Thoughts on GroupOn ?

[Some Idiot]

We have been contacted from GroupOn to run a campaign. We would have to discount our regular pricing by 50%-70% off, and GroupOn keeps 50% of whats left.... However, we can limit how many deals we sell, and it would be sent out to a ton of people in our specific market.....Should we eat the loss and look at it as advertisement cost?

Thoughts?

[Tom]

There is a way to do it profitably, but if you are doing portraits, you can't give away the disc. You have to upsell prints after or it will drain the life out of you.

[Some Idiot]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

There is a way to do it profitably, but if you are doing portraits, you can't give away the disc. You have to upsell prints after or it will drain the life out of you.

thats what I am afraid of...... We have no intentions on giving away a disk. I did read elsewhere that GroupOn was asking them (the photographer) to give the customers digital negatives.... that we won't do either.

for sure we will have lots of questions, I am hoping that some of you have tried GroupOn and can share your experience with us

[XtremePhoto]

Just a thought...Quality and Quantity NEVER work together.

-G-

[David Whatley]

I know some photographers that have done it with sucess, and we planned on doing it, but here the wait was 6 months :(
Cover your base cost with the price you sell the coupon for. Limit the number, and a reasonable time frame, plan to upsell on prints.

[L Stegall]

For something as unique and time consuming as individual photography sessions, I would think you'd have to really limit the number of people who can buying your Groupons or you could end up in real trouble. I know there was a horror story on here awhile back about some photographer who was over their head after selling Groupons and couldn't remotely meet the demands of the people who bought and were very disgruntled.

Having said that, I've used Groupon a few times and so far, I'm very pleased with what I've used it for - a good discount at a fresh fish market and I'm about to use a Groupon for inexpensive photo books/calendars of family pics for my in-laws.

[brad]

Most of the deals I see photographers offer are of the "200 images on CD and a 3 hour outdoor session at the location of your choice for $50" variety.

Ummm.. that's not just an advertising loss.. that's a non-starter. If you offer such a deal, aren't you saying that's what your deliverable is all the time? You won't stay in business long.

[jkderby]

Offer just a special. like a half hour session and ten photos. Say the regular price is $250 and they get it for 1$25. don't sell on Groupon what you normally sell. Figure out a special deal, a one time shot for Groupon deals only. Do a shoot and burn. Limited editing.

From an article I read....
"Groupon is advertising. If you don’t need or believe in advertising, there is no reason to look at this. It costs money. Instead of writing a check for an ad, you are choosing to lose money on sales. This can wreak havoc on the brain cells of a good retailer who is always watching profit margins. It can feel wrong, especially when the coupon customers don’t spend more than the amount of the coupon."

After doing some quick reading of other articles, I would not do it. Google "Groupon" to make an intelligent decision.

[Some Idiot]

Originally Posted by David Whatley

I know some photographers that have done it with sucess, and we planned on doing it, but here the wait was 6 months :(
Cover your base cost with the price you sell the coupon for. Limit the number, and a reasonable time frame, plan to upsell on prints.

We are thinking no more then 50, and hopefully the wait will be less for a few reasons. 1. They are new in our area, 2. they contacted us. Thanks for your reply

Originally Posted by L Stegall

For something as unique and time consuming as individual photography sessions, I would think you'd have to really limit the number of people who can buying your Groupons or you could end up in real trouble. I know there was a horror story on here awhile back about some photographer who was over their head after selling Groupons and couldn't remotely meet the demands of the people who bought and were very disgruntled.

Having said that, I've used Groupon a few times and so far, I'm very pleased with what I've used it for - a good discount at a fresh fish market and I'm about to use a Groupon for inexpensive photo books/calendars of family pics for my in-laws.

i think I read about that too - way over sold. Which at the price we would have to do this for, that would suck! Thanks for your reply

Originally Posted by brad

Most of the deals I see photographers offer are of the "200 images on CD and a 3 hour outdoor session at the location of your choice for $50" variety.

