sends a subliminal message that this photo is worth more than something just mounted on foam board and plopped on an easel.

[...] came across this great blog – BRAND CAMP BLOG – and they had a nice entry about how to promote your portrait business in a cost effective manner. As I read, my eyes zoomed right in on the headline “When it comes to displays, rely on [...]

MARKETING WEEK: THE SECRET

Not The Secret, as in the book that sold millions of copies.  The secret to marketing your photography business locally.

Get out there and meet business owners with access to your target market.

Last week, I asked a lovely business owner to meet with me about marketing and cross-promoting one another’s businesses.  Turns out she had already picked a marketing meeting time and place with another local business owner, so she just invited me along.  Two hours and $12 worth of lattes later, I walked away with not one, not two, but THREE new displays for my photography.

I suggested putting displays in the dressing rooms of the boutique Liz owns, but she says no one would pay attention to those — why not put an album in her lounge area where those waiting for their friends to change often sit?

Brilliant!

I mentioned my pet promotion to raise money for Haiti, and Amanda piped up that she also owns a BMW dealership, and would I like to photograph her dog in a BMW or two?  How about a display in her other business, a gift boutique?

Brilliant x 2!

While we were talking, Liz recommended the salon across the street, and said the hairdresser is both amazing AND she’s a new Mom.  Guess where I made my appointment for this Saturday?  And guess where I’m aiming to get my next business display?

You guessed it.  The salon.

Think outside of the traditional display locations — children’s boutiques, wedding gown shops, etc — and make contact with business owners who have access to your target market.  Your next clients need to know about your business to buy anything from you – and it makes no difference if they find out about your work while buying pet food, pashminas, or posh cars.

Tips for finding the right businesses to partner with:

Brick and mortar store owners are more motivated than those with no overhead to cover.

The person who teaches yoga 2x a week at the YMCA to make an extra $50 is not as effective a business partner as the woman who has to cover $2,500 per month in rent and additional thousands to meet employee payroll.

Think locally.  Target locally.

I’m targeting businesses on the same block as my portrait loft — and then I’ll spread to a few blocks, and finally the whole zip code.  Legitimacy is established for your brand each time a consumer comes into contact with it — and if that’s three times while they’re walking the dog through the neighborhood, you’re going to be legitimate rather quickly in their brain.

Ask business owners what works best for their clients.

I had an idea for each business I was meeting with, but the business owners’ ideas for their respective stores were much better than my plans.  Listen to the people who know the business best.

Be willing to tell the truth. Expect the same in return.

Finding people who are willing to tell you whether business is up or down, whether they’re having trouble finding new clients or whether they love the local business association will do you a lot of good.  Honesty and good karma go a long way in business partnerships.

Walk away from those people who aren’t right for your business.

You have to be willing to throw up your hands and say it just isn’t going to work.  Whether a business owner is disrespecting your time, talking down to you, lying, or generally acting shady, walk when your guts tell you to.

Most importantly, make sure you outline the benefits of working with your business.

Agree to buy gift certificates for each referral a business gives, straight up pay cash as a finder’s fee, or provide free/reduced-cost services to the business owner in exchange for display privileges. Make sure the business owner can see the clear benefits of promoting your business.

Do a bit of work in the public relations department for the other business, too!  Hold an event that features the other business, blog about the business and its unique assets, or send an e-mail newsletter dedicated to touting the other business’ merchandise. Make it work!

Related Posts with Thumbnails
Camilla Photography - February 12, 2010 - 4:51 pm

Great reminder! Thanks!

Jocelyn - January 28, 2010 - 2:23 pm

My questions exactly (in reference to Nicole’s comment)! Great post… thanks for the ideas!

Nicole - January 28, 2010 - 2:02 pm

So, you are paying for and providing the stores with a display at your cost and they are repaying you with access to their clients and wall space? What incentive does the store owner have to work with you besides receiving art for their walls that may or may not be visually appealing with their existing decor? Just curious about your thoughts on displays and working with other businesses because I’ve had varying degrees of success with this.

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