Marketing
So every once and awhile i'll ramble on to people about how I market. I really don't mind giving away my secrets if that's what you can call it. If i'm giving away my secrets and someone copies me then that only means I have to get better which I always welcome. Anyways here's some of my marketing plans that I usually work with.
Okay, I probably don’t know that much about this… or do I. I may be a marketing genius or maybe just incredibly lucky when it comes to getting business. I really favor the later in this but i’ll tell you some of what I do to market myself anyways. This is a blog post for photographers or other people in similar businesses.
First of all I really suggest being yourself. You’ll never have to put on an act or be someone who you’re not. I am myself when I go through my day, my week. If there’s a chance to do good I do it, sometimes people are watching. First off, everyone is going to want to throw a nice guy some work. I also don’t mind doing charity either, it makes me feel good and helps other people as well as karma brownie points. People pay attention when you’re consistently doing the right thing, the honorable thing and helping out where you can.
Another strange thing is following your passion. PEOPLE NOTICE! If you’re into candles and constantly posting about new candle making techniques or a new fragrance you made and how excited you are people may think you’re strange but they know you’re genuine. If you dig something, if you’re over the top in it for the passion then the money will come. I’ve never made my focus about the money, it’s really just a nice symptom of having a passion for photography. I’ve also turned down money as well which I suggest once and awhile, pay it back. You never know when that person who you hooked up is going to have an even better way to hook you up. Quick story, this year I had a call from a waitress who said I took her photo seven years ago. I was at place on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester (basically forty restaurants within a mile stretch), I was hanging with my friend and I was taking photos of my food and then I asked to take a photo of this waitress. I asked for her e-mail and sent her the photo. She called me up this past December and booked me for a wedding in January. Another story just for an example. I was shooting a wedding a few years back and took the time to chat with one of the guests about cameras and then handed off my very expensive camera and let them try it out for a few minutes… he booked me for a wedding last year. So by being friendly and sharing my passion I’ve landed work.
So now the more practical things you can do for marketing. Post about what you’re up to on social media and act excited about it, hey maybe you are? Maybe post on Instagram or Google+ because there are sects of people that still use these platforms. If you post on Google+ then you might get featured as a news article when people search for certain keywords which essentially draws people back to you. Instagram I use to post my best of the best photos. I don’t post any chum there, it’s all my processed work or things that I’m proud to share. Instagram isn’t for my photos of Starbuck Mochas or cell phone photos. Everyone treats Instagram a little bit different and some people even go as far as to color grade against everything they already have up there. A big thing is following a theme, at least thats what I hear. Myself I post what I’m really into, travel, weddings, food, abandoned buildings, building facades. There’s a lot of people who will have the best ways to gain followers and how to make the best Instagram, but I believe you can do it just for you.
Okay i’ve started a new paragraph so this must be a pretty good topic. USE FACEBOOK! Use Facebook for the free advertising of you and your brand. Your friends may know someone who’s looking for someone just like you. You can also maintain a business page as well as your personal page. I’m sure we’re all over posting about what we do on a minute to minute basis but why not include a little bit of business in with that pleasure, right? I also use Facebook as a tool get to know my clients. I can figure out their personality a bit and hopefully fit in better with them at the wedding after we share a few dozen memes. I also encourage my friends to share the posts that I really need them to, such as information about my business or deals I might be having.
One more thing on Facebook which i’ll give away to you. I only share all this information in the hopes that some of you will get really good and force me to up my game even more. So Facebook has that awesome algorithm that fits all you most important friends in and if a new person comes into your life you might start noticing them more on Facebook as well. Facebook judges how long you look at someone’s posts or how quick you scroll over someones post, if you’ve clicked on their page or their post. Facebook will now think that they should include more information in your newsfeed about this particular person, get it. So if I’m out there posting photos of abandoned buildings or amazing photos of cupcakes then I bet some of you may slow down or even click on my posts. This means you’re more likely to see my future posts, my future posts about my wedding photography business.
Another one of my tricks is simply posting all the photos that I really like, Europe, traveling, food, abandoned buildings, hiking, cityscapes, landscapes and then peppering in wedding photography. This works wonderfully with Instagram and Facebook. So start doing it. People notice when you have a passion. I know this because I continually get told this by brides.
You can market yourself like a bad ass but the question is if you can keep it up for years. I do this non stop. Day and night, vacation or laying in bed I think about how to get my business even bigger and better. There's a lot of times when I make a purchase and i'm thinking if it will benefit my photography. Even when I buy food i'm thinking if I could take an awesome photo of it.
