Sunshine money & some local business...

Yes my new twitter profile is the image that the paper didn't want to use!  Oh well...if you wish to see it I was featured in Get Reading in the Business section so feel free to click, have a giggle at the existing image but of course also read what I had to say about Carli-Art photography and business in the community.

Yesterday I was at the UK Solar Plaza conference for PV energy, what I initially thought would be a pretty much yawn subject turned out to be really interesting and while snapping away I picked up some 'really?!' facts about harnessing energy from the Sun.  The government's incentive launched in April 2010 predominantly aimed at Residential users, not that you would know as I haven't seen any information about it.  It has made me think about being 'greener' though and the shift that seems to be becoming more and more evident of business's considering in greater detail their impact on the environment.  Watch out tomorrow for some tips and some Thrifty bits on considering the eco system....no sighing please....there easy to do and you can proudly stand on that soap box and state your consideration of the trees and pretty birds and so forth!

For the moment here are some sneak previews of the conference....final images coming soon.

Thrifty Thursday....ironing those brain creases...

If there is one thing I wish I knew how to do better and which seems to baffle a lot of people I know, is marketing!  I have no issues with ideas just staying on track.  Anyway I therefore spend a decent amount of time attempting to improve my skills in this area byt making sure I dedicate 4 hours a week to customer research, by taking part in business seminars and by generally absorbing as much info as I can about getting what is in my head, onto paper and most importantly taking action in my business.  I have read various bits and bobs today so have a varied collection of crease free ideas for you and as always, these are collected from a range of sources...

• Generate some brainstorming activity by opening any magazine and picking a page, point to a random word on that page and develop and generate your ideas from this word. Thanks to Nick Bettes from Nick Bettes Consulting.
• Set up a nurturing timeline for your customers and clients to ensure you are keeping on top of your relationships.  Thanks to the mini fountain of knowledge otherwise known as 'How to sell clever things to big companies' by Carrie Bedingfield at One fish two fish.
• Name characters or types of people (eg Your Gran, A policeman) and then number them 1 to 6.  Roll a dice and whatever number the dice lands on, then use this 'character' as a mindset from where to view your current marketing strategy.  This puts you in somebody else's shoes, or slippers if its your nan.  This winner is from Dave Stewart and his thoughts on creativity within business.
• Leave the excuses at home.  Thanks Dr. Lisa Turner 
• Look after your existing customers first, then search for more.  Ta very much John Cheney ceo of workbooks.com.
• Last but by no means least this website 'Marketing for photographers' has a whole HEAP of bits from using facebook, having a phone script and taking senior portraits that are just a bit too sexy!

Thrifty Thursday....to pro or not to pro?

Thrifty Thursday again and I have been doing various research on using professional photographers and how images effect things like visitor experience of web pages and receipt of marketing material etc.  Not only does this help me to understand my services and products better but also the views of my potential target markets.  

I found some of this research interesting and for those of you rebuilding websites and thinking about using images this might give you some tips.

 - Commissioning a photographer rather than using stock images...are there advantages?
 - Why use a pro?  Everyone (almost) has a digital camera these days so why can't it be done without.  Well everyone has excel and access to some accounting packages, it doesn't mean doing your accounts yourself is a good idea. Kelly Gillam in this article asks one to think about the benefits before writing a pro off.  
 - Here the AOP a professional Association of Photographers writes a short piece on the False Economies of using Maureen in the office who owns an SLR, but also includes some useful pointers on copyright.
 - Getting your text right in your marketing material is vital so complimenting this with effective imagery can make those words resonate.  Download this blueprint for 5 effective tips for marketing material and how to get those images right.
Cliche but true...a picture paints a thousand words.  How many words would you have to write to say what that one image portrays in under a second?
 - Research in psychology and communication show that a visual display has many advantages in comparison to typical language...this is a detailed study completed in 2009 of the case for Graphic representations.  Read this if you have some time...interesting though!

(Image courtesy of loyalkng)

Thrifty Thursday....writing copy

The blog sees its first Thrifty Thursday, an accumulation of various handy tips, news and bits of interesting chit chat that I stumble across on the web be it useful or useless!  Today it will be useful as my brain is all geared up preparing these portfolio's and strengthening my brand by having a consistent few paragraphs of copy that I use in printed media and online that clearly and effectively let you guys know what I do.  Far more complicated than I first thought I went on the web for inspiration & came up with the following.....

• Make your audiences pay attention; make them respond in some way. Our content uses the language and messages that we identify as being appropriate for the people you want to engage. Thanks to Resonate as this is one of their five C's!
• Your copy also needs to be found by search engines and someone said to be the other day (thank you Andrew from Direct-to-Market) that people using two words in Google are looking to educate themselves, those using 3 or more are looking to buy.  Therefore I was thinking maybe brainstorm what those keywords are, being more specific than you may have first thought, then try and fit one of them into your copy.  More SEO copy stuff - try this link.  You even get a free downloadable booklet. Thank you Brian from Copyblogger
• Focus on the reader – make an important promise early on (with your headline and opening paragraphs) that tells the reader what’s in it for her. Never allow readers to question why they are bothering to pay attention.  Again, thank you Brian from Copyblogger.
• Diagram your words.  Diagramming keywords that you want people to know about your business or which represent your brand will help organise your thoughts before you put your fingers to the keyboard.  Think about how much information you need and how to present it.  Thank you to All business for this snippet! 
• Add a strong call to action at least twice. Like bookmarks, a strong and concise call to buy should be placed early in your promotional piece, as well as near the end. Be clear in how customers should contact you and always give your website address if you have one.  Thank you to Entrepeneur.com for this beauty.
• People buy the sizzle, not the steak. Features are only a means to an end. What do the features of your product mean to the lives of your consumers?
• Keep your voice personal, professional but personal.....be you!  Read more courtesy of Excess Voice.

Right....now to write some copy that works!! I will be back with the results.....hopefully something worth smiling about!