There are many different marketing tips for photographers that you can employ to help spread your work through the Internet. Many popular, and not so popular photographers, have started web sites that showcase their talent. Most of the websites are setup in a gallery format that organizes their photos into different categories that show small versions of their works. Others may even sell some of their photographs directly through their website.
Here are some great tips for marketing any photography business.
Build a Following
As a photographer, you need to have a list of contacts with who you can share any worthy news. Whether it is a holiday sale, a gallery exhibition or a new project, your list can help you spread the word. Your contacts could be influential photographer friends, gallery owners, or current and past clients. Send a brief email with details about your news. Don’t forget to include a link to your site.
Build Brand Awareness
It is important that your brand is recognizable by people. Therefore, it is important to invest your money and time in aggressive brand awareness campaigns. First, you need to design a unique logo synonymous with your brand which can be used on your email signature, business cards and website. The logo should be used repeatedly in every place where you have an offline or online presence. Create ‘touch points’ which will give people an opportunity to interact more with your photography. Open an account with every major social network and use the different platforms to promote your brand. This approach has been very effective in promoting my blog which features istock photo discounts and thinkstock coupons.
Collaborate with Others in the Business
While building your brand, you should also consider collaborating and forming groups with other photographers in your niche. While maintaining your independence, you can take advantage of the group to gather more contacts and market your projects collectively. Collective and coordinated efforts can result in more new clients and image sales. You can host hold seminars together, host group shows, contribute to photography blogs and get invitations to lecture at photo schools. In the end, everyone wins.
Remind People of Your Existence
This is very vital. Some buyers might be interested in your initial email, but then keep it away for review later. However, it is likely that your email will get misplaced and the recipient will forget about the initial contact made. Therefore, it is important to maintain two different email lists, one for potential clients and one for former clients. When you are working on a new project, send an email to both lists. Make sure that the email is tailored to meet the needs of your buyers. This will increase the possibility of making a sale or getting hired.
Accentuate Your Strengths
As a photographer, you need to play your strength to your advantage. If you are involved in more than one niche, you might have a slight edge over other photographers. However, the best way of making an impression on buyers is by specializing. Invest your time in promoting your best work. If you have positioned yourself as a fashion photographer, your fashion photography should stand out prominently. When prospects visit your site, they should find it showcasing the same genre and style. For every marketing campaign, make sure you put your best foot forward.