How much of your business comes from ads on sites like theknot.com vs google ad words vs craigslist?

<p>So I'm sure that after you have been in the biz for years upon years, much of your business is brought to you by word of mouth. But for someone moving to a new region, I'm wondering how important it is to advertise on sites like theknot.com. They require a year commitment up front and it's $185/month for my region, so for a start up business like myself, that is not a small investment. I'm finding myself going, ok, what's next? 5D MKII or a 1 year subscription on the knot. Since I've purchased an L lens for my canon T1i, I was originally thinking the 5DMKII was my next investment, but now I'm thinking, if I don't have clients coming in, there will be no income to pay for the 5DMKII. Also, how many of these sites do you advertise on? It seems like there are about 9 zillion of them out there. Or do you find doing things like google adwords works well for you? For those of you who aren't pricing yourself at higher than $2500, do you still post yourself on craigslist? Any suggestions you might have on this front would be much appreciated. Thanks so much!</p>

<p>-Vail</p>

<p>I've found advertising on facebook to be very beneficial and it allows me to target my ad specifically based on age range, geographic location, income level, etc.</p>

<p>Create a free Google Business listing on Google Maps that will get you some hits. Other than than networking business groups and Chambers of Commerce may help some as well.<br>

I don't think 185/month is a good investment - network and get your name out there. There are some free photography sites that feed you leads such as Eventective.com, check that out.</p>

<p><em>"I'm finding myself going, ok, what's next? 5D MKII or a 1 year subscription on the knot...."</em><br>

<em></em> <br>

IMO,......neither. If you want to have a successful studio you need to look at your business plan and calculate an objective ROI (return on investment) for all expense outlays. While you may like the "L" lens, how much additional income will it generate over your other lenses, over the next six months, year, etc...? While you might like the 5DMKII, how much extra money will it generate over and above your current studio income? Searching through some of the marketing threads here at P-net you can come across some great info, unfortunately it's also full of well-intentioned misinformation. You can find several resources for free advertising and outlets that generate WOM. Consider getting: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Marketing-4th-Inexpensive-Strategies/dp/0618785914">http://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Marketing-4th-Inexpensive-Strategies/dp/0618785914</a> Do not underestimate the power of peer networks. If you've got the capital, you might also consider investing in your studio via: <a href="http://www.marathonpress.com/">http://www.marathonpress.com/</a></p>

We still don't have a website. We are jammed up and most of our gigs are from referrals. Join a referral group or create your own. They work.

<p>I would say stay away from TK at all costs. They do not limit the amount of people that advertise with them. Depending on how many people are advertising in your region, you could be a needle in a haystack. </p>

<p>I have an account with the wedding pros forum with weddingwire.com and have gotten two inquiries within a week a signing up - AND it was free. You can always upgrade to target ad placement, but for now, I'm happy just going the free route. That's where I got the information about TK advertising. Many, many, many unhappy people with TK advertising. I also agree with pp - that is a LOT of money and a year long commitment! Holy crapola!</p>

<p>I forget Vail, do you blog? My blog brings a LOT of new inquiries too. I mainly post current work, even if it's a great outdoor/weather shot inbetween all of my client shots. Does that make sense? </p>

<p>Pretty much what Bob B. says. Referrals account for 90% of our bookings. The rest come from people who do a lot of research on the web (reading reviews etc., such as WeddingWire.com), and in my case, the WPJA.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Referral groups = peer networks (allied vendors and fellow photographers).</p>

<p>David, I don't doubt that's what works after you've been in the biz for a while, but what do you think newbies should do? (Other than apprentice for years). </p>

<p>Hi Vail<br>

I loose a lot to kids on craigslist who will turn and burn a disc for a couple hundred bucks. I can't and won't compete with that.<br>

If you want to be found, spend you advertising dollars wisely. If you try to compete with those pay for sites, you'll have to put up some money and in the end it will be a price shopping bride who probably doesn't care about the pretty photos. Really can you compete with an established business that has a website, studio that advertises there. Maybe it's just me but I don't see the value here, maybe I'm missing out on a lot of business, just me.<br>

If you want a couple of bucks to buy really cool gear go with the craigs list and do 10 weddings and run.If you want to build a business, establish yourself, do you live in a populated area? My suggestion is to build your base have enough equiptment to do the job today. Let the local people know where you are, I'll probably get beatten with an IPhone but run a small ad in your local yellow pages, old school phone book. I have my name,phone and website and still get calls. Show the customer that your established and no going to take their money and run.<br>

Hard work, as David Schilling stated other vendors who are in "The Business" many companies offer free business cards to get your business, get some nothing fancy, no cute hard to remember names. Name, phone, photograher or wedding photographer and hand them out to limo drivers, wedding stores, dj's. This is one of those secrects by some of the most successful wedding photographers. Many times at a wedding in conversation referrals come up. I was asked by a future bride "if I knew of a dj?" I gave her a business card from a dj that I met twice. He got the job called to thank me and since then he's given me four referrals. The word of mouth thing, if one of your friends recomends something to you it means a lot more than someone wanting a commission on the web.<br>

There are lots of other marketing tips that you can use to promote yourself. Brides need dresses, where do they go in your area. Speak with the store owner, come in and do a free shoot of there dresses at fitting, give them some free prints to display their dresses and your work, leave lots of business cards. But any professional on this form will tell you there is no shortcut for the hard work that goes into to establishing your name, no shortcuts, no magic F5 keyboard and there is no subsitute for working with professional. I learned more in one year of carrying bags back in the day than I could on a blog.<br>

Sorry for the rant, back to your question I won't use Craigs list and won't spend the money on The knot. I'm just an old guy who would rather do a few wedding a year, make some money, make referrals from happy brides than to work 40 hours for $300.<br>

Good luck in your adventure.</p>

<p><em>"David, I don't doubt that's what works after you've been in the biz for a while, but what do you think newbies should do? (Other than apprentice for years)." -Vail</em><br>

<em> </em><br>

This can work for newbies as well as those that have been in the biz for awhile:</p>

<p>You can find several resources for free advertising and outlets that generate WOM. Consider getting: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0618785914/nmphotonet-20" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Marketing-4th-Inexpensive-Strategies/dp/0618785914</a> Do not underestimate the power of peer networks. If you've got the capital, you might also consider investing in your studio via: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.marathonpress.com/" target="_blank">http://www.marathonpress.com/</a> .............have you explored these?</p>

<p>On second thought...............please disregard my comments altogether, I offered some solid marketing ideas initially which apparently were not appreciated, the reference to apprenticeship was most likely from an earlier thread and the were likely less appreciated.</p>