The question was basically asking how to market a business through an OB/GYN office. What’s the best approach?

Before I get into some advice, I thought I’d also mention that this same approach can be done for a pediatric office.

Photography Marketing w/ OB/GYN

First thing I would recommend is to create drop cards that can be placed on a counter, or side table in the waiting room.  Pick up a bunch of acrylic stands for the cards from a Staples or similar type of store. That way the case is clear and all you see are your beautiful cards.  When my wife was pregnant and I would go with her to the doctor, every time she left I noticed a case filled with cards right next to the secretary’s window.

Promo material for you and the office can also be a winner. But there’s a trick to it, because the products need to market both you and the office.  Examples of this would be notepads with your photo in the background and credit at the bottom, with the office information at the top. These can be used by the office staff and also left in the waiting room with pens that have your photo wrapped around them. You never know when expecting mothers will need to write something down.

Taking this a step further would be custom appointment cards. Pick up a card from the doctor and then create an identical copy of it, but with the backside being your information.  When the cards come in, offer them to the office for free.  Many doctors will jump on the opportunity to save some money (I know…), even when it’s a simple business card sized appointment card.

If you want to make a huge impression, then step it up a notch by getting super friendly with the office manager and eventually requesting a wall to hang your photos on. Pick out your absolute best photographs, frame them nicely to match the waiting room’s decor and get those things hung so people see your work large.  On the same note, you could contact interior designers to partner with and they can potentially get your photos hung in many offices.

Something else to consider is including the doctors and interior designers on your freebie which you give away on your website.  By recommending them to your clients you’re giving them business and yourself business. Aside from the promo materials you are offering the office to use, you’re also giving back to the partnership with strategic lead generation. I created a kit which details this strategy, for wedding photographers. But it can be adopted for baby photographers as well.

Advice reworded from responses in the Facebook group.

When starting a photography business, many photographers do not realize how of the creative work is done compared to the business work. Typically it is 80% business and 20% creativity.

When photographers do not realize this, it shocks them greatly from the get go.

Well, our friends at Sprouting Photographer just launched a free course called “Take Back Your 80%” which is intended to help guide photographers through the process of swapping that 80% and 20% so that photographers are spending 80% of their time on creativity and less time on the business side of the equation.

As I said, the course is completely free, so there is no harm is signing up.  Click here to get started.

What have you done for your photography business lately?

• Have you logged your equipment for gear insurance?
• Have you double checked your liability insurance?
• Have you joined a networking group to learn?
• Have you gone to any conferences to learn and network?
• Have you taken any courses to learn?
• Have you read a photo business book to learn?
• Have you researched ways to improve your photo sales?

I’ll ask again. What have you done for your photography business lately?

This has been a friendly reminder to take time here and there and find ways to improve your photography business.

Thanks for reading,
Scott

The Kiss Principle was termed by the Navy back in the 60’s and it has since evolved into Keep It Stupid Simple in addition to Keep It Simple, Stupid. Although the term is now stated different, the principle is the same.

The idea of KISS is to find ways to simplify whatever you are trying to get across.

This works for your business marketing and advertising, the content your write for pages and blog articles, and even the design of your website.

Although you want your website to have that personal flare that illustrates you, the photographer, you also want to make sure it’s Stupid Simple so that your customers have as little confusion as possible.

You want them to know what you do, how to find you and how to navigate your website. The last thing you want is for a potential customers to visit your website, not know what type of photography you offer and not find your portfolio.

So please keep KISS in mind with everything you do for your photography business and website.

Before I wrap up this post I want to share one tip related to the KISS principle. I’m referring to the 2 second memory test. Check out this video to learn more about how to perform this test on your website.

Thanks for reading,
Scott

February 3-5 marks an amazing point in time for photography and creative industries thanks to the Dream Bigger Conference. Angela Pointon has organized this amazing teleconference where you can listen in from anywhere. Call in, stream in or download the recordings after.

