Marketing tips for photographers
Topic: Marketing
Time Investment: 8 Minutes
Suggested Product: BizRevamp®
Today is boss’s day. And well since I’m the boss…I rearranged my schedule this morning to take my little one on his preschool field trip. We played hard, got tired, and he gripped my hand with less force than when we were coming in. Hand in hand we crossed the parking lot.
But before I could get to our car, I heard a loud “HEY MA’AM!” We turned around to see this couple pulling up with their windows down.
He reached down into the floorboard of the car, pulled out a purple ball and said, “Do you care if he has this? I mean it is purple, but it’s still a good ball. We got it for free with purchase at the store, and we’re not going to use it.”
I was baffled. Who does this type of awesome niceness these days? Especially to random strangers?
Apparently, these people do.
My son grabbed the ball, tucked it under his arm, we thanked them and off we went.
But the nice gesture has really stuck with me. Completely random kindness.
#RAK
We see the hashtags of #RAK (random acts of kindness) online, but how often are we including this into our business. Maybe even more importantly, how often do we include this into our marketing strategies?
Now, before we go further, I’m not saying to do a random act of kindness to get clients or to make clients happy. Acts like this should ALWAYS come from the heart.
So if you are a Grinch, stop reading now. If you aren’t a Grinch, let’s keep talking.
Quite often we think the client relationship has ended after the sale and delivery of products. But, folks, this is not the end. You should be doing random acts of kindness for your clients even after you’ve received their monies. Incentives for sales are great. Client gifts at delivery are awesome.
But what about completely random, not-expecting-it type gifts? Like this purple ball.
Are you doing this for clients? Imagine the force of social proof, client referral and appreciation that could happen. Just imagine.
So how do I do this, Rachel?
I am so glad you asked. You figure up what you want your purple ball to be. Get the cost, acquire the item, and include this cost into your prices.
Then schedule a timeline for when this “purple ball” will be given to your clients. I like to go on the rule of quarters and send a random act in the 3-4 months following the session.
If you’re bootstrapping, your purple ball may be a nice email with genuine interest in how the client’s life is going.
If you’re looking to pair a physical item, find something that is cohesive with your branding. It could be an extra print from their session that they couldn’t afford or a gift card to the client’s favorite coffee shop.
But I caution you…do NOT give away a print credit or gift certificate to your business.
I may get a few hate emails in reply for this but stick with me. This “purple ball” should be a 100% completely random, unsolicited, and string-free act of kindness for your clients.
Because if the gift is wrapped in strings and dripping of marketing desperation, it loses its value of being the purple ball.
I encourage each of you to get a purple ball and insert it into your business. If it doesn’t pay off, then at least you’ve provided goodwill (and its cost is already covered if you’re pricing appropriately). If it does pay off, then you just killed a few birds with one stone (showed client appreciation AND got more business).
So, what is your purple ball?
