Marketing During the Summer Months

[by Selena Maitreya]

In my world, marketing during the summer months is no different than the rest of the year, assuming you have a well developed 12-month sales and marketing program.

Now I know this runs contrary to other info you may hear. Many people will tell you that you should never try to visit potential clients in June, July or August (“they are all on vacation”)

Or you will be counseled that you should “not send any mailers in the summer – everyone’s away.”  This advice comes form the same folks who will tell you to forget doing anything in December and January “too much holiday stuff going on”.

Think about it.  You lose June, July and August, December and January and there goes 5 months of the year? That’s Crazy!

My advice? Stop making decisions based on fear.

Create a solid 12-month sales and marketing program that you work consistently!

Here is what your program should contain:

  • A body of work that contains a well-developed vision applied to a specific area of photo that is articulated and demonstrated through a print (ipad) and web portfolio.
  • A fine-tuned database that has two functions.
    1. It supports email and direct mail hits monthly.
    2. It’s used to develop in person appointments.
  • Visual Email (yes it’s still important to use this tool.)
  • Direct mail.
  • Portal exposure.
  • In person visits.

I’d bet my next ice cream cone that the majority of photographers do not have all the elements working as suggested above.  SOOO, your summer job is to see what components you are missing and then use the lazy hazy days of summer to create a solid program that will carry you throughout the year.

Selina Maitreya: www.selinamaitreya.com, www.facebook.com/ClarionCall2011, www.twitter.com/ClarionCall2011, www.professionalphotographyteleseminar.com

By Selina Maitreya | Posted: June 7th, 2011 | 2 comments


 

2 Responses to 'Marketing During the Summer Months'

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  1. Selina, can you elaborate on “A fine-tuned database that supports email and direct mail hits monthly and also used to develop in person appointments”?

    I’m not sure what this is, like Agency Access? How would something like this also develop in person appointments?

    I appreciate your feedback, and I’m already signed up for Friday’s Clarion Call! Pricing is the hardest part I think, especially for food photography. It’s very difficult to find out what’s typical in the industry…for pricing a cookbook for example. I hope Friday will help clear some of the pricing difficulties up for me!

    thanks,
    Kimberly Davis

    By Kimberly Davis | Jun 7, 2011

     

  2. Selina, You are so RIGHT ON! This is like a recipe you can follow for the perfect dish! Thanks for the inspiration and the kick in the ass! ;)

    By ed | Jun 7, 2011

     


 

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