Aside from Word of Mouth

[tukaniray]

Aside from Word of Mouth ...

What are your suggestions of getting your name out there?

I have a few people I do work for on a production side of video, but what are other ways that you can get your name out there?

I have a couple of ads at my local church and am looking into some of the run around go to mags for ads ... but what else?

And do you think doing the ads are really that worth it?

Not to much a fan of Cold Calling, but I have done it.

Just wanted to get your opinions and suggestions. Thanks.

-Ray-

[LadyShutterBug]

what, specifically do you do?

who is your target audience?

[dracula02]

Originally Posted by tukaniray

Aside from Word of Mouth ...

What are your suggestions of getting your name out there?

I have a few people I do work for on a production side of video, but what are other ways that you can get your name out there?

I have a couple of ads at my local church and am looking into some of the run around go to mags for ads ... but what else?

And do you think doing the ads are really that worth it?

Not to much a fan of Cold Calling, but I have done it.

Just wanted to get your opinions and suggestions. Thanks.

-Ray-

Facebook

[tukaniray]

Originally Posted by LadyShutterBug

what, specifically do you do?

who is your target audience?

Well ... for the past 4.5 years, I have been a corporate photographer, camera operator, production house manager and post editor for a location, that doesn't allow me to show off my work.

So, discouraged, I have decided to step away from that to re-build my reel.

Stinks, because 4.5 years of work, unable to show off.

For the past 7 years, on top of the above daily gig, I have been a Live event TD, Camera operator and motion graphics/post editor. Some of that work is shown on my portfolio site.

For the past 3 years, I have honed my skills towards still photography, in mainly portrait and event photography.

I ask about other ways then word of mouth, just to have more options.

I know this is a slow time for many of us creatives, but I know we all must still stay afloat some way, so, that's why I ask.

My target audience, hmm ...
- for video - as a camera operator and post editor: Entertainment Broadcast and Multi-Camera events.
- for photo - portrait photography, family and hopefully one day, commercial.

-Ray-

[kayumangi]

Actually what Kasey meant was, what is your target audience's demographics?

Where do they shop? What cars do they own? What neighborhoods do they live? are they college educated? what is their profession? do they have kids? how old are those kids?

the more you narrow it down, the more you can paint a face on what they look like, the more you'll know on what to do to effectively market to them.

Asking what else to do besides word of mouth is a very broad question.

Technically, word of mouth can only be effective if the people you are speaking to are your ideal audience (their demographics fits your ideal customer profile), otherwise it will seem futile.

So again, who is your target audience?

[tukaniray]

Hmm ... Thanks Maruis.

That definitely gets me thinking about that again. Since I have been out of the full loop of freelance, I haven't really thought about it.

-Ray-

[Arcusmedia]

I donate my Time to Bar's and Charity's In Exchange for Advertising.. I also go to local business's and leave my cards.... But most of my Business Comes from Word of Mouth or Facebook...

[ronocnikral]

i have yet to meet someone who was happy with the results (financial) of a magazine ad or online ad.

careful of thinking that so & so has a big full page spread and they are a big time photog. a lot of this industry is smoke and mirrors. and some business has been known to take place under the table.

[LadyShutterBug]

My target audience, hmm ...
- for video - as a camera operator and post editor: Entertainment Broadcast and Multi-Camera events.
- for photo - portrait photography, family and hopefully one day, commercial.

a) You have two very different target audiences. Market to them separately. In choosing a photographer for personal needs, most people don't want to see "but also, I'm an Entertainment Broadcast post-editor" because it's kind of indicative of lack of commitment to the one thing they're looking for.

b) if your long term goal is commercial, i'm not sure i'd spend so much time building up a marketing plan or client base in portrait/family photography. It's not something that's instantly lucrative, and it does take some time to get your name and work out there.

If you want to do corporate photography, contact some local businesses and do low-cost headshots or product photography. Build a portfolio of the kind of work you want to get paid for, and then show that (even if you do a mock-up ad or shoot for a pretend company, you can still include it in your portfolio as examples of hat you CAN do). Find a charity that needs your services and donate them in-kind.

[HotHolly]

determine EXACTLY who/ what type of client you want BEFORE you do anything. it greatly affects the outcome of your ads. doing a blanket fire, ready, aim method of marketing usually bites ppl on the butt.

there is also NOTHING better than word of mouth. i would cultivate more of it, and get your portfolio in line since you can't use your old stuff. you need samples. also, start where you want to be. its difficult to put your toe in the water at one price point and then swing higher. it screws with your WOM.

i just wrote a post that was aimed at writers, but it's on marketing. most of it applies to any business, if you wanna look.

[Phisch]

Ray, you know I'm new at this but I'll give my 2 cents anyways.

A few helpful sites (homework!): Tips for Photography Businesses | Photographers Pricing Guide | Small Business Marketing
Small Business Marketing Ideas
Social Media Marketing Tips Photographers
…a Man to Fish…

And one last one that I will mention at great risk of vein shunned:

craigslist: dallas / fort worth classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events

You have a day job that's covering your bills (yes?) so you can start out inexpensive. If Martha Stewart recommends brides check there, well...it's not as bad as some make it out to be. Plus? It's a busy site so a link back to yours is SEO juice. Plus? If you can handle the "difficult" budget bride and they can recommend you, you are a leg up in customer service. Plus? More bookings means you can work off the referrals and slowly inch up your price.

You'll want to narrow down your target market, too. You did't mention who or what you wanted to shoot. If it's commercial work you want to do, then the above doesn't apply. I'm not sure how it works now, but B.I. (before internet) days, you would print up 10 examples of your work and leave them at an art director's desk for a couple of weeks. Mail them cards with your name and samples. Get your name and work in their hands. Or, if you were really good, you'd get an agent and they'd do all that for you. Do people still use artist's agents?

[ronocnikral]

The thing that has always kept me from putting up a craigslist ad every week is the connotation that it brings. I associate craigslist as getting a "deal," and I don't think I am alone. It's not my clientele. I know a few people have had success with it, but it isn't for me.

I think Holly's advice about starting where you want to be is wise.

[tukaniray]

Thanks plenty guys.

Definitely gets me thinking. I would love to do Corporate and Commercial style shooting more. Since, that will be my main drive, I will work on creating work towards that and also building my work for that.

I already do video work on a corporate, multi-camera and commercial way, so I can start to talk to my clients I all ready have about doing more stills for them as well.

And Mercedes, I am going to another group of people in the field and living my current gig ... couldn't handle the attitude of some people in that studio any more. Sad, because I am a very passive and easy-going person and the gig is real good on pay ... but I have always believed in the truth about if you are not happy doing the work, you will be miserable day in and day out and your work will show it.

I will definitely check out the post Holly.

-Ray-

[Phisch]

Blech. Sorry to hear that, Ray. It seems like Houston is a good place for commercial gigs though.

Even if it is commercial work you're after, that also has a ton of specialization involved so you still have to narrow your focus. You ultimately want to catch the eyes of art and design directors, bottom line. They're the ones who are the decision makers.

If you're at all interested you could look into stock photography. It's a HUGE pain to get into it. But if you do quality work, it could still be something that kind of pads the wallet if even a little. This guy did a blog post about how he makes it work for him Humanitarian photography for non-profits, NGO's and corporations by humanitarian photographer Gary S. Chapman He does it through Getty which has gotten some flack lately but they're not the only stock agency out there.