Low-cost marketing ideas?

[mariasabalaart]

Does anyone have any helpful tips for low-budget marketing?

I thought about doing a simple flyer and special discount for the people in my neighborhood for starters. There are about 50-60 houses, and lots of kids (my specialty). Has anyone had success with this? I charge $125 for a session and thought I'd give them a $25 "Friendly Neighbor" discount to drum up a little business. Thoughts? Other ideas?

My current "marketing" is simply passing out my cards whenever possible and encouraging friends, family and clients to refer people by giving them discounts when they do. Two of my last 6 gigs were friend referrals.

Also, I have a website for my art (also a painter, etc.) and a photoblog. My dedicated photography website is under construction and should be completed before the end of the year.

Looking forward to your ideas!
Thanks!
Maria

[k9mom]

1) Put together a nice html ad and post on craigslist, neighborhood/community forums.

2) Visit local daycare centers, elementary and high schools in your region and leave your card/info with the admin office, offering services for photos of students, activity groups (e.g., choir, cheer squads) and/or sports teams.

3) Some neighborhoods have local newsletters or local papers that accept advertisements, usually pretty inexpensively.

4) Leave your card/info at local coffee shops, community centers, etc.

5) Team up with a local beauty/hair salon and put together a "make-over" package that includes hair, make-up, etc. plus an "after" photo shoot.

6) Leave your card/info with local businesses (HR dept. would be best) and offer corporate packages for shooting a) company events, b) executive and/or employee portraits, and c) product photography (many small businesses like family-owned restaurants or boutiques can't afford a high-priced photographer to shoot copy for use in menus, fliers, mailers, etc.)

Well, there are a few ideas for starters...

[mariasabalaart]

Thank you for all the fantastic ideas, k9mom! I hadn't thought of #6, but I do have a little experience with this at a past employer. I really appreciate your help.

[kelticsol]

http://www.gmarketing.com/ or so says Dave Ramsey. I hear about it all the time. I've never tried anything from it but I've heard good things from Mr. Ramsey about it.

Worth a look to me anyway.

[richerimage]

Try leaving a stack of Promotional Cards/Flyers with Real Estate Agents and get them to push your services to the new owners of the properties they sell (granted maybe not too many at the moment lol). My guess is that new homeowners generally want to give their new home some new pictures and what better ones of their family in the year they moved into their new home!

Don't forget that this would also be an ideal opportuniy to do some 'piggy-back' sales to them (such as the nice landscapes you took last year that would look ideal in their Hallway!)

p.s. also, don't forget to give the Agent a 'thank-you' to encourage them to recommend you again.

[private]

I just started my own business (still weird saying this) one week ago tomorrow. So far I have done two photo shoots and I have three more booked and the promise to book more from the first client. So far, all I have done was contact the local Moms club and asked the president to please email the group about my new business. I mentioned I was a stay at home Mom and I am offering "a deal" to help build my portfolio. So, when I do my third shoot, I will contact another Moms club. The problem with schools right now is that it was pretty much just picture day (at least around here) and some parents are reluctant to get more pics. So, I will contact them in Nov so they can start thinking about Christmas Cards)

You can also advertise for free here. www.wedj.com and here www.partypop.com

[AnneWynne]

Take photos of a cute neighborhood kid (with permission of course), turn them around really fast, show them to the parents, and be sure you have plenty of business cards on you for them to pass out in your praise.

Cute neigborhood kid:


I spent about an hour this evening shooting my neighbor and his son playing in their front yard. Uploaded them to the computer and spent some time doing essentially quick fixes (crops, some levels adjustments, and some lighting adjustments). They were outside when I was done an hour or so later, so I quickly downloaded the photos to disc (yeah, I gave them the digital negatives), picked up my laptop and trotted across the street to show them what I got.

They loved them and said they would definately tell others and please give them cards to pass out. The mom works in a hospital with lots of other women with small children. I am uploading the photos to my flickr account now so they can be viewed online (I have permission!)

Very inexpensive marketing, well worth the cost of some time, a disc, and a stack of free cards from VistaPrint.

Now, I just need to get with my other neighbor who is the principal of a local primary school, and a friend who works in an elementary school.......networking, ain't it grand!

Anne

[photosbyrowell]

Do you have a myspace or facebook? Do your clients have myspace or facebook? One free way to advertise is to upload your photos to both and tag your client on the photos. Since myspace and facebook have a newsfeed, their friends will see that they got tagged on your photos which could lead to your facebook page. Also, facebook has some advertising space in which you could target towards specific people (dating couples only, etc), age group and geography.

[ckeightley]

Originally Posted by photosbyrowell

Do you have a myspace or facebook? Do your clients have myspace or facebook? One free way to advertise is to upload your photos to both and tag your client on the photos. Since myspace and facebook have a newsfeed, their friends will see that they got tagged on your photos which could lead to your facebook page. Also, facebook has some advertising space in which you could target towards specific people (dating couples only, etc), age group and geography.

I just want to add on the Facebook side, they have "Pages" for businesses, artists, etc. that you can make as a way to promote yourself - you can also pay a bit to advertise these pages on Facebook. Alternatively, you can make a group on Facebook and invite anyone you know locally, and have tem invite people locally, etc. to get your name out.

[photosbyrowell]

Originally Posted by ckeightley

I just want to add on the Facebook side, they have "Pages" for businesses, artists, etc. that you can make as a way to promote yourself - you can also pay a bit to advertise these pages on Facebook. Alternatively, you can make a group on Facebook and invite anyone you know locally, and have tem invite people locally, etc. to get your name out.

The pages part of Facebook is free and I've created one for my business. Great way to let people know you're out there because they can become a "fan" which gets onto their news feed.

Thanks for pointing that out!