How much repeat buisness do you do?

<p>Just a sort of informal poll question for the professionals, but I was wondering about how much of your work is for repeat customers/clients versus how much work you do for first time or one time customers, the "walk-ins" if you will? Is it 60/40, 50/50, 80/20? Curious to see where most of your income stems from, repeat or new.</p>

<p>Thanks for sharing</p>

<p>Actually your results are likely to be a bit skewed as different photographers, depending on their focus, may have different experiences ;-))) </p>

<p>Me for example, who does little to no wedding photography, get quite a bit of repeat business (around 60%) because I have specific clients who ARE in the business of demanding photography on a repeat business. I'm not sure how many sessions with the same couple could a wedding photographer have (even counting christenings of resulting children etc) - especially when you consider the time frame between the various events... (of course, I could be wrong ;-)))</p>

<p>Now, referrals, that is a different issue...;-))))</p>

<p>Dear Luc:</p>

<p>I do strictly portrait work and I've been in business for five years. I see my clients anywhere from three times a year (I have a session type that includes three sessions within 12 months, one that includes two sessions within 12 months, and one that includes three sessions over the course of three years) to every other year (the clients who do "one ups" and take a bit of time in between).</p>

<p>As my business has grown, I would guess that almost 60% of the clients I will see this year are returning clients. Some of those clients (namely the ones who started with me when their children were babies and more specifically, the ones with only children) have come to me every year for the last five years straight. It's much easier to work with a returning client (you both know what to expect of one another) and you spend much less time and money acquiring and serving these folks. My November is unofficially booked with the people who I expect to call later in the summer and I have official bookings into October 2011 with some "regulars" who have already told me that they plan to see me around the child's birthday next year.</p>

<p>Another 30% or so is referral business, which is also great because those new clients are "pre-qualified" and already have some understanding of me from the friend who refers them.</p>

<p>Probably 10% of my clients this year are "new" clients who either found me on the web or via some other source. These are the "gamble" clients and take the most effort to work with simply because they're new.</p>

<p>There are always clients who come to you once then never return again. People move. People's financial situation change. Sometimes you and the client are just not a great fit. And then there are clients who will stay with you for life. They think you walk on water. You can do no wrong. Most clients fall somewhere in the middle. As far as I believe, the trick is not to try to continue to bring new clients into the fold, but to keep the ones you've got to keep coming back. The acquisition cost of a new client is much higher than a returning one and the ability to create long-lasting relationships is where it's at. To paraphrase Seth Godin (and I'm going to do a poor job of paraphrasing, but here's the idea): don't concentrate on finding new clients, concentrate on finding new solutions for the clients you already have.</p>

<p>Good luck and have fun! :)<br>

<br />Karen Lippowiths </p>

<p> </p>

<p>anyway good luck for you </p>

<p>Luc:<br /><br />Editorial stock photography. Roughly 90% repeat business. Clients are mainly big national US book publishers. I don't deal with the public at all. <br /><br />Other photographic work I do is 100% repeat.</p>

<p>Thanks for the responses everyone. I'm planning on moving into the "buisness" aspect of photography soon and I was just curious what to expect. So starting out its going to be a matter of first, finding potential clients, and then doing what I can to keep those coming back to me.</p>

<p>Follow up question. Is there a concerted effort to advertise or go out and find those few "new" clients once you've built a solid base? Or do you just roll with the customers you know you have and let any potential new customers "come find you" on their own?</p>

<p>This guy bought a textbook from us in 1958; then when he retired he gave the old book back to us in 2004. Then in 2006 an middle/older age guy was depressed because his same book was lost. I gave him the 1958 book and he gave us 10 bucks. Recycling at it finest</p>

<p>I would say 75% of our work is referrals. Being in the wedding photo business we don't like to hear about repeat customers. ;)</p>