Marketing
Ranking on Photographers.com.au
Whilst it’s not quite a complicated as Google’s famous ranking algorithm, we have gone to some effort over time to try to push the best results to the top for potential customers who are searching for a professional photographer. Behind each profile on the site is a score. This score, combined with three other things (location, subscription status & responsiveness… we’ll talk about those later) dictates how high up the search results you’ll be on any given search. This is obviously really important – if you’re a wedding photographer in Adelaide, for example, you want to make sure that your name is in the top few results, or at least on the first page. The biggest factor in this score is your profile completeness. Searchers (potential customers), don’t want to see profiles devoid of images, information and a just a few lines in the description. They want to see a… | Read the full article
Presenting Your Portfolio for Review
Portfolio reviews may be used as a showcase to prospective clients, and as appraisals that offer photographers an invaluable mechanism to receive feedback on their work. They can also form a critical step for photographers who are looking to monetise their work through art or digital enterprises. One of the first steps a photographer needs to acknowledge however, is whether they are ready to showcase their work for evaluation – be it by peers, partners or clients. After all, it is in our nature to create a lasting impression from our first encounters, so you want to be sure your work is a representation of your true abilities. At the same time, you also need to be prepared to discuss your work and create a strong bond with the other person. It goes without saying that you should put in the necessary preparation. But what exactly does this… | Read the full article
Why are my Photography Leads not Converting into Clients?
Despite our best efforts, sometimes we’re left scratching our heads pondering why our leads didn’t convert into clients. While this isn’t an issue restricted to the photography industry, the sheer volume of competition out there exacerbates this problem, particularly for new photographers who are yet to fill their books with clients. With this in mind, we consider three of the common reasons that photography leads don’t convert into clients. Too Many Options Ever been in a situation where you’re presented with so many options, you have difficulty making a decision? You haven’t? Well, perhaps surprisingly then, it’s worth knowing that too many options can confuse or overwhelm prospective clients. Contrary to what you might think, trying to cater for too many possibilities can be detrimental. This is most evident when clients are relying on you for your expert judgement. Consider simplifying your core offerings and pricing structure based on… | Read the full article
4 Tips to Help You Grow Your Photography Business
It’s not always easy for photographers to maintain the momentum behind the growth of their business. On the one hand, while focusing on the technical aspect of one’s career is an obvious necessity, the same emphasis isn’t always paid to the underlying business. Here are four ways to help you grow your photography business. Manage Your Time Carefully It might seem like the right thing to do by taking on as many clients as you can, but there is another side of the story to consider. When you fill your schedule with shoot after shoot, particularly those that might not align with your particular vision, you are diverting your attention away from your core clients. As such, you may not able to reach as many of them as possible. Time which you would otherwise spend shooting a non-core client, could instead be used to tighten up or improve… | Read the full article
Taking Risks with Your Photography
There’s a mantra held by some that in life taking risks results in great rewards. There’s certainly many examples out there to consider, without even including those risks defined as detrimental to one’s health and safety which are NEVER worth attempting. The subtle nuance lies with calculated risks – risks which have been carefully assessed to establish the likely outcome. Rather than taking death-defying risks to land the perfect shot, calculated risks are what can help photographers improve their business. Allow Yourself to Feel Anxious or Uncomfortable When it comes to complacency, we can sometimes be our own worst enemy. As we’ve detailed previously, a feeling of self-doubt or anxiety allows a photographer to analyse their own work in a new light. This feeling also encapsulates insecurity, which prompts us to ask ourselves – what is our rationale for a particular shoot or project? What does it actually mean… | Read the full article
Submitting Your Wedding Photos for Publishing
One of the difficulties that wedding photographers face is the challenge of having their work published online or in a magazine publication. With so many photographers vying for the limited space available, it’s easy to see how vital this coverage can be. Not only will it showcase your creativity and talent, but it will serve as some of the most effective marketing available – because it is directly targeted to your core audience. Noting these benefits, we offer these tips to wedding photographers looking to have their work published. While we anticipate they will improve your chances, at the end of the day the detail and quality of your photos, as well as the story your work is able to convey, will both be defining factors. Make sure all Parties are on the Same Page One of the first things you want to get right is to ensure that… | Read the full article
Alternative Ways to Attract New Photography Clients
As one might expect, with the benefits associated in having a diverse base of clientele, photographers are often competing to attract new clients. While we are accustom to personal websites and online advertising being the norm within the industry, there are still other ways to attract new leads and convert them into clients. What’s more, none of these particular methods rely upon a ‘hard sell’, yet can be just as effective. Networking The photography industry is by no means restricted to operating independently. In fact, networking and collaboration is just one vital way that a photographer can grow their book of clients. For instance, wedding photographers could build rapport with makeup artists, who might then be able to advocate for you with another of their own clients. Similarly, fashion photographers might be well poised to maintain close ties with the designers and/or models they work with, particularly considering… | Read the full article
Building Rapport With Your Clients For a Photoshoot
Regardless of the industry one works in, building rapport with your clients is one of the most important considerations. Not only do you increase the effectiveness of your output, but you also increase the prospects of repeat work from said clients. In turn, you’re also positioning yourself well to generate work from new clients, as word of mouth is one of the most effective forms of marketing for any business. How then can one build rapport with their clients? We discuss a few of the considerations that photographers should be mindful of. Pay Attention While the opportunity won’t always be available, any instances you do have to meet your client informally for a quick chat will do wonders to let them know that you’re accessible. This opportunity is also valuable to ask questions and understand the specific requirements of each client. After all, because every project is different, you… | Read the full article
How Can Photographers Boost Their Productivity
Despite technology becoming increasingly sophisticated, it seems that we’re never quite content with the extent of our own productivity. We’re always on the lookout for a way to simplify our procedures or realise efficiencies that boost our productivity. When it comes to photography, things are no different – with a few measures that photographers can adopt, one can transform their output to have a more profound impact on their business. Never underestimate the importance of planning Create a series of schedules that cater for the short-term ‘here and now’, as well as longer term plans. For instance, have a checklist that covers the daily tasks that you need to complete, while also setting about weekly or monthly goals (perhaps such things as the number of new leads, or an increased engagement in social media). For many, visual checklists or lists are easier to manage. Short term planning should allocate… | Read the full article
Do Photographers Still Need Their Own Website?
In one of our recent blogs, we looked into the popular online advertising options available for professional photographers. While certain options like the Yellow Pages have been around for a long time, and others like Oneflare are still emerging, the predominant trend has seen Photographers opting to use Facebook (and Instagram), often in place of a dedicated website. While the rise of social media has been notable in recent years, with everyone just about owning an account, do photographers still need their own dedicated website? In answering this question, we need to consider that despite the growing importance of social media for businesses, its use will always be angled towards an informal approach. While there are enthusiasts and followers who are likely to find it easier to browse your photography work via social media, they’re not necessarily the clients who will lock you in for a shoot without any… | Read the full article
