a new marketing strategy I tried...

[canonnoob]

This is going into the sports talk section because it ties directly into this and I think you all can benefit from this more than anyone else...

So last week, when at the football game, I had gone up to get things going and set up. So up to the press box I went. Typically, I have the announcer announce that I am there taking photos and the parents/teachers, whoever can find the photos on my website. Typical for some or even most of us right?

Well, I had a new Idea while I was up there and I decided to try it out. What I did was I had the announcer announce that I was there, and if anyone wanted photos of their player to please text or call my cell phone throughout the game with the player number and team.

Results:

It comes out to be alittle shaky but from what I gather I got about 10 texts and 8-9 orders. I dont know if they are all directly related but I figure hey that may be a 80-90% rate..

So anyway I wanted to let you all know so maybe you could try this out and see what you get..

Thanks guys. Feel free to post up some stategies that have worked for you on site..

[Sibil]

Very smart. Using technology for marketing. Let's know how it goes and thanks for sharing.

[Dan-o]

Good idea Dave.

[patwill]

Interesting. Please give us a follow up report.

[RickyH]

I do like that idea & I'm interested to see how it works out

[canonnoob]

I will continue to do it for the next few games and see how often those people who send in texts order prints..

[snyderman]

ack! you young whippersnappers!

Good idea canonnoob! And how's that? Didn't call you canonloader or canonball er somthin' else this time!
d
ave

[asysin2leads]

That's a heck of an idea. I never would have thought about it. I wonder if you would be able to get an abbreviated number (like 9199) so they would be able to text that versus your entire 10 digit phone number.

[asysin2leads]

Never mind. I looked at US Short Codes (http://www.usshortcodes.com/) and it's $1000 per month to lease a short code.

[Tumeg]

Wow, amazing idea!!!


Never mind. I looked at US Short Codes (http://www.usshortcodes.com/) and it's $1000 per month to lease a short code.

:eek::eek::eek::eek: ....Wow

[asysin2leads]

Wow, amazing idea!!!




:eek::eek::eek::eek: ....Wow

I saw that and yelled, "Holy ----" (fill in 4 letter expletive). My partners at work got a chuckle out of it.

[J.Napier]

Dave,
This is a good idea. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[BenJohnson]

Great idea! I've never used the phone/text method, but I find that it helps a LOT to have a least some idea of who to focus on. Usually I just do my best getting to know players and people on the sidelines to see who may actually be interested. If someone asks for my card I make sure to ask who the player is (that they are with) and get a few extra shots of them :D

[jbrevard]

if your at a highschool ballgame, i don't think i'd do it. I would've been texting the person random numbers all night just to be mean. high school kids are like that, if it was youth it would probably be a good idea.

[sofia24]

I like your idea Dave, Do Let me know how it goes.

[housephoto]

Awesome idea - can't wait to see what happens.

[DDCSD]

I really like the idea of it, but I worry about two things.

The first is this:

if your at a highschool ballgame, i don't think i'd do it. I would've been texting the person random numbers all night just to be mean. high school kids are like that, if it was youth it would probably be a good idea.



The second is the whole "Make sure you get a bunch of good shots of my Johnny, I'll buy them all!" and then they don't buy any. I'd hate to waste my time concentrating on 10 kids and not have any of them buy.



Maybe have people text their email address and they'll get a coupon emailed to them?

I love the idea and I'm going to find out some way to incorporate it, but I just wonder what would be the most effective way?

[jbrevard]

well you can't sell what you dont' have, but i'd be more worried about keep checking the phone to see if anyone sent or called. All the football i've ever shot i have never heard or felt my phone ring.

[focus.pocus]

genius... I like

[MJPhotos24]

I like and don't like the idea...

Like because you know who to concentrate on and shoot thus increasing chances of sales.

Don't like because you will get idiots being idiots abusing the system (just like any) - I don't want to be answering my phone while I'm shooting and missing shots, there's not much free time on the sidelines and while one person is calling you could be missing something. Text would be much better but you know not everyone would do that.

Would having them announce you're there and to come and tell you who to shoot work better, wait people are lazy. I have no better answer except an assistant in the stands doing it for you and relaying the info - but yea, we all know that ain't happening for most!

[wyofizz]

Will be trying this the next three days at a State Tourney.
Bought a blue tooth headset so I won't have to pull the phone out.
Won't do texting (more chance of abuse)
Will let you know how it goes.
Dave

[canonnoob]

Will be trying this the next three days at a State Tourney.
Bought a blue tooth headset so I won't have to pull the phone out.
Won't do texting (more chance of abuse)
Will let you know how it goes.
Dave

Nice idea about the Bluetooth Dave.

[Sledhed]

Don't like because you will get idiots being idiots abusing the system (just like any) - I don't want to be answering my phone while I'm shooting and missing shots, there's not much free time on the sidelines and while one person is calling you could be missing something.

My thoughts exactly!

[BenJohnson]

If you give out your cell number, what's to stop them from texting instead of calling?

[DDCSD]

If you give out your cell number, what's to stop them from texting instead of calling?

Disable text messaging. :lol:

[clarence]

How much do you change your shooting style based on requests like these?

I get them every game... "ooh, love your pictures... make sure you get a lot of #17 on the blue team". My reply is always the same... "OK. Just tell your son to make a lot of good plays and always run towards the guy with the camera". ;)

So I end up with 3 or 4 jersey numbers for each game... frankly, I think it messes me up trying to remember if it was blue 64 or blue 46 that I was suppose to follow. Maybe I'm just getting old. But my style is to follow the action (ideally predictively), not a "texted" jersey number.

But what does work for me... I know which kids had the biggest orders from the previous games... they rightfully get more clicks for the next batch.

But if you reply back to their texts later that week with the URL to the entire gallery... that would be a good idea.

[MJPhotos24]

Doing the T&I for the local league do think I'll be collecting emails next year and do it that way - no phone calls, no texts, just email the number and try. Last game a parent asked about his kid because he'll definitely get some (we'll see) and got some different type shots I probably wouldn't have gotten if he didn't ask me to. A deposit would be nice to! Pre-order an action package and if you don't get the kid then refund or don't cash the check.

[SwiftFootTim]

Great idea Dave, as for the high schoolers abusing it, I think you're relatively safe as when they text their number will also be sent. If you have a major offender, there is always the possibility of notifying the principle as a disciplinary action as the students are at a school sponsored event and still subject to the code of conduct that most schools impose.

I think that most parents will text you only if they are willing to order as well, not just "Ooooo, hey, shoot little Johnny out there!" and then never actually follow through, and there again you have their number and can follow up with them. Most people have enough of a conscience that they would feel bad to say something like that and then follow through. And if they do stuff like that, ignore them the next time.