The Daily Mentor Minute Blog | Bruce Hudson

Your Turning Point- Looking back on the times that changed your life and your photographic career!
Thursday, Apr 30, 2009

Have you ever pin-pointed the specific turning points in your life? Your career? These were situations that sometimes you had no control over, others were opportunities that were taken advantage of and changed the course of your life and business forever. For me, one of the most memorable turning points was when my late wife Sue was diagnosed with terminal melanoma cancer on December 20th, 1995. It was at 6:55pm and so ensued a major turning point in my family’s life. I’m sure all of us can recall what we were doing on 9/11 as well. “So Bruce, this is a photography website, where are you going with this”, you might be asking yourself? I’m getting to that, hold your horses! In terms of the business of photography, my major turning point came after studying with Ken Whitmire at his Wall Portrait Conference in Yakima, WA some 25 years ago. Josh and I had the honor of speaking at this year’s WPC yesterday! It was great to see the excitement (much like I experienced) from this year’s attendees as Josh and I shared what I was taught to me back in 1983 from Ken. His teachings certainly made an impression on me and my business. Since that major turning point I have never looked back! My point in all this is to share with you some inspiration, which we all need time from time. I hope what Josh and I do every day, week, and month with the Monthly Mentor truly helps you think about life, photography, and your business. Trust me guys, we only get one go-around in this life, and it is way to short not to go for it! Think back at the turning point in your life when you decided that photography was your passion. Now harness that passion each and every single day!

Montana Inspiration!
Tuesday, Apr 28, 2009

Yesterday Josh and I had a full day of speaking at the Montana State Convention. There was a lot of positive synergy going on in the audience, which was refreshing and something I have not experienced in a while. Everyone seemed to be hungry for information, particularly when it came to our marketing ideas. The packed house’s passion for learning was truly inspiring! If you are not part of a profession photography association I think you are really missing out on some valuable friendships and ideas. My recommendation would be to join one ASAP! No matter what level you are at in the business, you can always learn from other “liked minded” people in your profession. Congratulations to everyone involved with the PP of Montana organization and thank you for the opportunity to spend some time with you. Both Josh and I can’t wait to return in the near future! –Josh and Bruce

Small town…great experience! My thoughts about providing a first class experience, even in a small town!
Saturday, Apr 25, 2009

One of my favorite things about traveling is finding some amazing places to eat! We found one of these places in Helena, MT. I am judging tomorrow and speaking all day on Monday for the PP of Montana. Helena is the capital city of Montana but is still a pretty small city. May it be a restaurant or a photography studio, just because the town is small doesn’t mean you can’t have world class services and products. This place was packed tonight with woman flashing large diamond rings and designer purses. But wait, “people don’t spend money on things like fine dining or fine portraiture in small towns, right?” This is something I hear almost everywhere I go from photographers. Just because you are in a small town doesn’t mean you can’t charge top dollar and provide a first class service. Josh and I asked our very cute waitress, “Is this the best restaurant in town?” She replied, “I think so and we really don’t have any competition!” Her response reminded me of a quote by one of my mentors Hal Sherman. Hal always said, “There is always room at the top Bruce!” So what made our dining experience exceptional tonight? Here are my thoughts: (1) Great atmosphere, very classy. (2) Chilled salad fork. (3) Fantastic herb butter, not just your standard cube! (4) Great food quality for the money…and this place was not cheap. (5) Great wine list. (6) Great service. (7) And finally, when we asked for the butter recipe, the chef actually came out himself! That’s impressive! Living in a small town doesn’t always mean you have to charge small town prices for small town experiences. There is always a demographic of people who are looking for the best of the best in dining or in photography! If you don’t provide it to them, they will never seek you out. Never assume that no one is willing to pay a little more for a first class experience in your town. If you are ever in Helena, you must experience the Silver Star Steak Company! Wish me luck judging tomorrow! –Bruce H.

