Running a Business (Marketing)

I must research my potential clients so that I can offer what they are wanting.

I will need to create an identity so that my presence becomes more established and easily recognised and people can instantly associate me with the work.

Create an action plan and look through the toolkits available online because these will help

Paul Herman is a member of Red Eye and the advice he offers is to "be different" "have a good work ethic" and "build and keep strong relationships" these relationships include people within the industry and clients, sending christmas cards is a gentle friendly reminder to people to check out your latest work. Also important is being committed to the work and knowing about the whole of the photographic industry not just the specific genre/s that you are interested in.

7 important 'P's

- Product
- Price
-Place
-Promotion
- Process
- Psychical Evidence
- People

Researching the market

I should :

-Look for opportunities constantly
- See where my clients are based
- analyse what I find and see if i need to make changes
- understand my place in the market


Creating an Identity

I should ;

- website should reflect me, domain names are important
- become a brand
- be consistent
- be person behind the brand


Toolkit / Action Plan

online presence is required
optimise my SEO
update my portfolio regularly
Networking is better when done in person
Send printed mail (flyers, postcards)
Business cards
Get listed (AOP, Yellow pages)
Direct Mail, a specific targeted audience
Blog and keep up to date
Be social, on social media sites
Trade shows are excellent opportunities
Exhibit when can, go view often
Advertise
Create a book, better than screen prints
Enter competitions
Get press attention
Network
Talk to people, potential clients, industry workers
Send gifts, such as christmas cards
SHOOT!


It is also a good idea to sign up to some websites as using these in my brand identity helps represent me as an established photographer and at a higher quality.
- Royal Photographic Society (RPS)
- British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP)
- Society of Weddings / Portraits (SWPP)
- Master Photographers Association
- British Press
- Bureau of Freelance Photographers
- National Union of Journalists
- Redeye
- NE photographers network