I decided to create this video after one of our NPB Coaching calls and discovered a few common mistakes that can easily be fixed…so ultimately you get better results in your marketing.
Gregg, who’s one of our NPB Students, had a promotion for his Photography Business and was wondering why he didn’t receive the best results. After listening to the offer and email he was using…I had a few ideas as to why it didn’t WORK!
Watch the video below as I go through Gregg’s entire promotion and give my advice on how to fix it 
I wanted to say thanks again to Gregg, for allowing me to share this with our subscribers.
Talk to ya later!
Scott
Leave A Comment Below:
12 Responses to “Photography Business Marketing Tips For Your Studio – Contest Model”
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Scott,
All good points to get people in to your studio. Only thing is if you are giving away a \"huge value\" offer like a large package or a large canvas what is the incentive for them to purchase any more portraits. You are already giving them a large portrait. Or do you mean you only have one winner, then fair enough but then how do you get the other people in to spend money. Similar promotions I\’ve done usually involve giving away a free session plus a small portrait say a 6\" x 8\" or 8\" x 10\" then you hope they will spend on extra prints or a large wall portrait but if you have already given them the large one as part of the offer what then? Please explain.
The idea is to give away the large portrait 100% FREE. You’re not planning on them paying you anything. They still could by extra prints, but that’s not the strategy here.
Now…everyone that enters the contest will be sent an email or phone call and offered a special thanking them for entering. It could be a discount on your session fee, free 8×10, $25 Off coupon…something to thank them for entering the contest.
The real power of this is while running the promotion…you’re gathering email addresses that are interested in your services. Then you can follow up with them with specials or just news about your studio.
This is the real gold here!
I hope this makes sense now and you see that it’s not just about the person who wins…it’s about everyone that enters your contest.
Give it a try
Scott
Scott, I think these are genius points…very smart and perspective of you. It shows how knowledgeable and experienced you are. Thanks for sharing this. I found it to be very helpful. And Gregg, thanks for calling in and allowing this to be an example for us to all learn from. I appreciate it.
Scott, I have one question. If you were conducting this promotional give away, what exact title would you have given it? I know you said you’d replace words like “photo” to “portrait”. And I can see the idea of “free” looking spamy. Even the title “You won!” is in spam a lot now too. So what would you title it to capture people’s attention?
Another reason to call after sending the email is the email may not have even made it past the persons spam blocker. Using “Free” in the heading will trigger most spam blockers so the person may never have even seen it to delete it in the first place. This is especially true with people that use Gmail or Yahoo mail.
Just a thought and great video Scott.
All great points MIKE. You’re right and people should stay away from using Free or Won in any email headlines.
Try to use a question or curiosity in your headlines.
1. guess who I’m photographing?
2. bad news and good news
3. did you get my email?
4. new blog post
5. blog update: Important!
6. Please Read: Important!
I wrote some of these in lowercase for a reason. When we write to friends we’re in a hurry and just want to get the message out ASAP. Watch how the kids are texting now. They have short signs that mean a certain word.
This is how you need to communicate with your leads and clients. Once you build a relationship…then you can mix it up and not be so crafty with headings and such.
We all receive tons of emails everyday and we only open what get’s our attention and most of the time we open our friends and families emails first. Then if we have time…we may see what else interests us.
If you follow this technique and build a relationship, people will look forward to seeing an email from you.
I hope this makes sense.
Scott
Scott
If you don’t have a brick and mortor studio,how can you make this also work or can you?
As you know i have been following you for over a year and love what ou have done,My biggest thing i have no store front.And for now only a on location site.And have moved to a much bigger area.
thanks for your advice
Norman
That does make sense. All these points are so good and helpful that I had my husband sit down on his lunch hour and watch it with me. It\’s sparked some great thought provoking interests and awareness on how to market and brand a photography business. Thanks again!
One thing I see that also could have been a part of the problem is this:the phone number is incomplete. I also would have stated the email address. While yes that is easy enough to find, it is still one more step you are asking them to take. Also I think while you want them to know the value stated just the value of session could scare some people off because if they think your session is xyz then they could think I can’t afford the prints so why bother. Taking Scott’s approach they have nothing to lose. While you may or may not be out of their budget, at least for this once they can afford you which achieves two things. One they will talk about how wonderful you are to others and two if you are out of their budget when they really want a great portrait they will find a way to make it happen. Think of it as planting seeds in the fall that in the spring will bloom.
Sorry Scott! I should have put Lisa W. so as not to be confused with your Lisa!
Keep Smiling,
Lisa W.
Well Scott, another fine marketing idea you have created!
Really, the E-mail Marketing suggestions you have highlighted to all of us are very practical and useful.
1. Offer a Portrait Product that is very substancial to Gain and Keep their interest.
2. Do not mention any need or requirement to purchase any other Photo-Portrait products.
3. Keep your introduction Captivating and Attention Grabbing.
4. Remember, Each E-mail you collect, may be a future Portrait customer.
5. Remember to follow up on ALL that inital E-mail and Phone interest.
Yes Scott, you have done it again, given all of us alot of good ideas and suggestions to think about and digest, and apply to our Photography marketing efforts.
What did I leave off my to do list, Wow, Did I forget already?
HELP!
Robert W.
I think when it comes right down to it is all trial and error, hopefully less error…. Scott great video thanks for your help
Andrew
Scott, Great points you have made on this video. I agree, sometimes less is more. Bonnie