I don’t always look at what everyone else is doing, I look at what they're not doing and then I see if I can fill that gap. One of the biggest things i’ve had to deal with and figure out was not listening to other people. I’ve listed to too many people who had ideas about my business who in all actuality knew nothing about my business. Other photographers have told me how they do things and what has really helped is to be different from them. I’ve gone in the wrong directions way too many times from people telling me that “it won’t work”, “you can’t do it like that”, “the way you’re suppose to do it is…” and a million other negative or non helpful comments. When you’re starting out you have the freedom to throw it all against the wall and see what sticks. I still change the way I do things regularly, be adaptive, don’t have a set policy on anything. If your customers are all asking for something or expecting something a certain way then go with the flow.
So I don’t want to give away anymore of my secrets but I hope this helps you. I help a lot of people out with other businesses because some of this marketing advice really can translate to other fields. Feel free to leave me a comment.
BirchTree Bread Company
BirchTree Bread Company is a one month old bakery in Worcester that seems to be crushing it. Delicious breads and a fresh take on a bakery / place to grab a coffee with a friend. Don't even bother reading this and go and check it out yourself.
This past Saturday myself and my girlfriend decided to make our way to this new bakery in Worcester. Located on Green Street in Worcester right across from SmokeStack BBQ is an old Worcester factory building with many hidden gems, BirchTree Bread Company to be specific.
We entered the building and immediately started exploring. We ended up browsing in a curiosity shop downstairs called Crompton Collective which deserves it's own fan fare, it's amazing. It's collection of local's curated antiques and home made goods make wandering a delight. After pressing onward we made our way through a farmers market which is located in the basement and also know as The White Room. The farmers market had lots of fresh produce and familiar faces. Next we made our way back through Crompton Collective, up the stairs to BirchTree Bread Company.
As you are walking down the hall to the entrance to BirchTree you can feel and hear every intentional footstep as can everyone else. This building is ancient and repurposed, bright and clean; other local businesses occupy most spaces in this spacious location. We enter BirchTree and are delighted to see this modern meets rustic look for a brand new brand. We stand in line for a few minutes and end up running into various friends who are also here to check out this new hotspot.
We slowly pass the cases with cheese and other goodies, I make note of future cheese purchases. The menu is a few feet into my stay in the line. The menu is written out in white chalk on a green chalk board. So the main thing to understand is they have a limited menu, that's not a bad thing. With a limited menu that means they can concentrate on the things they do well, an awesome soup of the day, a sandwich special, breads, cookies and coffee drinks as well as rolls and loafs. This also means that you have the chance to try everything on this menu before it is added to.
I ordered all the cookies, cranberry white chocolate, turbinado sugar, peperes adeladies. Don't ask me specifically what all that means, what you need to know is it's delicious. I ordered a hot chocolate and two variations of toast, the seeded rye with a cranberry orange cream cheese and a coriander raisin with peanut butter and banana and toasted wheat germ. The portions were generous and the price affordable. Before heading out for seating I spot a large country jug filled with ice water, I turn the spout and quickly fill a mason jar up with what may be filtered or delicious Worcester water into it. We sit at the bar at the end of the copper counter while we waited for our brunch, the line doubles at this point; when will the madness stop.
Looking around the room you can see lots of room for future tables, furniture and innovations. A coffee table is surrounded by four large benches in the center of the room, tables line the window as other various seating is placed accordingly. One of the owners is hustling around the kitchen doing odds and ends while this new well oiled machines dances through orders. I sit and spend my time while I wait taking photos of the food. My name is called and our food is brought right over to us, I spend at least another ten minutes taking photos. After I put away my camera gear and dig into the food I am instantly satisfied. The food here is fresh, delicious and worth any small wait that you may encounter.
I highly suggest you visit this local bakery and push into the frame of a Worcester landmark.
Go and add them on Facebook and see what they're up to. BirchTree Bread Company.
B.T's smokehouse
One of my favorite spots for brisket and pulled pork. It's worth the 25 minute trip from Worcester down the Mass Pike for this treat. I usually visit when I can bring a new comer so that I have an excuse to pig out (no pun intended). Make sure to get an order of fries and onion rings if you go, the carrot slaw is out of this world. B.T's will put your BBQ place to shame :).
Had another wonderful meal at B.T's SmokeHouse.
If you've never been then go and google it and get directions and get there.
Here's the MENU
Took a few pictures, nothing that glamorous. I just felt like sharing a few.
Went with my friend Nick Hovan. We had a cup of Brisket, Pulled Pork, Carrot Slaw, Potato Salad, Onion rings, French Fries, Cheesy Balls of Love, Half rack of pork ribs.
