I recently relocated to a new state which required that I revisit the marketing tactics I have used in the past.  When I originally started my photography business I had a budget of zero for promotion. I needed new clients, so I turned to social media and online marketing, which quickly created buzz.

Here are my top 5 tips for creating buzz for your photography business.

1) “Own your zip code.”

This was the famous quote of the ultra-talented wedding photographer Mike Colon from a video he uploaded. I ran into Mike at WPPI and thanked him personally for his valuable advice. At the time I was complaining about a lack of new business. I had wanted to fully transition into just wedding photography and wasn’t having the success I wanted. When I heard that, I realized that people in my local area did not know who I was or what I did.

Worst of all, I did not know the local wedding industry.

As a wedding photographer you must learn who’s who in your local wedding industry. Who are the florists? Who are the planners? Who are the stationery artists? Who books the venues?  How do you expect people to hire or refer you if they don’t know you exist?

2) Hit the pavement.

I remember whining at that time, sitting at home and badmouthing the economy for my lack of an income.

I vowed to change that. I looked up some wedding networking events—there are quite a few, including the ABC, ISES, and NACE.  These are all national associations that offer monthly meetings.

I had the crappiest business card ever but I went anyway. I could not go to as many meetings as I wanted – many cost $35-$50, plus gas, etc.  The events I went to helped tremendously. Many of the same folks attend the same events so my face and name became familiar, which helped in the next strategy.

3) Promote others online and they won’t ignore you.

I began following florists, planners and venues on Twitter as I added online networking to my strategy. This way, even though I was not at the events, I was getting my name out there and people remembered me.

When I launched my SEO program and was looking for sponsors, it became easier for me to get support because I had supported others so they now believed in what I was doing. I took the time to care, to observe, and to connect people, and it certainly has paid off.

If you want to get into wedding venues, visit the established ones and feature them online. This way, you don’t sound like a cold caller when you email them asking to go out for coffee. Emailing for a coffee date is a common suggestion taught in the photo industry. If I was a busy planner getting an email from an unknown photographer, I would probably not go. There are too many newbie photographers who have such a thirst for work that they become a bit selfish. For them, it’s all about me, me, and me.

So, featuring a venue or other local business will not only help you with SEO but will also promote others. If you feature a venue or a business on your blog and you post on their Facebook or Twitter account, they are bound to notice that, to thank you, and to even repost you. You will stand out from the crowd, which in turn will help create buzz about your business.

4) Show the story behind the scenes.

Why are reality shows so popular now? Because as human beings we are curious about other people’s lives. You don’t need to put your whole life out there for others to see but you can share the excitement of what you are doing.

People love to see snippets of your life and business, and that can be done in a professional and fun way. How much you need to share will depend on what kind of brand you have. Some brands are more traditional while others are more funky and fun. Be sure to respect the core and essence of what you stand for as this will lead you to know what and how much you can share online.

Some examples include posting photos of you with your clients, decor, design, remodeling, and of course, food. I have found that the topics I get most engagement with are Food and Technology. I love using Instagram, and now, Vine video.

5) Get published.

Getting published is a great way to create a buzz.   Although in reality I may have done only a handful of weddings, it appeared through my online presence that I was much more experienced, which in turn, made me believe more in myself. It gave me a huge boost, lent me authority online, and also strengthened my identity as a connector.

How to get featured in blogs is a whole other post but my number one recommendation is to just submit your work! If they say no, that’s fine; don’t take it personally, don’t get down, move on and try again.

Before submitting your work, though, do your homework. Study the blogs to which you want to submit and find the name of the editor (or website owner) so you have someone to which to send your article.

Getting featured online via a blog or a press release is amazing for SEO. The more sites that link back to you, the more “votes” you will get in the search engines, which will increase your site’s ranking. And the more other sites verify and confirm that you are who you are, the more likely Google and other search engines will help you get found online.

Creating an online buzz for your business does take work and some time but one thing’s for sure;  it is definitely what’s needed by businesses nowadays. It’s what you need to get your photography business rolling!

Feuza Reis is a Myrtle Beach Wedding Photographer, Blogger and founder of the Get Found with Fuse SEO for photographers Bootcamp.

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Sales. No other word seems to evoke such a deer-in-the-headlights look from photographers. Sales skills are a must, however, for any studio owner . . . and they’re what separate successful studios from the rest.

Here are a few tips to help those with a phobia of the “s-word” enjoy the process and get great averages:

• Sell in-person.Whether you work in a home-based studio, a retail space, or on-location only, choose to sell in-person. I believe many photographers post images for online ordering because it is easy and doesn’t take any time. It also doesn’t typically yield very positive results. Whether you take an iPad and samples to a client’s home or you use a projector and a screen, do whatever you can to hold face-to-face sales sessions (we call them viewing appointments) with your clients.
• Show a limited number of images. I prefer to show only a limited number of images to my clients. I aim to present only 30-40 in a viewing session. This ensures that I am only showing my very best work, which helps prevent my clients from feeling overwhelmed.
• Send files out for processing before the viewing appointment. I don’t like to show my clients completely raw files, but I don’t want to spend my valuable time editing images that may not be ordered. Outsourcing this part of my workflow means I can show clients images that have been edited without spending hours in front of the computer first.
• Price your work profitably, and have confidence in your pricing. It all boils down to this: If you don’t believe in the value of your work, how can you expect your clients to? I want to encourage those of you who negotiate with your clients to stop. They would never do that to the good folks at the GAP . . . why do you allow them to do that to you? When a client begins to even tiptoe around negotiating on my prices, I simply say, “In fairness to all of my clients, I really do have to stick with what you see on the product menu.”
• Keep your clients’ best interest in mind at all times. Even if your client is SOLD on that 30×40 canvas for above her couch, if you know that a 24×36 would really fit best in that space, tell her so! This will build a great level of trust. Later, when that client thinks an 11×14 will be just fine for over the accent table, and you know a 16×20 would really be better, she’ll believe you.
• Offer suggestions and solutions. As you move through your sales sessions, be sure that you lead the way with products and options that would be great for your client. Don’t sit by and simply take your client’s order. She hired you as an expert. Be that for her and show her options that will truly be great for her home.
• Remove the fear factor.We let our clients know from the very beginning that everything will be perfect for them or we’ll make it right. If my client is going to make a large investment in custom artwork, she needs to be reassured that this money will be well spent. I encourage you to guarantee your work and to make sure your clients know that you promise they’ll love their images!

Emily Potts is a portrait photographer based in Bartlesville, OK who specializes in photographing newborns, families and high-school seniors. She is also the creator and writer for PROtographers, a site for professional photographers who are serious about their business.

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“Post has great customer service and the fastest turn around times in the industry! Thank you Jerry and crew

- Miranda Mirsec of Blossom Blue Photography

Check out more praise for Post from professional photographers.

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