I have seen and talked with many business people lately, both photographers and people in other industries, who are getting upset because customers aren't contacting them in a timely manner if even at all. I believe that these business people are misreading the current market(s) and don't understand the realities of todays online business marketing.
In the post crash market that we are dealing with now it is critical that as professionals we uncover sales opportunities rather than wait for leads or for customers to come to us. The photographers that are going to survive are the ones that focus on uncovering new sales opportunities at all times.
Sales and marketing are the essential lifeblood of any business and in todays photographic market this is truer than ever. People are looking for extra Service and we have to provide it. It is now more important for us to be good marketers than it is to be excellent photographers. 80% of your time is going to be spent marketing with only 20% of your time actually being behind the camera.
In sales or marketing, the better you are at communicating the more successful you will be. Remember that it is your job to make things as easy and uncomplicated for your client as is possible. Nobody wants to deal with a business that makes it hard for them to actually make a purchase. Use every means possible to get your message out and to make it as easy as possible for the client to reach you...
Make sure you have someone available to answer your phone during normal business hours, check you E-Mail messages several times a day, for regular clients you can give them you wireless number so that they can text you, and don't forget regular Snail Mail and good ol' FAX's. And if you use any of the online services like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, MySpace, etc. to promote your business you must check these on a regular (daily) basis too. You need to be available to the client in the way that they are comfortable contacting you.
As we move forward beyond 2010 more and more people will be getting online and using their wireless phones, computers, Ipads, and all of their Wi-Fi capable equipment to access your ads and to contact you. You need to take advantage of this and make it as easy as possible for them to do so.
Victor H. Schlosser is a photographer, writer and consultant. He writes about Photography, Marketing, and the Internet, with articles being published both online and in print.
This report © Copyright 2010, Victor H. Schlosser - All Rights Reserved