Ummm.. that's not just an advertising loss.. that's a non-starter. If you offer such a deal, aren't you saying that's what your deliverable is all the time? You won't stay in business long.

I'm hoping it won't leave that type of impression, and that IS one of our biggest concerns, we don't want the "cheap" or "discount" label. Thanks for your reply

Originally Posted by jkderby

Offer just a special. like a half hour session and ten photos. Say the regular price is $250 and they get it for 1$25. don't sell on Groupon what you normally sell. Figure out a special deal, a one time shot for Groupon deals only. Do a shoot and burn. Limited editing.

From an article I read....
"Groupon is advertising. If you don’t need or believe in advertising, there is no reason to look at this. It costs money. Instead of writing a check for an ad, you are choosing to lose money on sales. This can wreak havoc on the brain cells of a good retailer who is always watching profit margins. It can feel wrong, especially when the coupon customers don’t spend more than the amount of the coupon."

After doing some quick reading of other articles, I would not do it. Google "Groupon" to make an intelligent decision.

A "groupon" special seems like the way to go, instead of discounting our regular pricing..... this is a hard decision. Thanks for your reply

[Flores]

groupons are a very much 'want it now' kind of thing... perhaps the 'groupon only' thing would be something along the lines of a 'social media' head shot..

low res, nice head and shoulders, take 10 minutes a piece to do it. while they look at all the high end quality work you do for real money.

[Some Idiot]

Originally Posted by Flores

groupons are a very much 'want it now' kind of thing... perhaps the 'groupon only' thing would be something along the lines of a 'social media' head shot..

low res, nice head and shoulders, take 10 minutes a piece to do it. while they look at all the high end quality work you do for real money.

another great idea, thanks for the reply

[Tom]

I doubt they would take you on if you only wanted to do 50 coupons. My guess is they make you do at least 100, but probably more than that. Otherwise, it isn't worth it for them.

I've seen photography groupons where they limited the days that the shoots will be available and had predetermined locations. That would save on driving. Just schedule all in a row and bang them out. Or do them only in your studio and charge travel outside the studio.

And I would give an 11x14, not a smaller print. Reason? Most home scanners can't fit an 11x14. Possibly a contact sheet of prints OR a disc of pics 300px wide as a contact sheet.

[TxTowman]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

I doubt they would take you on if you only wanted to do 50 coupons. My guess is they make you do at least 100, but probably more than that. Otherwise, it isn't worth it for them.

I've seen photography groupons where they limited the days that the shoots will be available and had predetermined locations. That would save on driving. Just schedule all in a row and bang them out. Or do them only in your studio and charge travel outside the studio.

And I would give an 11x14, not a smaller print. Reason? Most home scanners can't fit an 11x14. Possibly a contact sheet of prints OR a disc of pics 300px wide as a contact sheet.

+1

5 shots, 20 minutes, tight schedule. and overbook, might just break even.

If they all show up you can work a little longer. I figure most will take less time and that will make up for the longer ones.

JMHO

Sid

[Some Idiot]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell
I doubt they would take you on if you only wanted to do 50 coupons. My guess is they make you do at least 100, but probably more than that. Otherwise, it isn't worth it for them.

I've seen photography groupons where they limited the days that the shoots will be available and had predetermined locations. That would save on driving. Just schedule all in a row and bang them out. Or do them only in your studio and charge travel outside the studio.

And I would give an 11x14, not a smaller print. Reason? Most home scanners can't fit an 11x14. Possibly a contact sheet of prints OR a disc of pics 300px wide as a contact sheet.

Originally Posted by TxTowman

+1

5 shots, 20 minutes, tight schedule. and overbook, might just break even.

If they all show up you can work a little longer. I figure most will take less time and that will make up for the longer ones.

JMHO

Sid

I just hate the thought of "get 'em in get 'em out" , It goes against everything we stand for.... at this point, I am not sure if groupon is the right avenue for us....need to sleep on it for sure. thanks for the replys

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

It wouldn't fit my brand nor my studio.