According to the experts, about 80% of us use Google to search online. To handle the hundreds of millions of online searches each day, Google needs thousands of computers running at the same time, all plugged into the Internet. And to pay for these computers (and the electric bill), Google sells ads.

Look at any page in Google, and you’ll see 1-3 text ads at the top of the page, and 1-10 ads in the right margin. Each of these ads is written and placed in Google by a company like yours or mine.

What makes Google so successful at selling these ads is the concept of CPC, or “cost-per-click.” This means that Google doesn’t charge for showing the ad. They only charge the ad’s owner when you click on the ad and go to a website.  This is completely different from an ad in a magazine or the yellow pages where you are forced to pre-pay for an ad up front, even if no one ever looks at it.

(more…)

(c) 2010, Harry Taylor

The trade shows are over, you’ve got your marketing ready for spring, and suddenly you notice you have a little more time on your hands than normal.

Welcome to March.

Sure, you could use this opportunity to get your taxes done early (yuck) or clean out the back closet at the studio (double-yuck). But why not take the next few weeks and play with photography a bit. After all, wasn’t the “fun” of photography at least part of the reason you bought your first camera?

Below are 8 interesting ways to produce an image you would never do in your normal business. Click the links, and see if any of them look like a fun way to waste a couple of afternoons before spring arrives. Don’t worry about showing anyone your results. And who knows – you might even pick up a new and unique product to wow your clients!

(more…)

The Professional Photographers of Ohio will host their 2012 Annual Convention March 14-18 at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio.

JD Photo Imaging is proud to again be a sponsor for this event.

The PPO Photoblast convention includes a dozen seminars and workshops on Thursday through Saturday, a trade show Saturday and Sunday, and a District Print Competition. In addition, a gala night is planned for Saturday.

Click the image to the right to print two coupons that you can use to attend the convention. The top one is a free trade show pass good for Saturday March 17 or Sunday March 18, and the bottom coupon entitles you to $20.00 off the full convention registration price. You can also pre-register on the PPO website here and enter the coupon code JD20. There is no pre-registration for the trade show only.

I’m becoming a fan of LinkedIn. Basically LinkedIn is like Facebook, but especially designed for professionals and business owners. Since you’re also a professional and a small business owner, it makes sense that you should get listed in LinkedIn too.

Getting started is easy. You go to the LinkedIn website, create a new account, and upload pertenant information like your contact information, a head shot, and your resume. Then LinkedIn reviews your information and offers to “link” you to other professionals you may already know.

Once you’re signed up, what should you do with your new account? Here are 3 ways to use it to help build your business:

(more…)

After writing an article in January titled, The Secret to a Great Photographer Website, I had a conversation with a professional photographer regarding the #1 item on the list of things potential clients look for most often:

1. Make your prices easy to find on your website.

“I don’t put prices on my website,” he said. “If I showed a $500 wedding, only $500 customers would call. If I showed a $3,000 wedding, nobody would call. And I don’t want my competition knowing what I’m doing either.”

That logic doesn’t make sense, and is hurting his business. Here are 3 reasons why:

(more…)

I was reading an article entitled 31 Exceptional Strategies for Marketing to Today’s Women the other day and it made me think about how important female consumers are to the professional photographer.

Back in the day, if you could shoot a decent photograph – and you spent a little on the yellow pages to market your business – you could make a living.

That formula doesn’t work any more.

(more…)

Have you joined Pinterest yet? It’s the biggest, newest social networking site on the Internet today, and it is the perfect place for professional photographers to show their best work to potential clients.

Here’s how Pinterest works: you “pin” photographs that interest you (pin+interest, get it?) to a virtual wall in your account. Other folks can “like” your photos (connects with Facebook) or can “re-pin” your photos to their walls.

What makes Pinterest so compelling for photographers is that it revolves around great photography. Every “pin” starts with a photograph, and many have less than a single sentence description. It is easy to start looking at someone else’s pins, and end up discovering a whole new style of photography you never knew existed.

The other thing that should interest photographers is the kind of folks on Pinterest: 10 million style and image-conscious women with disposable income. Even Facebook can’t put so many potential clients within your grasp for free.

Getting started with Pinterest is easy. Go to the page and request an invite. You’ll get one in a few days. Or you can ask one of your female clients for an invite. Chances are, they are already using it.

The Bridal Show season is on us. Below are some tips for making the most of your booth at a bridal show.

1. Location, location, location. The advantage of picking your booth location early is that you get to pick the best spots. What to look for: high-visibility locations like the booth facing the end of an isle, or a corner. What to avoid: being in the back row of the show, being next to free food (sticky fingers on your samples), or being next to DJs (noisy).

2. Booth Size. Bigger isn’t always better. Even a small booth will be fine if you decorate it with outstanding graphics. We strongly recommend our portable pop-up banners (available in ROES). Use them individually, or combine 2-3 to go across the back of your entire booth.

(more…)

I’ve been warning you for a few months that you need to create a Google+ account for your studio.

It’s time.

“Give me a break,” I can imagine you saying. “It’s hard enough to keep up with my website and Facebook.”

You’re right, but it doesn’t matter. In the last 6 months, Google+ has added over 90 million users, so now it’s time to pay attention.

Google+ is Google’s attempt to compete with Facebook. Yes, it means you’ll have to create and monitor a new account. However, the advantage is that when someone gives you a “plus” on Google+ (just like a “like” in Facebook), Google rewards you by listing your studio higher on the front page of Google (something Facebook cannot do). That means the first studio to embrace Google+ in your area will be able to dominate Google searches for your keywords in your target market.

Need another reason? Google is starting to experiment with molding search results based on individual user’s preferences. Google+ is part of that initiative. A couple years from now, it is possible some potential clients simply won’t be able to find you online if you don’t have an active Google+ account.

(more…)