need your valued opinions again....pleeeeease

[eNZee]

Hi everyone
Since I got sooooooo much feedback on my last post about my website, Id appreciate some feedback on another topic.
So here is goes - Ive officially started advertising outside of just referrals from friends and family. I've developed a price list and information etc. So for one of my ads i got over 300 hits and no replies that blows!!!!!!
Heres the AD

"Capturing visions that last a lifetime."

Enze Images specializes in portrait and event photography where we create images which are passionate and emotional. We document your special moments with modern creativity that stand out from the rest.

Each package includes the following:
- A free consultation
- On location shoot
- Any location within the GTA (outside of GTA will incurr extra travel expenses)
- Unlimited images captured
- All digital proofs on CD
- Mix of B&W, colour and sepia toning
- All images are colour corrected
- Minimum 1 hr (one) coverage for lifestyle shoot; and minimum 4 hrs (four) coverage for events

Lifestyle Sessions
- Includes maternity, newborn, children, family and individual portraits
Package #1: $200.00 includes proofs only. You purchase prints
at extra cost based on your individual needs.

Package #2: $260.00 includes
2-8x10
2-5x7
4-Wallet Size

Package #3: $350.00 includes
1-11x14
2-8x10
2-5x7
4-Wallet Size

Event Photography
- Includes birthdays, anniversaries, baptisms, bar mitzvahs, graduations and showers
Package #1: $400.00 includes proofs only. You purchase prints
at extra cost based on your individual needs.

Package #2: $550.00 includes
10-5x7
5-8x10
8-Wallet Size
15-Thank You Cards

Package #3: $680.00 includes
8-8x10
5-5x7
1-11x14
8-Wallet Size
25-Thank You Cards

For detailed information and to view our online portfolio, please visit us at enzeimages.com

and contact information is included in the ad and sample photos aswell. i havent included wedding prices yet because i need more practice but if someone were to approach me, i wont turn it down either. speaking of which i was asked to quote one for full day coverage, HQ images on cd only (no prints) and i charged $1550. and its for an aquaitance. too much?? to little??

anyways - so what im trying to get at is - are my prices too high?? too low?? i need some feedback. so far ive asked people around me and all have said they are good - but i dont know if i should take them for real or not. i need more feedback.its really bothering me that i got over 300 hits within the first week and noone bit. is there something wrong with the ad? prices all wrong?? what do ya think?

thanks ahead!!

[Niresangwa]

I guess it's hard to say how your prices stack up to other businesses in your area? I'm assuming you researched all of that and decided where you wanted to fit in though.

As for why they're not biting who knows? Is there any way to discern whether it was 300 people looking once, or 50 people looking 6 times? I guess on the bright side, even though you had no takers, you at least know that the outlet for your advertising is successfully reaching 300 people (or 6 very undecided ones )

Are you counting hits on that particular webpage of your website? If so, I've looked at it about 3 times based on your website help thread! Or was there another advertising outlet?

[Free]

Not to mention some stats software counts robots as hits, so it's possible for one or two people to have seen it but your stats showing hundreds

But on to reasons why your getting no love...

What format is the add, where is it?

How is the design? Font's too small? Not enough leading? What are you calls to action? You haven't put any CTA's in the text above so I'm assuming you left you number/link until the bottom of the page?

I know some people here dis design, but simple changing of layouts to follow basic design principles is long proven to increase conversions. Selling is more than just stating what you do.

Can you show us the actual add and describe where it is? We might be able to help a bit more.

[eNZee]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

I guess it's hard to say how your prices stack up to other businesses in your area? I'm assuming you researched all of that and decided where you wanted to fit in though.

As for why they're not biting who knows? Is there any way to discern whether it was 300 people looking once, or 50 people looking 6 times? I guess on the bright side, even though you had no takers, you at least know that the outlet for your advertising is successfully reaching 300 people (or 6 very undecided ones )

Are you counting hits on that particular webpage of your website? If so, I've looked at it about 3 times based on your website help thread! Or was there another advertising outlet?

ive done research around and even compared it to my photographers for my wedding as an example and i just priced slightly below. i figured i dont pay rent for a unit so thats one reason to keep my prices slightly lower.

as far as seeing how many people viewed it - well i know i've tried myself to view it a couple of times after eachother to see if it registers and it doesnt. the number stays the same

[eNZee]

Originally Posted by Free

Not to mention some stats software counts robots as hits, so it's possible for one or two people to have seen it but your stats showing hundreds

But on to reasons why your getting no love...

