Social media is a fantastic way for photographers to showcase their work and attract new clients. With a little planning, you can turn your social media accounts into powerful marketing tools. Whether you’re new to photography or have years of experience, these practical tips can help you get noticed and build your client base across social media platforms.
You should pick the right Social Media sites to start with because not all social media sites are equal. Choose the ones that work best for your photography business. Below are some good social media websites to start with:
- Instagram – Ideal for sharing photos and engaging with followers
- Pinterest – Great for driving traffic to your website by showing off your work
- Facebook – Useful for building a local community or even a global community and connecting with friends
- Linkedin – Good for networking with other professionals and exploring business opportunities
Start with one or two platforms where your potential clients are most active or even if you’re just starting out, pick a website that you think will have you more engagements and connections. As you get more comfortable, you can branch out to other sites.
Highlight your Unique Photography Style
Every good photographer has a style that defines their work. Perhaps your style is not for everyone because every customer also has their own distinct set of preferences. However, that doesn’t mean you have to be everything for everyone. Stick to your own photography style, and eventually, you’ll attract the right audience that resonates with your work.
You can also create posters for marketing your photography business. Sites like PosterMyWall offer a range of customizable photography poster templates that make it easy to design attractive graphics. It’s packed with great features like background removal and resizing as well as creating stunning visuals that will look great on any platform. This saves you time and ensures your posts stand out.
Engage with Your Audience more often
It’s not just about posting your portfolio and showing visuals. Social media is all about, well, ‘getting social’. Interact with your followers, promptly respond to comments and DMs, and enable serendipity by always showing up and exploring opportunities for connection and networking.
You can even tag your customers whenever you post the pictures of their photoshoot or event. You can also share their posts and comment on their posts to show your gratitude for their trust and support. Just be real with your interactions and be there to answer questions and help existing and prospective clientele.
Use Hashtags and Geotags Strategically
You can enhance the discoverability of your audience if you use hashtags and geotags. Since you’re operating a local business, it helps to be visible in your locality and maximize all opportunities for brand awareness. Make your hashtags short and memorable. You can also encourage your clients to use your hashtag when tagging or posting your work. Brainstorm your ideas and consider the trends and events happening around to stay relevant and engaging.
Collaborate with Influencers and Brands
Collaboration is the name of the game in social media. This way, you can tap the communities built by other influencers, and you can then grow your own following. It’s easy to stand out when you engage in opportunities that can make exponential growth happen. Just make the most of collaboration opportunities and reach out if you have to. For instance, if you’re into commercial beauty & fashion photography, social media is filled with lifestyle and fashion brands and influencers ripe for the taking. It takes time to build a solid following, but with strategy and consistency, anything is possible.
Try Paid Advertising
Social media advertising is more effective than ever because of their targeted nature. You can target the exact demographics you want and generate results instantly! It requires upfront cost, but it’s well worth it. If you’re into newborn photography, you can target moms and new parents. If you’re into wedding photography, you can target people in their 20s or 30s. It’s all about knowing who your audience is and experimenting with this strategy until you find the right formula that generates the best outcomes.
Create a social media Calendar
Again, consistency is very important. You can stay top of mind if your existing and future followers can see you or get reminded of you often. You can easily do that by scheduling posts ahead and making sure that you’re posting every day or at least 3-5 times per week. You can do this yourself or hire an assistant to tap your portfolio or create content ideas to schedule on your social media calendar.
No matter how great your photographs are, they won’t see the light of day without proper marketing strategies. Make the most of the advertising opportunities available, especially social media. Post your portfolio and show off your photography style consistently and you’ll eventually attract the right audience that resonates with your work. It’s all about being consistent with your quality, service, and most importantly, marketing.
