It isn’t always about the most talented photographer that wins the day. It is the best marketer of the product, and when you are an artist usually marketing is something that does not come naturally. Art is vastly different than sales.
Often photographers seem to look for the least expensive solution when it comes to marketing there masterpieces, instead implementing the solutions that will have the most return. If you get in the habit of asking how much before you find out what the return will be, you have already made a bad decision for your business.
Spending money on your business is a GOOD THING!
If you spend money on better albums to show your work, it will pay off. It is surprising that some photographers try to bargain budget their printing needs and at the same time want to charge top dollar for their services. Immediately by implementing a bargain printing plan you have already reduced the value of your product.
Now is every online art printing service the same, yes and no. For basic prints and high resolution downloads yes, after that the comparison is nonexistent. We have pursued a lot of new ideas for our new printing system and because of all the testing we have done through the years we have found this to deliver the best product. My partner when we first start in 1998 said we can have the best system in the world – though if our photographers do not know how to use it the best ways to make money it does not matter at the end of the day. That is why our testing is ongoing, so we can make the modifications to the photography software to make sure we are fulfilling our operations and teaching our customers new ways to sell.
New photographers or photographers that have been in business for years, ask yourself this. What do I have that the new photographer does not? In other words use your connections, keep track of competitors and the ever changing market, don’t fall behind, read the tech news, get into chat rooms for new and advanced software. In other words, stay informed. You don’t always have to keep the latest gadgets on hand, but you should know about them and be able to answer questions for customers new and old. Don’t let your current or potential customers have to fish somewhere else for their answers.
The internet has blessed photographers – by making the norm to post sessions and shoots on blogs, newsletters, Instagram and facebook, it has provided photographers an open stage to present their talents to the world for a minimal budget. By taking advantage of this type of “Self-Marketing” Social Media you save between $1,800-$2,400 on other marketing such as Google Ad words or Pay Per Click Marketing. Now take that savings and apply it to your fully functional photography business, able to track customers and orders, make edits, sell prints and even show off the work all on your own site without the middle man.
Successful photographers are spending the money, taking the time and getting a handle on their sales and marketing. Obtaining the knowledge to be in control of your own success is as easy as implementing the right tools. Not taking short cuts and not bowing to the lowest bidder. This is art after all and its value is only as high as you set the ceiling to. Lowering standards on the process after the shoot is the same as discounting the art itself. Your chance of making it significantly increases with a plan in mind. Be better at what you do.