Happy April! How are you? I hope you are doing well and gearing up for spring! I love April because it feels like the month where we turn the corner to warmer weather. š
April is also my birthday month! ššš I turn a year older on the 20th. How should I celebrate this year? š I'll take the best suggestion and then share about it in next month's newsletter.
Okay, on to the meat of this newsletterā¦I promise, none of it is a joke. š
1. Review and refresh your Instagram and Facebook bios and profile links. So often these are created when the profile is created and never looked at again. They should be specific about what you offer, have personality and invite people to take action.
2. Look for ways to share social proof/testimonials from past clients in your social media and on your website. If you donāt collect feedback for marketing purposes, reach out to some of your past clients. If you don't know how to get effective testimonials and use them in your marketing, listen to this podcast episode: How to Use the Testimonials In Your Backpocket to Boost Your Marketing.
3. Update Your Website and Portfolio. When is the last time you set aside a few hours to put recent work on your website portfolio? Having an updated website will help you book clients who are finding you through search or wanting to dive deeper into your credibility and talent. Bonus tip: When choosing images, don't show a little of everything that you think people want to see - show your best work that you want to do more of! Here's a great video from Photographer Joey L about Creating a Successful Photography Portfolio.
4. Participate in or sponsor local equestrian events. This is a popular time of year for tack swaps and expos. Being an event sponsor or having a booth or table can help you get your business in front of local equestrians and give you the chance to make a personal connection. Remember, people do business with brands they know, like and trust. So think beyond just posting on social media and get out there and meet people face-to-face!
5. Email your list! If you have one and youāve not stayed in touch at least monthly, itās time to start being more regular with your communication. Some content ideas for a spring mailing would be:
Let your clients know you are booking for 2022.
Offer an incentive for booking early (percentage off, free print, extra digital files, etc.)
A numbered list like ā5 Reasons Now is a Great Time to be Photographed with Your Horseā or ā3 Ways to Prep Your Horse for a Photoshoot.ā
If you havenāt built a list, now is your time. Here's a free guide from Denise to help you get started: Beginner's Guide to Email Marketing.
Pegasus is for Heart-Driven Photographers
Are you a heart-driven photographer? Would you like your business to be heart-driven too?
I donāt know about you, but Iāve lost count of the number of ads or promotions that promise to teach photographers how to build a six-figure business. It sometimes feels as if you have to be a 6-figure business to be a successful photographer. But, do you? Can success be defined by YOU and come from your heart?
During the Pegasus Mentorship, Iāll personally help you figure out how to design a business that authentically reflects your heart, values and goals (which might be a 6 figure business and I can help with that too!). This customized approach is what makes Pegasus different than other equestrian photography mentorships.
On Monday April 4 at 7pm Central time, I will be going live on my Facebook page to talk about what it means to be a heart-driven entrepreneur. I will also take time for Q&A about the topic and answer any questions you might have about my mentorships.
It's been a weird month - I got chickenpox the second week of March, so I didn't do a ton of reading. The book I'm currently reading is called Intuitive Eating, which is about how to quit dieting and learn to listen to your body. It's been incredibly healing and freeing on a personal level, and it also has some surprisingly good statements that also applied to me as a business owner like the one above. It's critically important to focus on growth as a process, not as a destination!
What I'm Listening To
A friend recently shared a photography podcast that I'm really loving by Allison Taylor Jones called āRework.ā If you're a portrait photographer, you will gain a lot from this one!
Hair of the Dog Academy put out a great podcast at the beginning of March called āMake your Website Work for You." I highly recommend you listen to it with pen and paper handy. There are SO many great tips and things I am working in implementing on my own site this month.
I sincerely hope you are enjoying the Pegasus Journal. If you know of another photographer you think might benefit from these emails, would you consider sharing it email with them? Thank you!
And, as always, if there's anything I can do to help you grow as a photographer, please reach out by hitting reply to this email. š