The Art of Thank You!
Wednesday, Apr 22, 2009

If you have followed this blog at all, you know I’m a big fan of Send Out Cards! This is why – I just finished projecting some family images for my clients. These are first time clients that have a lot of potential. They were extremely easy to work with and fun! We narrowed down to their favorite 6 poses. In order to finalize the sale I will be traveling to them next week, projecting each image on the walls of their home to determine the perfect size! Immediately after they left the studio today I created a custom card with the Send Out Cards Picture Plus feature utilizing their images. Pretty cool stuff! Their 3 year old twins who came to the projection appointment spent much of the time snaking on “kid food”. In addition to the card I added some chocolate covered cinnamon bear cookies to be shipped for the kids to enjoy! All of this was done via my computer, took a matter of minutes and cost me about 10 bucks including postage. This was not only a great thank you, but also a reminder for next week’s appointment! If you haven’t heard of Send Out Cards or taken a Test Drive check it out @ www.sendoutcards.com/hudsons to send a couple FREE cards on me. Saying thank you doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming. But it is a big part of running a successful business. Check it out now! Bruce

Projecting Weddings- The way you present your images can make you stand out from the competition!
Tuesday, Apr 21, 2009

Before we begin tonight, a special thanks is in order! Thank you to Platinum Member Stephen Driver for suggesting that I do a webinar on projecting weddings! Lately I have had a ton of emails on this subject, so thanks Stephen for forcing me to do this! I hope to have the special bonus webinar soon. We’ll keep you posted! I have been projecting weddings for over 20 years and I still feel that it is the best way to present the wedding day image. I can’t tell you how many clients tell me thank you after the projection session for presenting them in this way, rather than putting them online. I know what you are thinking: “Hudson your nuts! Projecting a wedding would take hours, why not just put them online and be done with it?” For me, its all about the experience for my clients, not to mention the cash flow. After each wedding projection (or premeire showing as we call them) the albums are designed, the gift prints are orderd, and basically all of the major orders are placed. I then take a 50% deposit from the families. Once this has been done, I’ll now put them online for all of the other relatives to see for one week. Instead of the usual waiting 6 months for the bride and groom to place their orders, most of our clients have their books and prints by then, which makes both parties happy! Getting the orders done quicky is great, but it is the experience that my clients love. It’s almost like reliving their wedding day all over again! Each premeire showing includes us sending the bride/groom, their parents, and any other special indiviuals they want at the showing an invitation. We usually limit this to 10 people for space reasons. We cater the event with food from my buddy’s restaurant (food seen above), have beer and wine on hand, and top it all off with real plates and silverware. After the families get their food and drink, the show begins! First I play all of the images to music, then we we narrow them down! That’s it! The process takes about 2-3 hours. I will be going into more detail about this very soon, so for now I will leave you with this: What are you doing to separate yourself from the competition? Trust me, my son has gone to a few bridalfairs with his fiancé resently and has seen the amount of competition out there right now…it’s staggering! But, with every photographer putting the images online, why not try to stand out by projecting the final images instead? I have had many brides through the years say that projection was the deciding factor in choosing me over someone else, even though I was more expensive. Percieved value is the name of the game, and that doesn’t always mean thousands of images on a disc if you know what I mean! B.H. –Ps. New image fo the week is up! Check it out!

All in this Together!
Sunday, Apr 19, 2009

I had a great day yesterday giving back. I shot some video for one of my favorite charities, the “Soup Ladies” and then went to one of my client’s High School senior project/fundraiser for juvenile diabetes. At that event I ran into a long time client (since 1985) and his family. When I photographed his wedding in 1989, he was just starting out as a chiropractor. Today, some twenty years later, he has been ultra successful in his practice and has done extremely well financially. Although during the past 6 months he has been hurting like the rest of us self employed folk. “We have been down 25% and that comes right out of your pocket, your bottom line” he said. So I asked, “What have you been doing to maintain the level of patients you are treating?” 1: trimming expenses 2: taking more time with each patient 3: calling patients he had not seen in a while 4: working as hard as he has ever worked to elevate everything that he does on a daily basis. My fellow photographers, sounds like we are not alone out there. We are all in this together! Work hard and hang in there! Things will get better! Till tomorrow, BH

