drum roll please……here’s another installment of my Feature Friday! Today I’m going to be talking about two things that have helped my business explode. Yes, I said explode and it’s so exciting! First, a little background- when I started my business, I knew that I wanted most of my business to be word of mouth referrals. To me, this is the best kind of business to have because then my clients are people who know what my work is like and who appreciate it. They know that I will deliver personal attention and great customer service, and then they’ll refer me to other’s, just like they were referred to me.
Having said that, marketing is a huge part of your business too. I’ve been thinking a lot more on my marketing and have decided a couple of things.
1. I will market to other business and network with other businesses that will help not only my studio, but their company too. This means networking and sharing a working relationship with other vendors and businesses in my chosen area of expertise.
2. Facebook. Facebook has been such a huge part of my business growth. I set up a page….under my own name….but use it for primarily business purposes. I friend clients, I tag images for them to use in their profiles and share with other people, and I link in Twitter (more on that in a minute), my blog, and other things.
When I was growing up my family moved around a lot. I mean A LOT. We lived in Texas, Idaho, Utah and California before I started grade school. I spent most of grade school back in Texas, then junior high in Cincinnati, Ohio, and finally high school in Dillon, Montana. Needless to say I know a lot of people around the country. Not to mention all my relatives that are spread out in different states accross the country. As I was planning my marketing strategies I knew that I had to branch out to get my name out there. Why not ask that long lost friend in grade school to consider me for a wedding photographer, or engagement pictures, or family pictures? A big part of business is making those relationships and fostering them. If a client sees your work and likes it, and they also have a history or connection with you, then the relationship and trust is there, and most importantly the relaxation. I have a strong belief that in order for you to get great images, your clients need to be comfortable and relaxed with you. So Facebook has literally opened up the country to my photography business. Now I’m on Facebook Wedding Pro, click here to become a fan or leave a review if I’ve worked with you! Weddings on Facebook is a place where brides can search for different vendors, get answers to questions and have their own special page integrated with Facebook for their special day. My friend John Mitchell of John Mark Photography is the creator of this cool app and it is the NEW thing for brides and vendors a like. Please check it out!
3. and finally is Twitter. This other form of social networking helps me to build a personal relationship with my clients. By choosing carefully what I put online, that is personal, I still let people into that part of my life. My kids first day of school, my woes of practically getting locked out of the base because I left my military ID at home, all that stuff, helps people to see that I’m a person with a life too, and that has also helped my business grow. So come follow me here
So there you have it. Three basic things that have helped my studio grow more than I could have ever imagined in the past year and a half. I love love love my job, and the clients I work with! Please, if you like my work, and you’re not a friend of mine on Facebook then send me a request. Come be a fan of my photography page on Facebook Social Weddings! or follow me on Twitter. If you’re looking for a way to grow your business don’t be shy and shoot me an e-mail with whatever questions you may have. I don’t think I’m an expert on anything, but I do love sharing what I do and helping other’s find something that they love too and making it work! I’ll leave you with an image I’m working on from a wedding I helped 2nd shoot last weekend. Have a great weekend- I’ll be takin’ it easy with the fam- ahem, I mean folding that mountain of laundry that’s magically appeared!
by Katie
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