Building Your Photography Business - Support Your Network!

​by Skip Cohen 

I've written a lot over the years about the importance of maintaining your network. Without care and feeding, like a house plant, it'll just die!

The pandemic has changed how we deal with so many different aspects of communication and support. The result makes it more critical than ever for you to keep in touch with clients, associates, and opinion-leaders in your community. 
 
Your network is one of your most valuable tools for success. That "plant" I mentioned needs water, light, fertilizer, and a pot big enough so it can grow. Your network is no different. Sheltering in place does NOT apply to your business and especially your network.

Building relationships is your greatest marketing tool! And as Scott Stratten says in his book UnMarketing, "Stop marketing and start engaging!" Social distancing changes how you engage, but not the importance of keeping in contact! 

• PICK UP THE PHONE: What a concept - the telephone! Seriously, keeping in touch through social media is excellent, but now there's little that beats a phone call. Look over your network and set a goal for several calls each week...most of us are in the same position right now - stuck at home with minimal contact. You have the power to change that!
• Be active in FB forums/groups: There are so many different forums on Facebook, all focused on photographers keeping in touch. Some of my favorites are ClickCon Social, Quarancon (Mentor.photo), Facebook Wedding Photographers, Advanced Wedding Photographers, AIBP, Jen Rozenbaum's Boudoir Group, Gary Box's Inside the Box, the Lumix Photography Community and the list goes on and on.
• Join PPA National: I'm finding so much support for their various programs, especially in their email blasts. The banner on the right is one that I just got this morning and ties back into information and support available from the US Treasury and Small Business Administration.
• Join the local photographer's guild or PPA affiliate: They may not be meeting as often in the past or meeting online, but being connected to artists in your community is so important.
• Retweet and share each other's tweets and posts: Work with other artists in your network and exchange content.
• Track birthdays, anniversaries, events in each other's lives - I love Facebook for this, and the birthday list is my first stop every morning. Take your top clients and make sure you know key dates in their lives. Don't forget Linkedin, which helps keep track of business anniversaries and job changes - stay involved! 
• Organize a networking luncheon online: I'm a big fan of zoom, but whatever your platform, get friends together for "lunch." You don't need an excuse these days because once again, so many of us are starving for more contact.
• Share content for your blogs: You don't have to write everything yourself, but you do need to be consistent, and if you're not posting at least twice a week, same day, same time, then stop blogging. Sharing content with another member of your network helps you create great content to share with your readers, and both of you benefit.

I hate to quote politicians, but Hilary Clinton's line about "It takes a village," is so on point today. But it starts with you giving your village the support it needs. Then, you've got to be there to help people in your network because they're going to be your best resource when you need help! 

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​If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others.
African Proverb