Got Feedback?
This blog has become a labor of love since it started in July. I’ve tried to stay with topics relevant to today’s challenges. I’ve also had some amazing posts from some of the industry’s finest photographers and I’ve learned a little something new with every guest blog.
Now I need a little help from you – I’m about to start writing a second blog for Photo District News, so you’ll find me as a guest contributor at www.pdnonline.com. This has all been in the plans for a while and is part of my role with Focus on Weddings, new content for PDN’s magazine, website and some exciting future projects.
So, help me out guys – are there topics I’ve missed? Are there products you’d like to know more about? What are your biggest challenges in surviving and growing your business?
In keeping with great feedback – for those of you who followed the bridal show comments in previous posts two weeks ago, this image was taken by Bambi Cantrell of Dawn Shields’ booth at a Missouri Bridal Fair just a few days ago. (Not bad for an iphone either!)
Without even being there you can feel how inviting the booth is. And, Dawn has incorporated one of the fundamental rules in a good booth: design your booth so that people come into it, rather than the traditional display that puts a presentation table between you and the potential client. Putting anything between you and attendees at any convention creates a ”wall” between the two of you and leaves your most valuable prospects to stand in the aisle!
You’ll also find a profile story of Dawn on page 8 of Focus on Weddings.
Thanks Bambi and Dawn for continuing to inspire us!
This post has 3 comments
January 20th, 2010
First off, wow, great booth. It’s a bit of a mansion in a 10′ x 10′ world and it says success before you even view one image. Also, in a sea of trade show clutter, this booth will look like an island of calm serenity. If Dawn is looking for top tier brides she’s all there.
Regarding topics, I have one I’d like to see explored. Blossom Publishing is experimenting with a new hybrid of direct mail and online experience called pURLs (personalized URLs). Idea is simple: instead of asking your direct mail to drive prospects to “make the call” … ask it to do something far easier — take a trip to an online “give-and-take” encounter prepared especially for that prospect.
Then use carefully crafted “landing pages” to learn about your prospect, show them things they say they are interested in seeing … and eventually do work for them if you are a match to their wants and needs.
What I”m wondering is if other photographers have experimented with this type of promotion yet … and what their experiences have been thus far. Like Twitter and Facebook, this is uncharted waters in January of 2010. But surely their must be some adventurers who already have some “pearls” of wisdom to share.
January 20th, 2010
Skip,
I think you’ve carved out a great niche for yourself with the content you’ve provided so far. I like your posts that offer sound business advice, but it’s your Sunday posts that really make this blog strong. Becoming a better business relies on becoming a better “you.”
Please keep up the great work!
Geoff
January 20th, 2010
That is a pretty amazing booth! Very inviting.