The Art of Promotion

I am about to launch a Promotional/Marketing campaign. I have selected businesses that I feel I could build great working relationships. My plan includes going door to door, hand outs, flyers, cards galore.

I would love to hear feedback/tips from other photogs that have taken this type of approach.

I am a editorial, commercial/ glamour/ fashion photog and planning on targeting those types of businesses.

What type of promo materials and pac/docs that were successful for you. How did you present your work?

Where did you find you where most effective in promoting yourself. Was it in local companies, regular people or large retailers

When are the best times you felt it was best to make a cold call/walk in to meet with AD's/Owners/Managers/A​rt Buyers/ etc..

How effective was your outcome? were you able to score contracts or was it a one time deal? are you still working with them?

Any other pros/cons to this type of marketing?

Thank you in advance for your time.

I take it no one Promotes themselves? other than WOM....Lol

Hi Mick - do you have a website? Online Gallery? Blog?

Those are the very FIRST things that folks usually look for when considering a photographer. These days if a photographer who is doing wedding/commercial/eve​nt work does not have some sort of website, then that does not make the individual appear very credible. People want to see what the work looks like before they will make a call or send an email.

Give us a litte more information about your "business presence" or samples of your work. I am always handing out business cards, but never go door to door. As a client that would turn me off, unless I received an invite from an interested party.

Do you have a portfolio book of your work that you can show? Once you have found your target businesses, contact them with a carefully written email, introducing yourself, explaining your goals, and then provide them with links to your work. Offer to stop in with your portfolio. That's the potential foot in the door. I also do volunteer photography for various non-profit groups. That's a great way to network and make new contacts.

The challenge you face Mick is that with digital now, there are a million people out there with entry level dSLR's who consider themselves professional photographers. It takes more than Point & Shooting, and you have to distinguish yourself from the the "other guy", your competitor.

It takes years to develop and hone your craft. Some think it's sufficient to simply burn to disk, and call it a job. Well, there's really more to it than that, and if you eventually want to grow there are a whole raft of PP skills to master as well as printing and display techniques.

sapearl wrote in post #5428155
Hi Mick - do you have a website? Online Gallery? Blog?

Those are the very FIRST things that folks usually look for when considering a photographer. These days if a photographer who is doing wedding/commercial/eve​nt work does not have some sort of website, then that does not make the individual appear very credible. People want to see what the work looks like before they will make a call or send an email.

Yea, I got this covered.

sapearl wrote in post #5428155
Give us a litte more information about your "business presence" or samples of your work. I am always handing out business cards, but never go door to door. As a client that would turn me off, unless I received an invite from an interested party.

I hand out business cards all day! but yes I am looking into to door to door. Now as a client why would this turn you off?

sapearl wrote in post #5428155
Do you have a portfolio book of your work that you can show? Once you have found your target businesses, contact them with a carefully written email, introducing yourself, explaining your goals, and then provide them with links to your work. Offer to stop in with your portfolio. That's the potential foot in the door. I also do volunteer photography for various non-profit groups. That's a great way to network and make new contacts.

I also volunteer for nonprofits I just find emails are to easily overlooked, forgot, or plain not returned. Email is effective but where do you draw the line as SPAM? I feel as a client I may be more inclined to reject that? I don't know this is why I am asking.

sapearl wrote in post #5428226
The challenge you face Mick is that with digital now, there are a million people out there with entry level dSLR's who consider themselves professional photographers. It takes more than Point & Shooting, and you have to distinguish yourself from the the "other guy", your competitor.

It takes years to develop and hone your craft. Some think it's sufficient to simply burn to disk, and call it a job. Well, there's really more to it than that, and if you eventually want to grow there are a whole raft of PP skills to master as well as printing and display techniques.

LOL I know I know....but this is where your right you have to distinguish yourself from the the "other guy", your competitor.
And this is why I asked what others in our field are doing to to keep themselves at the top of the game? This is also the Art of doing business.

Sure wedding photog's go on word of mouth, but if your a say a commercial photog do you work with a PR firm?

I guess Mick literally going door to door in an unsolicited matter seems too much like the Fuller Brush salesman, IMHO. I don't like to be bothered by people knocking on my door, trying to sell me something. If I need something, I will look up a vendor - not the other way around.

Where is your website?

sapearl wrote in post #5430537
I guess Mick literally going door to door in an unsolicited matter seems too much like the Fuller Brush salesman, IMHO. I don't like to be bothered by people knocking on my door, trying to sell me something. If I need something, I will look up a vendor - not the other way around.

Where is your website?

I see how you see it. I appreciate your input.

It's a two way street though I'm asking do you wait for the meal to come to you our do you go out to get it? and if you go out to get it what is your approach?
My website? it's on the webernets.

Sorry, not at all familiar with the "webernets." You have a link?

I do try to "sell the meal." I advertise in a local print trade, I'm listed on a wedding website with pictorial ad and links to my site, and I will talk it up to people. I get a modest amount of referral business, but the times have been tough and my city has been hit hard economically. They are not kidding when they say don't quit your day job.

What sort of background experience and credentials do you pitch to prospective clients?

Mick_I wrote in post #5430774
I see how you see it. I appreciate your input.

It's a two way street though I'm asking do you wait for the meal to come to you our do you go out to get it? and if you go out to get it what is your approach?
My website? it's on the webernets.

sapearl wrote in post #5431274
I do try to "sell the meal." I advertise in a local print trade, I'm listed on a wedding website with pictorial ad and links to my site, and I will talk it up to people. I get a modest amount of referral business, but the times have been tough and my city has been hit hard economically. They are not kidding when they say don't quit your day job.

What sort of background experience and credentials do you pitch to prospective clients?

Great! this is just what I was interested in. I have looked into this as well and have spoken with local publications. Yes, the "R" word is in full effect but I am not one to lie down.

My experience includes working as a Photog for 3 major news channels, member of the PPA as well as NPPA.

Then you probably have plenty of good material already to put up on a dedicated website to showcase your work. I believe that association membership always has the potential for advancing yourself in the public's eye. But without solid examples of your work that are easily accessible for the interested viewer, you will get few if any nibbles.

The sooner you get a dedicated site up the better off you will be.

Mick_I wrote in post #5431751
.....My experience includes working as a Photog for 3 major news channels, member of the PPA as well as NPPA.

sapearl wrote in post #5432635
Then you probably have plenty of good material already to put up on a dedicated website to showcase your work. I believe that association membership always has the potential for advancing yourself in the public's eye. But without solid examples of your work that are easily accessible for the interested viewer, you will get few if any nibbles.

The sooner you get a dedicated site up the better off you will be.

Great, thanks for your advice. I got a site tho.

Except nobody can see it or knows where it's at.

Mick_I wrote in post #5438858
Great, thanks for your advice. I got a site tho.

Like I said thanks for your SAGELY advice..

Good luck with the promotion Mick .

Mick_I wrote in post #5441014
Like I said thanks for you SAGELY advice..