A Picture Is Worth A 1000 Words
A picture is worth a thousand words. It’s been almost a century sense this idiom was coined but it remains just as true today. For small businesses I believe it is doubly true. Too often I see posts on Facebook and Twitter with no photos attached. I see blog posts with what may be beautiful words and outstanding stories but I pass by them because they don’t catch my eye. I am a marketing consultant, but I am also a consumer. If I am passing your posts by, then your customers and clients are as well.
But what do you do? Photography is expensive. Headshots alone can cost you as much as $800. Having a photographer at events is even more expensive.
While that is true, your posts are being wasted if there is not a visual attached. Still, I understand, you are a small business. Cash flow is an issue.
Three Ways to Save On Photography
1. Look for new photographers who just want to get their work out there. They are often willing to work for free, for trade or at the very least for less than full price just so they get photo credit. Be sure to link back to their sites when posting the photos and to give them credit for each photo. In addition don’t expect to get free photos forever. Gradually increase their pay to build their loyalty to you. You will use the best of their photos dozens of times. I am currently working with Caption Henry Photography, a promising young photography student for local events.
2. Enlist friends and family. Professional photos are always best but if you cannot find a local photographer you can afford, enlist friends and family. Look for people who have taken great photos for you before and recruit them to help you with specific projects. If you are going to market digitally there is no such thing as too many photos. Provide your amateur photographer with a good camera and ask them to take as many photos as possible. The more choices you have the better the chance of getting at least a few great shots. Please note here that I do not suggest you take the photos yourself. If you have the time AND it is not event, feel free. But your job is to run your business, not take photos and during an event it is important that you not put a camera between you and your customers. Two years ago I handed my camera to a friend at a Fleet Feet graduation run. I told her the card was empty and it would make me happy if she completely filled it up.
3. Use A Stock Service. Whether it is a pay per photo, subscription or even a free site, there are dozens of sites where you can find photos for your particular industry. I spent the morning using Pexel to find photos for a home design company. But you can find photos for almost any business on their site.
Instant Gratification
We live in an instant gratification world. If you are marketing your business online, no matter what the site, it is no longer acceptable to post anything without a photo. With so many limits already set by the algorithms for the social media sites, you need to make sure that everything you post is attention grabbing. You want to create posts that are share-worthy. Posts that call out to people. Posts that make people want to “pin it.”