Can I cold call?

[menor95]

Hi guys,

I am soon starting a photography business and looking to cold call other local businesses. I am a student and do not have a very small budget for SEO and online marketing etc. A quick internet search revealed nothing illegal about this marketing method, however I do want to be sure.

Many thanks

[miniman]

There's no reason why you can't create a list of businesses using their publicly available contact details and call them, but expect it to be soul destroying. Personally I would take an interesting photo of their premises / product / whatever and send it to them along with other shots from your portfolio that are relevant to them, and be sure you can explain why having professional photos can be beneficial to their bottom line.

[The Moose]

miniman said:

There's no reason why you can't create a list of businesses using their publicly available contact details and call them, but expect it to be soul destroying. Personally I would take an interesting photo of their premises / product / whatever and send it to them along with other shots from your portfolio that are relevant to them, and be sure you can explain why having professional photos can be beneficial to their bottom line.

Then tape a penny to it with the line

"A penny for your thoughts..."

With your contact details.

[DSLiverpool]

miniman said:

There's no reason why you can't create a list of businesses using their publicly available contact details and call them, but expect it to be soul destroying. Personally I would take an interesting photo of their premises / product / whatever and send it to them along with other shots from your portfolio that are relevant to them, and be sure you can explain why having professional photos can be beneficial to their bottom line.

Great idea, premises pic and if they sell plumbing bits maybe a few valve shots ?

[Simpo Two]

The problem is that they can take an almost identical photo with a point-and-shoot, so are not going to pay you for it, even if you're a bit better. Local businesses are phenomenally mean.

To start any business you must not only know your market and be able to sell to it, but have a product they want to buy. Get one wrong and it won't work.

So, assume I run a small business, let's say car body repair:

Phone rings.

'Good morning, Simpo Auto Repairs'

Your go...

[DSLiverpool]

Simpo Two said:

The problem is that they can take an almost identical photo with a point-and-shoot, so are not going to pay you for it, even if you're a bit better. Local businesses are phenomenally mean.

To start any business you must not only know your market and be able to sell to it, but have a product they want to buy. Get one wrong and it won't work.

So, assume I run a small business, let's say car body repair:

Phone rings.

'Good morning, Simpo Auto Repairs'

Your go...

Your website pictures are cack can I come and see you guv, a picture paints a thousand words and the Fiat 127 being worked on the ramp is hardly cutting edge.

[Quattromaster]

Simpo Two said:

The problem is that they can take an almost identical photo with a point-and-shoot, so are not going to pay you for it, even if you're a bit better. Local businesses are phenomenally mean.
..

Can they though.
I do, pay for it that it is, you in fact, lol.
Because you are better by far.
Mean we may be , but most realise that for some things in business you are best using a professional.

Though to be fair I wouldn't entertain doing business from a cold call, nearly everyone I deal with is through recommendation , as in the case with you Simpo.

[Simpo Two]

DSLiverpool said:

Your website pictures are cack can I come and see you guv, a picture paints a thousand words and the Fiat 127 being worked on the ramp is hardly cutting edge.

Possibly all true but unless he thinks of a smarter way to say it it's not going to get him past my front door!

Quattromaster said:

Can they though.

'Depends'. If it's a general view of a building on a nice day, then to all intents and purposes, yes. But some businesses need more challenging material - watchstraps for example, which need a studio, proper lighting and someone who can use them. Shiny display cases, things only 10mm long and so on.

Quattromaster said:

I do, pay for it that it is, you in fact, lol. Because you are better by far.

Thanks old bean I always try to give the best results I can for an decent price. Not to mention unlimited usage of course!

[Storer]

Cold call never gets a foot in my door. Total waste of time.

A really professional website will be an essential for someone selling visual media.

Build a library of 'background' pictures that you can use but remember there is now so much available via the internet.

If you send pictures (as has been suggested) of products/premises to companies, do remember to put your company name over them so they can't be used for free.

[anonymous-user]

menor95 said:

Hi guys,

I am soon starting a photography business and looking to cold call other local businesses. I am a student and do not have a very small budget for SEO and online marketing etc. A quick internet search revealed nothing illegal about this marketing method, however I do want to be sure.

Many thanks

I think most people who run their own business see cold calls as an inconvenient hassle.

Our policy for example is that we won't enter a discussion with a cold call, no matter what they say. We just politely thank them for the call but explain we don't accept cold calls as a matter of policy.

Having said that, you mentioned in your initial post that you were looking to target local businesses.

I'd suggest taking some of your portfolio and your equipment and visiting some of the business in person to ask for an appointment.

Most will still turn you away, but with some persistence I think you would likely get some owners who would discuss your proposals.

[DSLiverpool]

In all seriousness look for companies local to you with websites, most will have poor or generic pictures which todays online consumer views with disdain expecting more.
Try to send the door opener to the web master (person who looks after the site) and the MD separately.
Work on a tempter deal say 5 product pictures for £? (I have no experience to price this or what variance may occur) if it gets you a response all the better, to be honest if I was approached with an offer I would take it up.

[anonymous-user]

DSLiverpool said:

In all seriousness look for companies local to you with websites, most will have poor or generic pictures which todays online consumer views with disdain expecting more.

