Oct 182009
Hey Everybody,
It’s been a little while since our last newsletter and I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about how best to get you the information you need to promote your photography. In this crazy world of Internet Photographers we have to work extra hard to get noticed. There’s so much content and competition out there it’s too easy to get lost in the shuffle.
So we’ll be upping the frequency in the newsletters that are sent out. Expect to see the frequency jump up to about once a week. Of course we’ll still be offering chances to show off your work on my website and that will come about once a month, but I’d like to offer additional information that can help you get your name out in the Interwebs.
I read a lot of blogs and websites on photography because my work allows me that time. Your schedule probably doesn’t, and that’s a good thing. I mean…it’s good to be busy, right? So, as I come across things that will offer avenues or chances to get your brand out there I’ll share it with you.
We’ll also throw in some tips and ideas that can help along the way.
So to get started:
How many of you are constantly reading or consuming knowledge in business and marketing in order to help make your photography business more successful? When I was running my photography studio I took the time to read many books on sales, marketing, and business. These books weren’t specifically about the business of photography, rather they dealt with the basics of business in general. My morning routine was to hit a coffee shop an hour before I was needed in the studio that day. NO LAPTOP! Just you, some coffee or tea, a good breakfast, and a book. I would spend the first 30 minutes eating and reading and the final 30 with a notepad and pencil mapping out my schedule for marketing and sales. Most photographers don’t realize that running a successful photography business is about 80% business and 20% photography. That 80% of business is broken down to include sales, marketing, advertising, branding, meetings, etc. While this type of schedule takes discipline it’s worth the time. So go out and grab a good book on business and start a routine that helps you get your photography business to the next level.
For those of you that listen to podcasts I highly recommend (and will probably do so again in the future) adding New Media Photographer from Rosh Sillars to your iTunes. Super easy to find, just open up iTunes and do a search for “New Media Photographer” or you can follow this link http://www.newmediaphotographer.com/ where you’ll find the blog as well as the podcast. Actually, you should subscribe to both the blog and the podcast. It’s about using social networking and new media to improve your brand as a photographer in the Interwebs. Bonus: Rosh offers a hot-line where you can call and plug your own site. Use it. It’s worth taking a few moments of your day to leave a message because he’ll play it on his show thus helping to increase your brand.
One of the things that I love about Rosh is that he understands that paying it forward is the best way to increase your own odds of success in any venture.
Remember, it’s the little things that count.
The Hey, Hot Shot! is coming up on it’s deadline. If you are not familiar with Hey, Hot Shot! or Jen Bekman follow this link http://www.heyhotshot.com/ Entries will be accepted through Friday, October 23rd, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. (EDT).
An awesome opportunity for emerging photographers.
Why should you enter Hey, Hot Shot!: incomparable exposure on their blog, their superb group of panelists (now with New Yorker picture editor Whitney Johnson!), the chance to be represented by Jen Bekman Gallery in NYC and have your work featured on 20×200.
Honestly, I was going to get my stuff in order for entering this year, but I’ve done a fairly major move in subject matter and substance in my work and it’s still in developmental stages. If you’ve got your work already in order you should check out Hey, Hot Shot!
That’s what I’ve got this week for ya. Next week we’ll be offering a chance for you guys/gals to show your stuff. It’ll probably be themed again so I’ll be sure to give you enough time to find an appropriate image in your library or better yet, to go out and create a new one.
Until next time. Keep on shooting and sharing.
Follow me on twitter @damienfranco
If you have questions/suggestions/comments hit the reply button in your email client. I don’t bite…hard.
