CraigsList Clients

[Jim Bryant]

Don't know how you or anybody else feels, but when it comes to free advertising on CL I just don't want to be bothered with a flood of emails and phone calls with folks wasting my time trying to find a good deal for themselves.

[Algernonep]

I have only seen cheap people on Craig's list... I don't think Craig's list should be used for business purposes!

[GadgetRick]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

Don't know how you or anybody else feels, but when it comes to free advertising on CL I just don't want to be bothered with a flood of emails and phone calls with folks wasting my time trying to find a good deal for themselves.

Fair enough. However, you can find business there--not always cheap but you may have to wade through things. If you're just starting a career, you may still want to go there.

[GadgetRick]

Originally Posted by Algernonep

I have only seen cheap people on Craig's list... I don't think Craig's list should be used for business purposes!

I've been using CL for a few years now for other things. Yes, there are a lot of people looking for deals but I've also had good luck as well. I wouldn't say it shouldn't be used for business purposes at all. As I mentioned in my previous post, you may get a lot of people looking for deals but you may also have some luck there as well. If you're new to the business, it's not the worst thing you can do. If you're established, no, I wouldn't say CL is the best use of your time.

[Algernonep]

Originally Posted by GadgetRick

I've been using CL for a few years now for other things. Yes, there are a lot of people looking for deals but I've also had good luck as well. I wouldn't say it shouldn't be used for business purposes at all. As I mentioned in my previous post, you may get a lot of people looking for deals but you may also have some luck there as well. If you're new to the business, it's not the worst thing you can do. If you're established, no, I wouldn't say CL is the best use of your time.

I do understand that CL is not all bad. But, in my opinion, I just wouldn't use it for my photography business. I'm new to the business myself. But, I read a lot. I am currently reading John Harrington's Best Business Practices for Photographers. Through my reading, CL is bad business practice. I could be doing something else other than searching through CL looking for the good clients. I would rather my clients be found in 2010 Photographer's Market book or through handing out business card or word of mouth. Like I said before, this is my opinion. For my business, I will not use CL because bad business will follow you and you will be known as the CL photographer. I want the sky to be NO limit for my business!

[Photoboothguy]

Why not? It's free. By definition of the cost vs benefit analysis (I don't have to read a business book to figure that one out), you have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

You will not be known as the "craigslist photographer"...no one cares that much. I can list "maybe" 10 professional photographers in my area...and I meet at least one a month. I remember the good ones...the ones that make an impression...never the bad ones. Only 1 of those 10 advertise on Craigslist...and she's quite good. She doesn't have all the fancy equipment that some of the pros do, but she makes it work with what she has.

But yeah, you're probably not going to get much out of it either. You'll have to deal with a few bargain shoppers, but that'll happen with almost every form of marketting.

[Algernonep]

Originally Posted by Photoboothguy

Why not? It's free. By definition of the cost vs benefit analysis (I don't have to read a business book to figure that one out), you have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

You will not be known as the "craigslist photographer"...no one cares that much. I can list "maybe" 10 professional photographers in my area...and I meet at least one a month. I remember the good ones...the ones that make an impression...never the bad ones. Only 1 of those 10 advertise on Craigslist...and she's quite good. She doesn't have all the fancy equipment that some of the pros do, but she makes it work with what she has.

But yeah, you're probably not going to get much out of it either. You'll have to deal with a few bargain shoppers, but that'll happen with almost every form of marketting.

Time is money.... The time that it takes me to search through CL can be spent talking to a prospective client on the phone or possibly doing a photoshoot for a client that I previously talked to and gave a business card to. While I'm doing that the other CL photographer is still searching through the cheap clients or accepting CL clients for less than their CODB rate. I understand that sometimes you have to get your foot in the door. But, in my OPINION, CL is not a door for my business...

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by Photoboothguy

. . .you have everything to gain and nothing to lose . . .

Actually, time is our most valuable asset and marketing on someplace like Craigslist can be a real time sucking effort.

[GadgetRick]

Originally Posted by Photoboothguy

But yeah, you're probably not going to get much out of it either. You'll have to deal with a few bargain shoppers, but that'll happen with almost every form of marketting.

Well said, that's what I was trying to say you said it better.

[GadgetRick]

Originally Posted by Algernonep

Time is money.... The time that it takes me to search through CL can be spent talking to a prospective client on the phone or possibly doing a photoshoot for a client that I previously talked to and gave a business card to. While I'm doing that the other CL photographer is still searching through the cheap clients or accepting CL clients for less than their CODB rate. I understand that sometimes you have to get your foot in the door. But, in my OPINION, CL is not a door for my business...

You're right, time is money but using your computer allows you to do so much more in so much less time.

Would people RATHER be getting business the way you're working to? Sure. But you've got to start somewhere.

One thing I'd caution you on, don't follow ANY sales/business book letter for letter. People who write books are trying to SELL books. They are telling you what you WANT to hear, not always what it's like. If you're an established photographer, you're going to say stuff like CL is bad because, well, you don't really need it. If you're starting out, it may (or may not) be good/bad. Depends on you. Doesn't mean someone is right (or wrong) for using (or not using) CL or other things like this to promote themselves.

You won't gain any kind of reputation if you use something like CL. You will, however, gain a reputation in how you do business...regardless of where you're getting it from.