Your Checklist if Nobody is Booking You...
Have you been struggling to turn your inquiries into paying clients?
Or maybe you just finding it hard to get people reaching out asking you about your photography!
If you're in this boat, realize that it's not the end of the world! Growing a photography business and marketing in general is simple a series of experiments to figure out what works and what doesn't. If what you are doing right now isn't bringing in the amount of leads and bookings you want, now is the time to put on your problem solving hat and figure it what to shift.
To help you with that, here is a checklist to run through when you find yourself in a season where no one seems to be booking you:
1. Check your attitude and perspective.
How are you showing up online and in your marketing? Are you perhaps appearing too desperate and throwing discounts every chance you get just to get someone in front of your camera? Are you putting forth your best effort and consistently marketing? Or has it been weeks since you last posted, blogged or sent an email because you feel like nothing you do works so why bother.
How you show up in your space matters. Your demeanor, your attitude and your energy levels make a difference. So take an an honest look at how you've been showing up lately: have you been desperate, defeated or confident?
2. Are you clear on who your ideal client is?
Hear me clearly: It's impossible to market effectively if you do not truly understand who you are marketing to. Do you have a good understanding of your ideal client's wants, desires and reservations about being photographed? An ideal bride will be at a completely different state in life than let's say an ideal high school senior client. If you want to draw in more ideal clients, you must take the time and effort to define exactly who they are and create content that they would find valuable.
3. How are you sharing pricing and going through the booking process?
Most photographers make the mistake of emailing pricing in a message and are totally bummed when they don't hear anything back. They feel ghosted! Sending out your pricing in a message one of the worst things you can do because it's going to kill your booking rate! If you're doing that now, stop and try hosting booking consultations over the phone instead.
By simply changing how you share your pricing and experience - from shifting it from an email to a phone conversation - you'll be able to better understand and serve your clients and get the booking with payment way faster. To be honest, there is a lot that goes into this one conversation that we teach extensively on it inside our mentorship program. So if you want to learn more about that, just reply back with the word MENTORSHIP and we can see if it's a good fit for you!
4. Are you talking about your photography enough?
You probably feel like you do because it's on your mind constantly, but are you actively engaged and sharing your photography experience on all the platforms available to you? If you create an Instagram post, do you repurpose that same content for an email, a blog post, a live, video, stories and perhaps even an ad? Not everyone will open your email or see your post. This is why it's highly worth considering repurposing one piece of content on multiple platforms to ensure the greatest amount of reach.
5. Do you posts have clear call to actions? Or are they left open ended?
When someone engages with your content, tell them what you want them to do next. Do you want them to comment below, follow for more, send you a DM, download this, book a session or something else.
Of course this can vary depending on the post and whatever you are actively promoting but the idea is to same: tell them what to do next instead of leaving it open eded.
6. Are you purposefully and consistently following up with those who have expressed interest but haven't yet booked?
Sometimes people will not book right away and that's ok. It's your job as the business owner to take the lead and consistently follow up with your leads and touch base with them. For years, I have dubbed Fridays as my "Follow Up Fridays" where I set aside time to follow up and check in with those who have expressed interest in booking me but haven't yet. And you know what's crazy? Many people have expressed gratitude in the fact that I take the time to follow up with them...and then many book me as a result!
So ask yourself, do you have a system or process to consistently follow up with your leads?
7. Are you consistent and patient in your marketing strategies?
Admittedly, this can be the hardest to follow through with. The truth of the matter is that can be up to a 6 month lag time from for you to see the fruition of your marketing efforts. Of course this isn't always the case, but don't be shocked if it is. It took me 6 months of consistent blogging before I started getting leads right from Google searches. It took me about a year of marketing and refining my high school model program before I had a full team of paying clients.
So whatever kind of marketing you are doing in this season, commit to doing it consistently for 6 months. After all, you can't rush good marketing. You may not see immediate results but choose to be patient and consistent.
Alright so long list, but hopefully this gave you some ideas to start working with.
Comment below on which point struck a chord with you and why!
Cheering you on!
Heather
PS. If you want a step by step and HOW TO manual on how to attract & book ideal clients, price, price your work and scale your photography business, grab yourself a copy of our newly released ebook! Over 2200 photographers have already gotten theirs so why are you waiting? Grab The Becoming Booked Method: A Photographer's Guide to a Fully Booked and Profitable Business by clicking right here!