As the summer months, and oppressive southern heat, approach, many photographers see space on their calendar. It can be easy to completely turn off your business during these months, as you’ve likely worked extremely hard (sometimes to the point of burn out) during busy season. However, after you take that much needed breather following the craziness of busy season, I’m going to encourage you to do a few things!
Summer (or any slow season your region / industry experiences) is a great time to reevaluate your business practices, tidy up your office / files, and plan for the coming months of Fall that will surely bring a full calendar again!
I find summer is THE PERFECT time to take a look at my marketing and sales plans for the remainder of the year and also draft a light plan for the next year. One of the BEST things I’ve done for my business has been AUTOMATION. I automate everything I am able to including emails, surveys, review requests, invoice notices, ect. I also automate Sales Campaigns through my online galleries. Automation is just one of the ways I’ve been able to increase my print and album sales by thousands of dollars each year! Read it again, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, with the literal click of a few buttons! This practice gives my overall income a big boost and decreases the amount of physical work I have to take on to meet my goals.
If you’re interested in doing the same, read on to learn three very simple, very straightforward, things you can do to boost your print and album sales.
3 Simple Things I Did to Increase Print and Album Sales
Thinking about how you can set up your print and album sales to turn one-time customers into returning shoppers who pay more for your services? With these 3 simple steps that I implemented in my own business, you can double or even triple your revenue with each client. The best part about all of these tips is that they’re all incredibly easy to implement right away and they give your clients a better overall experience.
- Sales automation
Let automation be your friend! With literally dozens of websites and software, you can automate most parts of the sales process. From online chat assistants to email templates to inventory management software, it’s literally never been easier to walk away from your computer to enjoy more parts of your life… and still make sales in the background.
Let’s face it, you’re a talented individual, but your time is valuable and administrative tasks aren’t the best use of your efforts. For many small business owners, it’s also not feasible to bring on an employee or administrative person, but the price point of automation software is a little more within reach and allows you to maximize your efforts. Most online gallery hosts that photographers are using today also offer incredible sales automations programs built right into your account! You are leaving big bucks on the table if you don’t take advantage of these systems!
Click here to read more info on how to boost your revenue with sales automations!
2. Talk about albums and prints
This one is simple: get in the habit of talking about your albums and prints for sale.
Scenario: A potential customer contacts you for a shoot and schedules a quick phone consultation. Make sure to touch on prints in the initial conversation. You don’t have to be salesy or annoying about it, just point out your offerings in a cheerful way. Your clients can’t buy what they don’t know you’re selling!
Do you have a blog on your website? You should write blog posts about the albums and prints you offer! Seriously– make sure all aspects of your business represent all products that you offer. In social copy, in newsletters, and advertisements, the more you talk about what you offer, the more inquiries you’ll receive.
As a small business owner and photographer, you have to be your best representative, because oftentimes, you’re the only representative…
3. Add products to your packages
..which leads me to my last point. One of the best ways to increase your revenue is to add products to your packages. Not only does this start the initial conversation around your offerings, but it also opens the door for further purchases.
Think about it: if the client is in love with their photos (which of course they will be!), they will be more inclined to purchase an album or prints if it’s already included in their package and they don’t have to think about it. This is a great way to tier your package prices, too, by including these albums and prints in a higher-priced package.
I would never give you advice that I myself don’t follow. After implementing all of the above steps, I have been able to increase my sales by literally THOUSANDS of dollars! I want that to be your reality, too.
Just remember, you can reach out anytime to info@gabbychapin.com if you have any questions or comments! I answer every email!
xo,
Gabby
