Had an e-mail from a lovely photographer this week, and promised a public response.
So I bought the audio from a very well publicized call-in teleconference last week. And, don’t get me wrong, a lot of it is excellent and I consider my money was well spent.
But the deal is that a lot of these photographers have been around for 30 years and they are talking about marketing. They have an advantage over a newer photographer in that people in their town have undoubtedly heard of them. And some of them are in a small town without a ton of competition.
Would have liked to hear more people who have started a business in the last couple of years in a busy market. Marketing for an unknown person is different from marketing for someone who has been around forever. Plus, with the economy, it’s a whole new game.
My humble food for thought, for those who haven’t been in business for 10+ years? (Note: I actually do these things. And I’m working on the patience thing.)
1.) Start a referral program.
Get off the computer and make friends. Real-life, in-person friends. Service-based regional businesses like portrait photography are based largely on word-of-mouth. You can advertise with Google AdWords for 6 years before getting your perfect client, or you can ask your previous perfect client to refer people to you and offer a sweet reward for doing so.
One client referring three clients = four clients, who refer three clients = seven clients! You’re building a base!
2.) Make friends with a business owner.
Many of my clients come from, of all places, a display in an award-winning bakery. Not a children’s boutique or a children’s spa — the natural businesses to align with mine — so think outside the box. If you frequent a business and enjoy both the products it offers and the owner, why not ask if you can display with them? Offer free artwork for their business, and use their services as often as possible. Exchange links on your websites, and build one another up.
3.) Throw a pity party.
Allow yourself a brief pity party that goes something like, “I HATE IT AND WANT TO QUIT AND IT’S STUPID AND I DON’T WANT TO RETURN THAT CLIENT’S CALL OR BALANCE THE BOOKS OR UPDATE MY WEBSITE OR EDIT ONE MORE MOTHER ‘EFFIN PHOTO IN LIGHTROOM!!! THIS!! IS!! HARD!!”
Truth be told, I do this once every three weeks. Allow yourself to feel what you’re feeling. Acknowledge that this business thing isn’t easy, then move on. You can do this.
i definitely feel the get off the computer and go make friends part! doing it all for your business often means your in front of your computer much of the time (except when shooting 
BUT the great thing to remember is before you got in deep with your business, who encouraged you to make it a go? where did your support come from? have you lost touch with that support system, those friends who encouraged you? i am realizing i have! they're still there, we still talk, they're still encouraging but some face time would be nice! thank you again!
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