Posting photos online

[Michael Connors]

A lot of photographers think posting online and an in-studio sales presentation is an either or situation. We feel they are missing one of the main reasons to post – MARKETING!

Take this approach instead: Continue to present their photos to them in studio, don’t even mention the web until they are walking out your front door. Then say thank-you for your order and by the way, I will post these images on my site for two weeks so you can show your friends and family. What did you just do? You essentially handed them a stack of brochures and told them to pass them out to all the people they know. (But without the cost and confused look on their faces).

There are many other ways to use your website to help and here are a couple:
Mr. and Mrs. Smith: You are great customers and you and your family have done so much for my company. From now on, use this code number: SMITH15, and you will receive 15% off all online orders from now. Thanks again for your business.

Hi Mrs. Miller, I love your facility and the gardens out back are wonderful for pictures. I was the photographer last weekend for the Smith’s wedding and wanted to come in and introduce myself and let you know I took some great shots you may want to put in your photo album that you use for your brides. Here is a code number to give you some free photos at my site www.example.com. All I ask is if you like my work, you will recommend my services.

There are other ways to use the code and gift certificates:
Code Numbers can be used with % off or dollar amount off and will stay valid until disabled.
Gift Certificates are used as a given dollar amount. Your customer can make separate purchases and the system will keep track of the amount left for you.

Keep in mind your website is not any different than another storefront:
Treat it like one, and you are in business to make money and be successful. With that said, try not to do only the cheapest things. Otherwise your customers will be only the cheapest. That will make it very hard to overcome.

[Zack Wessels]

We look forward to hearing what works for you! What is your winning marketing strategy?

How long do you post images, do you use a discount, archiving, etc?