Still on the fence about video marketing?  Check out this research and then get back to me.

Here’s the deal: a branding photo or video shoot can either be a smooth, confidence-boosting experience that makes your business look amazing, or a stressful blur that leaves you muttering, “Well, that could’ve gone better.”

One of the concerns that I hear from small business owners who are hesitant about email marketing is that nobody reads email.  Not true.  The data proves it.

There are some good-looking tools in here.  MarketingBlocks looks particularly interesting to me.  Also, I see some of my class attendees use Otter.ai.

Let’s be honest. “Investing in professional photography or video” sounds like a nice idea until it’s time to actually write the check. That’s when a lot of business owners start asking, “Can’t we just use stock photos?” or “My cousin has a nice camera, maybe she can do it?”

Not all of this advice is practical for your typical small business, such as posting a short video daily.  Still though, I'm sharing because it may have inspired a new video series for me.  Maybe it'll do the same for you.

It's brutal to drop in Google Business rankings.  Trust me, my views got cut in half when I moved from New Bern, NC to Greenville, NC.  I bet they go even lower once I update my location to where I just moved in Winterville, NC.

There are some gems here.  You've definitely heard some of them before ("Video is Still King") but some of these will be fresh to you.  Be authentic and make a genuine connection with your audience.

Let’s get this out of the way first: you don’t need everything all at once. You don’t need a full-blown video campaign, 500 edited images, drone footage, and a behind-the-scenes documentary just to post something decent on Instagram.

Excellent article featuring a unique look at marketing for small businesses.  These are tips that you can take, implement, and actively use.  I use #2, #3, and #4 in my photo business marketing, but don't sleep on #1 either.

Love this article.  This hits on a lot of subjects that I talk about in my social media classes and much more.  It's a must-read for anybody looking to grow their following on social.  (That should be all of you.)

You did it. You booked the shoot, smiled your way through it, and got a folder full of amazing branding photos that make you look like you’ve got your act together. Now what?

AEO is becoming increasingly important but it still has a way to go in finding local small businesses.  I did three ChatGPT searches about photographers in Greenville, NC, where I live.  Here's what I found:

This is critical.  Share your testimonials if you have them.  Share your accolades if you have them.  Share your social proof.

When people think about event photography, they think about… well, the event. The ribbon-cutting. The keynote speaker. The awkward networking conversations happening near the snack table. And yes, that’s part of it. But what you see during the event is only the tip of the iceberg.

This is an excellent primer on something that I don't cover much in this newsletter: paid advertising.  Don't be afraid to spend money on advertising, just be careful.  Dip your toe in cautiously and then scale when you're ready.

I don't usually include lengthy whitepapers but I thought this one was fascinating.  Sections 1 & 2 are the ones that apply to you.  Stat of the day: 91% believe visuals communicate better than text.  Here's looking at you, photos and videos. 📸🎥👀

Let’s start with the big question:
What the heck is branding photography?

Because let’s be honest, when most people hear “branding photos,” they either picture a logo photoshoot (nope), a bunch of corporate headshots in front of a gray backdrop (also nope), or influencers twirling in wheat fields holding coffee mugs (ok… sometimes, but still mostly nope).

Most of these should sound familiar if you've taken my FB Algorithm or Content Marketing classes.  One item that I need to do more: ask questions.  That's #1 on the list for a good reason.

It isn't enough to just have quality content.  You need to hook them right away.  I've been struggling with this in my video content.  This article helped me brainstorm a few new ideas.