Advertising like the moon

[RiverCottage]

Hi!

Im just starting up a small photography and portraiture business, and just wondering what everybody uses to advertise? i hate the idea of spending money on advertising, but realise it has to be done, and should need to be done less and less and time goes on.

But as im starting out, ive come to the conclusion i'll have to shell out! Im already advertising using google adwords and coming up at the top of search results for searches on my area plus 'photographer'

Has anybody had any luck with yellow pages? working out about £40 a month for a featured advert on their site, i already have a free listing.

I cant help thinking that £40 a month could be better spend with newspaper advertising or flyers?...or should i just do everything!?

Any tips or advice would be most welcome!

Many Thanks

:-)
River Cottage

[Bobster]

when i started my graphic design business, i had an ad in Yellow Pages and all i got from it were calls about work experience or did i have a job vacancy.. not advertised in it since.. my work goes by word of mouth, or by the relationship i've built up with the printers i've used for jobs, they scratch my back i scratch theirs..

i too am breaking into Photography, i'm just putting some A4 posters together to give to friends who work in large corporate buildings so they can put them up on their message boards :D

i'm also working on a small brochure to put through the advertising agencies in the area as well as my new website :)

[sierra_nova]

I think the Yellow Pages has a different effect depending on your location. We are advertised in it this year for the first time, and the ad has paid for itself already, as well as the added bonus that more and more people now recognise our name. For us it has been a good thing.

Cheers,
Naomi

[Mike R]

I'm not up on the conversion, but over here a 2.5" by 5" Ad in the major newspaper for the area is $400.usd And for that amount the Ad runs on 3 days, This is to advertise a photo workshop I am conducting at a local library. Advertising is not cheap. I am also leaving larger copies of the ad at Senior Centers and other libraries, although most of the libraries will not allow Commercial business to advertise but the Senior Centers were eager to accept and distribute the Ads to their members.

[RiverCottage]

Thanks for your replies, im thinking of not taking the online yellow pages route, i think yellow pages may be on its way out replaced by google and other search engines.

I think i may get better results advertising in the local paper, and mass flyer drops through peoples houses, and the dreaded 'networking'!

Just as a little extra question, do you guys have seperate businesses for different avenues, I concentrate on portraiture, quite normal but arty stuff. But i also do a bit of darker band photography and im hoping to branch out into darker fashion shots, and im thinking it may best to have a seperate presence for both, so not to scare familys off with spooky band photos!

Any thoughts would be most welcome :-)

:-)
RiverCottage

[madferrit]

I think Yellow Pages has different effects in different parts of the world. In the Uk people tend to use it for stopping a table with a wobbly leg or swatting flies. The Thomson Local is pretty much the same.

I have a business which is not photography related and I've stopped using them because they are not cost effective and i think the usability of the YP has gone down with the rise of other forms of media. Having said that, have you looked at other publications to advertise in? Not sure what type of portrait photography you're getting into but there is a magazine aimed at parents which is distributed through Playgroups and Nurseries. It could be cost effective to get something in there. Or if your local council does a magazine to all people in the neighbourhood, you could try to negotiate a spot in there. That way its local and if you do a good ad, it'll get noticed.

Doing door to door leaflet drops doesn't need to be expensive. Producing 2000 leaflets should be well under £100 from printing.com (i use them for my business) and getting someone to drop them door to door may only cost £40 for the lot.

I believe in business you have to spend money to make money. I do marketing for my business extensively, and I notice the impact immediately when leaflets haven't gone out for a few days. Its a tough market and people need to know and be reminded that you exist.

The key is finding what works for you, without burning a hole in your pocket.

Good luck.

[TeeJay]

I started up in business (although not photography at that time) almost 17 years ago, and duely placed a 4" x 3" add in the Yellow Pages. WHAT AN UTTER WASTE OF TIME AND EFFORT (NOT TO MENTION MONEY) THAT WAS!

I had TWO calls in 12 months, and one of those was the sales team wanting me to pay for another year!!! :evil:

OK, you may argue that there are a lot of factors in play here, but I would have expected just a little better return on my outlay.

I would look at all the ways of ensuring you come to the top of the search engine lists rather than considering YP.

TJ

[RiverCottage]

Thanks again chaps, gosh yes im working extensively trying to get my way to the top of search engines with various optimising and google adsense which seems to be doing the trick, i'll definatly look into the local advertising suggested, and may get a nice flyer done, i was going to go for simple postcards, but maybe a folded flyer may look a bit more professional and provide a bit more information :-)

It seems yellow pages is certainly not the way to go! Gosh its a tough market to crack isnt it!

:-)
RiverCottage

[PhotosGuy]

and the dreaded 'networking'! :D Do you have our equivalent of a "Chamber of Commerce" there? I suggest that you join it, maybe do some charity work to be seen.
I concentrate on portraiture, : Put on your biggest lens & go shoot some kids sports.
But i also do a bit of darker band photography : Same thing. Get noticed by "Being there". ;)

[RiverCottage]

I concentrate on portraiture, : Put on your biggest lens & go shoot some kids sports.
But i also do a bit of darker band photography : Same thing. Get noticed by "Being there". ;)

That is good advice, although even your slight suggestion of put on my biggest lens makes me start wondering about getting a 70-200! i only have a 30mm and a 12-24mm!

hmmmmm off goes the brain a wondering!
...and to the lens forum


:-)
RiverCottage

[PhotosGuy]

i only have a 30mm and a 12-24mm! A huge petal shade will work, too! ;)

[RiverCottage]

and maybe a big official looking backback?

[Bobster]

good website and some signage on the back of your car would be better - i have quite a few pple from all over the world use me because they searched on google and came up with me :)

most ppl will check your business out online if they see you advertised anywhere to make sure you're genuine..

[SpaceAce]

Hi...this is what I know....

The Yellow Pages is a joke.....and a waste of money...but if you just have to have your name in there next to all the other Photogs then go aheadand do it.....

The best advertising is your work......word of mouth goes further than any add you can place anywhere...

then I would say...have a beautiful website.....we are all in the image business....whats worse than having a cheap looking website....I always go over the top when it comes to image....

Have a beautiful business card to hand out....I know I always get asked for cards at weddings I shoot....people watch you...if they see you love what you do....and you hustle around and get every shot....they take notice....

You will get bombarded by so many people or organizations wanting you to advertise.....Dont do it for the most part.....

Spend your adverstising dollars wisely......Dont advertise in a friends...or an aquaintances paper or magazine if you know it isnt going to hit a large market....

Get lettering put on your vehicles window.....make sure it looks classy tho...remember we are an image company....

but most of all...just let your work do the talking....word of mouth spreads like wildfire....

My wife started the business in 2002.....she doubled every year....by 2005 I satrted working with her.....early 2006 I quit my job of 12 years and went to work for her full time....it is now 2007 and we just opened up our own studio...no longer strapped down to shooting in the house.....and now we are hiring 3 new people....

So congrats and good luck.....stick with it....thhis is one of the best industries to be in.....