Communication is Key for Running a Successful Photography Business!
Friday, Apr 17, 2009

Man, Josh and I had an awesome day today! It started out with us leaving the studio at 5:30am to travel an hour and a half north to some tulip/daffodil fields. We met up with our client there so we could photograph his annual staff portrait. He is a dentist and his office does theme portraits every year! They proudly display them in their lobby! I just love getting paid to display! Anyway, if you are a monthly mentor member, you heard his interview a few months ago. That’s right; we photographed that crazy dentist Doc Ingles! The weather this morning was terrible. The ride up north was very wet (go figure, in Seattle!) but it let up just before the session started. This year’s theme was Tour de Fluoride! The entire staff was in bicycling outfits all riding in a group, kind of like the Tour de France. Get it, “fluoride!” Clever, I know. One of the reasons why Doc and I have had many successes with his difficult theme portraits is because of our communication. He is able to paint a picture of his vision to me. I am very thorough when it comes to planning; Doc (and most of my clients) sees this as an added value to my service. I am able to get a good idea of what each client wants the finish product to look like, all I have to do is execute. I will be posting one of the images for our image of the week next week so you can see how the session turned out! After the session this morning, Josh and I headed back to the studio for a 1pm projection appointment. Then, my final appointment of the day was something I hadn’t done before, it was a silent consultation. My prospective client was deaf. Communicating on a note pad was a new experience for me! We discussed clothing, wall portraiture, backgrounds, pricing, everything I would normally verbalize. So, how did I do? Well…she booked and is very excited to be photographed! Her dentist referred her to me. I love dentists! He will definitely be getting a “thanks for the referral” card and some SendOutCard’s brownies from me! To sum today’s blog, I will say this: I love fulfilling someone’s vision; it is what I live for! But in order to do this, you have to ask, listen, and communicate in the best form possible for the client. Remember, it is not always about us, it’s about them and their needs. It’s their vision, execute it properly and you will be rewarded! Have a great weekend! B.H. –PS. New image of the week is up…check it out!

A Day of Mastermind- How Brainstorming Sessions can make you a Better Photography Studio Owner…and Marketer!
Wednesday, Apr 15, 2009

Today I had my bi-monthly mastermind meeting. For those of you who may not know what a mastermind meeting is, here is a brief description. Basically, mastermind sessions are when a small group of business owners get together to brainstorm, critique, and analyze each other marketing and sales pieces. Generally, each person at the meeting is a business owner or some sort of marketing/sales manager. My group is limited to 10 people and you have to apply to be accepted. You have to be a serious participant; this means no cell phones, emails, or interruptions. The meeting starts at 9am and goes to 4pm with a short lunch break. You are also not allowed to miss a single meeting. I know this seems a little hardcore, but it isn’t really. We just want individuals to be committed to the group. Each one of us has 45 minutes to present what we have worked on from the last meeting and present what we are working on for the future. Today I presented a new referral program that I am working on with a plastic surgeon client of mine, showed how we are integrating social media into our marketing efforts, and had the group critique a sales letter for me. It’s great because I am the only one in the photography industry there, so it is nice getting an outside opinion on my marketing. But I will caution you, you need to have thick skin. Sometimes the marketing pieces can get destroyed by the members, but that is how you learn! There is so much to learn from other industries, I really enjoy my time with the group. We have members who own a body shop, sell real estate, run a retail supply store, and even a member who owns a chain of Love Zones. Needless to say, it’s a very diverse group! So, how can a mastermind group make you a better owner and marketer? Simple, it forces you to try new things and take chances. Complacency is the death of all businesses. Like my son says all the time, “Business is like a treadmill; either you are moving forward or backwards, never standing still!” It is always a good idea to brainstorm; I think we all do that. But when you are a member of a group where you have to present your progress, it forces you to actually implement you ideas, and this is one of the keys to being successful. The whole mastermind concept was first written about in the famous book “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill in 1937. Famed copyrighter, educator, and one of my mentors Dan Kennedy has taken this concept to the next level. My mastermind group is part of the Dan Kennedy Inner Circle program, which I highly recommend you join in your area. But remember, simply brainstorming and critiquing an idea is not enough, you have to implement it too! –B.H. –PS. New image of the week will be up tomorrow, check for it in the afternoon!

