Use It or Lose It
Mary Kondo but for your business…
Use It or Lose It
USE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA SMARTER
The internet gurus say you need to be everywhere. If you’re anything like me, a father with 3 kids and a full time job; being EVERYWHERE consistently is hard. Facebook, Instagram, TicTok, Twitter, Snapchat, Tumblr, Youtube, Pinterest…. did I list them all?
Can you see my point before I make it? If you have the time and you can post quality posts, more power to you. If you don’t, choose wisely. I know I can consistently post to Tiktok and Instagram which copies my post to Facebook. I pick one day and make my content in bulk and post it during the week. Apps that are under your business name must have business content dealing with your business or what potential clients want to see. Anything else can turn your next potential client away. You’re posting memes and they want a serious headshot to boost their business. They don’t have faith in you. NEXT! I am also guilty of this. My Twitter no longer serves my business soooo… byebye! Here are the receipts.
bye bye twitter
Are You Social?
Are You Social?
I have a recommendation. Get social. You never know where your next client will be. If your photography or graphic design is on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, Twitter, and LinkedIn you have a better chance of being seen. This might not be news but videos are being prioritized so I would post behind the scenes or a screen recording of how you edit. Talk to your audience about what to expect or why you’re different. Don’t forget to put a hyperlink to a linktree like webpage. Here is an example.
Work with a purpose. The goal of your post is to either book a client or collect an email. Add their info to your CRM and organize it under photographer or client. Save that info for your email so you can target the proper audience. For example if you have a photo session for Easter or fall target that to potential or past clients. If you made a course, target your photographer or graphic design followers.
Having a social media presence is great but it needs to be paired with a call to action on your website which is absolutely necessary. Social media doesn’t always work. There have been days where Instagram has been hacked. This is why it is good to be everywhere. I have business posts on LinkedIn, client posts on Instagram & Facebook, and photographer posts on Tiktok. Do this how ever you want, just make sure you do it.
Comment below if you want more info about targeting for emails.
CRMs and Why You Need One
CRMs and Why You Need One
CRM stands for Client Relation Manager. It is software that helps with day to day business. If you are a photographer then you are going to need a CRM that handles galleries, contracts, album design, and business expenses.
There are many photography based CRMs like Honeybook, 17 Hats, or Tave. I HIGHLY recommend Sprout Studio. While some CRMs has two or three of the business tools I listed, Sprout Studio has all of them. Sprout has easy to use and beautiful galleries, you are able to put as many contracts you need, clients can make corrections to your album design for their liking. You can send email and see if your client saw them or make email campaigns for all your contacts. My favorite feature is the business health feature that shows how much I made and spent on my business. You can add mileage, questionnaires, and all your pricing.
I believe a CRM allows you the freedom and justification to charge more. The client experience mixed with your professionalism will set you apart from other photographers. Try Sprout Studio for free. It is such a great product and they are so confident you will like it that they don’t even ask for a credit card for you to try their free trail.
Watch the video below to quickly see all the tools in sprout.
How to work harder AND smarter
Work Harder & Smarter
I’m all about helping others since there is plenty of room at the top for everyone. I made a course on how to start your photography business and it’s free. A few topics are basics of photography, weddings, websites, and editing tips.
This course is everything you need to turn that hobby into a business. I’ll tell you what equipment, client management system, and photo editing tools you need for a successful business. Once you’re done with the course, let me know what you think about it or if you have additional questions.
I Want to Quit My Job!
Don’t get me wrong, I love teaching but photographing an entire office’s headshots was a dream come true. If I can photograph two businesses a week and one newborn a week, I would be in heaven. If you know a business in need of headshots, please send them my way.
These are just a few of the professionals I had the honor of photographing at Capital One. There are always a few camera shy people who decline having their images shared.
Teaching Moment to Photographer Friends
I like to be efficient. I’m always kind and professional. I give clear directions so there is no need to touch my subject. Most importantly, make them laugh. Lets start with why you should make them laugh. Not everyone is comfortable in front of a lens. I personally HATE it. Making them laugh relaxes them. Pair that with being kind and professional and you’ll leave a great mark. I treat it like an assembly line so the day is organized and everyone in the office has the same type of images. My process was a few variations standing, a few variations sitting on a tall stool, a few sitting in a regular chair, and one creative one. This session was in NYC so buildings in the background was a must. One extra thing I like to do is get everyone’s name in the order I shot them. Renaming your files will make you look amazing because you’re making distribution much easier. This is easy in Lightroom (for example: capital_one_ bob_1).
Click on the gallery below to see the images close up.
Always available
5 things you need in your photography website
5 things you need in your photography website.
What makes a great website? It’s debatable but some of the most important things are as follows:
Great eye catching photography. Less is more. You will be judged on your worst photo so only post your absolute best. (attention)
A call to action button. Make it clear where your potential clients can contact you so they can book you. (booking)
Have your location on your website. If a potential client has to chose between 2 photographers they’re going to pick (or contact) the one with the known location. (booking & SEO)
Blogs. Give tips on what to wear or what to expect in your blogs. It establishes you as an authority and helps your SEO. (SEO)
Most importaintly, get Google verified. This will make you searchable when people look for photographers in my area. (SEO)