Featured image by @rust.rose.photography, edited with Wanderlust 07

 

The best marketing strategies and tools are the ones that work for you and your photography business. 

And while many of them will be similar to one another, it is important to find out what works best for your business and use those tools. In this blog post, we will discuss 9 marketing tools and tips for photographers that you can start using today!

 

Google My Business

Google My Business allows you to create a listing for your business on Google Search, Maps, and YouTube. And the best part is that it's totally free to use.

Just think about the number of new clients you could potentially reach if your website showed up as the very first result in Google when people search for a photographer in your area.

A lot of these Google rankings come down to using SEO, or search engine optimization, which is a way to increase the visibility of your website. Now I know what you're probably thinking...

"Jasmin, I am a photographer, not an SEO specialist."

I get it.

Learning the ins and outs of SEO strategies can seem pretty daunting, and making it onto the first page of Google sounds impossible with so much competition out there.

But Google My Business will help you list your business properly, without needing to understand any SEO. All you need to do is fill out a few sections about your business, it’s quick and easy.

Once your listing is complete, your business will show up in searches and maps. Clients can even give you reviews, which helps you stand out from other photographers in your area or niche.

 

Facebook Marketing Tips for Photographers

Facebook is like the forgotten cousin of social media marketing. Which is something that I cannot seem to understand. 

Even if you don't personally enjoy using Facebook, there's no denying the fact that it remains the largest social media platform in the world. With over 2.8 billion monthly active users, anyone serious about marketing a business needs to pay special attention to how they use Facebook.

Think about it this way. 

Many people only use Facebook as their social media platform to keep up with friends and family. 

Imagine if those same people wanting (or needing) a photographer for an event they are hosting? The first place they would probably look is Facebook. They would need to search Google, Instagram, or another social media platform to find you! 

But if your Facebook page was full of posts about photography-related content, then these prospective clients could just scroll through your feed and realize that they want to book with you.

And it's not like you have to post a status update every day, either. I recommend posting once or twice per week with links back to your website and social media pages. It can be anything from an old family portrait session that has just been edited to share on Facebook, or maybe a photo of the photographer posing for a business headshot.

What you post is up to you, but the point I'm trying to make here is that it's important not to forget about Facebook just because Instagram and Snapchat are more 'hip' right now. It can still be an effective marketing channel if used properly.

You can also use Facebook ads to promote a specific post or photo that you want more people to see!

 

Pinterest Marketing Tips for Photographers

You might have heard of Pinterest as a place to pin and share photos of what you're eating for lunch or your latest fashion obsession, but Pinterest is actually a great tool when it comes to marketing.

Pinterest has grown in popularity over the years as people realized that not only can they save recipes from their favorite blogs on there, but businesses are now using it to generate awareness about products and services.

It's an easy way for people to find out what you're offering without having to search through your website or scrolling through your Instagram feed - which can be especially helpful if you don't have a lot of followers on social media yet! Just create boards with different themes and start pinning pictures related to those topics, such as wedding photography or a specific type of session.

Pinterest is also helpful for generating leads because you can easily pin your contact information on there, which means that people can find it and reach out to you. 

You may be thinking that Pinterest isn't the best place for a photographer to find new clients, but I have a question for you:

What if the majority of your potential client base is on Pinterest?

That's worth thinking about before dismissing it entirely.

 

Instagram Marketing Tips for Photographers

We all know that Instagram is where people go to stay up-to-date with what their favorite celebrities are doing and what their favorite brands are offering.

It’s also a great place to promote your photography business. 

You can use hashtags to get more exposure, and you may even be able to find some people who will start following you just because they saw something that interests them on your profile page or liked one of your pictures! You might be thinking that you don't have the time or energy to post a couple of times per day, but it's worth giving it a try because Instagram is not going anywhere anytime soon.

Most photographers have found success with Instagram by sharing images from their latest sessions like a growing, digital portfolio (that can be accessed and viewed by potential future clients!)

 

LinkedIn

If you are looking for a job, updating your LinkedIn profile is one of the best ways to do so. Be sure that it includes information about yourself as well as what skills you have so employers will want to hire you!

 

YouTube

When looking for inspiration, look no further than YouTube! You can find and share tutorials about how to use different photography tools and video blogs from other photographers in your niche.

Youtube can be a great platform to educate others, as well. You can create videos about editing, different types of sessions, or how to take a certain type of photo. The potential is endless, and with more than 500 hours of video uploaded every minute, it is a platform too popular to ignore as a marketing tool. 

 

E-mail List

I'm sure you've heard of newsletters before, but did you know that photographers can use this to their advantage too? 

Create a monthly newsletter with information about your latest sessions and promotions going on. Just be sure not to bombard people with too much and only offer these updates when you really feel your clients and audience would want to know. 

 

Canva

If you're not a design guru, Canva is the perfect tool for creating visuals that will help your business stand out. It's easy to use and free! Just start by choosing one of their pre-designed templates, then upload whatever content you want it to have on there (text, graphics, images). From there you can change the text, font, and color to make it perfect for what you want and reflect your branding. 

 

Next time you go to market your business, think outside of Facebook and Instagram and challenge yourself to explore something new. Spend time creating a Google listing, create some new graphics in canva, or take the first step in setting up an e-mail list. 

If there is anything that I forgot or didn't cover in this post, please reach out by contacting me via email at support@embracepresets.com or dropping a comment below!

Want more FREE resources? Check out another post about Marketing Tips for Photographers here!

xoxo Jasmin