What is your most effective form of advertising?

[jenirose3]

Preferably free. Definitely cheap. :D

[stathunter]

Customer referrals.

[Chip Andrews]

Word of mouth & a quality product speak volumes!!

[jenirose3]

I completely agree. That is where 90% of my work comes from. I'm just looking for any good ideas out there.

[710 Studio]

JENIROSE3 - Are you just starting out, or do you have an established business? If you're just starting out, word of mouth is impossible to get. That said, what I did to get off the ground is place an ad on Craigslist.com for a free photosession. The client would get CDs of the full-sized images to do what they wish with. Sure, you don't get any $$$ for it, but what you DO get is incredible word of mouth. I shot 2 freebie sessions like that. Those 2 sessions turned into paying sessions before I knew it!

Also, a good website is a great tool for advertising. I just booked a session for a couple (and their dog) who found me via the internet. They were impressed with my website, so I got the job.

I hope this gives you some good ideas. Best of luck!

[LW Dail]

Business clubs are a great place to start, or your local chamber of commerce.

Networking clubs are also good.

[jenirose3]

710 STUDIO - I'm established. I agree with you though. I did the craigslist thing for a year. Prints at cost. No session fee. To gain experience not so much with photography ('cause I've been doing that for a while) but mainly in working with various types of people and the business aspect.

I was told not to expect to retain those craigslist customers once I started charging. That was true. Craigslist people are looking for serious bargains. I decided long ago to position myself in a higher pricing bracket. All but one of my original craigslist customers moved on to other craigslist offers (but asking me that I notify them should I make my portfolio building offer ever again....proving my bargain hunter theory).

I'm pretty booked (approx 1-2 months in advance). But I thought there might be someone else out there that had some good ideas.

One idea I have been doing is advertising in the newsletters that are distributed in higher priced planned communities. But the advertising rates are pricey. I do get a lot of bookings from this though.

[lil_miss]

Yep I agree too - Word of mouth is all we've basically used. That an our website just being there I guess... :)

[Floriantrojer.com]

Free advertising is tricky.....smart people always claim that one has to spend money to earn more back. While I think that's mostly true (because nothing can beat good advertising) also extremely effective is the quality of your work.

If you're good, and got photos on the internet, your reputation will skyrocket if people like your work. The tricky part is to get your target audience seeing it of course :D

[Mike30D]

I'm pretty booked (approx 1-2 months in advance). But I thought there might be someone else out there that had some good ideas.

I don't know about other types of photography, but most of your pros that are doing well with weddings anyways, aren't going to tell you what marketing ideas are working the best.

There is a photographer that has a marketing newsletter you can subscribe to, I will see if I can find it again.

[aram535]

Photography might be a different story, but here is my business story.

A friend and I own a car headlight upgrade business. We sell these upgrades over the internet. In the beginning we were pumping around $700-$1200 a month into google adwords and it was doing ok. At some point the campaign ended and we didn't realize it for about 2 months.

The business did slow down, at worse it got to 62% of our best month. But since than it has been increasing around 12% every quarter without any advertising. Our main attribution to this is word of mouth, and links from people on forums. Free advertising at its best.

The final thought on this, we're making more per unit than before since we don't have to give a good chunk of the sale to Google.

[Mike30D]

Alright, I found it again.

Her name is Sarah Petty, she's a pro photographer who shares and teaches all her marketing ideas. Not exactly cheap, but I've heard good things about it.

The Joy of Marketing - Cafe' Joy (http://www.thejoyofmarketing.com/index.php)

[tim]

Referrals. I give past customers a $250 credit if they refer someone to me, which helps, but people refer without this as well. Google adwords works well, but it's not free. Yellow pages is worthless. Wedding websites can be good, not the knot though, I only hear bad things about that place.

[cdp]

I would say a good website will bring lots of customers. Most people shop on the web more now than ever.

[Picture North Carolina]

Alright, I found it again.

Her name is Sarah Petty, she's a pro photographer who shares and teaches all her marketing ideas. Not exactly cheap, but I've heard good things about it.

The Joy of Marketing - Cafe' Joy (http://www.thejoyofmarketing.com/index.php)

Waaayyyy too expensive considering the subject matter. You'll find many, many good books on amazon or at your local bookstore on the subject of marketing, advertising, etc. And you'll find many for free at your local library!

[LW Dail]

Buy or check out "Guerilla Marketing" by Jay Conrad Levinson.

Effective and inexpensive, you will find at least one thing you can use!

[airfrogusmc]

Preferably free. Definitely cheap. :D

Repeat business and word of mouth.

[jenirose3]

Thanks everyone. Great Discussion.

[form]

I'm one of those budget craigslist photographers; it's my primary advertisement angle besides my website...which gets most of its hits from craigslist links.

I'd LOVE to get more steady business, but for the past few months I have been consistently doing fairly well, better than last year. I attribute it to my improved website and portfolio. Plus, more business means more equipment means better photos and more variety. I'd almost give my belly button for a 135L or 200 f/2.8 II, or a 70-200 f/2.8.