Work on a tempter deal say 5 product pictures for £? (I have no experience to price this or what variance may occur) if it gets you a response all the better, to be honest if I was approached with an offer I would take it up.

Two very good ideas to help target which companies you approach, and how to get them interested.

[rog007]

menor95 said:

Hi guys,

I am soon starting a photography business and looking to cold call other local businesses. I am a student and do not have a very small budget for SEO and online marketing etc. A quick internet search revealed nothing illegal about this marketing method, however I do want to be sure.

Many thanks

To be successful, you'll need to provide something they currently don't have and can't get from any other photographer; what is it that you're providing that they can't get elsewhere?

If you can answer that to the positive and with evidence, then there's your USP. With that, I'd make contact, ideally via email with a link to your website. Do also try to find out if there's a local group that businesses may be part of that you can attend to pitch your product. And finally, doing work for the local charity sector gratis and getting some local press reporting may give you some introductions. Good luck!

[DSLiverpool]

rog007 said:

Do also try to find out if there's a local group that businesses may be part of that you can attend to pitch your product. And finally, doing work for the local charity sector gratis and getting some local press reporting may give you some introductions. Good luck!

BNI ? works for some, personally Its not for me - try it but look at my approach above which will work as their is a real need.

[technodup]

Storer said:

Cold call never gets a foot in my door. Total waste of time.

He doesn't need to get through your door, he just needs to get through enough doors. The point of calling is to reject people like you and get to the ones who need something. And there are always some, it's just a numbers game to get them.

It does take time, and skill, but it's not a waste of time.

Plus for all those saying they don't take them I bet with a slightly different approach from the standard "I'm John calling from ABC Photography" line you would. Again it just takes a different angle, some skill and plenty confidence.

In spite of everything else available the phone is still the most efficient way to reach people.

[ashleyman]

I am a photographer, I don't cold call.

No point, there's walls between you and who you will need to speak too and unless they know who you are or you sound important you'll never get through. I research companies and send emails with links to my website. I then ask for meetings and go from there.

I mainly work with bigger brands not small business and its going ok. You get tossed between person and agency and brand a lot but when the work does eventually come in it pays well.

[technodup]

ashleyman said:

I am a photographer, I don't cold call.

No point, there's walls between you and who you will need to speak too and unless they know who you are or you sound important you'll never get through. I research companies and send emails with links to my website. I then ask for meetings and go from there.

I mainly work with bigger brands not small business and its going ok. You get tossed between person and agency and brand a lot but when the work does eventually come in it pays well.

Out of interest is that all done by email? I ask because at some stage you surely must need to speak and 'sell' to someone.

If you can do that part then you could phone people as well, and save a lot of time bouncing emails around.

I'm not in photography but am always interested in how people go about finding clients.

[DSLiverpool]

technodup said:

ut of interest is that all done by email? I ask because at some stage you surely must need to speak and 'sell' to someone.

If you can do that part then you could phone people as well, and save a lot of time bouncing emails around.

I'm not in photography but am always interested in how people go about finding clients.

I can only speak from web experience but a lot of website companies have a linked photographer they favour and for each site they provide an introduction and probably get a kick back from the snapper. OP also approach web companies in your area I suppose?

[ashleyman]

technodup said:

ut of interest is that all done by email? I ask because at some stage you surely must need to speak and 'sell' to someone.

If you can do that part then you could phone people as well, and save a lot of time bouncing emails around.

I'm not in photography but am always interested in how people go about finding clients.

It's all done by email for the first few attempts at making contact. The aim is to get them in a room, show them my work, talk about their needs/clients and then sell to them. If they don't have a commission coming up then it's almost a waste except to be in mind for the next job and I'll keep updating them about my work and perhaps meet with them again in a few months.

You say save time bouncing emails around, but if I know the person who I need to contact by name and I have their email - I can message them direct and they will get it, they'll probably read it and theres a 50% chance of them replying. I'll keep doing it every few weeks until I get a response whilst also chasing new prospects. If I were to phone them, it might take 5-10 attempts to finally get talking to them either due to assistants or receptionists saying no, hitting a voicemail or something else.

At the end of the day, with photography you won't get hired unless you've had a face to face. If you are being considered for a job and you've never met the person then they'll usually ask you to go in for a meeting. Happened to me just last week and I got a job out of it in 2 weeks time.

I find finding clients very difficult and I'm still learning. I should probably use the phone more but my take is that email is more convenient for the people I'm trying to contact so I should use it.

[technodup]

ashleyman said:

I find finding clients very difficult and I'm still learning. I should probably use the phone more but my take is that email is more convenient for the people I'm trying to contact so I should use it.

Your convenience is equally important though.

I understand people in bigger businesses having meetings for meetings sake but if (as I assume) you are self employed them meetings without sales are literally a waste of time. That's what the phone is for- to discount those non buyers. I quite often have to discourage potential clients from wanting to see me, they'll offer a 'meeting' but unless I'm sure they're buying I don't want to fanny around driving to see them for some coffee and pleasantries when I can be making actual cash money with someone else.

Horses for courses though. I'm might experiment with some targeted emails but my feel is everyone gets so many they get ignored unless they are exceptional and grab them immediately.