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Marketing Ideas for Photographers

Marketng your photography studo does not have to be expensve. 've used
hundreds of low cost marketng strateges over the last twenty fve years
and managed to buld my photography studo to the pont where am one
the busest and most successful studos n my cty. Here's a few tps for you:

1. Create a photo dsplay. A photography dsplay can be as smple as

dsplayng a few small portrats at a store and offerng some free
nformaton about your studo or more elaborate set ups wth framed wall
samples. You can even create large temporary dsplays n malls or at events
such as trade shows. The mportant thng s how t looks. You wll attract a
lot of attenton wth some great mages, especally from woman, who
happen to be your target market. Dsplays wll help you create a lot of
busness f you play your cards rght. Have a great selecton of mages, be
presentable yet never pushy, have a system for collectng names and
address's from those wantng more nformaton by smply askng or
offerng a draw prze, and keep n touch wth all those prospects. t's the
begnnng of a potental long term and lucratve relatonshp.

2. Have a free gveaway. Offer a tme lmted n studo sesson and small
reprnt. Tell them there s no oblgaton for further purchase, and mean t.
You wll make some sales anyways and you wll acqure many long term
clents f you do a good job for them. Some wll only grab the freebe, but
the odds are very good that you wll upsell wthout beng sneaky or pushy.
Especally f you are professonal and create some great mages. Do ths at
mall dsplays, banks, schools or offer t to a lst of clents from a noncompettve busness n your town or cty. Freebes are the best way to get
your studo busy, start makng sales and most of all for gettng tons of
exposure.

3. Reward referrals. Make a polcy to reward anyone who brngs you

referrals. When a clent brngs n a propectve clent, gve them a gft of
apprecaton, such as a coupon worth reprnts dollars at your studo,
frames, or to a local spa or restaurant. As an added ncentve, gve a small
gft to the new clent as well.

4. Create a te-n wth another busness. Contact a local busness and offer
to exchange coupons. For example, your clent receves coupons from a
local restaurant, har salon, spa, or wherever your typcal prospect would
shop. A great place to start s wth clents of yours who already own ther
own busnesses.

5. Make your recepton or watng room "prospect and sales frendly".

Whenever you create a famly portrat or are shootng a weddng there are
often people watng n your recepton area. Offer them snacks or
somethng to drnk. Make sure your place looks great and smells nce. Make
t comfortable. Use ths tme to ncrease your upcomng sales presentaton
by explanng some of the tems such as wall portrats and other packages
and servces. Answer objectons that you know wll be comng up later
durng the sale presentaton wth a consultve approach and people wll not
only trust you more but wll lkely make the sale easer for you and even buy
more. Ths s also a great tme to collect names. These people are somehow
assocated wth you and at ths pont make excellent prospects.

6. Make copes of news artcles about yourself and your studo. Hang them
on the walls or pass them out. Past publcty s better than any advertsng
or promotonal lterature you can create. Gve copes of postve artcles to
everyone who comes n for nformaton.

7. Rase money for charty. Not only do you help a good cause, you get
plenty of free, postve publcty and exposure. Hold a contest, offer some

photography classes, gve out free booklets- that you can easly wrte
yourself and prnt for pennes by havng them photocoped- thnk up your
own exctng charty event.

8. Submt press releases to the local newspapers about a noteworthy event

at your studo or a human nterest story. Dd you wn a photography
contest? s there and artcle on photography that relates to local stes n
your area or has to do wth the seasons? Make your release nterestng to
the readers, never self-servng and you wll get press coverage.

9. Gve a free photography semnar or presentaton at your studo. nvte

members of the publc and clents famly members to be a part. A semnar
gves them the chance to see your studo and your work. Offer somethng
tmely to do wth how to create great photographs wth dgtal cameras or
offer a slde show from some of your more exotc travels. You could create
an exhbton hghlghtng your work. Don't forget to nvte the local
newspaper.

10. Leave your busness cards everywhere. Whenever you are at a

restaurant, leave a nce tp and your card. Drop a stack off at the local
jewellry store. Make sure card s loaded wth your best samples and prnt
on both sdes to maxmze the space for your sales message.