My husband has a small photography business and we are looking for some cheap, local advertising ideas.?

[messy]

We're already advertising on facebook but that gets expensive. Does anyone have a small business that they made grow by some easy advertising means? I'd appreciate any ideas. We are located in Kingwood, Texas.

Thanks

[Truth Hurts]

Go to all local high school, advertise Senior Sport, or whatever the hell else, pictures. Keep the rate low, because remember they are teens, and aren't the richest in the world.

[Bryan]

I also live in Podunkville USA. A couple of our local photographers have rotating pics they put in frames along the malls main concourse. dont know what it costs, but I doubt it is much.

They put in pics of little kids, and seniors graduating mostly.

[shortstuff]

Go to various businesses and ask if they would like some "free" art for their walls. Frame your pictures and accompany it with a framed business card.

[ToNi]

If I needed a photographer I would look in the phone book.
not facebook...

[Flick]

Have an open photo shoot for fashion portfolio or portraits for teens etc,... have it uploaded on facebook and tag every contact you've added on your friends list. or you can create an account in multiply/weebly and make a free website using that site and you can upload your photos there and spread the link through word of mouth.

[raulbesquival]

Advertising means you are giving growth to business. If you are getting good response from face book advertising then its not bad, yes it is little bit expensive but you should find some alternate way. Make your own website and then do marketing of it through seo. I am sure you will definitely get good response. You can also do one thing. Make profile on face book with your business name and join the different communities build relations with them and enlighten the people with your work.

[Norm Jones]

Hello there,

I would be surprised if the Facebook advertising is paying its way. That is not a place I would think to look for a photographer. I would think the yellow pages is where most would look and that can be expensive also. For most small businesses, I believe the key to startup survival is networking. getting to know other business owners and discussing with them how your services could benefit them. Also in your particular business, I would think getting connected to various groups and organizations would be beneficial. For instance getting to know the local little league team organizers. By offering some free work to help them advertise their organization, you get exposure to the teams. Most of which are going to have a photographer take some team and individual photos. Also the league organizer may sponsor tournaments. If so, the organizer is going to have a photographer there. There is always a photographer set up at the invitational tournaments. Similarly, I would think other groups and organizations would be helpful to get acquainted with. I used the baseball example, because I am more familiar with that. With the business owners, they are going to use a photographer at some point in time. When they do need one, they will turn first to someone they have met.

Business networking is a two way street. You are looking to drum up more business, so you need to think of ways that your services can do the same for the other business owner. Maybe discussing with a local store owner the idea of putting a Santa Claus in his store. You get the photography setup, the store owner gets more people into his store. A lot of times it is just brainstorming, to find ways to help each other.

I do believe that networking is more effective than blanket advertising. It gives you the chance to sell yourself in person. You cannot do that with an ad in the paper or on the internet.

Later,