If “a picture says a thousand words,” shouldn’t you share it with a digital audience?

Photos courtesy of Carlton SooHoo of Panospin Studios

Pinterest, Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn, Flickr:  There are many new media platforms that you can use to share your work on the Internet.  How can you use new media to benefit your business?  Which platform should you use?  Can new media really help with art-oriented initiatives?

Boston University’s Photographic Resource Center and American Society of Picture Professionals asked Designated Editor President Suzanne McDonald to present how to use new media to grow and strengthen your photography business.

During this seminar, Suzanne taught the audience how to develop and maintain contacts, find influencers, what the best digital tools are and how to successfully integrate digital platforms for increased visibility.

The following are key takeaways that you, as a photographer, can use in the digital world:

• Start investing in a platform where you can control the content (owned media):  Create a website, write a blog, create a Twitter account
• Generate strong content: Hook and learn about your audience, integrate key/buzzwords, update often,
• Continuously add new content: The more content you have, the more feedback and analytics
• Use titles and descriptions in all posts
• Establish conversations: Circulate a newsletter, use social media, enable comments
• WordPress and Wikis are two sites for creating a digital presence

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tools for optimizing content and growing your network

• Google Alerts – Drive blogs/content
• Wildfire – Find influencers/audience

Social media campaigning

• Create brand personality
• Place your content in the channel(s) you share with influencers
• Monitor, engage, integrate
• Target and type your audience; then create Facebook ads directed at them, if you are looking for really good marketing an example is SPM Communications, a PR firm in Dallas, Texas.
• Host events

Social media optimization and measurement

• Look at your connections and conversations, and measure results
  • Measurement/comparison tools:  Curalate, Bit.ly, Klout, Twitter Counter
• Calculate your ROI, are you getting desired results from your effort?
• Maximize ROI: Focus keywords/vocab, connect with influencers, discuss new topics
• Change your strategy: Engage more? Use more photos? Curate new content? Be timely.

The world of new media can seem daunting, but think of it as an art form that needs to be mastered: You have a blank canvas and a lot of ideas going on; sort through your options, be observant, smart and respond to your stimuli and audience.  Try it out: Strategize but have fun and be creative!

Photos courtesy of Carlton SooHoo of Panospin Studios