How to Advertise Your Photography Business
It is possible to make a living as a photographer---even if you're not famous. However, this requires promotion. Today's photography professional should plan on spending a portion of his budget on advertising and marketing, allocating money for flyers, business cards, photo cards and other marketing materials. A good business plan will include the use of free advertising and marketing outlets as well.
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Instructions
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Advertising Your Photography Business
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Decide on a specialty. This will reduce advertising expenses since you will be able to focus your marketing initiatives on your area of expertise. For example, if you decide to specialize in photographing small children, advertise in publications that cater to the care of small children as opposed to a fish and game magazine.
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Track all expenses. Without this knowledge, you will not be able to create a manageable budget. Keep this information in a ledger.
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Plan your advertising budget. At least 10 percent of your overall budget should be dedicated to advertising and marketing. A new business may require more.
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Create a business promotion strategy. This should include using free resources like social networking sites and paid marketing materials.
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Utilize a blog to promote your photography business. Chat about new clients, upcoming shows, display samples of your work or promote upcoming seminars. The key to using a blog effectively is to post regularly and cross-promote it on your website, business cards and other marketing materials.
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Remember that Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other social and business networking sites are powerful tools for promotion. Develop one or two of these tools that you're most comfortable with. Like the blog, you must post regularly.
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Create printed materials for your business, utilizing a designer, if necessary. These should include business cards, flyers and brochures.
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Create a website. Your web address should be printed on your business cards, brochures and portfolio information. A website is a valuable tool to display new photos, let collectors know about art shows and competitions and as a place to store an online resume and portfolio.
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Purchase ads in appropriate print media. Possible outlets for your work are local newspapers and specialty magazines. Consider online ads as well.
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Write a monthly newsletter and send it to your clients. Mail or email the newsletter at regular intervals, whether it's four times a year or four times a month. A newsletter is a powerful way to keep your name in front of prospective buyers.
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