Running a third-party promotion

Every starting photography business needs a steady stream of new clients. Friends and family can start a new business, and of course, repeat trading is the foundation of regular income. But burnout, bad economic times, and off-season blues are factors that can kill a business.

A third party promotion has many advantages. First of all, the gift given to your potential client does not come from you but from a third party. So it seems less like pure hype on their part. The third is happy with the fact that he does not have to pay for the gift and puts his new prospects in a receptive frame of mind. Second, the giveaway can be designed to promote additional sales at your studio. Third, your new client must visit your studio in order to pick up the gift. All you have to do is print a couple hundred cute certificates and/or buy the gifts in bulk. Your success will be commensurate with your enthusiasm for canvassing local businesses for promotion.

Examples of appropriate gifts are: a free portrait session and a 5-by-7 portrait, a couple of cut-crystal champagne flutes, an expensive-looking album for your fun photos, an outdoor portrait session, or a certificate for future baby photos. These gifts are given to the new customer by the third party for participating in his own promotion. A free portrait session must accompany each gift.

Any business that promotes its product through an in-home or in-store demonstration is eligible to receive your giveaway. Potential third-party hosts include: Stainless Steel Cookware, Porcelain Dinnerware, Wedding Dress, Tuxedo Stores, Banks (New Accounts), Jewelry Stores, and Appliances. Any business promoting their product or service would welcome the opportunity to present a freebie to their prospective customers.

A certain percentage of your gift customers will accept the gift and not buy anything else. I recommend that you don’t put undue pressure on yourself for customer improvement, but instead depend on the excellence of your services to get the job done. Prospects who take advantage of your additional services may become good customers and refer you to a new circle of friends and family.