Photo by LightFieldStudios via iStock
With 2019 fast approaching, now is the time to sit down and outline the things you need to do to take your photography business to the next level.
But as you undoubtedly know, building and managing a photography business involves a lot of moving parts. The question is, which of those moving parts needs your focus the most?
In this quick business tutorial, I outline three must-have steps you need to take in the coming year to ensure your business is on the path to success.
Get Insured
Photo by Ivan Balvan via istock.
>If you’ve operated thus far without photographer’s insurance, you’re playing a very, very dangerous game.
It takes just one fire, flood, car accident, or theft to put you in a dicey situation if you don’t have insurance.
Though we all hope that issues like these don’t arise, they do, and quite often. You need proper coverage so you’re protected when - not if - something goes awry.
A must-have for your photography business in the new year is a comprehensive equipment insurance policy.
Athos Insurance Services offers just the kind of peace of mind you need whether you’re photographing in your hometown, another state, or worldwide. In fact, their policy is just what the doctor ordered because it covers an incredible list of eventualities, including:
- Accidental damage or theft
- Damage from wind, hail, or lightning
- Flood and water damage
- Fire and smoke damage
- Damage from earthquakes and falling objects
Athos Insurance Services even covers damage that occurs when your gear is in transit or shipping!
Photo by Francis Black via iStock
Better still, this policy offers replacement cost coverage, which means if your five-year-old camera is stolen, its value is based on the cost to replace it today, not on what its depreciated price might be.
When you work long hours and travel with your gear from one shoot location to the next, you have an increased risk that something might happen to your gear.
Don’t let 2019 be the year you regret not having your gear covered. Instead, get with Athos Insurance Services to get a free, fast online quote, and get the coverage you need!
Learn More:
- How to Insure Your Photography GearHow to Insure Your Photography Gear
- People You Need to Rely on as a Photographer
Get Good Hosting
An integral component of a modern photography business is having a gorgeous website, an online portfolio of your images, and perhaps even an online store.
But it isn't enough to simply have those things - they need to work and do so reliably if you're going to build a successful photography business.
Over my 20 years in this industry, I've partnered with more hosting companies than I care to admit - most of which were a nightmare to work with.
Fortunately, I came across OVH several years ago, and I've never looked back.
Since switching PhotographyTalk to OVH, we've had excellent uptime - 99.9% just as OVH promises.
What I like about OVH (aside from their incredible reliability) is the fact that they're a global company with data centers and servers all over the globe.
In fact, they have 27 data centers and over 300,000 servers, so if anyone can ensure your company stays online, it's them.
You aren't just another number, though.
Sometimes, large companies have so many customers that you really are just one more in a long line of clients.
But despite being a global company, OVH works hard to ensure each and every customer feels like the most important customer.
Developing a successful is all about finding the best people to help you find success. In this case, OVH is precisely who you should partner with to realize your business goals.
Focus Your Marketing on a Local Level
Part of your marketing strategy should be to use tools like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and your website to promote your work and attract new clients.
But if that’s all you’re doing, you’re missing the boat…
Editor's Tip: Want the ultimate backup for your photos? Check out the new Synology DiskStation DS918+.
Old-school ways of marketing on a local level still have relevance in 2019. Whether that’s contacting other small businesses in the area to arrange referrals, joining the local Chamber of Commerce, or volunteering your time to help local charities, there is a wealth of opportunities for you to get your brand out there by focusing your marketing efforts in the “real world” and not just online.
So, instead of boosting that Facebook ad, why not try to come to a mutually beneficial arrangement with the local coffee shop owner. Perhaps in exchange for them displaying some of your photos in their shop, you take a few photos of their products for their website.
Likewise, instead of going to a national chain store to buy a new refrigerator, why not buy one from the local mom-and-pop store and build a relationship with them as a fellow small business owner? You never know when buying local might result in other business owners buying something from you - or referring their customers to you, for that matter!
Learn More:
Conduct a SWOT Analysis
The beginning of the new year is a perfect time to undertake a SWOT analysis in which you analyze your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
As you can surmise from the title, a SWOT analysis is all about identifying what you do well, what needs improvement, ways in which you can expand your business, and potential issues that threaten the health of your business.
When considering each of the four elements of the SWOT analysis, think about the following questions to ask yourself so you can develop a more detailed picture:
Strengths
- What are your unique talents or skills?
- What expertise do you have that no one else does?
- What areas of your business are most profitable?
Weaknesses
- What skills do you currently lack?
- What resources do you currently lack?
- What areas of your business are least profitable?
Opportunities
- How can you increase revenue without expanding your client base?
- What target markets have you not yet broken in with?
- What marketing tools could you be using to expand your reach?
Threats
- What do your competitors do better than you?
- What obstacles are standing in your way?
- How will economic trends impact your business this year?
Clearly, there are plenty more questions you can ask yourself in a SWOT analysis. However, the important thing is to get the process started of evaluating where you’re at and where you want to be. Get more details about conducting a SWOT analysis in the video above by Cate Costa.
Combined with having the right insurance coverage and enhancing your focus on local marketing efforts, doing a SWOT analysis can help you build a better business for 2019 and beyond!