At the Dream Bigger Conference you will learn from extremely creative and unique individuals including our very own Scott Wyden Kivowitz talking about your online presence. You will also hear from Tara Gentile, Don Giannatti, Pascal Depuhl. Sarah Kathleen Peck, Kaye Putnam and so many more.

Tickets are on sale now for a discounted price, but that changes soon.  Sign up for the Dream Bigger Conference for only $79 today.

Scott hopes to see you there!

1. Pick a good name

Once you hit the ground running with business filings to the government and marketing yourself you don’t necessarily want to go back to the beginning. Start off with a good name to represent your business and your market. In a creative industry the use of a name connected to your legal personal name is a surefire way to brand yourself from others. Another aspect to consider is researching federal trademarks and local business names to ensure there is not a pre-existing business in play with that name. This does not mean you have to choose to use your legal name but can definitely help lend some credibility and name recognition in your market.

2. Get legit

Getting legit encompasses setting up business structure and securing the required permits to engage in business. Ignoring these structures demonstrates an unprofessional and immature business owner that can bring along many fines and penalties. Each jurisdiction varies on how to set up and maintain your business legally so be sure to check with local laws (Or hire an attorney to do it for you!)

3. Pay taxes

Taxes vary on location but at the core are federal income, state income and state sales taxes. Rates, schedules and methods of remitting vary depending upon jurisdiction.

4. Get insurance

While selecting a business structure that separates out liability for your personal assets, having insurance will help to cement professionalism while protecting yourself and clients. Insurance types include liability, equipment, disability, life, rental/owner property (such as for studios), and other miscellaneous insurances available through various providers.

5. Use lawyer drafted contracts

You’ve done all this work so far, why put yourself at risk? Contracts are way more than individual business policies. They include contract law principles that are specific to business transactions. Consider finding an attorney that is involved in the creative industry to ensure the business transaction contract you are using covers all areas you need and avoids a basic base-line contract. Search your local state bar websites or ask for referrals.

A word to the wise business person, don’t borrow from another. To ensure you know the legitimacy of the contract and the law behind it research and engage in a reputable attorney

6. Set up a website and/or blog

Time to get your web presence going since where is everyone these days? On their computer. Their phone. Their tablet. Your market is connected. Find a website and/or blog set up to display your work and market yourself to your target clients. Both will provide information to your clients and act as an online store-front for your business.

7. Set up social media

Going along with the website and blog presence your business NEEDS to be on social media. The various social media platforms out there provide a low-cost marketing tool with a high rate of return on investment of your time and costs. Miss the boat on social media and you’re missing the boat on gaining clients.

8. Define your policies and prices

Before even marketing to potential clients you need to have policies and prices in place. Going along with #9 (know your market) define this information to be able to provide potential clients a full view of your products, services, prices and policies up front. No surprises should be waiting for them. An informed client has a higher probability of a better customer service experience.

9. Know your market

All of this work is no good if you don’t define who your market is. Don’t just passively market. Get active by knowing who they are, where they are and what they want.

10. Know and control your business costs

Finally, but not last as there is way more to go along with building a business, for this top ten you should know and control your business costs. Having a pulse on what you have to spend and what you need to spend are important to ensuring you’re turning a profit. This is a good way to identify leaks and control the prices for your clients.

Photographers Need To Know (More)

This top ten isn’t all inclusive of everything you need to get your photography business going but it is a good start. In fact, it’s more than a start. Business owners should run through this check-list routinely to ensure they are up to date on all legalities, policies and business aspects to keep a smooth running business.

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For more legal help for photog’s snag The Law Tog’s free eBook “The Legal Lens” here.

Rachel Brenke is the lawyer/photographer owner of The Law Tog, a site is dedicated to providing legal, marketing and biz advice to photography businesses with maximum efficiency and results. Through business consulting services and her published book “The Laundry List: A Mother’s Guide to Balancing Family and Business” Rachel provides guidance in practical ways for photography business owners to succeed.

Please also join Rachel on Facebook!