Marketing and advertising

[fredjclaus]

I am an avid reader of www.smalltownmarketing.com (http://www.smalltownmarketing.com) and currently am reading Tom's books. His information though is geared toward brick and morter businesses or business in general.

For the past 12 years or so I've been operating my photography business out of my home and traveling to client locations instead of operating a studio. This week however I was thinking about buying a small 2 storefront building with a dance studio in the other side and my photography studio in the vacant side. Trouble is, this building is not in a high traffic area so there is very little drive by traffic. In fact only business views would come from the neighborhood residents and the dancers in the studio.

This being said, I would have to do much more advertising in order to draw the clients in. What sorts of advertising and marketing do you find that works for your businesses? Also do you operate out of your home, or do you have a retail studio that you see clients in?

[bendruckerphoto]

I operate out of my home. Rather than paying a whole new set of bills plus rent, try putting some of that money into your house. Maybe even add a small addition to your house. Set an area aside as a client meeting area, and some aside as a studio. Furnish it nicely, and put it in an appropriate area of the house.

With regard to advertising, I don't do any print advertising right now, although I am planning an ad in a popular local magazine. Other than that, make sure your website SEO is solid and you work your potential referrals.

[fredjclaus]

Thanks for that information. I will take that into consideration. I did go and meet with the man about this building I was looking at, and there seems to be about 30,000.00 worth of work that needs to be done to make it within code. I think I'll take that $30,000.00 and add an addition on my house instead.