Custom Photography May Be The Key Ingredient Your Business Needs To Succeed

Let’s face it, not everyone has an eye for photography. Professional photographers have been classically trained, spent years experimenting with different light, angles, etc. and they own the right equipment and software. They have worked hard to gain the knowledge and experience necessary to capture the moment, the feeling, the message in a photo that makes an ad or campaign not only good but great!
Next time you find yourself not just skipping over an ad in a magazine or throwing out a direct mail piece, stop and ask yourself “What grabbed my attention and made me read on?”  Chances are it was due to the use of great photography!
Photography in your advertising and marketing materials can make or break your first impression with a potential customer. Remember the old saying, “A picture says a 1000 words”? Well, that has never been truer than it is today.  Branding photography is a powerful tool because it can have a substantial impact on your bottom line. It’s all about understanding how to leverage your images. Studies have shown that people can recall 65% of the visual content that they see almost three days later. In comparison to about 10% of written content three days after it’s read.

Visual content is quickly dominating the internet world. Don’t fight it, and don’t get left behind. Start including original images, infographics, and videos in your content. You’ll find greater engagement with your customer base, gain more recognition online, and yield better results with your content marketing strategy.

Have you examined your own brand? Does anything look slapped together? Your brand should reflect that this is your profession for the long haul, not just some pipe dream you’re chasing this week. Strong branding shows you’ve invested time, money, and brainpower into your company, and clients can depend on you to deliver a high-end experience for years to come. If your branding feels unfinished or amateur, potential clients may wonder where else you’ll do the bare minimum.
How one of my clients has been able to grow her business by using custom photography and creating a brand:
“We created a library of images to pull from for articles, sales pages, speaking engagements and social media. Recently our company was featured in Mt. Pleasant Lifestyle Magazine, and I was able to send them images I love that were perfect for both the article and my brand.”  — Lee Heyward, Image Strategist, www.prosperousimage.com

Ways To Use Your Custom Photography:

Have them placed in your website.
When you personalize your business with photographs you create trust. It also visually tells the story of your business, your brand, and your unique value. People do business with PEOPLE, not businesses.

 

Use them in posts on your social media platforms.
LinkedIn, Facebook business page, Instagram posts, Twitter, etc. Posts that include an image receive 120% – 180% more visibility and engagement. Facebook posts with images also drive almost 40% more interaction.

 

Place them in your newsletters and e-blasts.
Showing your clients is more effective than simply telling them. Only 30% of marketers create their own visuals, so it’ll be easy for you to get ahead of the pack.

 

Use them in press releases about an event or new offering you have.
A press release is an easy way to get potential media coverage when you have an announcement or an event. It’s free marketing! Why not try it? Drum up some press with your awesome new Custom Photography.

 

Add to your pictures every few months so that people see a new image of you. 
This puts you back in the front of their mental database. Just remember to use the same logo across all platforms so people can quickly recognize you.

 

Place them in your sales and landing pages.
This will lead to better conversion rates.

 

Submit an image with your bio when you have a speaking engagement.
Don’t just tell them who you are. Show them. And speaking engagements are a great way to get in front of new faces and meet new potential clients.

 

Put one in your email invoice.
Personalize your emails and invoices and help people remember who you are. You are more likely to remember a face even if you can’t remember their name.

 

Use them to create a rack card, brochure, mailer or other print marketing pieces.
You can even put a photo on your business card — it helps people remember you and your business.

 

Downfalls of Using Stock Photos
Stock Photos Just Won’t Cut it Anymore. Because stock photos are readily available you have to be aware that other companies will be using them as well. This means your competition or another company in your market could be using the same exact photo as you. You are not going to be able to capture the individuality of your company by using stock photos.

You may just end up looking like everyone else. When purchasing a stock photo you need to be aware of any licensing restrictions. Each company imposes its own restrictions, so please read all of the fine print. You may be able to use it for one purpose, but not another.

 

Are you ready to thrive in our rapidly-changing internet world? Custom Photography might just be the key ingredient you need to succeed! Contact Local Search Essentials at 904-823-9747 or visit www.localsearchesentials.com to create your Custom Photography Package!