Today, almost everyone has a smartphone that’s equipped with a camera not only to take photographs but also to take videos on the fly. Add to this the sheer volume of production tools that are available and aimed at “prosumers” or anyone, and you might ask yourself just how you can build your business as a freelance photographer.
While few freelancers could ever blame anyone else for getting bitten by the photography bug, getting clients in today’s market can prove to be more challenging than in the past. There are several things you can do to separate your freelance photography business from the do-it-yourself crowd. One of the critical ways of accomplishing this is by knowing how to showcase and market your work while building a strong client base.
Creating and Sharing Engaging, Relevant Content
Every photographer has an area that calls to them or that they do better than any other type of photography. Whether your specialty is wedding photography, sporting events, portraits, or nature photography, it’s essential to focus on those strengths to consider who your potential customers are. For example, if you are going for beach photography, you can check out this article from Weddings by Adina for more inspirations. Once you’ve done that, you can go to the places where they gather and market to them.
If you haven’t done so already, create a website for your photography business. Your website can be the perfect platform to showcase your work to get it in front of potential clients.
Try Pixpa for free, and create your portfolio website, client galleries, online store & blog. All in one place.
15 days free trial. No Credit Card required.
You can also use your website to:
– Create a blog aimed at fellow photographers. Your blog can offer tutorials, tips, how-to’s, e-books, free online courses, or resource lists that will encourage website visitors to subscribe to your blog or newsletter.
– Post information about your own availability for events and offers, promotions, or giveaways.
– Connect to area businesses, shows, and events that allow you to network with others both online and off. Take part in Facebook groups or by using Instagram hashtags, and you encourage others interested in the same things to connect with you and your work.
– Offer discounts to your photography clients and start a partner program to accelerate your growth. Your past customers can be your resource. By offering them a one-time discount of say 25% for a referral, you can increase your customer base.
– Consider leveraging the power of affiliate marketing and starting an affiliate program to promote your work. Check out this list of best affiliate marketing courses to learn how to do this most efficiently and successfully.
– Consider Stock Photography – Many freelance photographers have found that they can make a little extra money by providing stock photography to websites like Getty Images and Shutterstock.
Also Check Out: Become a Better Photographer – Parts I and II
Mastering Clients’ Inbox
So much of building a business as a freelance photographer is accomplished by good old-fashioned marketing. Before you consider purchasing advertising locally or online, consider the fact that email marketing campaigns don’t require you to buy ad space. Plus, email has proved itself to be far more successful than any other form of advertising–and it’s a medium over which you, the business owner, have complete control.
When someone visits your website, signs up for your newsletter, e-book, or online course, for example, they are giving you permission to email them.
With a simple-in-use email follow up tool, you can send each of your customers a personalized response email that comes to them as often as you like.
– Start by creating a personal response email that first thanks them for signing up, and that also gives them the valuable content you promised.
– Follow up emails you send should also be personalized and have an engaging subject line to get your customer’s attention. Inside the email, you should also have strong content that will make them look forward to seeing your name in their email box and will encourage them to interact with you further.
– Each email that you send to your clients should contain at a call to action. This call to action might be to answer a survey, for example. Any responses you receive will give you further information about your customers and what their needs are so you can provide that to them.
– To get your clients to sign up, you will want to make the sign-up process as enticing and easy as possible. For potential customers, offer them a discount. For other freelancers who might want to follow your lead, provide a valuable report, online course, or professional tip sheet.
– Being creative types, we want to share examples of our work to generate potential business. However, don’t send out image-heavy emails. Only send one or two images and be sure to optimize them for email so that your subscribers don’t merely hit ‘delete’ before they’re finished loading.
– As successful as email is as a marketing tool, it’s important not to overdo it. Once or twice a month is the minimum number of emails you want to send to your subscribers.
Note: Click Here to read an amazing guide on Headshot Photography.
Any more than once or twice a week and you risk having your customers unsubscribe, or worse, having them become annoyed so that anything you send to them is labeled as spam.
By making your love of photography shine through the pictures you take and content you offer, it will show itself in your marketing efforts, and to everyone who interacts with you both online and out in the world.
Also Read: How To Make Money Online In India? 5 Ways To Grow Rich
