Wouldn’t it be great if you could just concentrate on photography without worrying about the business side of things? It would. However, there are various things that must be taken care of in order to keep your photography business afloat –
and one of them is marketing.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median photographer earns just over $29,000 per year. This means that you’ll have to be very price-conscious when marketing your business. Chances are that you cannot afford to make many mistakes, as that will be precious money down the drain.
So, what can you do to effectively market your business without breaking the bank? A great tool that has come onto the scene recently is Pinterest. Below, we’ll explore a brief background on Pinterest, how you can use it and whether or not it will work for you.
What is Pinterest?
Pinterest is a rapidly-growing social networking site that allows users to create “Pinboards” that contain images of anything they wish. Users can also “Repin” photos to their own pinboards while browsing others.
Think of Pinterest as another form of Facebook – only better for photographers. It is a very visual site, which is great for this business. Also, it’s unique visitors in the US are estimated at 4.9 million, giving you access to a huge amount of potential clients.
How to Use Pinterest:
Name
As there are millions of users on Pinterest, it is key to make your Pinterest board stand out. Give it a unique, appealing name that describes your business well. For example, “Picture Taker 456” may be a bit dull, but “Vintage Cotton Candy Dreams by Mary Smith” will probably do a lot better.
Photos
Concentrate on posting some of your best detail photos. Group images together in mood board style-you can group by themes, colors and styles. Brides can never get enough detail photos, and florists and planners are also always on the lookout for new ways to illustrate a theme.
Descriptions
Be sure to add descriptions to the photos that you pin. This is how users will find them. Refer to the colors and styles (like soft pink, vintage) so that users can find your images when searching for ideas on a particular theme.
Also, feel free to add useful links (such as to your blog or website) in the description so that interested users can visit for further information.
Make Your Pinboard User-Friendly
Attention spans are short these days and a frustrated user will probably move on quickly. Along with other social sharing buttons, add a “Pin it” button alongside your photos to allow other users to easily pin them to their pinboards. You can also add this button to your blog so readers can easily grab ideas and add them to their own boards.
Interact With Other Users & Potential Clients
Consider following users who pin from your pinboard. If they do so, “Like” it via Facebook. Think of this as a way to thank your potential customers. You can also use Pinterest to show a prospective client some ideas for her theme. If she told you during the consultation that she is planning an outdoor barn themed wedding, why not put a board together with some of your images that can give her ideas? Besides showing her your photography skills, you are also showcasing your ability to listen and go above and beyond in terms of customer service.
You can also view boards of your clients to see the type of mood they want to create and the types of images they like prior to shooting their wedding. One bride shared with me several boards prior to her wedding that illustrated a very cozy, winter wedding she envisioned-images of a crackling fire, mugs of hot cider and so forth. While there was no fire or hot cider at the wedding, I understood the exact mood she envisioned and was able to create images that fit within that theme.
Will Pinterest Work for Me?
Of course, as with any type of marketing, some will work better for you than others, but one of the benefits of Pinterest is that there’s no cost, only time. The upside is potentially huge.
To give you an idea, just think of what the world of social networking has developed into. Do you know anyone who doesn’t know about sites such as Facebook and Twitter? Soon, you may be able to say the same thing about Pinterest, as it is growing by leaps and bounds.
With millions of users, sharing your ideas on Pinterest will get the message out better than most other ways, and you are meeting your clients where they are. Sure, setting up a pinboard or even a few on Pinterest will cost you some time. However, if you are in the market for new clients, then why not give this a try?
For more ideas:
blog.hhcolorlab.com/guest-post/creative-marketing-ideas-for-interest
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