Dear Golden Girls,
This sounds silly, but I need advice. I launched my business about a year ago and things were going great. There was so much interest and I was so busy! But lately, things have really died down. I get a few inquiries once in a while and a couple people book, but it is definitely not like it was a year ago! I'm starting to think this was a mistake. Please help! How do I get clients interested and booked?
Starving Artist
Dear Starving Artist,
First off, congratulations on starting your business and sticking it out so far! That's a huge accomplishment! We totally get where you are in your journey and hopefully we can help you figure this out!
You have to understand that businesses go through seasons... some seasons are busier than others. When you first started, of course interest was up! We're willing to bet that before you officially went into business, you had a lot of friends and family begging you to take their photos, right? Well, after you launched, a lot of those people were ready to book! And their friends saw the photos and wanted to book! And so on and so on...
But after that you noticed things went south. This could have been caused by a lot of things. Maybe your pricing is off for your area? What about your branding? Are you putting yourself out there and really showcasing what makes you and your business special? If you aren't sure, we recommend reading some of our previous blogs on branding. (Here and here!) See if there's anything you can change!
Something to remember though, is that you have only been in business for a year... maybe your initial clients only want yearly photos? The key to fixing that, is luring them back in! Maybe try offering your previous clients a special sale price or free prints or something really snazzy! Get them excited again!
If you've fixed all that needs fixing and tried luring in your old clients but things are still slow, here are a few other ideas you might want to try:
1. Host a mini-session special! Shorter session = smaller price! Make sure you're not losing too much money, but also make sure it's exciting enough to get people's attention!
2. Keep posting on Facebook and Instagram, even if business is slow! Dig up some of your favorite images from past sessions. Tag your clients! Keep your social media accounts active. You want to be sure you are still popping up in your fans' newsfeeds!
3. Speaking of which... find your ideal clientele and offer them something special! Maybe consider offering a FREE or super discounted session. (Only if you're comfortable with that, of course!) After you rock their session, be sure to encourage them to spread the word! Offer incentives, like free prints or discounted sessions, in exchange for referrals! And, of course, be sure to post those photos online like crazy! Tag your clients! If these people are your ideal clients, there's a good chance that those in their social circle are your ideal clients, as well! You want their friends to see your work and book sessions, too!
These are just a few ways you might be able to get people interested again. And remember, it takes a while to build a solid business. Get through the slow periods and you're golden!
Xoxo!
Golden Girls
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