When to Delegate, When Not to Delegate
Monday, Apr 13, 2009

If you attended our 50 city tour last year or have read this blog much you know that I’m all about being able to delegate. If you are a one person show right now, this may not apply to you now, but it will in the future as your business grows. So file this away in your memory bank, it will come in handy someday! Anytime I can, I try and delegate things to my staff. Each person on our team can do some things better than I can, and in turn I can do things better than they! The trick is to figure out all of our strengths and weaknesses, and then direct specific tasks to specific team players. If there is something that my staff can do instead of me, I’ll gladly let them do that! That will free me up to do things that they cannot do. With all that said, there are certain times when I could delegate but I don’t. Two of those times happened this morning with my clients. So what prompted me to handle these situations on my own, instead of having my trusty staff do it? 1: History with my client. 2: Level of maintenance my client usually requires 3: My availability to respond to the situation. Both of my client requests this morning prompted me to make the call in person. Why? 1: History- 24 & 12years, 2: Maintenance-High (that’s OK, these clients helped put my kids through college!) 3: I had plenty of time this morning to personally touch base and I enjoyed the opportunity! Success in business always comes down to time verses money! Delegating your time is a hard thing to do for us ARTISTS types but is the only way to truly move your business forward! What can your staff do for you, and what ONLY can you do? Sit back and look at the overall picture of things, and what you may be able to LET GO of! Delegate, sometimes it’s OK to let GO! ‘Til tomorrow, BH

Happy Easter Everyone!
Sunday, Apr 12, 2009

Well, today’s blog will be short and sweet! From my family to yours, I hope you had a great holiday! Not matter how your business is doing during these crazy times, please take a moment this Easter and reflect on all that you have to be thankful for. For me, I am happy to have a great family, a career that I love, and to live in the best nation in the world! Sometimes it is good for all of us to stop and smell the roses from time to time…or the ham! Speaking of ham, the “ding” from the oven means it’s time to eat! So on behalf of my family (Josh, McKenna, Terri, Aunt Patty, and Cousin Freddy) have a great Easter! B.H. –PS. Tomorrow it’s back to work! Josh and I will be broadcasting a LIVE webcast on Creating Displays in YOUR Community! Please join us, this is one of the best ways to market your studio…and it is FREE!

Easter Portraits- How special events at your studio can create a little cash-flow…and help your marketing efforts as well!
Saturday, Apr 11, 2009

Happy Saturday everyone, this is Josh filling in for Bruce today. My dad is busy with some studio sessions today and a projection sales appointment. Today is our annual Easter Portraits event at the studio. Basically it is a 15-20 minute children’s session that is themed around Easter. Sometimes we even bring in rabbits and chicks! These little events are a great way for us to do 2 things: (1) It creates a little cash-flow! Our Easter packages start at about $85 and go up from there. Compared to our regular family and children’s average, this really isn’t much. But it does give us a little cash-flow, so we’re not complaining here! I have posted our price list for this event in the articles area of the Member’s Only Section in case you want to see them, here’s the URL: http://www.mystudiomentor.com/Members/Member-Login.aspx. (2) It gives us a reason to contact our clients and get them into the studio! We do this through our newsletter and popular E-newsletters. Any excuse to be seen by our clients is a good thing; it keeps us on their mind. Plus, for the clients that come in for the event, it gives us a chance to plant seeds for future family portraits, senior portraits, whatever! It is also a great way to show your clients some of your new products as well. To conclude this little blog today, you can have an event like this for any holiday. We do it for Christmas with Santa making an appearance, in celebration of the 4th of July, and our Easter portraits. With money on everyone’s minds these days, sometimes these less expensive events can be a way for your clients to still use your services without breaking their bank. Try one out for yourself! –Josh

