Photography bookings slowed? Here are 10 ways to boost your biz

No matter what type of business, chances are, everyone has experienced a slow period. Instead of the inquiries rushing in, you log in to your email only to see spam messages or left wondering why your phone is not ringing. Before you start slashing your prices, try a few of these tips to fill in the calendar.

Tip #1 Get to those inquiries as soon as you can.

A prompt response means different things to different people, but do your best to respond in a few hours. Of course, this may not always be easy to do. Consider an autoresponder for times, you know you can’t get to your email right away. Have a personalized greeting explaining you will get back to them right away and maybe a link to your most asked questions.

Tip #2 Draft your responses to your inquiries to be as human and personable as possible.

Don’t just rattle off pricing and availability. Do address each inquiry with warmth and kindness. Address them by their name to establish a connection. Ask about them, before jumping straight to business. Think about it; you want to be treated as a person and not a paycheck. So do your clients.

Tip #3 Send your potential client a video message!

That’s right. Take a second to send them a personalized greeting, so they know you are a real person and not just some robot behind a computer. Plus, they will know what you look like when you meet up for a session, and you can skip that blind date awkward feeling.

Tip #4 Big or small, treat every client like they are your one and only.

Provide every client an experience they can’t find anywhere else. Think of areas you can improve to make each client interaction the best it can be and implement them immediately. Just the slightest tweaking, like a seamless online booking transaction, can make your sessions go from great to wow. Your clients will be singing your praises from the rooftops.

Tip #5 Is your website easy to follow?

While you may think putting it all out there is good, when it comes to a photography website, there is such a thing as too much. Here are some things your website needs:

* Service area front and center.
* Contact info in an obvious place.
* If you list your prices are they easy to find?
* Lots of options, try grouping them to make it easier for clients to choose.

Tip #6 A call to action is a good place to practice being extremely direct.

While you may think you are getting to the point, some viewers may miss the mark. Be sure your call to actions says exactly what you want. For example, contact me here, share this post, I want awesome pics! You get the point.

Tip #7 Be yourself.

While it may feel odd or strange at first, being your authentic self online is a great way to attract your ideal client. Love corny dad jokes? Share ’em in social media posts. Can’t get any editing done when your kids are home from school, create insta stories about it. The point is, even if you aren’t the best photographer or least expensive, being yourself will allow you to those clients who like you for you.

Tip #8 Be a social butterfly.

One of the best ways to get your name out there is to volunteer, go to community events, offer your services to local business owners, etc. And don’t forget to brag on yourself for all of your achievements or share tips that will enhance your ideal client’s lives.

Tip #9 How can you help?

In a saturated market, adding value to potential clients before they are clients is a huge plus. Creating a style guide for busy moms or a place to buy this or how to soothe a fussy baby will all come back in the end.

Tip #10 Referral programs work.

Make it easy for your clients to refer you to their friends and family. Offer them a little something-something in return for recommending you. You could:

* Offer a discount toward a future session
* Credits for printing
* A gift card to a local shop
* Another token of appreciation

Making it Easy on You

Remember, better workflows for you, means better service for your clients. And Session offers you just that, time to spend on the creative side of your business and not getting bogged down with the tedious side.

If you find yourself interested in switching to Session, it’s likely because your general-purpose scheduling apps, bloated “business” suites, endless email chains, and file attachments, just aren’t helping you stay on top of your business. Things are messy and stressful, and you need a new type of system that isn’t. And that’s what Session is.