Photographer Seeks to Increase Sales

Hi Susan,

I’m a professional photographer. I’ve got some  great photos and I want to market them as  wall murals. I can produce fine art prints on paper, metal or canvas. I want hospitals and designers who work with them, as well as other commercial space designers, to know what these freakishly high resolution images can do.

I’ve had no luck with emails to anyone, trying to drive traffic to my website. I think it takes good mail, and the proper list? I don’t know. Can you offer any recommendations?

Justin

Hi Justin,

It’s nice to meet you. I looked at your website. Your photos are spectacular!

I’m sorry to hear you’ve had no luck with emails. There’s a lot at play with regard to email marketing — the wording and design of the email, the list you’re using, the timing, the followup process, etc. You might have even gotten all of those right. But unfortunately, a single email is usually not enough. I’m sure you’ve noticed how often you receive emails from some of the companies that target you as a prospect.

It may also be that email alone isn’t enough. With something as visual as photos, you might do better promoting your products on social media, both through paid ads and by organically building your audience with frequent, eye-catching or clever posts.

Check out how other photographers are promoting their works. I realize some may be promoting their services, but many photographers also sell their pictures, as you of course know.

A photographer I follow posts photos almost daily in the various photography groups he’s in on social media. Just yesterday I saw he was promoting a 2024 calendar with his pictures and he made sure to say that he prints a finite amount and they sell out every year, so order yours now. Through all his social media posts, he has cultivated a large and loyal following, so I don’t doubt that he’s telling the truth.

Another photographer I know achieved considerable success using postcard mailings, which obviously cost more than emails but were effective for him. Another photographer I know exhibits his prints at art fairs.

Obviously, if you are working with a limited budget, it is hard to generate sales, as it takes wide-reaching, frequent “touches” to your target audience. There’s no single, easy, one-off, guaranteed-to-work strategy. If there was, you know every photographer would be using it!

I hope I’ve been helpful. If you need assistance with copywriting beyond a single email, please be in touch. I wish you all the best.

Kind regards,

Susan