The Bruce Hudson 5-5-5! Facebook, Photoshop…oh my!
Thursday, Apr 09, 2009

Have you noticed that all the fun stuff in life are major league “time suckers?” You know what I mean, things like Photoshop, Painter, and Facebook! I want you to do an experiment for me, ok? Find some kind of clock with an alarm on it. It might even be your phone. Wait, never mind, don’t use your phone. If you’re like most photographers I know, you probably have an iPhone which is just as addicting! Just find a clock! Ok, now that you have your clock, set the alarm for 5 minutes. Then, start doing something fun like Facebook. I think you are going to be surprised at how fast 5 minutes goes by. Now just imagine how much time is wasted everyday doing the “fun” stuff. You really need to ask yourself honestly, “Is what I’m doing truly productive or should I do something else with my time?” I here this from a lot of our members, but it is hard to break away from the computer sometimes. I’ve come up with a formula that I feel has been working on Facebook for me, it’s the 5-5-5 Plan! Basically, I allow myself 5 minutes in the morning, 5 minutes in the middle of the day, and 5 minutes at night for some Facebook time. If you think you’re going to have major withdraws, try the 10-10-10 for a week or so and ease yourself into it! Man, these time sucking activities are addicting! Even Rod Evans, the Facebook guru and a buddy of mine doesn’t spend hours on Facebook, and neither should we. Social networking can be fun, but there is a limit to its productivity. All of us should be focusing on what is going to make the phone ring, put clients in front of our lenses, and put money in our bank accounts! The same goes for Photoshop; time is money in this game. Cut down of your production time by getting the image in the camera, not over-shooting, and only editing the final images chosen by your clients. We all know what it takes; let’s get out from behind the computer and 5-5-5 our way to more money! –B.H. –PS. Speaking of Rod Evans, he is our featured photographer for May’s issue of The Monthly Mentor! Join today and don’t risk missing this amazing interview!

10 ways fishing is like marketing your photography business! “Fish On!”
Wednesday, Apr 08, 2009

With the weather finally changing for the better here in the Northwest, I’ve been fishing off my dock during the evenings. I always loved fishing as a kid, but as an adult (who am I kidding) I have never really taken the time to enjoy it. Now that I am living on a lake, I really don’t have an excuse not to! The past few nights on the dock I’ve noticed a lot of similarities between fishing and marketing! I know this sounds stupid, but stay with me here. First of all, let’s equate fish as are prospective clients. (1) There are different types of fish in our lake, about a dozen species I think, with the most sought after ones being bass and big trout. Comparatively, there are different types of clients as well. You know, wedding, family, children, commercial, babies, the list goes on! (2) Out of the 12 or so species of fish, some are larger than others. The same is true with your clients! Some are larger and more prominent than others. (3) Each species has its own special lure that best attracts them. Marketing to seniors is different than marketing to weddings. It takes different lures to attract fish much like it takes different targeted marketing to attract the right clients. (4) The bigger fish tend to be in the deeper water. If you can’t cast your bait out that far, you better go buy a boat! The more affluent clients tend to be like the bigger fish. They are harder to get to and can be more elusive. Sometimes you have to invest more in your marketing (or fishing) to get the bigger ones! But if done right, it can really pay off. (5) Nothing can happen until you put your line in the water! It’s fair to say that you have a better chance of attracting clients with some form of marketing, rather than no marketing at all. Plus, just throwing you line off the dock with a worm doesn’t always work. If you are fishing for bass, get some lures that attract them. It does no good to fish for bass with a worm. This same principal applies when marketing to specific groups of prospective clients! (6) Most fish nibble before they bite. The same is true with clients! You’re not always going to snag a “big one” on the first cast. (7) When a fish does bite, there’s not always a guarantee that you will catch it. It takes finesse and follow-up to get the fish onto your boat or into your studio for that matter. (8) Finally, it takes patience, lots of patience! In closing, I think many photographers have a hard time with marketing because it can seem overwhelming, especially now days with the internet. Try to think of it in simpler terms and relate it to something you like to do. For me, I am going to grab a glass of wine, take my fishing pole down to the dock, and cast away with the proper lure! You never know what your next cast will bring, so get out there and fish everyone! B.H. PS. Great webinar tonight, thank you to everyone who attended! I hope some of my insights into the world of the affluent has given the “lures” you need to catch the “big” fish! Fish on!!!

