Are you sick of staring at an empty calendar?
You’ve done everything right as far as you know, but here’s what you need to understand: Getting clients starts by getting the attention of your clients. This sounds cliché, but it’s the truth.
When I first started my business, I had little idea about how to do this. However, I felt that wasn’t enough, so I started stressing. We knew that we wanted to be the preferred photography business when it comes to providing great service and value to our clients, but we didn’t know the best way to make that happen.
I remember sitting at my desk one day and thinking about how much time I spend just looking at my empty calendar—and then it hit me. “Hey! Maybe if I put myself out there more and focused less on what I should be doing with my time, then maybe more people would actually take notice of me!”
I immediately began building a social media presence for my business, targeting my posts to prospective clients and forums that were specific to my niche.
You need to realize that there are thousands of people out there actively seeking out the best photographers for their needs. So how do you get noticed? Here are some tips:
How to Get More Clients
The first step is finding out who your target audience is. Are you an event photographer, wedding photographer or a multi-photographer? This will largely determine who your clients are.
Once this box has been ticked, you can now proceed to consider the following;
1. Have a blog/website
Blogging is a great way to showcase your work and make yourself stand out from other photographers who are also looking for new clients. It also helps build trust between yourself and potential clients when they see that you have published something on your site about them or their needs/wants in photography.
2. Make sure your photos are high quality
Make sure every photo has a high resolution so that people can see how detailed they are while they view them on social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook. It also helps build trust between yourself and potential clients, as those images will serve as lead bait.
3. Make a business card
A business card is one of the most important things you should carry around with you, not only if you run a photography business, but any other business. You get to meet people anywhere, and you don’t want to lose a prospect because you were ill-prepared.
A business card shows clients that you’re serious about what you do and that they can trust you with their memories. Make sure it’s professional-looking. In addition, when I made my first business cards, it had my packages on it. I have a few copies hanging in my drawers and it reminds of how this really broke the ice to start a conversation about my business and services on many occasions.
4. Be a good listener
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the work that comes your way, especially when you’re just starting out. However, it’s also important to take some time every week or even every month to go through what you’ve been working on and see if there are any gaps in your portfolio.
If you can fill those gaps, it will help you build a stronger portfolio that will attract more clients.
Ensure you ask your clients why they choose to reach out, what they think of the season, and are they willing to refer your business. It business terms… it is call NET PROMOTER SCORE… Are you really listening or you are only listening to yourself.
5. Offer Gift Vouchers or Discount Sessions
One way to attract more clients when you’re just starting out is to offer gift vouchers or discounted sessions. Nevertheless, you should know where to draw the line so that you don’t run into a loss.
My mentor once said, don’t give free shot. I had to re-learn how not to give a free shot and still get you into my studio. It was really tough, I won’t downplay it, but it paid off.
I remember when I defined who my typical client was going to be. They were everyday women, so I created a gift voucher that resonates with their needs. The head-hunting was phew! as I did not have so much to show at the time. However, who doesn’t love a gift? I got about 5 women from my church, outings and meetings into my studio this period and photographed them.
Not only will discounts and gift vouchers grow your portfolio and give back to the community. It can also help you build a rapport with clients and get them excited about working with you. This eventually translates into brand loyalty and referrals. Your prospects will begin to see themselves in the real people you’ve got into the studio.