I know that craigslist photographers have gotten a reputation as underselling the profession...etc...but would you consider 'advertising' or posting about your services on craigslist?

My situation is that I've been shooting for 6 years professionally, and I recently transplanted my business to the Bay Area in 2006. Next year will mark my third year in business in the U.S. and I'm not meeting my booking quota. I've been networking like crazy, second shooting almost every weekend for other pro photographers in my professional photo guild - but still I'm having a hard time getting my name out there to book my own weddings.

Do you think craigslist is a viable option, given I don't have a lot of $ for marketing? I came from a tight-knit community back home and I just so relied on word of mouth for my business. I have the tools, the samples, the skills... I just lack my old 'circle of influence.' *sigh* PLUS, the Bay Area is a highly competitive market with so many talented photographers.

Whadya think? Any successes or misses from advertising on craigslist?

Sure! Why not?

Any marketing is good, IMO, if it can help your business (and is ethical). You've exhausted other options and have identified a new one that may affect your business positively.

It's just me, but I wouldn't worry much about the "reputation" you may get from having something on Craigslist. It's just savvy marketing.

Thanks Damon for the reassurance.

I guess now my only hesitation would the prospect of having to sort out through more clients who are looking out for a cheaper deal. If I compare my package prices to those already being advertised on craigslist, I'd probably be eliminated on basis of price alone. With word of mouth, I was already half-assured that people were convinced about my work and my marketing efforts were already half done!

If I hadn't advertised on Craigslist when I first started out (last year) I wouldn't have booked NEARLY as many weddings as I did. It was a HUGE help in me getting my business off the ground. I probably booked my first 20 weddings from people who found me on there.

Go for it!

Hey Auey, I running into the same issue moving here recently, 1/2 of my business was from w.o.m. and now with no advertising budget I'm having to be really creative. I never advertised on Craigslist before, but I really don't see anything wrong with it only positive. It's good marketing IMO - your site will be seen by potential clients.

Another plus is that even though the Craigslisters may not hire you, they'll still go to your site and possibly pass on your name to others -- even by accident:

Example:

Well-to-do Friend of Craigslister: "I'm getting married!"
Craigslister: "Yay! That's so great!"
WTDFoC: "Now I have to find a photographer."
Craigslister: "Well I saw this one on Craigslist. I couldn't afford her but her work is good..."

Hey, it could happen! Some of Agnes' best referrers are people that wanted to hire her but either couldn't afford her, had a wedding date that was already booked, or had another photographer and didn't like his/her work!

I post on Craigslist and I have booked several gigs from it . And it's FREEEEE! Ya! And you can still present yourself in a classy way in order to stand out from those who are advertising in "blue light special" style. I put a link to my website and I don't adverstise any discounted prices. It's just another avenue to direct traffic to my work...

Ashley

I have posted a couple times, and got one email. I charge more (not much, but still more) than the other 100 wedding photographers that post on there asking for $500 per wedding- so I gave up.

I feel your pain, Kacy.

Auey is in San Francisco, the home of Craigslist and also the most expensive city in the States. I'd imagine the combination of large population, higher Craigslist visibility, and the general tech-savviness of Bay Area residents (comparatively) may make her foray into the 'list a little more fruitful. Heck, her regular rates may be a deal compared to some of her competition there... (I 'reckon)

How much do SF people love their Craigslist?? Well, when I was living there and looking for a job, I would check it probably a hundred times a day for new listings and if you didn't call within half an hour of the posting, you'd miss out. Seriously. People in SF LOOOOVE Craigslist! I ended up getting a job that was listed on there ... when I went in for the interview, the guy told me they got more than a THOUSAND emails off of ONE posting. (And yes, I DID feel pretty damn special that they hired me! It was an awesome graphic artist job at the SF Weekly and was one of my favorite jobs EVER!)

Gotta tell you...people in NY love their craigslist too!

I got my current day job from Craigslist (and even though I moved to Indiana, I still have it because I telecommute). At least in NY, Craigslist is generally for younger and more tech savvy people, and as that was what my company wanted to hire, that's where they posted!

We post all the time there looking for teachers for said day job and we get hundreds and hundreds of resumes from one listing!

I've posted a few times in Indiana, but haven't gotten any calls. I have gotten some traffic though, so that's nice!

Ksenia

I'd say my rates are pretty competitive - ranging from $2-$5K with my average booking at $2400. If you hit the bridal fairs here, you'd be getting rates of an average $4K-10K. But the average craigslist photgrapher lists services for about $900 for digital files, a shoot-and-turnover CD service. And heck, these $900 photographers are pretty darn talented too, so it's a tough market to break.

