Doing a quarter page ad for a local paper, any suggestions??

[LeesaB]

specials? I generaly run business card..this is going to be bigger,,,,

I generally offer 100.00 off packages, but wanted to be a bit more creative, unless you think this is good?

I like to offer something to pull them in. I have alot of competition locally.

[Banbert]

How about, free engagement shoot for every wedding enquiry. So you meet them at the venue for their wedding, talk about what they are looking for in a photographer, shoot some engagement shots for them and then give them a proposal for their wedding.

[LeesaB]

I was thinking about that...we gave away free engagements for the bridal show and thought it might be overkill....what do you think?

[Banbert]

How well did the free engagement sessions go from the bridal show, did you get much business from them ? if the answers yes then I guess they could work well again.

Free engagments is giving them something even if they dont book you for the wedding but gives you and opportunity to meet them and from my point of view that would be my main aim if we were trying for more business because once we meet a couple they more often that not book us.

[LeesaB]

I think that is what we are going for....So...that is what we may do, my partner is writing up the ad to send in...We are trying to think of another word for session...Engagement ????

[Ronald S. Jr.]

I think if you offer free engagement sessions just for an inquiry, I think you'll get an awful lot of inquiries and little bookings. Gotta make that work for you somehow.

Engagement..shoot?

[LeesaB]

Hmmm...good point..I am no good at this marketing end of it...I can ask my son also, who has developed his own marketing pages and guides and stuff online and is doing very well at it...It's a hugh market.

I could say with booking a wedding, but that won't work...

we thought of offering photo credits, towards photos and enlargements...

100 dollar off packages..

free ring bearer pillow?

Free framed collage....

Nothing seems to set right...

[Ronald S. Jr.]

"Mention this advertisement when booking us for your special day and get 10% off any wedding package. Also, during the month of June, get a free engagement shoot with any booking"

er ya know..in so many words. You just have to make them think they're getting everything for nothing. It's the human (american) way.

I don't like to offer things that will cost me money out of pocket (maybe I'm just too cheap). I'd rather offer them things that won't cost THEM money.

[LeesaB]

If I did not have such a high competition, I would not have to offer anything...There is even a girl in my area who does total weddings with proofs for 995.00. I am like YIKES....alot of people talk about her..I have seen her work, and it is ok...not sure if people care as long as they get a "deal".

People also love the coffee table book here...so we offer it in 2 or 3 packages...everyone wants one. I will have a busy season.

Thanks for the ideas..I am going to print those off..

[Ronald S. Jr.]

I can do a whole wedding with digital proofs and unlimited shooting for around $1100 if I have to, but I'd rather not. Digital proofs don't get handed out until they go $1500+.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

People also love the coffee table book here...so we offer it in 2 or 3 packages...everyone wants one. I will have a busy season.

I'd like to offer those, but I don't know where/how to make them.

[LeesaB]

There are several places...for my weddings I use Asuka...believe me, if I can do it, I KNOW you can. I have PS and I just used that and their templates..it took a while, and a few changes..but I did pretty good.

For my sporitng events, i am going with Blurb...but there are so many...These are my two choices...others like mpix, mypublisher, etc.

Check them out...

[jessiper]

Do something that will help you make money. For me, that's what engagement sessions do. I shoot it for free and give them one free 8x10 and their images on my website w/a username and password, then they can either buy more prints or buy a disc w/all the images in both color and B&W. They buy a disc everytime, plus I've gotten bookings from couple's showing their engagement pics to people or recommending me. ;)

[takeyourpic]

I think advertising in the paper is a complete waste of money. I have relied on word of mouth for my entire business. I would suggest putting your money and time into networking with other vendors in your area. Call and meet with them and give them sample books of your work. This makes it easy for them to refer people to you and to show them some of your work right away.
Advertising is so hit and miss. I would be interested to know if anyone has found that they have consistently gotten bookings from an advertisement in a newspaper.

[sblais]

^^ I agree. But if you still want to do it, how about: get a free engagement session with a booking? Just a thought, may not be good...