marketing techniques...

[luv2sign20]

What has been your most profitable marketing technique?

[ssim]

Door knocking, bridal fairs and direct mail to corporate accounts.

[sapearl]

For my wedding and event work it has been referral and word of month, as well as a local publication.

[Roy Webber]

For my Real Estate business, the website. Newspapers and magazines are a waste of money in todays RE market.

[microman23]

I shoot weddings and word of mouth is my biggest and best.

[cosworth]

Word of mouth isn't marketing. I'm not being gruff, just telling it like it is. The OP wants some marketing ideas. Let's dig deep and find them. SSIM got off on the right foot.

For me it was going low bid on a sports event that I asked for exclusive rights to so I could "package" the entire group. When I sold the package I added a coupon for a "photo shoot" for them and their wives. I made more money off that than the entire sports event. Recursive Marketing works if you build value.

The next most successful marketing strategy for me was hiring a girl to appeal to her age group selling photo shoots. She would pass out leaflets on the beach, and man, I made a killing off that but over a longer time. so the return wasn't as immediate as above.

So I targeted age group and targeted event. One cost me paper one cost me some wages.

[EnronRocks]

I do banners/posters at events and hand out business cards. I also do a little referral deal for people who come from current or past customers. A couple free prints and such, but it is not that big of my market.

Word of mouth I guess in some industries is good. I made thousands doing web design and web hosting and my company grew to the size it did because of word of mouth from our customers.

[Gary_Evans]

Paying someone else to bash the phones while I went shooting ..........

[MikeMcL]

I have used kids sports to promote child and family portraits.

Shoot the little league for low price or as a favor to the coach, and you immediately get in very well with at least 8-12 families.

I would make the pittance off the sports pics in order to promote the ports... this is a way of "building value" as mentioned above.

[luv2sign20]

Thanks for all your ideas guys! I have some ideas... but I don't want to go into debt over them.... so these are great.

[steven owen]

where would the best forum be to discuss geotagging?
Steve

[sevillafox]

where would the best forum be to discuss geotagging?
Steve

Talk about photography.

[steven owen]

thanks

[Mike R]

Most of my work has come from existing customers who recommend me. It's a good thing because my marketing skills are terrible.

[sapearl]

You sure about having terrible skills Mark? You're obviously doing something right - maybe you're more effective than you realize and just selling yourself a little short ;). Sometimes we are our own worst critics. - Stu

Most of my work has come from existing customers who recommend me. It's a good thing because my marketing skills are terrible.

[Mike R]

You sure about having terrible skills Mark? You're obviously doing something right - maybe you're more effective than you realize and just selling yourself a little short ;). Sometimes we are our own worst critics. - Stu

I've always been my own worst critic. Fortunately people like my work, which I continue to get better at.

[sapearl]

The work is what matters ultimately, and obviously you are good at it. Be courteous, honest, fair in the marketplace and easy to do business with and you'll have a winning combination ;).

I've always been my own worst critic. Fortunately people like my work, which I continue to get better at.