Gorilla Marketing

banquetbear wrote in post #15913901
...
I'll be blunt: simply forget about your postcard drop. It won't work and it won't get you business.

I would agree on the postcard thing as you have proposed and Big Mark has mentioned here. But if you already have them, don't throw them away just yet . . .

In my town, the Chamber of Commerce is always sponsoring a lunch or some other business-to-business event. They even sponsor a small business forum where individual businesses can set up a table. I would search out such organizations in your community, and make the effort to attend them. Here is where your postcards handed out in person will likely be remembered much more than just a business card (although have them as well). A postcard with all of your marketing on them will likely stand out because of their uniqueness. And those who pick them up are more likely to call you because they already have their interest piqued.

Also, these somewhat informal gatherings will help you with personal contacts (often referred to as networking). They will help you overcome any social skill shortcomings you may have too. In short, you can get your [name, face, post cards] out there, and be targetting those most interested in your services. I would suspect you would get a better return-per-postcard in this way . . .

Good luck!!

Staszek wrote in post #15913158
If you just want one contact, you can easily and inexpensively do that at a local Starbucks by talking to people waiting in line for their coffee. Buy a $3 cup of coffee and just start talking to people, asking what they do for work, etc. Then transition into your photography services.

I'm pretty sure most coffee stores have a 'no soliciting' policy. If someone came up to me at a Starbucks and started asking me what I did for my career and started chatting me up while I'm waiting for my coffee, I'd tell them to get lost.

You could also pick 4-5 businesses that you would like to do work for and do a shoot for them. For example, if you want to do work for a local eating establishment, take some photos of the outside of their restaurant, food photography, and other various things that relate to that business. Then go in there with a printed portfolio (nothing too fancy) and say "Hey I really like what you guys are doing. I took some time to take a couple shots of your business. Here is what I have come up with. Would you be interested in potentially using me for your future photography needs?"

Then leave them the card and maybe even the printed material so they know who to call.

JacobPhoto wrote in post #15915036
I'm pretty sure most coffee stores have a 'no soliciting' policy. If someone came up to me at a Starbucks and started asking me what I did for my career and started chatting me up while I'm waiting for my coffee, I'd tell them to get lost.

You're not soliciting if you are engaging in a genuine conversation. If I come up to you and ask you how your day is going or what type of coffee you would recommend, you would say "Get lost." I find that hard to believe.

Definitely a waste of money, I agree. I would suggest using Facebook Ad. Target your specific audience!

banquetbear wrote in post #15913901
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Wow. I wrote a bit more than I expected to. It may not all be relevant to you Chris, but I can tell you now it was very therapeutic. Best of luck.

thanks! That was very helpful... I will make a list of potential businesses and leave behind business card+postcard as I make cold-calls to show my portfolio in person to them.

ktan7 wrote in post #15915685
Definitely a waste of money, I agree. I would suggest using Facebook Ad. Target your specific audience!

from my experience using facebook advertising its more for non-commercial photography clientele... this campaign is strictly targeting commercial photography clients that are local to me.

I don't think this is a half bad idea. Certainly not the only way to try and generate leads but it could be an effective part of a bigger program.

Part of the difficulty in any kind of marketing is standing out. Back in the hey day of commercial work, many photographers found lots of unique ways to get the attention of the commercial world. I recall one guy who went so far as to send out carrier pigeons in a box.(That failed miserably as many of the birds died in the process...but, it was memorable!)

I wouldn't rely on this as being the only way of getting your name out but it does have some benefits; it's inexpensive, will stand out from traditional mail and depending on the particulars of the card, could be memorable. Inasmuch as timing is everything, you might get lucky and put this under the door of someone who is in the process of trying to figure out who to call.

I have a question. I clicked on your link and didn't find any images that I thought were particularly commercial. Care to share the postcard design here?

Foodguy wrote in post #15916124
I don't think this is a half bad idea. Certainly not the only way to try and generate leads but it could be an effective part of a bigger program.

Part of the difficulty in any kind of marketing is standing out. Back in the hey day of commercial work, many photographers found lots of unique ways to get the attention of the commercial world. I recall one guy who went so far as to send out carrier pigeons in a box.(That failed miserably as many of the birds died in the process...but, it was memorable!)

I wouldn't rely on this as being the only way of getting your name out but it does have some benefits; it's inexpensive, will stand out from traditional mail and depending on the particulars of the card, could be memorable. Inasmuch as timing is everything, you might get lucky and put this under the door of someone who is in the process of trying to figure out who to call.

I have a question. I clicked on your link and didn't find any images that I thought were particularly commercial. Care to share the postcard design here?

which link you clicked on? I havent uploaded the design yet, nor at home yet to upload it here.

go to www.chrisadvalproducti​ons.com

^ I had clicked on your flikr.

Staszek wrote in post #15915538
You're not soliciting if you are engaging in a genuine conversation. If I come up to you and ask you how your day is going or what type of coffee you would recommend, you would say "Get lost." I find that hard to believe.

as a patron, I would feel otherwise.

Foodguy wrote in post #15916258
^ I had clicked on your flikr.

here's the design, left is back, right is front

ChrisAdval wrote in post #15916781
here's the design, left is back, right is front

Very professional in appearance. Again, I think these would be good hand-outs at a personal appearance at a Chamber of Commerce, or other B2B meeting . . .

Thomas Campbell wrote in post #15913050
Unless You Are Wearing A Big Hairy Suit, That Isn't Gorilla Marketing

A big hairy suit would ensure they didn't forget you though.

I did a residental direct mail campaign about two months ago. I'm lucky in that I have a designer/marketing contact who is a good friend and designed my postcard for the price of a tasty lunch, but it still cost me about as much as a portrait shoot to do the mailer. I bought 621 addresses through a direct mail address company (concerning, really - you can buy addresses in any zipcode super cheap- I think I paid $30.00 for over 600, including my own!), and had the printer quote up and distribute them. Here, so far is my return:



Of course, I've also heard that direct mail campaigns are more for brand recognition and should be done about once a quarter- at least 3 times a year. I think that is a commerical photography thing, so I'm not sure how that translates to families and portraiture, but I don't regret my decision it was worth a try and motivated me to get more involved in my marketing.

BanquetBear- your post was intimate and inspiring. I always enjoy reading your suggestions and advice on the forum. Thank you.

Michael