What format is the add, where is it?

How is the design? Font's too small? Not enough leading? What are you calls to action? You haven't put any CTA's in the text above so I'm assuming you left you number/link until the bottom of the page?

I know some people here dis design, but simple changing of layouts to follow basic design principles is long proven to increase conversions. Selling is more than just stating what you do.

Can you show us the actual add and describe where it is? We might be able to help a bit more.

dont laugh - its the the BEGINNING of my advtertising until i can spend a bit more money on it.
heres the link

EnZe Images - Portrait & Event Photographer. Starting at $200.00 - Toronto Photography & Video Services - Kijiji Toronto

let me know if it doesnt work. just a it more background info. i payed to have it on the homepage and payed to have it as a top ad. its not currently because it expired last monday but i plan to do it again soon.

maybe people arnt biting because there are RETARDS who charge peanuts for their services then people look at mine and she "is this person crazy????"

[eNZee]

ok so when i view it on this stupid computer at work the AD doesnt loook the same as it does on my computer at home. FIGURES!
some of the lines look retarded. how do i fix such a thing then?? this is so stupid

[PowerPix]

Hello eNZee!!

The layout is off when I view it. That could be turning people away. How to fix it? Someone other than myself might be able to help better. But, I think it depends on what platforms people are using. I have found that when I did ads in the past, I had to intentionally have a bad format from the beginning and when I posted it it came out right. In other words, I purposely pushed this line out and pulled this line in sort of thing. As to your comment about when you click to view how many views and then do it again and it still does not change, sometimes it takes a while before it refreshes the view count.

Edit: Gosh that's a mishmash! Let me know if you don't understand.

[FoG]

I have looked at this ad twice now so at least two views there I was wondering if it has a link to the site would be worthwhile also adds to the bots wandering through your site ... get on as many of these as possible that have links also ... BTW less is more a stunning image or two and your catchphrase will do more too many words people will switch off ... simple yet effective is best .

PS ... My Flicjkr is down for the day (well next 3-4 hours according to the screen info maintenace) was going to add some more pics for you will get on it in the morning as on lates again today ...

[eNZee]

Originally Posted by FoG

I have looked at this ad twice now so at least two views there I was wondering if it has a link to the site would be worthwhile also adds to the bots wandering through your site ... get on as many of these as possible that have links also ... BTW less is more a stunning image or two and your catchphrase will do more too many words people will switch off ... simple yet effective is best .

PS ... My Flicjkr is down for the day (well next 3-4 hours according to the screen info maintenace) was going to add some more pics for you will get on it in the morning as on lates again today ...

so your think i should scrap all the pricing and packages on there????
so how come it registered your two views but it didnt when i tried it???

ps. dont worry about the pics, im still working on the rest

[Photoboothguy]

Ads are pretty worthless in general, so don't expect much. Marketing is way more than just advertising...you need a strategy.

My experience with ads for my photo booth business has been crappy at best. We keep track of where we get all of our business from, and have so far booked about 50 jobs (performed 40, 10 scheduled for next year). Our marketing has gone to:

2 bridal shows, $400/each
1 print ad, distribution of 200K, value $600 (actually exchanged the ad for a job).
Web site $10/month
Facebook ad ~$20
Facebook page, Gathering Guide, weddingbee, other free web ads - Free
Charity events $20/event

From that, we got one person through Facebook, a couple through Gathering guide, and NONE from the print ad. 95% of our business is from referals, charity events, bridal shows, and our website. I can't say what percentage, because they all build off one another. For instance, one customer might see us at a bridal show, book us, and then we get three more jobs (referals) based on the work we did for that customer.

So what I'm saying is, make your ads and forget about them. They're free, they can't hurt, but I wouldn't expect a whole lot of business from them.

I prefer the more interactive approach to marketing. Last weekend I shot a local Diwali festival for free. Tonight, a few of the people from that event are having a huge birthday party, and asked me to be a photographer (again, for free). These people are all single engineers in their mid-20s, most of which will probably be married and have children in the next 5 years (cha-ching!). What better strategy to drive potential customers to your website than to take their photos and post them on your website?