What do Photographers Want?

[alteredorange]

Hey guys! I'm a photographer as a hobby, but marketing is my passion. I'm starting a photography marketing business to help photographers with their online presence. Basically to get noticed online and get more customers. My question is, is this something you guys worry about? Do you even have an online strategy? Do you want one? What would you like to get out of the internet? I'd love to hear and feedback/ideas you guys have!

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by alteredorange

Hey guys! I'm a photographer as a hobby, but marketing is my passion. I'm starting a photography marketing business to help photographers with their online presence. Basically to get noticed online and get more customers. My question is, is this something you guys worry about? Do you even have an online strategy? Do you want one? What would you like to get out of the internet? I'd love to hear and feedback/ideas you guys have!

We just want to be loved.

I really hope I'm wrong, but for a first post, this sounds an awful lot like a lot of those "We'll get you noticed / boost your traffic" SPAM emails I get a few times each week.

Brief answers to you question(s) followed by more discussion if you turn out to be a real person:

1. Yep, I worry about it. Many don't.

2. Yep, I do. Many don't.

3. Have one, many probably want one, but have no interest in the effort required.

4. #1 search placement in Google? That last one is a pretty broad question.

[alteredorange]

Ha, I am real, and I know what you mean! Except it would be a pretty crappy "promote my site" since I didn't even link to anything I'm just trying to do some market research. I specialize in search engine placement, such as showing up on the first page of google. I don't know how much photographers want that, and what other things they might want as well.

[Jim Poor]

OK.

Well, depending on which search terms are used. I generally show up in the first page on Google already. Then again, there aren't nearly as many of us as there are wedding shooters for example.

Photographers should want that, but to be honest, there are an awful lot that just don't think beyond "hey, I take nice pictures, I should sell them."

[NicoleScraps]

Well, if this is legit, then I will answer your questions

Do you even have an online strategy?
Not really. Other than putting tons of metadata on my site and hoping for the best. That is my strategy.
Do you want one?
Sure
What would you like to get out of the internet?
I don't really care about having my site seen by those all over the world. It is more important for it to be seen by those within a 50 mile radius of me.

[alteredorange]

I think we've established I'm a real person, so we can drop that Thanks for the replies Jim! That's great that you already show up on the first page of google. I assume most photographers don't and that's what I want to help them with. Also, their marketing in general. Like promotions to get them more customers, business plans, etc. Nicole, metadata helps, but it sure won't put you on the first page. And it's easy to target people close to where you work, I think it's far better to optimize local searches, so you show up in your home town and not in China. Mainly I'm wondering if photographers think this is important (because I sure think they should or do they just hope business will happen?

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by alteredorange

I think we've established I'm a real person, so we can drop that Thanks for the replies Jim! That's great that you already show up on the first page of google. I assume most photographers don't and that's what I want to help them with. Also, their marketing in general. Like promotions to get them more customers, business plans, etc. Nicole, metadata helps, but it sure won't put you on the first page. And it's easy to target people close to where you work, I think it's far better to optimize local searches, so you show up in your home town and not in China. Mainly I'm wondering if photographers think this is important (because I sure think they should or do they just hope business will happen?

I think that anyone who has taken a little time to research and thin through what will be required to get their business started knows how important the internet is going to be...

...that said, it doesnt mean thats a large chunk of new-launch businesses *at all*. The naivety levels are constantly astounding.

On thing you'll have to consider is the fact that photographers, especially new start ups look for and usually fall into three categories when establishing their website - they either use template based flash systems, or will use a blog, (mostly WP templates) or will go with a portfolio site like Smugmug or Zenfolio. I fall into the first category, and though I have spent some time on my SEO and metadata havent done much work on it per se..

...so how can your services work with those three kinds of sites, (rhetorical, not looking for an answer)...bear in mind that aside from the blogging route, the other two do all of the work for you with only cosmetic customization..

Also you might want to address what you can do with Social Media. It's currently (and for good reason) 'King' when it comes to web presence for photographers. Though many of us are savvy when it comes to FB, not many know how to optimise their use of it...

...of all of the FB pages for photographers, how many are employing the use of FBML etc, and strategically working on what and when they post, and how many are just throwing up links and pics?

Jim's right, the last question is kind of pointless.. the answer should be very apparent, and that's getting more emails to your inbox so you can employ your awesome selling skills

[scootermcq]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

Photographers should want that, but to be honest, there are an awful lot that just don't think beyond "hey, I take nice pictures, I should sell them."

I thought my marketing strategy/business plan was locked safely away, but obviously you have peeked.

I think that alot of photographers have not invested in having their sites designed / developed by people who know what they are doing (myself included) and where we rank in searches is simply the luck of the "google gods"

Sounds like you are looking to sell a program to help us poor & uneducated photographers build our web presence. So, what's the program?

[prince]

Marketing any product or service.. especially a new one has to be one of the top priorities once the product or service is ready for the real world. Budget and time have to be balanced. It's not just photogs but rather any new entrepreneur.

The need is there but there are 2 things to consider. How will you make new photogs realize they need to market their services? How will you fit in their budget?

[Xposurepro]

Originally Posted by alteredorange

Hey guys! I'm a photographer as a hobby, but marketing is my passion. I'm starting a photography marketing business to help photographers with their online presence. Basically to get noticed online and get more customers. My question is, is this something you guys worry about? Do you even have an online strategy? Do you want one? What would you like to get out of the internet? I'd love to hear and feedback/ideas you guys have!

We have a massive marketing & promotional plan on multiple levels for various demographics both online and off .. and I can tell you that it comes from years of being a professional photographer and the experience of dealing with photography clients day after day, year after year. No offense but as a hobby photographer you simply do not have the experience related to this industry to be consulting anyone on their niche. I would say you would be more successful offering a more general marketing coach program that is meant to inspire people to develop their strategies. A person could be an international famous marketing hotshot ... pull them in my sales room and I'll probably fire them within the week.