All I can say is WOW. A customer turned me on to the SEO Cookbook written by Photoshelter and sponsored by Adorama. In 30 pages you will learn – step by step – the things you need to do to get your website to the first page of Google.

We teach this information (and use it ourselves) but I’ve never seen it in such a compact form, specifically targeted to pro photographers.

Do you have a flash website? One of the things I read in the SEO Cookbook is that the majority of flash websites used by photographers cannot be seen by Google. However, you can hire web designers that will build an html mirror site. This lets customers view your flash – and Google view your keywords. Great advice.

The download is free (in exchange for your e-mail address). Photoshelter will use your e-mail to try and sell you their web design services. Bottom line: If Photoshelter’s websites are as good as the SEO Cookbook, you should seriously consider them for your next website designer.

Every day you find one or more postcards in the mail. It isn’t surprising: postcard advertising is one of the most cost effective ways to contact potential customers. However, if you look carefully you will also notice that most advertising postcards are 5.5 to 6 inches tall and 9-11 inches long. So why would an advertiser bother with a big postcard when the small 3.5×5 postcards can be mailed for so little money?

The simple answer is that little advertising postcards don’t work as well. They are great for reminding customers of appointments, or for telling them something they already care about like their birthday. However, studies show that large postcards have a much bigger impact for direct mail advertising.

While it is painful to pay double the postage and printing costs for every piece of mail, you should avoid the temptation to mail small-sized post cards. They are less expensive, but research shows you’ll see less response. Better yet, consider refocusing your marketing using e-mail newsletters.

Recently I purchased a subscription to the Photovision video seminar DVDs. Even though I am not a working photographer, I am constantly looking for ways to help photographers improve their business and photography. I thought the Photovision videos could help.

I was right. Each DVD, hosted by Ed Pierce, contains two hours of video training by some of the best photographers in the industry. The DVDs are like watching a TV show where only the world’s best photographers share their secrets with you. Some talk about shooting technique, some talk about studio design, some talk about marketing; but all of them taught me something new.

For example, I was particularly interested in the video walk-through of Adobe’s Lightroom software. After a single 25 minute video, I felt I understood how the product could benefit several of the lab’s clients. The time was much better spent than reading a manual or playing around with the software. During another video I enjoyed listening to Julia and Jeffrey Woods as they explained the tricks they use for keeping a clients energy level up during a photo shoot in order to make more exciting photographs.

A one-year subscription (bi-monthly) to the Photovision DVDs is $149. Think of it as paying an expert about $12 an hour to help you improve your business and photography. It’s a deal you can’t afford to pass up.

UPDATE

In addition to their photographer training video, Photovision now has a large library of educational DVDs. For $69 to $149 you can learn studio lighting, marketing, posing, or any of a dozen skills taught by the industry’s leading professionals. Very cool.