I'm doing it right so far

A few days ago, I posted wondering whether I'm starting my business properly or not. After meeting with my

accountant today, I'm confident that I'm on the right track -- legally, financially, logistically,

organizationally, etc. I'm going to finish getting my business license and hope to launch my business and

website at the same time in about 4-8 weeks (depending on processing times).

 

My question is: how do I get people to visit said site?

 

There are a zillion plus wedding photographers in the Los Angeles area, and when I went to a "Plan your LA

Wedding" site, I was daunted by the plethora of photographer's adverts on there. Does anyone have any advice

regarding how to get site traffic going? I was considering a sponsored Google link to start, but is there

something more? Any LA-based people have thoughts?

 

If there is anything else I should be doing marketing-wise, please let me know. FYI, I have read most of the old

threads here on the topic... so I know about trying to showcase in local bridal shops, give business cards to

everybody and their brother, the pros & cons of bridal fairs, the relative futility of print ads, etc.

Everything I've read leads me to believe that internet, word-of-mouth, and possibly referrals from other

photographers are where it's at now. How do I go about getting those referrals? Is there anything new I should

be thinking about?

How about advertising for free on craigslist? I see alot of photographers here in NYC advertising there, and I am not talking about the low end, there are some high end too on there

"... so I know about trying to showcase in local bridal shops, give business cards to everybody and their brother, the

pros & cons of bridal fairs, the relative futility of print ads, etc. Everything I've read leads me to believe that internet,

word-of-mouth, and possibly referrals from other photographers are where it's at now."-J

 

Good, so you know about it but have you started doing it? It's mostly about making real relationships with vendors

and potential referral resources which means more than just an email or cold-call visit to their shops. I'll bet that

there's a pro-photographer organization that would help you network with other shooters....(have you looked/joined?)

Have you joined WPPI or PPA? Have you made any personal contact with any established pros that visit this forum?

 

Which books have you bought (and read} recently on marketing and/or running a small business?

BTW, I just visited your profile page. My first suggestion for your professional development is to remove the penis photos!

David

Your right! Thank you for speaking up. And about the images that you suggested to remove - right again... Unfortunately to be inaugurated as a professional becomes nothing more than getting some professional advice and moving with it... a few trial and error weddings and their off.

 

Professionals are just that... filled with knowledge, professionalism in every aspect of your life, your equipment, and experience as an apprentice. People aren't getting that!

Use of good work is the most lacking thing in what is seen on most websites. If you advertise with any lisitng service and are not near the top, forget it. If you advertise at the top of a site that does not come close to the top of a google search, for the criteria you want to be found under, forget it.

 

Getting higher rankings on google etc. are one of the best ways. Second to that is to be close to the top of the listing sites that google finds for your area and shows at the top of that search method.

 

Hope that makes sense. Other than that, you can network and hope for referrals or shoot for someone who you know is getting married and hope to get referred that way. The trouble is, do you have the skill to do it and the experience and equipment to get it right under pressure?

 

BTW, I second the gallery adjustment fyi

Ask your webmaster to be sure that you are configured so that you show up on search engines. I haven't done that yet and I don't show up on a Google search (on the list of things to do).

Also, get listed on wedding sites like the Knot. It costs, but probably money well spent. Brides tell me they use those kind of wedding sites.

Another thing might be to cross-link with providers of other services (florists, venues, etc). You link to them and they link to you.

I have gotten some

suggestions on books, and I do plan to get them; however, I would be curious to follow up on some of your

specific marketing book suggestions... if you're willing to give them out again. I have looked into PPA and plan

to join as an aspiring professional. I have some other expenses I need to handle first, but that one is

definitely on my to-do list.

 

David W., what you have said makes complete sense and confirms what I thought. As Richard has suggested, I will

follow up with my webmaster to make sure that I show up on search engines, and I plan to get a sponsored Google

link so that I show up at the top of searches for wedding photographers in LA.

 

I have also hidden the penis photos from view.

 

On a more general note, I completely agree with what David S. and Rosina are saying about genuine relationships

and professionalism. This week, I had another photographer approach me on the street (because I was taking

pictures) and ask me to save his butt this weekend because he booked a wedding and then booked a trip for the

same date. Then, he told me one thing about rates & photo rights, and his partner told me another. Then, his

partner told me he'd get back to me and never did. I can't imagine a more UN-professional way to manage one's

business or forge a potential business relationship.

 

Having worked in the arts industry in the past (administratively), I have learned a lot about professionalism and

the difference it can make. I make every effort and will continue to make every effort to conduct myself and my

fledgling business professionally at all times. Otherwise, I just don't see how ANY potential client could have

confidence in me.

 

Thank you all very much.

Judith.

Judith, It looks as though you pulled the folder with the images of Mr. Johnson however you still have two portraits on your profile page....you might want to pull them off to. I like your self portrait, might be a good idea to add that to your profile page while you finish getting rid of Mr. Johnson. Good luck.

Willy has now left the building..........

``Willy has now left the building..........``

 

Hmm: A very good move, I think.

 

WW

While I don't think that a side project about Mr. Willy necessarily makes one less professional, the incriminating photos are, indeed, gone now. Thanks to everyone for all of their help and suggestions.

There was no argument in my mind regarding the professionalism, or not, of the photographer and that being reflected (or not) by the `Mr Willy` project.

 

The question(s) are however about marketing and starting a new business.

 

Perception is reality in the minds of many Prospective Clients: that is a marketing reality.

 

Such is inexorably linked to one`s web page here: that is the point, (I think) which was being made.

 

WW

Some day I will be as well spoken as William! :)

Thanks

 

Aside: The period of time when I went to (high) school is now defined by two elements which are now, in mostly all schools, relegated to the annals of `The History of Education`:

 

1. Corporal Punishment

 

2. Technical Grammar

 

I forget which was more painful, but learning Grammar has been far more useful.

 

:)

 

WW

Judith, aside from being frugile about the websites you decide to pay to advertise on (like brides.com, the Knot, etc.)

where you'll be one of a thousand, don't make the mistake of joining too many professional organizations right away.

 

 

PPA is always a good choice!! But things like the BBB, local chambers of commerce, etc. typically don't offer a lot

of financial return in the form of new client referrals. Chamber memberships do help top get your name out there, and

those along with a BBB membership will lend your business credibility, which may help certain clients to decide to

book you, but you will probably not get a lot of new business referrals from these organizations. Not in Los Angeles.

(We target LA, Orange, San Diego and Riverside counties, so I'm familiar with the business climate here).

 

You're better off initially fortifying your website so that it looks great and operates efficiently under all browsers (IE,

Firefox, Safari, etc) AND ranks well in Google and Yahoo searches using keywords. In this day and age, your

website will be the most effective tool you can have to reach new clients.

 

And eventually, after being in business for 2-3 yeas, referrals will (or should) be about 90% of your business.

 

BTW, my studio did not find Google adwords to be effective at all. We were paying a couple hundred dollars a month

for cold clicks for nearly a year when we realized we hadn't had a single booking from it. We immediately cancelled

and saw no decline in the amount of web inquiries we typically receive.

I looked into one of the wedding sites and found that they didn't have basic statistics like how many times individual photographer pages are hit even though this would be relatively easy to do.

 

This was one of the big names.

 

I also noted that their premium package represented a dramatic increase in cost without an equally dramatic increase in exposure.

 

Modern Bride fairs seem to dominate the better venues in San Francisco, and they probably do in LA as well. Not cheap at $1200 for a booth, but possibly worth it.