When people ask me about rates, I compare myself to a Honda. You pay a little more now but you get reliability and a good product. A little less glamorous that a BMW or a Benz (aka the Bambi Cantrells and Gene Higas of our area) but good value all the same.

Sarah, your success with craigslist has encouraged me to *at least* try it out. Now to figure out my wording and design to stand out among the rest. Here's a sampling of craigslist hits I got when I put in "wedding photography."

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY - Fall/Winter Weddings - 50% Discount
Wedding photography barter
High end wedding photography within your reach
Freelance Wedding Photographer $750 - No time limit on day of event
Amazing Wedding Photography for ANY BUDGET
Profesional wedding packages available from $599
Free Photography For City Hall Ceremonies
Getting Married? Wedding Photography at a HUGE Discount

I know, I know - I'm fixating on the price angle of this. But do you have any suggestions at how to TITLE my ad properly to attract the "right kind of client?"

Auey

I always put the words "BEAUTIFUL" and "AFFORDABLE" in my headlines (ie : Beautiful and Affordable Wedding Photography, Starting at $XXXX) and always posted some photos in the ad, too. I think the photos are the most important thing!! If you don't already have a Photobucket account - open one up. Craigslist will let you post as many photos as you want, so pick 3 or 4 or 5 (or more!) of your favorites and post 'em up with a link to your website.

I never posted any "specials" and always stayed firm with my prices when the hagglers started emailing and it really worked out great for me.

Post what you're thinking of writing and we'll critique it for ya

Good luck!! (Oh, and, can I please come live with you. I miss SF! )

*dusty writing wheels of my brain start churning*

I'll start working on that title and copy and post it soon!Sure - you can come crash at our place anytime! That is, if you don't mind bunking with my 4 y/o and his best friend Teddy (bear) that is.




Hey Knockie, why don't you try posting on your local craigslist and let's compare as to what kind of queries we get? A little social experimentation....

Auey

Cool! I'll bring my 2.5 year old girl and we'll hook 'em up! She likes older men!

Me too! Me too! I'll let you guys know how it goes 45 days from now (when the first posting expires).

I'll do that, too I haven't posted in a while. Might be fun!

FYI, you need to be careful in posting email addresses that are visible. Craiglist is king to people finding emails and SPAM. I would setup an alternative email account on Gmail.

Good Luck!

Title it "Way underpriced photographer available at rates that really don't cover my time or expenses"

I also advertise on Craigslist here in the Bay Area. I've actually gotten a few bookings this year for my mid-priced packages. A lot of people inquire...few get back to me, i'm sure I'm out of most price ranges.

Hey it's free!! So even if you get one booking it has already paid for itself. .

"Any marketing is good?" Hmmm...

I'm just going to play devil's advocate here...food for thought...take it for what it's worth.

Assume you have two photographers who both offer a $5,000 wedding package.

Photographer A advertises on CL -- free -- and gets 250 inquiries, meets with 25 of them, books one.

Photographer B buys an ad on the web for $250 -- gets 1 inquiry, meets with that 1, books it.

While you might assume that photographer A makes more money...you should consider the time factor of fielding 250 inquiries, meeting with 25 of them and only booking 1 wedding versus getting 1 inquiry and booking it.

Yes...I know this example is a bit extreme...but it follows the premise that the perfect marketing strategy involves reaching the right customer with the right message at the right time.

The real question should be...is Craig's List the most effective place for me to promote my services? If you only look at the "cost factor" it's an easy decision, right? Yet, further analysis would lead you to question if you are looking for the type of client who primarily uses Craig's List to obtain wedding photography services. (By contrast...if you are looking for a Grace Ormonde bride...Craig's List may not be the right place for you to find her! Or -- more important -- for her to find you! ) Does this make sense?

Dan... thanks for posting that... very interesting.

Dangit.. you made me think!!

This is my 1st year doing weddings and there was not an opportunity to 2nd around here. So, I posted an ad on Craigslist and that has resulted in 2 weddings. I recd my other 3 from Word of Mouth referalls. I would have had another one from Craigslist but a scheduling conflict made me give it up, but I did do their e session. I also was offering my first few weddings for free as a portfolio building experience. I ended up doing 2 for free and 1 for cost. Now I am charging the 500 range but that will likely double soon... Craigslist helped me get started. I have had a busy past 6 weeks and so I have not really been advertising on there in a while so I dont know how much of a response I will get now that I am charging.... I will let you know. I stopped listing on there a few month back because of all the spam that I get and because of some creepy guy wanting me to meet him to take "personal" pix of him for an internet chat room... He was just being too creepy.

Just one comment... I got a wedding at The Ritz Carlton from craigslist. So my non-hypothetical answer is yes.