“Thanks for the editing!” How showing less wedding photographs can actually make your more money…and faster!
Tuesday, Apr 07, 2009

This was the thank you I received from a bride and groom last week during their premiere showing! A premiere showing is what we call a wedding client’s projection viewing at our studio. Yes, I project weddings! Basically we have a party at the studio for the bride and groom, their parents, and anyone else they want to attend! It’s all about experiencing the wedding day all over again through the photographs! First we feed them some great food catered by my buddy’s restaurant down the street and even serve them some local beer and wine! We then project all the images to music and go through them one by one, all while designing the bride and groom’s album. At the end of the evening, say 2-3 hours later, the couple and parent albums are designed, the gift prints have been decided on, and deposits have been taken. Everyone leaves happy and you don’t have to wait for the bride and groom to make their decisions online, which you know can take months! I’ve been projecting weddings like this for 20 years and it is still the best way in my book to present and sell the images. Best of all, my clients feel the same way! Just because you can take thousands of images doesn’t mean you should. When you start showing thousands of wedding images (or even several hundred for that matter) you overwhelm and confuse your clients to the point they can’t make a decision. A confused buyer is a non-buyer. Taking the time to aggressively edit your images will really payoff in the long run. Time is money for you and your clients. The more time it takes for them to go through the images, the more confused they will be, and the less money you will make. I also get every shot in the camera and we don’t have to Photoshop any of the images prior to the showing. Once they have narrowed down what will be going to their album, that’s when any enhancements will be made. It cuts our workflow time down to virtually nothing! Keep all this in mind. My bride and groom were so grateful for the premiere showing and the fact that I didn’t overwhelm them with thousands of images. The results are all of the major ordering is now complete with the B&G’s album, parent albums, and all the gift prints are taken care of less than 3 weeks after the actual wedding! Love that cash-flow baby! B.H. –PS. New image of the week will be posted today, watch for it! Follow us at www.twitter.com/mystudiomentor to get the update when it is posted!

5 Things you can do Tomorrow to Generate Cash Flow in Your Photography Business and Cure Your “Case of the Mondays!”
Sunday, Apr 05, 2009

One of the hardest things to do in any business is getting organized. Trust me; I am a photographer, not an office manager! I would much rather be shooting or playing in Photoshop, not running a business. But if you want to make your photographic journey a successful one, you need to learn to run your studio effectively. I know it can seem overwhelming at times, especially with our economic worries and fast paced internet lifestyles now. Things are changing within the market place so quickly these days; it’s hard to keep up! This can leave many of us feeling helpless and unmotivated. “Sounds like someone has the case of the Mondays”, said in the cult classic Office Space! But not to worry, here are 5 things you can do tomorrow that will help you generate cash flow and get your week off to a profitable start! (1) Take one great marketing idea from somewhere and start developing a campaign right away! Maybe you have always wanted to start a baby plan or jump into the Facebook arena? What ever the case is, sit down first thing Monday morning and start implementing it. The days of putting off your ideas because you’re to busy are over! (2) Don’t check your email right away! I know this sounds crazy, but it will bog you down. Try to get everything done that you put off the week before first. (3) Follow-up with anyone who has showed interest in your photography. Maybe it was a price inquiry from you website or a consultation who never booked, pick up the phone and call everyone back. The same goes for anyone who has orders on your shelf. One thing I always tell my staff on Monday mornings is to do something that is going to bring in revenue today. If that is making phone calls to all of our hot prospects, then go for it! (4) Make your action list for the week and set specific goals for yourself. I think the key here is to be specific; it helps you stay on task. Sometimes my action list is 4 pages long! (5) And finally, do what ever it takes to get your head in the game! Now more than ever we all need to stay inspired, motivated, and educated! If you need to take a moment for yourself to write your action list, go to Starbucks! Sometimes just getting out the hustle and bustle environment of the studio can put things in perspective better. To sum up tonight’s entry; I hope I have given you some insight into my Monday morning routine. Now get motivated and go get ‘em! B.H. –PS. New image of the week will be posted tomorrow and Josh should have our all new MyStudioMentor Facebook Page up and running as well! We’ll let you know how to become a fan in this month’s E-Studio Success Tip, it should go out this week too.

