What's Your Most Cost Effective Advertising

Yes, I know it's word of mouth and referals. But after that, considering cost, what avenue brings in the most new business for you?:

* SEO/organic searches
* Search engine ads (i.e., Google AdWords)
* Bridal web sites (TheKnot, Bride.com, etc.)
* Listing sites (WedJ, WedPlan, MarketingTool.com, etc.)
* Bridal fairs
* Advertising in bridal magazines
* Advertising in local newspapers
* Direct mail
* Anything else that I've forgotten

Personally, I've only had a premium listing on WedJ and that's been pretty effective for me, but now that my SEO has improved, I think I'm going to take those $'s and move on but I haven't decided what I want to do next.

I'm not inclined towards AdWords or other search advertising, only because I know I don't respond to them myself. I don't even tend to see them and just go right to the organic search results.

I'm thinking about TheKnot.com just because they're kinda THE guys, but they've not been very responsive, I get the sense it's expensive, and I'd be one of many dozen photographers listed in my market. Instead, I'm leaning towards both a magazine and web listing with my local Bride.com, maybe even buying a mailing list and doing some direct mail.

And I'm thinking about bridal fairs, but I may put that off for about a year.

So what's worked for you and where do you think you're headed with your advertising?

Criagslist.

Word of mouth, cost = 0.

We're a part of a local wedding association. It's $150 a year, and we get about 65% of our work through it. That's literally the ONLY paid advertising that we do, aside from marketing materials like rack cards/ brochures. A lot of areas have regional associations for people in the industry.
OH, and getting on vendor lists @ venues... this helps a lot.
We advertise on Craigslist, too, but not really to get work..... mainly to get the website clicks and get higher on a Google Search.
Oh yea, we did do one wedding show in San Diego last year (So we did pay for that.... I suppose I lied, lol) and booked about 8 weddings from it.... It was worth it, to us.... but I know not all wedding shows work.... I think that we just got lucky somehow.

look into your local bridal stores. Every David's Bridal allows one vendor from each category to "partner" with them. I don't really like the word partner because in essence, you are just paying them for direct access to their clients. You do all the work, they get your fancy photos and you can snag their clients. I never did it, but I think it was like $300 a month.

word of mouth, nearly every single bride ive shot is my sales person ..and facebook! funnily enough a lot of people do contact me through there... i just put a couple of pics up now and again a week after the wedding..edit them .. and tag the couple in ...its free and lets face it social networking is getting bigger and bigger...

FamilyJules wrote in post #10177902
We're a part of a local wedding association. It's $150 a year, and we get about 65% of our work through it.

OH, and getting on vendor lists @ venues... this helps a lot.

I'm curious about these two approaches:

When you say local wedding associations, are you describing a professional association for photographers or is this something more broad and directed towards the consumer. Would you be willing to share a link?

I've yet to approach banquet facilities about getting listed. Do they ask for much in return? Payment, link exchange, etc., or did you just build a relationship there?

Thanks.

By far the greatest tool for me has been facebook.

Shameless plug in 3......2......1......

My facebook

Peacefield wrote in post #10179365
I'm curious about these two approaches:

When you say local wedding associations, are you describing a professional association for photographers or is this something more broad and directed towards the consumer. Would you be willing to share a link?

I've yet to approach banquet facilities about getting listed. Do they ask for much in return? Payment, link exchange, etc., or did you just build a relationship there?

Thanks.

Robert,

It's actually an association of wedding professionals... not just photogs. We all get together every few months. Exchange marketing ideas, put together events....brainstormin​g, really. here's a link to the one I am a member of: http://www.mountainlak​esweddingassociation.c​om
Everyone pays a membership fee every year, and we advertise in all kinds of places, including the Knot.com and Brides magazine. Not to mention a great place to meet other wedding pros and network like crazy! We've developed some invaluable relationships through this association. Hope this helps.

As far as approaching venues, I ONLY ask venues that we have worked at more than once. Just so we're not strangers to them. Venues get approached everyday by wedding pros trying to get on their list, so be cool about it. Venues need good referrals as much as you need them, sometimes. it helps their business by helping their brides.
We're not pushy people at all, but we're on about 5 venue lists that I know of. We've only asked to be on 3 of those. The others were automatic because we work there so much. Yesterday morning we met with the banquet manager of the Lake Arrowhead Resort (a venue we work at quite often) and she couldn't believe that we hadn't contacted her a year ago.....they were WAITING for US to make the first move. I was shocked. but as of yesterday, we were put on their vendor list, and they do about 100 weddings a year there.
Sorry for all the babble, but I hope this helps somewhat

You forgot two choices, word of mouth and social networking.

Most of my work has been through both, I get lots of attention via facebook but very few actual sales or photoshoots through it. Word of mouth has been great so far, I work at a school so a lot of people who work there also have kids, I started off shooting one family, and she told others (without me even asking!), and now I have other people interested.

Local Wiki page. Since most folks where I live go to our local online wiki page to find things, by have a page for my business (simply factual information, no real "advertising") many people stumble on me by looking through the local photographers.

past clients.

FamilyJules wrote in post #10181060
but I hope this helps somewhat

Excellent information; thanks so much for sharing! I've not yet seen or heard of an association in my area (northern NJ), but will definitely have to dig a little deeper.

Networking with other vendors and wedding planners. It is free and beats all the others.
If a brides other vendors are recommending you it is money in the bank....

Any advertising where you are on a list with a bunch of other wedding photographers is a waste of money.

Peacefield wrote in post #10181549
Excellent information; thanks so much for sharing! I've not yet seen or heard of an association in my area (northern NJ), but will definitely have to dig a little deeper.

You're very welcome, Robert
If you don't have an association in your area.....start one! hehe
If I moved into a new area where one did not exist, I would start one on my own and gather as many wedding pros as I could. It's really been helpful, and it's great to feel a part of a community like that
Oh, and in your original question, you asked if the venues require anything in return. Not in my experience. I've never paid a dime to be on one of those lists. I do, however, link them on my page, but not b/c they asked....mainly because it's a venue that I enjoy shooting at and like the people there. ...so why not send brides there?