Could I get some marketing help please?

So I finally have time to start trying to earn myself some business. I have tried doing some reading online on how I should try to make people aware of my business. I am going to be doing portraits.

I am thinking of calling up hair salons and other places like this to speak with the manager and find out if I can leave some cards with them. Maybe even offer to do pictures for their business in return for the advertisement?

I have also read online that some people have even "strategically" placed their cards in stores down makeup isles or by baby toys/clothes. Would something like this be worth doing? Is there anything bad that can come from leaving your card in a store like that?

Another interesting one I came across was sticking a business card in the case of a Redbox movie when you go to return it. Even including a card with a bill when you send it in for payment (if it is local).

What do you guys think? What did you do when you started out to gain customers? Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!!

No point just sending out cards to everyone when you pay a bill.. I dont think your telephone provider cares that you take photos :P

If you put them everywhere it may look a little desperate and could put some people offside if you are just dumping cards/flyers at their work, specially if you dont as first.

Be wary about doing photos for a business in return for advertisment.. or doing 'free' work.. because once you do a few free jobs then there is a high chance of those businesses always thinking of you as a beginner that isnt good enough to charge, and wont pay you for future work. So just be aware of that.

Maybe go to sports fields where there is lots of familys and have a walk around handing out your card and offering family portraits.

Since you used a descriptive title, the forum has done a mini-search for you. Look at the links at the very bottom left hand corner of this page.

I think your idea of using business cards is all wrong. Business cards are designed to be handed out when people ask for them or when you want to give someone your contact info.

Think of it this way. Assume you rented a red box movie with some rando business card in it. It is now a year later when you realize you need a photographer for something. Will you remember the name on the business card you threw away a year ago or will you go online and google "Photographer in (insert city)".

What you need to do is get your work in front of someone and THEN hand them a business card. Meet them IN PERSON and say "Hey, I was walking buy your shop/lot/car and took a few pictures of it. Here are some sample images of your business/lot/car and here is my business card. If you want full res images or have any other photography needs i would love to hear from you."

Facebook - word of mouth is great for portraits. Happy customers beget new customers.