Finding New Ways to Make Money in Photography!
Friday, Apr 03, 2009

Today I had a session that truly was a first for me. I am doing some portraits for a little boy’s first communion! His mom came in for a consultation a few weeks and we discussed all of the possibilities. How did this mom find me? Simple, I did her senior portraits in 1985! This relationship marketing stuff really works! Anyway, we are treating this like a senior session and a mini wedding. Today I traveled to their church and photographed the little one inside and outside. I was able to capture some great artsy stuff with him at the alter, in front of the prayer candles, and some wide angle shots with the steeple. Next week I will travel to his house to photograph him with his razor scooter and soccer uniform. We will be creating an album, some wall portraits, and even a DVD show for his party. The mom asked me if I have ever done anything like this for a communion before. I told her, “Not really, why?” She said, “I think you should advertise this to Catholics, I know a ton of moms that would love to do this for their kids!” There you go, it’s a whole new product to market! Even during these challenging times there are still new opportunities at every turn. Be mindful of new products and take steps to implement them when they come to pass! I’ll see you tomorrow everyone, wish me luck at my wedding! B.H.

Is it the senior market that’s going away, or is the vehicle delivering the message to the senior market changing? Let’s ask Rod Evans!
Wednesday, Apr 01, 2009

Have you seen segments of your business evaporate or vanish? Many studios have. We are in the process of totally re-branding the high school senior segment of our studio. We had noticed a drop the past few years in the number of sessions, even though our sale averages had increased during the same period. The traditional forms of marketing such as direct mail have not been as effective as they’ve been in the past. Even the most traditional form of media, newspapers, are dropping like flies in most major markets. So I have a question. Is it the senior market that’s going away, or is the vehicle delivering the message to the senior market changing? Many feel both are true. I feel traditional forms of marketing are evolving at an unprecedented level. Social network marketing for seniors is definitely moving that direction. Trying to keep up with the changing times is like hitting a moving target! In order to hit a moving target, you need to aim where you think the target will be, not where it is right now. One of the experts in this field is Rod Evans. He seems to really have a good grasp on the whole social networking phenomenon. I am pleased to announce that Rod Evans will be the featured photographer in May’s issue of The Monthly Mentor! To sum up the blog today, I leave you with this thought. Yes, the types of marketing media are evolving at a rapid rate, but I wouldn’t totally abandon all your traditional forms of marketing. We never want to put all of our marketing eggs into one basket. Things like post cards, sales letters, and good old fashion networking are still effective; it is all determined by your message, the market, and the media in which it is introduced. Sometimes hitting a moving target requires some additional marksmanship skills and willingness to evolve. If you haven’t started to explore the Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace arenas, now’s a good time to study up! I know we are diving into social media for seniors with some success so far at the studio. I can’t wait to hear Rod’s take on all this! See you tomorrow everyone! B.H. –PS. Want to hear Rod Evan’s interview and learn how to effectively utilize social networking in your marketing? Well, if you’re not a Monthly Mentor Subscriber, I guess you’re out of luck! But, not to worry, give my son Josh a call at 800-952-6609 to find out how you can join and receive a special welcome gift worth over $279! No joke! It even includes a FREE live webinar of your choice to attend!