Calling all togs, anyone have any good advice on marketing a photography business. I have a small studio which does really well in family portraiture but would like to grow the business and expand into model portfolios etc. I have grown my business mainly through word of mouth using friends, family, facebook & spreading the word when and where I can. But have any off you tried methods that work?  

Update anyone..thinking of advertising but would like to know if anyone has any ideas or tried something that has worked? 

Hi mate.  I used to advertise both my photography and my glazing business in Yellow Pages. This seemed to work for me but others found it to be slow.  The problem now is there is way too much competition, much more than there was ten years ago.  I found that classified ads in local papers never worked well for me, I got some responses but nothing I would call explosive.  Word of mouth is the best marketing but again is slow to start.  So I haven't really suggested anything of use to you just what I found worked for me.

I have grown my family side on just that 'word of mouth' but really want to get the model side moving. I have a very reliable and good MUA on board. I am thinking of moving premises to a bigger place but only when money allows. I have listed in Yellow pages & similar directories - online business listings etc. Have done a flyer campaign via hairdressers, beauticians and local colleges / uni's in their beauty departments etc which has generated a little business! My website gets a good number of hits every day but it doesn't turn into customers on the model side anyway! (Thats a point anyone have any good tips for improving SEO in my site without paying).....cheers everyone!  

Me again.  Not sure what SEO means but I assume you want to get your website at the top of search engines.   Well I'll start by saying you don't need to pay anyone who tells you they can get your site in the top ten.  I take it you understand about META tags in the source code, these are the words that a search engine will source in order to find your site, also if you have a Google account you can get their robots to enter your website domain.  You get found when your site has been around for a considerable time.  I've had my website up now for about 6 years and in my area I'm listed in the top half of the Google search engine.  It's taken time but now I'm coming out of Yellow Pages after they decided to trim my advert by 20% and charge me another £50 above last years fee.

Meta Tags...its all getting techno now! I have tried using keywords on my site and have noticed my site is getting visits from other sources in the past few weeks. SEO - 'search engine optimiser' and agree wont pay a penny! You mention google account which I have and robots - can you explain this more? Still wanting anybody else's input on marketing and promotion - come on NP where  are you? 

Quoting post from picsunique
Meta Tags...its all getting techno now! I have tried using keywords on my site and have noticed my site is getting visits from other sources in the past few weeks. SEO - 'search engine optimiser' and agree wont pay a penny! You mention google account which I have and robots - can you explain this more? Still wanting anybody else's input on marketing and promotion - come on NP where  are you? 

Try....." YOU BUY ONE YOU GET ONE FREE, I SAID, YOU BUY ONE YOU GET ONE FREE"! Innocent but not naive..

RedDove , Model  posted on 22/04/2010 11:30:02   Posted 493 times

Located:Chippenham,Wiltshire, UK
Member Since: 27/07/2009

The Dove from above strikes again 

Offer double  nectar points

Innocent but not naive..

RedDove , Model  posted on 22/04/2010 11:57:19   Posted 493 times

Located:Chippenham,Wiltshire, UK
Member Since: 27/07/2009

I even accept Tesco clubcard!

Quoting post from picsunique
I even accept Tesco clubcard!

Oh how common! Waitrose or M&S or I starve !

Innocent but not naive..

RedDove , Model  posted on 22/04/2010 12:06:31   Posted 493 times

Located:Chippenham,Wiltshire, UK
Member Since: 27/07/2009

Im proper Northern me lol...anyway what was this forum about again?

Quoting post from picsunique
Im proper Northern me lol...anyway what was this forum about again?

 
Northern!!!! the co-op ! ahhgggg! ....how about Argos! 
Forgive me I'm sorry its about marketing lol.

Someone help this poor chap he needs genuine advice and all I've done is reduce his serious desperate cry for help to the silliness that is RED DOVE. Innocent but not naive..

RedDove , Model  posted on 22/04/2010 12:51:53   Posted 493 times

Located:Chippenham,Wiltshire, UK
Member Since: 27/07/2009

Well done on what you are doing i am slowly getting there myself but one of the things that "SEO" guys do not understand is that the website is just 10-20% of your marketing. The best form is "word of mouth" you just have to change the direction of the WOM to to your new style. I know it sounds easy but it is as difficult as hell! may be employing a small sales staff commission only for a short period would help!

 

Glenn


There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer. by Ansel Adams

DesignandImageStudio , Studio  posted on 22/04/2010 13:02:41   Posted 40 times

Located:Arundel,West Sussex, UK
Member Since: 14/02/2010

Hey Glen, thank you, it is a brave choice to make, but this is the direction I want to follow full time ideally! Word of mouth as got me where I am today but I find this is not so easy this time around! 

Quoting post from picsunique
Calling all togs, anyone have any good advice on marketing a photography business. I have a small studio which does really well in family portraiture but would like to grow the business and expand into model portfolios etc. I have grown my business mainly through word of mouth using friends, family, facebook & spreading the word when and where I can. But have any off you tried methods that work?  

Serious.... I do private gallery showings at various venues. I offer my work for sale whereas you are offering a service but, I see no reason why you couldn't utilise a studio in a prime position and exhibit that which you are marketing? Its true my market is different to yours but marketing is targeted at the end user you want to pull in for your particular services.
We all have something to sell be we models/photographers/artists.
 
I have found that confidence in ones product is vital so don't be tentative and always be bold. Innocent but not naive..

RedDove , Model  posted on 22/04/2010 13:23:00   Posted 493 times

Located:Chippenham,Wiltshire, UK
Member Since: 27/07/2009

Dont know if this would be any help to you.. my primary business is web design, i dont know how much control you have over your website, but i use Web CEO http://www.webceo.com/ , its a free product, you can pay for extra's but ive never needed to myself, after going through the initial setup, it will check your site and make relevent suggestions on what to change... and then when you think you might have it right.. you can submit all necessary pages to a multitude of search engines (over 270).

Also you should be aware that SEO rules change like the wind.. there is no real fixed or hard rule to it, unless you want to pay the search engines.

another way to do it, is to use firefox, install a couple of its SEO plugins, then check out your competitions websites, and see how they are doing it... (for keywords, metatags, descriptions, and who is listing to them.

Hey CM, thank you for the info...small problem is the software wont run on Mac unless i use boot camp which is a pain! The software does look good though! 

Any of the weekenders on NP have any advice? 

If you want to attract fashion photographers - Firstly, lot of studios don't have the right set up for fashion, so depends on size and what kit you've got. By that I mean underpowered lights with a slow refresh, a box size room, few light modifiers and no polyboards etc. Similarly, you'd be surprised at how few places have somewhere for make up and changing.

Otherwise word of mouth is good for local hobbyists/semi pros for example - build up a good Facebook, Twitter network etc. Pitch local photography clubs and college courses. Offer 'model days', group shoots and lighting workshops for people that want to learn. Be able to supply (suitable) models, MUA and styling if needed for those that are new. Hook up with local modelling agencies so they send lots to you to test. And, of course, you have to be well priced to make it worthwhile as there's little money in fashion unless you're up there.

Just some thoughts.