Many photographers get marketing ideas from photography forums, notable photographer's seminars and by looking at what other photographers are doing. I call this incestuous marketing, but you could also call it the "me too" approach to marketing.
If the only people you get marketing ideas from are other photographers, then sooner or later the marketing "gene pool" will become so "inbred" that every photographer's offers and promotions will look the same. Photographers will all be advertising on the same websites, and only on those websites & they will all be using the same approaches to finding new clients.
Well guess what, I believe we may already be there. How many times have your read on a forum "advertising in yellow pages does not work"
Or "wedding fairs are a waste of time"
A couple of years ago a photographer friend told me "the only successful way to market for portraits is direct mail".
I agree there are successful & unsuccessful ways to market any product or service, & certain strategies will always work better than others, but as you do with your photography, when it comes to marketing your business you need to think outside the box. You will never be able to think outside the box when you spend all your time staring into it.
The next time you come across a great promotion for a product, either in print, on the radio or on the net, you should be thinking "what makes this promotion great," and more importantly "what can I take from this promotion and incorporate in my own marketing".
This article was written by Paul Spiers. Paul is one for the few people to offer marketing advice and ideas for professional photographers. Visit www.photographymarketing.co.uk to join his free newsletter.
Find a Deal
Related Sites and Feeds
