I watched a funny Youtube video the other day by a comedian who’s entire act revolves around showing a bad Powerpoint presentation (if you’ve ever used Powerpoint, you’d laugh too).

How could you adapt this idea as a way to market your studio? One way would be to create a 10-minute talk and slide show about “bad” photography. Here’s the first sentence:

“In 1888 George Eastman patented a camera that used rolls of film. If he ever saw this photograph, he would have smashed it with a hammer.”

Gather about 15-20 bad photographs, or take them yourself. Make a funny talk about the bad photography we all take, or if you are not a good speaker, give a more serious talk on how to take a good picture. Either way, make it breezy, informal, and informative – and keep it under 10 minutes long.

Once you have your presentation ready, call up the local Kiwanis, Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, etc. and offer to be a guest speaker at their monthly meeting. Tell them you have a 10-minute presentation, and that you’ll need a projector and screen (or bring your own). Every group needs a new guest speaker every month, so it won’t be long before you get a return call.

Here’s the key to success: have a pre-written introduction for them to read before your presentation, and hand out business cards immediately afterward. You’ll both establish yourself as a photographic expert in the community, and put your card in the hands of influencers who can get you assignments in the future. In addition, if your presentation is very funny, you’ll soon be getting calls from other groups asking if you can speak in front of their membership too.

If you can put together a great 10 minute presentation, you can turn it into a powerful marketing tool that will put you miles ahead of the competition.

This is part 2 of a 2 part series on using social networking to promote your business. Read part 1 here.

Getting Started – The presenters all made the same point: the only way to get started in social networking is to jump in. If you haven’t already, start with a Facebook business account. If you already have a personal account, read these instructions.

If you are looking to update your website, a blog is a good way to get started with social networking (you are reading a blog). Use it as a “portal” for your entire website: portfolios, services offered, prices, and contact information combined with links to your RSS feeds, Twitter and Facebook accounts. After researching many types of blog software, I can recommend WordPress.

Takeaway Points - As I sat through several presentations, I wrote down some common ideas that every presenter emphasized:

• Think “build community”, not “communicate with.”
• Social networking requires your most passionate people. It won’t work if you just give it to an employee as one more task to be completed on a daily basis.
• Avoid the “if you build it they will come” syndrome. Setting up a Facebook page is only the smallest first step. Plan to work with it every day or at least every other day for several months before you see real results.
• Measurement is hard. The number of “clicks” or “friends” or “eyeballs” you receive will not necessarily translate into sales. Instead, you have to trust that as social networking grows, the businesses that are part of it will grow too.
• People support organizations or businesses they love. The strength of social networking is that it allows you to develop these relationships.
• The technology is easy. The human empathy, passion, and commitment is hard.