Realize That You Have Cash Sitting On Your Hard Drive - If you've been shooting for anything length of time it's probably safe to assume that you have an extensive library of images on your hard drive just sitting there collecting virtual dust. Now is the time to go through work, print samples and breathe new life into your library.
Offer them on your website for sale -or- contact a small local gallery or perhaps even a coffee shop. Anyway you can get your work in front of eyes can be great way to raise your visibility. The benefits can range from direct print sales all the way to private commissions.
Expand Your Reach By Marketing Online As Well As Off - If you're stuck on print marketing i.e. taking ads in physical publications or direct mail perhaps it's time to start marketing your services online. Today we have so many options for getting the word out about our services from personal blogs to social media networking websites like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter just to name a few. I urge you not to dismiss these tools as the domain of high school kids, trust me when I say that major business is being conducted via these sites.
I'm personally constructing educational programs for photographers and making deals with prospects that I've never physically met. Get online and expand your reach, it's practically free and the benefits can be business transformational.
Adopt An Attitude of Bold-Thinking - When times are tight financially our natural inclination is tighten our purse strings, understandably. And while you don't want to be fool hardly with your spending you don't want to be stingy in your thinking. (What I mean is that now is time to adopt an out-of-the-box attitude, don't automatically assume that you have "spend" more money.
Think how can I make better investments? Sometimes your investment will require a financial commitment, but in my experience I've found that some of the most powerful investments you can make are in "Relationships". (So now is the time to think bolder, resist retreat and encourage reaching out. Contact individuals that you can create joint ventures with. These relationships can be other businesses that can use your images, or photographic expertise to promote their services and vice versa.
For example, a small hotel or resort may be interested in promoting a weekend photo workshop, especially if you can bring in new customers for them. Going back to the first point I made in this article about cash on your hard drive, see if you have images that you could print and offer for sale in local boutique or shop. I recently brokered a deal like this for a client and it was great opportunity for both the photographer and the shop owner.
Finally, don't allow today's challenging economic climate to knock the wind out of your business. Use this opportunity to think bigger. Money likes speed, don't wait; get started today. Create a list of potential joint venture partners and see how you create an offer that combines what you love to shoot as a photographer with businesses that need to bring in new customers.
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