Interesting article in business week

[jbone]

Just thought I would share. Thoughts?

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/jul2008/sb20080728_649095_page_2.htm

[ilantis]

Nice read, though you linked to the 2nd page of the article. :razz: I haven't sold any of my work (noob here) but have been reading a lot of threads here that echo this sentiment.

But the thing I don't understand is that this always happens and it always will...and complaining isn't going to do a thing to stop it. When the barriers of entry are removed in a market, the market will become flooded with new competition looking to get a piece of the pie, which will drive down prices. This basic concept is the reason you even got your camera gear at a decent price in the first place (and your clothes, food, car, etc). Now you are a little fish in a big pond and in order to overcome this, you must stand out. Diversify your services and offer a quality of work that is superior to the other guys and you will have a much better chance at not getting swallowed up. Your services have to have value to appeal to a client, and those that can create this value will still be sitting at the top by the end of the day. Those that fail to adapt are likely to go the way of so many businesses before them...it is just the way of the world.

The exact same thing is happening to the pro audio world. Prices have come so far down on equipment that everybody and their mom has a "home studio" but few of them (myself included...for now) can even deliver a stunning result with said equipment. Or how about video game publishers shoveling out terrible party games for the Wii just to make a quick buck. The market becomes so saturated with crap product that it becomes a burden to the customer to sift through it all. Sell convenience! Seek out clients and tell them why you are going to be the last person they will ever need for their photography needs and deliver on that promise every time! Tell them how much money (in time) they will save by calling you and only you. Start an agency in your area that only has the cream of the crop photographers if conditions are right. People can buy practically anything at the convenient click of a mouse...why aren't they doing that for your business?

It is not like the internet (jumping back to the main focus of the article) hasn't completely shell-shocked other industries either. It is an insanely powerful tool that we as a culture(s) haven't even begun to tap into. Sounds like the perfect time to explore new horizons if you ask me. :D

[jbone]

oops I hadnt even realized that I linked the 2nd page:oops:

I dont think I could have said it better. The same thing has been happening to the landscape industry. thanks for your input!