Are your Photography Business Practices Insane?

Everyone in business has heard the old saying: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Really, it’s referenced so often, it’s almost a cliché. But this reminder is rooted in fact. So many small businesses fall victim to this problem. Take a critical look at your photography business.

The truth is: in today’s fast paced world of business, if you aren’t growing, you’re preparing to decline. If you are not consistently staying on top of different opportunities and strategies, you are stagnating.

We’re sure you’ve heard this quote, as well:

“Those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.” –Winston Churchill

Are you doing the same old thing? Is your photography business stagnating? Do you find yourself dismissing slow business as an unfortunate reality? Are your business practices insane?

Fight the insanity!

Here are a few innovative ideas to inspire you towards change and growth.

1: Expand your Photography Knowledge

As a creative professional, sometimes it can be difficult to be both an artist and a business person. You might love to take beautiful images, but dread doing your taxes. That’s okay! There are some amazing workshops, webinars and classes that can help you ratchet your photography business up to a higher level. Workshops and classes give you the opportunity to develop your own craft. Furthermore, they offer a chance to expand your creative horizons.

• Unique Brand University offers a full curriculum focused on teaching creative entrepreneurs the art of business success.
• The Click PhotoSchool provides 100% online photography classes. Study on your own or with an instructor in a wide variety of workshops or breakout sessions. One-on-one coaching is available on a number of topics including business, problem solving, and editing.
• ShootDotEdit offers an expansive library of free webinar content to help you stay inspired. From Lightroom settings to booking your “Dream Clients,” these webinars all are carefully curated to help you run a successful business.

2: Update your Software

As technology evolves, so do the programs that make our lives easier. If you haven’t taken the time to research programs to help you run a more efficient photography business, you are missing out. No matter what area of your business you want to focus on, there are programs that can help you.

• Sprout Studio is an all-in-one business software program made by photographers for photographers. It combines studio management software with online galleries, wall portrait sales tools, design proofing, bookkeeping and more
• Fundy Design Suite allows you to easily design albums and wall art spreads and is built to help professional photographers design better.
• Batchbook CRM is a solid customer relationship management tool that interacts with other programs like Hootsuite and Quickbooks. It easily allows you to build customer profiles, keep track of leads, and automate recurring to-dos and emails.

3. Leverage Social Media

Have you taken a look at your Google analytics? Are your posts getting shared? With social media, it’s easy to just keep doing the same things again and again. But remember, if you do what you’ve always done, you will get what you’ve always gotten. Shake up your social media strategy!

The important thing to remember about social media is that it’s a conversation. It is one of the best ways to connect with and communicate with your customers. Think about what your PERFECT client wants to read. Make sure that your content, shares and posts are things your dream client wants to read about.

Do you think your dream client wants to talk about off-camera flash?

If not, that might be a topic to talk about less on social media. Mix up your posts with a combination of different articles, resources and videos to attract your dream client. That way, they are more likely to continue following you.

Whatever you try, make sure that you track your success with analytics. There are valuable tools to help you research, track and verify what is and is not working. Remember to give any new strategy time. Many SEO firms will tell you that it takes anywhere from 4 to 6 months before you see a change. So, don’t decide to blog regularly for three weeks and give up. Since consistency is key, being able to track your changes over time is powerful.

4: Get Involved

Sometimes, the best way to stay current is to get out into your community. Join a local photography group, or see if there is a community co-working center you can join. This can provide a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with other creative professionals. Networking is a powerful tool, especially in the local community. You’ll make new friends, and possibly learn new ways of seeing. Who knows- you might even gain some referrals!

In addition to joining groups, offer to speak at community or industry events. Even if it isn’t a sales pitch, you can establish yourself as an authority within your field. Whether you are speaking to prospective customers, sharing ideas with other entrepreneurs, or sharing your expertise in photography, speaking gives you an opportunity to share your ideas. Or, if you aren’t a fan of speaking in public, you might consider being a part of a podcast or guest blogging. By sharing that spark of who you are, you might inspire others. You might even inspire yourself.

Don’t let your photography business drive you insane. Keep yourself moving forward and growing a successful business by finding creative solutions.