Marketing

[Picture_Video]

Does anyone have some suggestions for markerting oneself? I am just looking for some brain storming of ideas?

[Killeenguy]

well a website wouldn't hurt! it's like a flashy bussiness card i say, with examples

[brad]

Just a website isn't enough, though. You have to have people seeing it, too. Its hard to say where/how to market without knowing what kind of photography you want to do.

[Picture_Video]

I do amateur photograhy. I have two business I run from home, one is a web development firm and the other is Picture2Video - I turn photogrpahs into photo montage videos.

[Killeenguy]

that's a good point brad....and word of mouth and other methods of spreading the word of one's new bussiness is always a long task....the whole point is gathering enough clients to make a confortable and consistent bussiness from....so i guess the question would be..how do u let poeple know u have a website!? attach the address to ur bussiness card..is one but what are the other forms?

[Elsaspet]

Try Craigslist. It's free and gets a ton of area driven traffic.
:-)

[ndsimm]

one of my most successful tools is the web. I use some vendor specific sites and display a link to my site there so that when people do a search for say "houston photographers", one of these sites may appear first on the list and hence they see my listing. two of the best that work for me are WeDJ.com and ep-o.net
more than that, make yourself as visible as possible so that people remember you. Volunteer to shoot for certain events (not many because you don't want to give away the farm), and do some local trade shows (like the bridal show some of us just did).
in some cases, like the old saying goes, you have to spend money to make money.....

[Picture_Video]

KillyGuy - I have had my website up for some time. I guess business is increaing a lot of people find me over the net and thru search engines.

Brad - You are absolutely right that the website isn't enough. Even marketing it right isn't enough. Word of mouth is much better. 99% of my clients are always thrilled with my work. How do I get them to tell other people about me? With out breaking the bank! I have an email a friend link on my website, as well as a bookmark me.

Elsaspet - I have heard of craig list but - guess I can't find the main page I remember.... I hit a site I know wasn't the right one ;D

ndsimm - I think I will do a local show maybe later in the year. Have any of you tried affiliate links (link Exchange) does it work for you, etc.

How do you get started Volunteer to shoot for certain events? - I am kind of shy, first meeting people, just not over the internet. I know i am working on getting over it.

You all have some great advice.

[haraki74]

Thanks, Nathan. That is the kind of information that will help.

Harry

[ndsimm]

Originally Posted by Picture_Video

Elsaspet - I have heard of craig list but - guess I can't find the main page I remember.... I hit a site I know wasn't the right one ;D

ndsimm - I think I will do a local show maybe later in the year. Have any of you tried affiliate links (link Exchange) does it work for you, etc.

How do you get started Volunteer to shoot for certain events? - I am kind of shy, first meeting people, just not over the internet. I know i am working on getting over it.

You all have some great advice.

Craig's List - http://houston.craigslist.org/

WeDJ.com and ep-o.net are similar to link exchanges but a lot of the link exchange site are a mixed bag. I have a few vendor links on my site for additional info but that's about it.

as for volunteering, what has worked for me is finding out about corporate events on the job for example and offer to shoot or in my case I do a lot for my Church which gives me opportunities at other events.

[ndsimm]

posted the wrong address for ep-o...

https://www.ep-o.com/defaultNew.asp