Marketing for Photographers! 8 Ideas That Really Work

Posted on by joran
Marketing for Photographers! 8 Ideas That Really Work

Are you a photographer looking for ways to market your business? 

If so, you’re in luck! 

There are a number of marketing strategies that can help you reach your target audience and grow your photography business. 

In this blog post, we’ll outline seven marketing ideas that work. 

So, whether you’re just starting or you’ve been in the business for a while, be sure to check out these helpful tips!

Table of contents

1. Use Niche Job Boards

If you’ve been in the industry for a while, I’m sure you’ve heard about freelance job boards like UpWork, Fiverr, and Freelancer.com.

The problem with that kind of job board is they’re too broad. You can find all types of freelancers (writers, designers, programmers, etc.). And people there tend to look for “cheap labor” instead of professionals.

Now, don’t get me wrong. 

I’m not saying you can’t find good gigs on those platforms, but if you’re starting, I don’t recommend starting there.

So, what should I do then? You ask.

Three words: Niche. Job. Boards.

Niche job boards are very similar to traditional job boards, but there you’ll find people looking for specific types of freelancers only (i.e., writers, designers, photographers).

This kind of board has two main benefits:

  1. You can find more gigs that match your skills
  2. Clients tend to pay more (they look for quality)

Some of the most popular job boards for photographers include:

2. Find Clients on Google

I know, I know. This idea might look silly, but you’d be surprised by the number of photographers who “forget” to search for clients on Google (even though it’s one of the easiest ways to start).

To make your job easier, I’ve listed some “search strings” you can use to find clients. Just head over to Google and type in one of them. You’ll find a ton of opportunities.

Here you go:

  • “Photography job”
  • “Photographer needed”
  • “Photographer needed” + “Your city”
  • “Looking for a photographer” + “Your city”

Here’s an example:

Google_photographer.png

This is a great way to find clients looking for photographers in your area.

3. Use The Costco Technique to Demonstrate What You’re Worth

The other day, I was reading an article and found something interesting (but stupid, in my opinion).

It said something like this (I’m paraphrasing):

“A good way to get clients for your freelance business is to find a bunch of people who might be interested in your services and email them your pitch. The trick here lies in quantity; the more emails you send, the more chances you’ll succeed.”

BIG mistake.

Email outreach can be effective if you know what you’re doing, but emailing people like crazy to get a client is like throwing spaghetti against a wall and hoping some of it sticks.

So let me introduce you to a more intelligent approach: The Costco Technique.

The people at Costco are brilliant. They offer free samples because they know you’re more likely to buy a product if you test it first. 

And as a photographer, you need to do the same thing. 

Instead of just emailing pitches to people, you need to offer a free sample of your work first. Once they have “tested your product,” they will be more likely to buy.

4. Get Listed on Google My Business

If you want to be found by potential clients, you need to make sure your business is listed on Google My Business.

Google My Business is a free listing service offered by Google. It allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google’s products (Search, Maps, etc.).

Not only is it a great way to be found by potential clients, but it’s also a great way to build trust and credibility.

To get started, just head over to the Google My Business website and create your listing.

Make sure to include all the relevant information about your business, such as your business name, address, phone number, website, etc.

Also, add some photos (of your studio, work, etc.) to help your listing stand out.

Adding your business to Google My Business is a great way to build credibility and get found by potential clients.

Conventional advice states that to get more clients, you need to “start a blog and publish good content on it.”

Well, that’s BS (excuse my French).

Of course, you need to show your expertise to attract more prospects, but your blog isn’t the best place to do it. 

Think about it:

When you start a blog, you have no audience. Although you publish a ton of good content on it, no one (or very few people) will read it. Writing content for sites that have already built an audience is much better.

This is called “Guest blogging,” and it’s my favorite method to attract quality prospects.

You’ll find that many website owners will be happy to publish your content on their sites, and since you’re demonstrating your expertise, some of the readers will see you as an authority, and therefore, they might buy something from you.

6. Leverage The Briefcase Technique

Finding prospects is easy.

Turning those prospects into clients is not.

But don’t worry, here’s where The Briefcase Technique comes in very handy; a simple method to dominate every interview you have with your prospects. 

Ramit Sethi (author of “I will teach you to be rich”) coined this technique a few years ago, and many people are amazed by the results you can have after implementing it. 

“Your prospects will salivate for your offer like a hungry dog salivates for food.” They say.

7. Sell Stock Photography 

If you aren’t sold on getting clients, you can still make money by selling stock photos.  

Magazines, advertising agencies, web designers, and publishing houses often buy this photography. Why? Because it’s cheaper and easier to purchase pre-existent images than to hire a photographer to take them.

So here’s how it works:

1. You take some pictures

2. You sell the pictures in bulk to a stock photography company

3. The company resell your photos

Of course, this might not seem very attractive for you, the photographer, but consider that you’re getting rid of the tedious task of prospecting. When done right, selling stock photography can be really profitable.

Here are some guides that will get you on the right path:

Looking for a Job as a photographer? You can also start your career as a photographer assistant on Jooble.

8. Use Your Existing Contacts 

Many of your existing contacts (i.e., friends, ex-classmates, and colleagues) probably don’t know you’ve launched a photography business, and some of them can become actual clients.

But the thing is:

You can’t just call all your contacts and say, “Hey, I just called you because I just launched a photography business and thought you might be interested.” 

That would be weird, right?

That’s why you need to become a “social Listener.”

Here’s what I mean:

If you pay attention to what’s going on with your Facebook contacts, for example, you might notice some of them need your services. 

For instance, you might find that a friend of your friend (let’s say Freddy) is going to get married within a month, and he’s looking for a photographer.

That’d be a great moment to call Freddy and let him know about your services.

Instead of calling all your contacts, become a social listener. I’m sure you’ll find good prospects.

Now it’s your turn!

One client.

That’s all you need to start a successful photography business. 

When you learn how to get one client, you can get two, three, and ten.

The key is to start small.

And now you have seven ideas that work.