What's Your Most Cost Effective Advertising

Facebook and word of mouth.

*wonders if most people read the original post*

FamilyJules wrote in post #10182447
*wonders if most people read the original post*

reading is hard

Client referrals definitely. Happy clients are great at advertising for us .

reading is hard, indeed.

viet wrote in post #10177836
Word of mouth, cost = 0.

absolutly

0 cost besides time (labor) to be sure you provide what you claim and treat the customer fairly. In 35 years of doing business it's by far and away the best long term revenue generator.

Hahaha, OMG, this is funny

**subscribed to this thread to see how many more times someone says "Word of Mouth" or someone who "+1's" someone saying word of mouth.

Sheesh. It's not like the thread is 10 pages!

Facebook and word of mouth. My facebook page leads them to my website where the pictures look better.

**Rubs temples and sighs annoyedly**

word of mouth and referals...

Okay, okay, I withdraw the question!

Okay, serious answer, i get a few hits with google adwords. Booked two people with it after using it for about 6 months. I limit it to where I will only be charge one click a day though. I find Facebook Ads to have a much better return as you can target the ads. I've booked a few through those Ads. Both cases the bookings have more than paid for the ads. I think the key is just to limit the daily spending and target (using facebook ads) the client you are looking for so you don't spend $10 a day on people who aren't gonna use you anyway. For instance, on Facebook I target only college graduates. Maturity and money seems to be higher with educated folk. I think my facebook ad is at $3 a day. Once a week I'll get an inquiry from a Facebook ad. Once a month I'll book soembody from a Facebook ad...

pretty recent conversation with one of those online wedding vendor list companies

I sign up for their free listings just because. It can't possibly hurt that once a year somebody sees my name at the bottom of a 40 page long list. But then the sales calls come...

Mr. Biggs. We saw you recently listed your business with our site...Yes, I think so. I did a couple the other day... We'd just like to spend a moment going over what we have to offer.... okay... We have blah blah blah for $xxxx or we have blah blah blah for $xxxx... (I interupt) Can I get a free trial month?... well, we are confident once you use us and start booking clients you will keep us... Okay, so if you are confident why don't you give me a free month? If listing with you is successful I would definitely continue to use you... well uh, well, we can't really do that... why not? you're telling me you can't pull a few strings for the sale?... our systems aren't set up for that... so click a button and make it happen. You want me as a paying client right?... yes, but we can't do that... Well, how about just let me pay for one month to test it out. If I don't book a client in a month it's not worth me investing any more time in. I will gamble a little dough for a one month trial. I can write it off anyhow... well, like I said, we aren't set up for that. You can pay $$$ for six months at a time but it cost $$$ more per month that way... No thanks... In your region last month photographer A had xxxxx hits on his site. photograpber B had xxxxx hits on his site. You will get on average xxxxx on your site... Okay, prove it to me and let me try it for free for two weeks then... Scott, we just can't do that... Okay, let me ask you a question Mr. Online Photog List Guy. You go out and drop $30,000 on a brand new car. Are you gonna test drive it first before you pay for it?... Yes... Would you buy it if they told you were not allowed to test drive it and you had to sign a contract guaranteeing that you pay for the whole thing even if it turns out you hate the car in two months?... well, no... so now we understand each other... well, that's like comparing apples to oranges... CLICK.

form wrote in post #10177832
Criagslist.

Craigslist or kijiji is free but is it effective?

I would not look for my wedding photographer on craigslist nor on kijiji. But again that's my opinion.

^^^ Maybe not, but CL is great for SEO.... it gets you clicks for free

**Oh, and Paul, I totally LOL'ed at the post after yours......seriously, people***