another myspace question, I figured it would be better to start another thread than let it get missed on my other one.

I got my photo myspace up, and I really want to use it to get potentential PORTRAIT clients, mostly seniors (not shooting weddings this year). I know its great just to have because people come across it from my "friends", but what other things can I do. Is it wrong/annoying to search and add people as friends(like seniors)? Are there any gimmicks I can do, without being too...gimmiky? What sort of information do you put on your page? How would/do you use myspace to its full potential?

Maybe offer a discount or print credit if they add you as a friend?
Or offer a day to shoot free my space avatar's if they add you as a friend?

ouuh wow great! I especially like the avatar idea. Then everyone see's their pictures, and then...well ya know. Would you just do a whole buncha people in one day at one location, for a short little time each?

To be honest...very little annoys me more than when someone adds me to their friends on myspace for marketing purposes. I get one every other day or so, and its usually a band. I get so annoyed. I always decline and never look back....except I tend to remember the names to never do business with them.

Ksenia

shelby, since you've done so many seniors before, do you have all of them as friends?

i dont use my myspace page for advertising, but a lot of my headshot clients have blogged/commented about me on their myspace, that's generated several clients. maybe just try to get as many of your clients to be friends, and then keep up with their blog, and message them every once in a while.

after your session, leave them a comment that says "hey beautiful! thanks so much for the awesome senior photo session, you're going to LOVE these, you really rocked!"

their friends will see you in their comments & click on you to find out who you are. I wouldn't go overboard, and seem like a stalker or advertiser but i think most teenagers who've worked with you would LOVE to get a comment from you on their front page & on their blog.

if they add your photos to their myspace, comment on one or two of them ("kristi this was my FAVORITE from our session, your eyes are incredible!!")

if any of the friends makes a comment about their pictures or you or your comments, feel free to add them as a friend, but i would personally not want to add people randomly. (but that's me)

every coupld of weeks or so put out an announcement "New Senior Photos of Kyla up on the Blog <url here> check it out!" so that now anyone who has you as a friend is now displaying your announcement's title on their page. (so make sure the title is killer)

haha really? I always get the bands too, I never add them but it doesnt annoy me. What REALLY annoys me is when the "big" photographers (that shoot lingirie/swimsuit etc.) ask me to be there friends on my personal page. Which is great, I love adding new photographers, BUT they post on my page a comment like "hey hope you had a great weekend, blach blach etc. etc.", and i have never talked to them in my life! They are just trying to advertise on my page, and I'll see the same word for word comment on every one of his other "friends". I always delete them.

I dunno- just brainstorming. Maybe meet up at a park or even a school event (game??) and do something funky. You could make it a signature type shot (remember those great pool shark avatars that some OSPrs used a while back?). A fisheye would be great for this. If a few cool Seniors all of a sudden had signature avatars, everyone would want one- and your name would get out. Change them up occasionally to keep it fresh. I wouldn't think it would take too long to do

The plus side is that this is permission based marketing. It's just a matter of getting in the door- maybe use some of the Seniors that you have already shot as a catalyst. Give them a free session and some print credits to do it, then see what happens.

I need to find them I found a few, they usually post my images with logo and sometimes a website, but now I changed my name and website! ahh. haha. Right now I pull from two schools, around the same area. It would be great to find some seniors from where I actually live, near Annapolis (the capital of MD if no-one knew that!), because all the rich kids live in Annapolis!

I think MySpace is a great place for marketing to younger people (seniors, etc) as well. Basically, what I've done so far in this area is match my MySpace page to my site/blog to provide some continuity and posted some posters and banners.

I also provide, in my Senior Portraits Package, up to 5 images (of the client's choosing) that I will edit down to medium-resolution (with a small photo credit on them) for the senior to put on their MySpace pics, avatar, and page.

Plus, the word of mouth is great once they send links to their friends, etc...

I've booked one family session from myspace since creating it last month. One more person that wouldn't have known about me before.

Maybe we should all start friending each other on MySpace and make our friends network huuuuuuge. Ya think?

Here's mine, for anyone interested: www.myspace.com/scottneumyer

I don't even know where to begin...We've had alot of success with Seniors on Myspace. 95% of our seniors find us on Myspace. First part of the equation for myspace is Showit Web! Post some slideshows from your previous sessions on Myspace be sure to use current and updated music (this is usually the sensitive part of the process...do or do not, its up to you). Know this; kids in High School are trendy and want the latest in Music, Fashion, and Toys. We were all once there its a tough gig. We've got about 4-5 slideshows on our page.

Post your work!! I've seen a few pages with little to no work. The key to selling your work is letting people who see your page know that you are for hire and you will shoot with them.

When you shoot with a Client send them a "teaser". One image that leaves them wanting to see more!! They will promote you that much more...trust me it Works! Its like showing my son a bowl of Fruit Loops, he smiles and points and claps aloud so every one can hear how happy he is...by the way he's 2.

When you finish the shoot give them the code so they can put the slideshow in their page for everyone else to see. The last image should be your web address or business name, so they know who you are. Is it a shameless plug? Do you want more business?
Its lengthy but check it out to see our plug at the end:

Shannon

Be Proactive, Its okay to send out a ba-gillion friend requests the idea is to get your work in front of a few people who will absolutely love it. Is it really going to hurt your business if they say no? Probably not. When is Senior Portrait Season? Send them out then. There will be a few points where you won't have to send friend requests because they will be coming to you. Don't worry if people drop you...there will be more.

I think someone said this earlier....Utilize small talk. "Wow totally dig your page!" Or "I soo love your profile song...blah blah blah", just be genuine.

In big contrasting letters at the top of your page put a link to your website. Have a professional looking site, the parents will scrutinize you and have a 100 questions. Myspace is great but its got a bad rep so defend it, it will bring you business.

Price for your Market!.....But thats not a Myspace thing.

Our page is at:

www.myspace.com/seniorsessions

Send us a friend request and check out page. You'll find some of our tips in action!

Hey Christopher,

Thanks for coming to post this!! It's exactly what I was thinking. I remember the post from before and I wanted the refresher course!

Defenitely not a problem! Anytime I can help!