This is the tenth in our series looking at different marketing campaigns for photographers.
Also in this series:
- Win a Car!
- Gift Vouchers
- The Facebook Group Tag
- #archiveday
- Refer a Friend
- The Exhibition
- The Humble Keyring
- Getting Press
- Baby Passport Pictures
Marketing Campaigns for Photographers #10 Wedding Venues (Part 1)
9 out of 10 times the first thing any couple looking to get married will search for is the venue. It’s become harder and harder to become a recommended photographer in many venues especially if you’re new to an area or in fact the wedding industry.
This means that any association you have to a venue is certainly not going to harm your marketing efforts.
Today’s post is the first of 2 easy ideas which will hopefully give you a helping hand.
The Wedding Venue blog page
This is particularly good if you haven’t actually shot a wedding at one of your local venues….. don’t be deceptive and say you have though!
Create a section on your website or blog titled ‘Wedding Venues’
For each of your venues create their own page.
Make sure you use the right keywords in the page title.
Include photos and some SEO friendly (but relevant and readable) text.
Example venue page
Include links to blog posts that have been at that venue on the page.
Example:
See my recent wedding at Nonsuch Mansion :
Jane and Bob’s Wedding at Nonsuch Mansion (linked to article)
Links to other articles you might have written involving the venue.
Example:
More information about Nonsuch Mansion : Come visit us at the Nonsuch Mansion Wedding Fair (linked to article)
When referring to the venue in another post link the venue name to this page.
Example:
We had a lovely time at Nonsuch Mansion with Jane and Bob.
Bold letters linked to the Nonsuch Mansion page.
It’s really all about using those keywords and building links within your own site that reinforce it’s relevance.
Hopefully you’ll be topping Google in no time!
*The Current Photographer website contains links to our affiliate partners. Purchasing products and services through these links helps support our efforts to bring you the quality information you love and there’s no additional cost to you.
Michael has been working as a photographer for the last ten years. In that time he has shot over 100,000 peoples’ portraits and worked in four different continents. In 2001 Michael graduated with a degree in photography from Manchester Metropolitan University.
Another in road is to keep abreast of new venues being built. Just got notification of one in Tower Bridge area.
Here’s their pitch to us…
Dear Tim,
I am writing regarding the new Mint Hotel at Tower Bridge.
Mint Hotels are the evolution of the City Inn brand. Situated just a few minutes’ walk from Tower Hill and Fenchurch Street stations, the new London hotel is perfectly positioned within London’s historic centre and financial hub. Tower Gateway DLR is also a few minutes away, providing easy access to London City Airport via the Docklands Light Railway in under 20 minutes.
We are currently putting the finishing touches to an exciting new guest service brochure, which will be distributed to the guests of the hotel from reception and concierge and placed in the 583 rooms. This publication is designed to promote the hotel’s prominent location and services, as well as promoting the services of an exclusive handful of local businesses that we think will benefit the guests and clientele. This is the first and only publication of its kind used by the hotel, and so it is an excellent opportunity to promote your business to, what we believe, is a relevant market.
I am setting up some short, one-to-one presentations to show you what we are doing and get you involved in the campaign. Please let me know if you can get to the hotel for an appointment as soon as possible. We are available between 9am and 10pm to see you.
Kind Regards,
Mike
Sales & Marketing Consultant
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This is an unashamed marketing exercise by them of course and although I’ve undertaken a few adverts in some venues’ brochures before, I’ve yet to get work from any of them directly. Always worth a look though and I’m sure Mike wont mind that I’ve circulated his offer. I’d lay a month’s income that the invitation wasn’t just sent to me.
Tim – You right; it would have been sent to other ‘togs.
The question is; if you advertised in the brochure would you have any extra privileges
such as being a preferred supplier? If so I would be interested to hear about the contract between you and the venue – any from other photographers for that matter.
I advertised in one brochure and was told by the management that I would be a preferred supplier and would be in partnership etc and hence my details (and sample album) would be shown to prospective couples. Thing was this didn’t happen so when I did some mystery shopping to prove it and went to see the management I was told that my contract was with the company managing the brochure not the hotel!
After some robust conversation around a few verbal agreements, a written letter from the management it was agreed that they would indeed honour the arrangement I initially thought I had with them.
They were not happy about being mystery shopped (they actually asked me to tell them when I was going to do it again – duh!) however I will mystery shop again.
I would encourage all ‘togs who are approached like this to find out exactly what it is your paying for – brochure space or preferred supplier, and if the latter exactly what that involves!
FYI I have never had any returns from magazines or brochures previously.
Andrew