photo by Rosh Sillars
Much of the Internet business talk these days is about building a community around your blog, web site, product or service.
For a photographer, having a solid community of supporters “who care” about what you do increases your odds for success. This is especially true in rough economic times.
So, who should you target for your community?
The question is: Who is your target audience? Who might care about what you do? For photographers, the answer usually consists of business owners, brides, creative directors, new mothers, or marketing people among many others.
How do you attract these people? The answer is easy – offer them desirable information. The answer is hard – what information do they really need or want?
It is important to find a niche. You can’t be all things to all people. As much as you might feel like you are losing out on opportunities, your chances of success are much greater if you narrow your niche. You can always expand or focus on additional niches in the future.
Your peers talk about your industry to others. If your work can become a positive part of the conversation, name recognition will increase. Name recognition, even among your peers, will open doors.
For example: If you’re the known dog photographer in town, the cat photographers might recommend you if you are part of their conversation. How do you become part of the conversation? Create a community around a topic cat photographers would find engaging, entertaining or informative. Be supportive of the cat photography community.
As a photographer, you can offer resources to the people listed in the beginning of this post as well as designers, stylists, architects, real estate agents, and high school seniors. Unique photography styles or equipment techniques will often draw an audience. If you offer good content you will become part of the conversation.
What about your photography? I would recommend using your images as examples. You should always offer a complete “about page” with links to your specialties. But remember, creating community resources doesn’t replace a quality portfolio web site.
Make sure you are willing to commit to your growing community. You don’t want to develop a bad reputation. The last thing you want is to be a negative part of the conversation.
Rosh
Tags: architect, audience, cat photographer, community, conversation, designer, dog photographer, internet photographer, name recognition, negative conversation, New Media, online photographer, Photographer, positive conversation, social media photographer, stlylist
