Barbour Backdrops and Props

From Our Business to Yours: Facebook Marketing

There are so many ways businesses today can take advantage of social media marketing!! Many of our clients had only heard about Barbour Backdrops and Props because of our Facebook page.  For us, Facebook has been a major tool in growing our business and fan base.  Because of this, I am constantly researching the best ways to market through social media. 

Social media sites, like Facebook, have so many benefits!

 Here are a few that we have found: 

             Facebook has no up front cost! I probably spend an hour a day maintaining our customer relationships on Facebook a day.. I do this by checking in on them and asking how they are liking their drops, commenting on the great images they post using our products, or adding new friends.  The best part of this is that the only money going into this is what I would be paying myself to do it!  With low cost, I am gaining great networks! So... 

 

1. Time spent on Facebook has a great Return on Investment! Most of our vendors are fantastic, but we do not have the relationship Barbour Backdrops strives to build with our photographers.  We LOVE our Photog friends we've made and know they are the ones who truly make our business successful!  Anyone can have a great product, but without loyal clients they will slowly fail because there isn't anyone promoting them.  This takes me to the next bullet... 

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1. Facebook helps build a community base unlike any other. We are now selling our drops and props all over the country, but because of Facebook, we can easily go over to a Photographer's page and view the great images they take using our products.  Before, I would have to physically go to their studio, or wait for them to update their site with the select few images they decided to add.  Facebook is so wonderful because every profile is like a branch of your studio!  

 

I have been thinking on ways Photographers can maximize their Profiles. Here are a few:

• Maximize the efficiency of your page.  You can do this by creating different landing tabs to your profile, linking your site and blog to Facebook, and having all of your contact info easily visible.  Also, add all of your best work onto your page in Albums.

• Decide the overall personality of your business and promote that through your profile.  If your business attitude is fun, personal, and warm, then that should be reflective of your attitude on Facebook. Customers are more likely to buy from and stay loyal to people they know.  

 

• Focus on building great relationships with your customers and future clients! You can do this by taking the time to wish someone a Happy Birthday, remind customers of great specials you are running by posting on their walls or creating an event (for example, our "Fall in Love" Sale), or if you know their profile picture is from last year you could offer to waive their setting fee and get them into the studio for an updated family pic!  The possibilities are endless! Bottom Line: Comment, Comment, Comment!!!

 

• Know you company strengths and build around them!  If you specialize in maternity and baby photography and you have noticed one of your friends is expecting, you could mention it's time to get those great belly shots and plan on photographing the baby when he/she finally arrives.  If you love to photograph senior, add high school students and send them info on your packages. 

 

The possibilities with Facebook are endless!!!!  Set some goals and work towards them.  We love connecting with you all on, so please friend us on Facebook or drop by our page and leave a comment!

Thanks!! 

Steffani Barbour

~~ Let me know what you think about this blog series.. Helpful?  Boring?? Your feedback is important to me! 

Fantastic Photographer: Meghan Poort

We are so happy to have Meghan Poort as our First Fantastic Photographer, after all, she was our very first customer when we were just starting our Business! Meghan is the owner of Portraits by Meghan Poort, based out of Las Vegas!

 

Barbour Backdrops:  Tell us a little about yourself, Meghan.  

Meghan Poort:  Well, I am 26 and have been married to the love of my life for almost 7 years!  We had 3 children in 19 months with 2 very busy, full time careers.  So let’s just say busy is the theme of my life!!

BB:  With the growth of your family and your business, I’m sure you haven’t had any time to slow down!  Tell us how it all started.  How did you get into photography?

MP:  I was working on my undergrad and took a photography class to fulfill a Fine Art requirement and realized that it was what I wanted to do with my life!! I have always loved it, but I just thought I would go the business professional route. 

 

BB:  You sure did!  It looks to me like you a definitely a savvy business woman!

MP:  That’s actually one of my favorite parts about this career.  I get to use my creative side and my business side.  It is so essential to have the business side going full speed if you want to be successful with your art!

 

BB:  You have 3 young, beautiful children!  How do you balance your business while raising such cuties?

MP:Oh Boy! Balance is something I am constantly seeking in my life!  I am very lucky to have an extremely supportive husband and mother who make my art possible.  Without them I don’t think I could do what I do!

 

BB:  Well you do it very well! J  So, how long have you been a Professional Photographer?

MP:  I have been shooting since 2005, but have had my business for 2 years.  I became a CPP the beginning of this summer which was a huge personal goal!

 

 BB:  When did you open your first studio?

MP:  I opened the doors to my studio right after my twins were born and it just took off faster then I ever could have imagined!  I have been incredibly blessed with loyal clients and awesome vendors who support my work.   I work from home most days and try my best to balance home, family, etc.  I truly am living the dream!

 
 

BB:  Is your studio an in-home studio, or do you have a commercial location you shoot from?

MP:  I shoot in-home.  I have a converted casita on my property, so it is technically separate from my home.  I also use the third bay of my garage to hold all of my stuff!! And there is A LOT!  I love having my studio at home.  With my children being so young, it is just not an option for me to get a commercial location… yet..  I may move once my twinners head off to school.

 

BB:  I’m sure that all helps with the balance part!  I know that you shoot mostly maternity and children, including newborns, but do you have a favorite age?

MP:  I HEART maternity.  I think it really is my passion.  I think pregnant women are just so beautiful!  I love to glam them up and really just make them look and feel gorgeous.  I also adore 6 months though.. What could be better than a chubby, smiley, NOT WALKING baby!?!

 

BB:  You sure know how to wrangle little ones and get the great shots.  Do you have any tips on how to get the fantastic images when you have a little one not wanting to sit still?

MP:  I use a couple of tricks in the studio to help with the wiggly ones.  The best is to “retrain and contain!”  Put them in a basket, on a chair, or on your favorite Barbour Box!!  This traps them for a little while and if you are quick you can capture some great shots! Pull back for the whole setup and remember to zoom in for the great, tight face shots too!

 

BB:  Great advice!  Do you have a favorite mentor photographer that you follow?

MP:  Oh.. There are so many…. Alycia Alvarez, Julie Klassmeyer, Jodie Otte, Carrie Sandoval, Sandy Puc’… I could go on and on!  I love to look at other photographer’s work.. It is like eye candy!!!

 

 BB:  Those are great mentors.  What is your favorite source when searching out continued education?

MP:  This is something I am constantly seeking.  I am a learner!  A 100% student for life.  I think in this progressive industry that you will be left behind if you aren’t constantly updating and moving with the times.  I try to get to a workshop or two every year.  I read PPA Magazine and follow Sarah Petty’s, The Joy of Marketing Blog.  I also am finishing up with a degree in commercial photography at a local university.  WPPI and Imaging USA are also awesome places to just go and SOAK up information.   There is so much information out there; you just have to seek it out!!

 

BB:  It must definitely be working for you because your business sounds like it is skyrocketing!  You have had a lot of success for still being young!  What advise would you give other young people who want to take photography from being just a past time, and turning it into a successful career?

MP:  I have a quote taped to my computer and I read it every day.  “Some people dream of success, while others work at it!”  This is a serious mantra of mine!  WORK.  Put in the work.  Learn your craft AND your business numbers.  Get out of your comfort zone and market yourself.  Give your customers the best possible service you can provide.  If you do those things you will succeed.  I know this economy is tough, but it is still doable.  Some of the best businesses were built in crummy economies.  Be creative… Find out what works in your area and just get out there and do it!

 

That is all so true!  Thank you so much Meghan!  You are truly a “Fantastic Photographer!”