Using the interner to advertise locally

[Christian Michael]

Hey Guys,

Has anyone discovered a way to advertise a Photography business on the internet, locally that actually works? I live in the north Texas area and want to advertise in a 75 mile radius of home. I have paid companies in the past that sent people to my site…from California, Florida North Carolina, China and Russia! Not really helpful. Great if you sell on-line thou.

I have used google adwords (pay per click) then discovered I was paying for my ads to come up on sites that hold ZERO relevance to the product I sell.

For example the movie site imdb.com, myspace.com, ebay.com, ALL great sites, but if I’m looking at movie information on imdb.com, I’m not all of a sudden going to shop for a photographer!

What have other photographers found? How are other people using search engines successfully and not paying just for clicks, BUT local clicks, people in YOUR area?

Thanks in advance

Christian

[PhotoCarp]

I primarily do scholastic sports so I don't know if this will apply to you or not.

One trick that I use to sell pictures of an event is to post a couple of pictures on the area newspaper's site. I tag them with my name as well as watermark them with my site's address. I also post on their forums that I have picture from an event. My cost other than my time = $0 So any sale I make that way is worth the time.

[windrider86]

Most communities have some sort of free local forums. For instance I live in Trinidad Co and we have a free forum Trinidadco.com that allows you to do free advertising.

Ask your Chamber of Commerce what they would recommend or Economic Development.

Some radio stations also offer free announcements from time to time. Ask them, what does it hurt?

I just did a promotion with my local radio station offering free coupons to customers. I'm offering a free sitting worth $85. But, what the radio station is doing is selling them for 1/2 off. You might think thats dumb but it gives me exposure, free advertising, brings me customers and also benefits the radio station

[sarahdavis]

Honestly, I've been really happy with how many people pass around my website address. And facebook, thank God for facebook!! I post my favorites with a watermark (usually just whichever I chose for my site), tag the people, their friends see it, and before I know I'm booking a couple more.

Sometimes local businesses will set business cards out also. Not sure how small your town is, but the public library here has a bulletin board where I posted an ad a couple times. I actually never had anyone call because of that though, it was all word of mouth or seeing my site.

Craigslist maybe?

[Christian Michael]

Guys,

Your time is very much appreciated. So Sarah, You say you have had success with facebook? I have had a myspace page for sometime, along with my website although myspace never brought business, just admirers.

Its interesting that as of yet, anyone who read this post hasn’t commented about advertising success with the big boys such as Google, Lycos, Ask and Yahoo etc etc.

I find that interesting :0)

[GadgetRick]

Originally Posted by Christian Michael

Guys,

Your time is very much appreciated. So Sarah, You say you have had success with facebook? I have had a myspace page for sometime, along with my website although myspace never brought business, just admirers.

Its interesting that as of yet, anyone who read this post hasn’t commented about advertising success with the big boys such as Google, Lycos, Ask and Yahoo etc etc.

I find that interesting :0)

Well, I believe the reason nobody's really talking about success with the big boys is because it's a bit more expensive than the best way--word of mouth. Also, from what I understand about those other methods, you have to really understand how their system works in order to not get the useless hits (as you described). I believe there's a bit of tweaking involved (although I've not tried it myself) and, quite frankly, I don't believe many photographers have that level of sophistication with their technical skills or marketing prowess required to take full advantage of these methods.

[idcrewdawg]

We advertise on facebook. You can limit your advertising to state or city level.

[SelfMadeCelo]

Originally Posted by idcrewdawg

We advertise on facebook. You can limit your advertising to state or city level.

I'll second Facebook Advertising. Haven't personally advertised but have been watching maketing videos all week about advertising on Facebook. Low competition, cheap clicks, ultra targeted.

[aprillove20]

Well, Sometimes local businesses will set business cards out also.

[belladoja]

For sure get a fan page on Facebook and then gets lots of your friends to become a fan and advertise a free sitting for the 500th fan etc and keep posting on that fan page. Facebook is one of the best advertising agents around and if you target your friends in your area you will pick up local people. They have friends in your area they can post your fan page on thier profile.