Uncommon suggestion...stop using email

[photostein]

Yes,

I said it. Stop using email and the internet for primary communications with your clients.

You will be light years ahead of most out there because we have become a business that requires personal contact with subjects, but want to minimize that when it comes to other aspects of the business transaction than the actual shoot.

By damn, if you could, you lazy photographers (and if you are not a lazy photographer, don't respond to this huffin' and puffin') would email the camera to the subject and ask for them to return it with the pictures on it while sitting there steaming about why they hadn't returned it in 5 minutes.

You know, there was time in human history when a 3 day journey was a short trip, on horseback no less.

My suggestion is to be patient, minimize the marketing pizzaz and really take care of those customers you already have.

The increase of impatience resulting from our technological advances really turned us all (and I am associated wtih this from time to time as well) into a bunch of impatient, mediocre business people.

If you ever watched the movie (and I don't get my advice or guidance from movies; the Bible is just fine for that but I am not allowed to say this on a NO RELIGION forum) Jerry Maguire, his MEMO to the SMI (Sports Management International?) was the focus should be on LESS customers and become more personal. The idea is don't you want to keep them for life? A repeat customer is one you don't have to win back. Keeping is easier than winning.

You don't get another hour in the day when you have another customer; however, when you have more customers, your personal time (and it is your personal time as the photographer since no one else has your eye and I mean nobody) doesn't expand another hour in the day. The same 24 hours is always there.

I get these flyers out there about how to market your stuff and all that. Frankly, I trash 'em. Running through subjects in front of the lens is not a cattle business. We are talking about human beings who, and anyone who is worth their salt in photography, when they achieve that one expression, is going to sell a ton of photos. You just don't get that kind of reaction; that special moment reaction when you are rushing around trying to think of what that other customer the other day wanted when they emailed you about something their neighbor noticed online.

Stop putting stuff on line, show them printed proofs, walk them through every thing. Make them some coffee, invite them over; heck, go over to their place.

You need to get paid for what you do and it should cover your costs, but when people see you give a damn, and spend time with them, they will pay; especially when the personal touch you provide results in photos they cannot stop looking at.

Done.

[ndsimm]

good suggestions, but remember also, that in this day...most of our clients contact us by email through our web site or by internet searches...
My preference is always by phone IF I am given a phone number, but often I either don't get a number, or I am left with voicemail until after we have traded email a few times...

[photostein]

Understood; however, if you choose to go down the "electronic" road, then you are falling prey to the way they want you to do business; not the other way around. If your work is worth the time and effort you put into producing it, then you can easily respond to an email with a generically, but kind, request for them to email you a phone number, or they may contact you via phone at your number. The website, IMO, should only be information, not a way of scheduling shoots, or following up, etc.... The balance is critical, but the customer, at the end of the day, should see more of your face or hear your voice than they spend online with some machine. After all, it is just a machine and cannot respond, comfort, encourage, negotiate, deliver, as a human being can.

If they don't want to go that route, that is their choice and perhaps not the kind of customer for you.

I prefer people not too busy to interact personally for such a special service we provide.

[d2creative]

You make some good points. I think we have definitely lost a certain sense of intimacy and communication skills with the email revolution.

BUT....

Maybe it's the NY'er in me, but standing on the other side of the coin when dealing with vendors and stuff, I'd much rather use email for most communication. It's easier, quicker and takes up less of my valuable time. I don't want to chit chat, I don't have time to chit chat, I just want what I paid for and I want it asap.

In the end, it probably depends on the personality type of the client.

[HotHolly]

I agree with you Dan. Interpersonal communication is better when the person part is actually there. I dont rely on emails b/c it seems like 1:10 never gets to where its going. All important stuff is done via person or phone only.

I think we also need to be aware of the affect of the net on our clients. They are getting used to NOT talking with a person and humanity is becoming more isolated in their shopping. Whenever possible, get the person to come in or call via the email. Some folks are already hermits and might not come in. Others realize they were gonna have to see you at some point anyway, so they might as well meet you.

[ndsimm]

don't get me wrong, I am in agreement as well, but it's getting the phone number from them first....

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by ndsimm

don't get me wrong, I am in agreement as well, but it's getting the phone number from them first....

Agreed. And some people HATE solicitors. If they dont want a phone call, they dont want a phone call. I have found that I do most of the business with my vendors via email. I can do 2x as much stuff in 1/2 the time. For new accounts, they always set up a time to call. Mainly to make sure Im getting what they are selling. I think its typically going no where too fast if the client-to-be didnt include a phone number and doesnt give one. Im trying to remember if Ive booked anyone that way, and no one comes to mind. It could be my clientele think of speaking with me as an interview...so its to their benefit to talk to me.

[Jake]

I'm going to start doing all my client communication via Twitter.

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by thejakestir

i'm Going To Start Doing All My Client Communication Via Twitter.

Lol!

[photostein]

Originally Posted by thejakestir

I'm going to start doing all my client communication via Twitter.

I am sure this was meant as sarcastic; but what is Twitter? Is it like Facebook?

I don't get into that online subculture community stuff.

[janikphoto]

hmmm... many of my clients prefer to do "almost" everything through email. I had one record label exec call me once, then everything else was through email. Even the contracts were signed, scanned, and emailed! I emailed over comps and then sent the finals by fedex.

I have a special client that the writers actually text me when trying to plan photo assignments. It's that type of lifestyle these days...

[CaptainTom]

I worked for a local non profit for five years.
I was constantly on the phone trying to make contact with the movers and shakers of businesses throughout DFW.

I can't tell you the number of times I would call the client and leave a voice mail, and then immediately follow up with an email, and they would send back an immediate reply to the email. They were not answering their phones. They WERE answering their emails.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by photostein

Is it like Facebook?

.

Yeah, only awesomer.

[brad]

Many, many people don't want to talk on the phone. They don't want to be hard sold by someone who won't shut up long enough for them to get a word in edgewise. Plus, they may communicate better in writing... and they can do it at their own pace.. take better care in their decision making.

I don't ever want to sound like I'm giving them a hard sell. I don't want them to ever feel like they have to give me answers *now* since I have them on the phone.

My website has both an email contact and a phone number. If they contact me via email, I will respond via email. If they contact me via phone, I will respond via phone. If they say in their email to call them, I call them. Its all part of the service.. make them comfortable. Comfortable people are better subjects for the camera.

Originally Posted by photostein

I don't get into that online subculture community stuff.

This, I think, is your problem with email, then. To ignore this by calling it a "subculture" just shows how out of touch you are with where the customers are .. and how they prefer to communicate.

Hold on to your archaic ideas, if you want.. I'm sure the people who insisted on face to face communications and door to door sales said the same things about those newfangled telephones.

Please, in the meantime, send any of those customers who "aren't for you" because they only want to communicate via email to me.

kthxbai

[dpena]

ah ill have to agree with Brad ,,,,,I also think youll have to find that fine point where each client is different and figure out would that client rather be emailed and called. you can even ask the client what form of contact would be better for him/her, right ?