Comments on: Fasten Your Seatbelts http://www.burnsautoparts.com/blog/2008/01/18/fasten-your-seatbelts/ Leslie Burns-Dell'Acqua writes on the photo business and marketing Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:36:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Martha Retallick http://www.burnsautoparts.com/blog/2008/01/18/fasten-your-seatbelts/comment-page-1/#comment-27083 Martha Retallick Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:21:00 +0000 http://www.burnsautoparts.com/blog/2008/01/18/fasten-your-seatbelts/#comment-27083 I'm a big fan of using postcards as "Thank You" cards. I have an image on the front of the card, and leave the back free for writing messages. I also like to use postcards as handouts to people who say they'd like to see my work. Quite often, this happens out in public, and no one has a laptop or an Internet connection nearby. So, out come the postcards... BTW, I know a graphic artist who uses her postcard as her only business card. She once landed a client in an airport. (They got to talking, she offered her postcard, and a deal followed.) I’m a big fan of using postcards as “Thank You” cards. I have an image on the front of the card, and leave the back free for writing messages.

I also like to use postcards as handouts to people who say they’d like to see my work. Quite often, this happens out in public, and no one has a laptop or an Internet connection nearby. So, out come the postcards…

BTW, I know a graphic artist who uses her postcard as her only business card. She once landed a client in an airport. (They got to talking, she offered her postcard, and a deal followed.)

]]> By: Giulio Sciorio http://www.burnsautoparts.com/blog/2008/01/18/fasten-your-seatbelts/comment-page-1/#comment-27031 Giulio Sciorio Mon, 21 Jan 2008 18:13:31 +0000 http://www.burnsautoparts.com/blog/2008/01/18/fasten-your-seatbelts/#comment-27031 2007 has been my best year and I'm looking to 2008 to be even better. My marketing this year is far more focused on the targets that I want to shoot for. My preference is non-flat mailers. I'm not purchasing any postcards this year. 2007 has been my best year and I’m looking to 2008 to be even better. My marketing this year is far more focused on the targets that I want to shoot for.

My preference is non-flat mailers. I’m not purchasing any postcards this year.

]]> By: Bruce DeBoer http://www.burnsautoparts.com/blog/2008/01/18/fasten-your-seatbelts/comment-page-1/#comment-26864 Bruce DeBoer Sat, 19 Jan 2008 01:16:59 +0000 http://www.burnsautoparts.com/blog/2008/01/18/fasten-your-seatbelts/#comment-26864 My advice to myself: "stay within yourself, be as conservative as practical about investing in capital equipment, but don't take your eye off the ball. Invest all you can in marketing because during a downturn carving out market share is critical." My advice to myself: “stay within yourself, be as conservative as practical about investing in capital equipment, but don’t take your eye off the ball. Invest all you can in marketing because during a downturn carving out market share is critical.”

]]> By: Bruce DeBoer http://www.burnsautoparts.com/blog/2008/01/18/fasten-your-seatbelts/comment-page-1/#comment-26854 Bruce DeBoer Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:30:44 +0000 http://www.burnsautoparts.com/blog/2008/01/18/fasten-your-seatbelts/#comment-26854 10 - 15% is the typical marketing wisdom. 10 - 15% is the typical marketing wisdom.

]]> By: info http://www.burnsautoparts.com/blog/2008/01/18/fasten-your-seatbelts/comment-page-1/#comment-26853 info Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:13:29 +0000 http://www.burnsautoparts.com/blog/2008/01/18/fasten-your-seatbelts/#comment-26853 35% is actually quite high...unless you are trying to build a business and have very, very low billings (which I don't think is your case) that is a huge number. Most photographers, unfortunately, only spend 2-5% on their marketing. I can't tell you how often I've seen budgets well under $5K. Generally, I'd like to see it closer to 10%...say 7-10%. Also, it's not just how much you spend, but how well you spend it. Buying ads in consumer magazines, for example, would be a waste for most commercial photographers. Best-- Leslie 35% is actually quite high…unless you are trying to build a business and have very, very low billings (which I don’t think is your case) that is a huge number.

Most photographers, unfortunately, only spend 2-5% on their marketing. I can’t tell you how often I’ve seen budgets well under $5K. Generally, I’d like to see it closer to 10%…say 7-10%.

Also, it’s not just how much you spend, but how well you spend it. Buying ads in consumer magazines, for example, would be a waste for most commercial photographers.

Best–
Leslie

]]> By: John Fowler http://www.burnsautoparts.com/blog/2008/01/18/fasten-your-seatbelts/comment-page-1/#comment-26851 John Fowler Fri, 18 Jan 2008 20:57:50 +0000 http://www.burnsautoparts.com/blog/2008/01/18/fasten-your-seatbelts/#comment-26851 Any rule of thumb for marketing budgeting. Is 35% of gross revenue before taxes too much? Any rule of thumb for marketing budgeting. Is 35% of gross revenue before taxes too much?

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