Jen, you’re also right that it seems to make more sense on some blogs and not others. The approach you take is totally up to you. Here are a couple of options:

1) Add more content to your existing blog other than just updated portfolio pictures. What kind of content can you provide that your target market will appreciate? What can you withold and offer as a bonus if someone gives you their name and email address.
2) Create a separate blog that is valuable content only and keep your current blog which is updated portfolio images. I wouldn’t recommend this method because you still lose the traffic on your portfolio blog.

In business, everyone always thinks that they’re unique. I’m not sure why. But people’s initial reaction often is “When my business is different because ….” I think it’s just an excuse. I think people look for excuses to avoid doing the hard work they need to do to grow their business.

No matter how you look at it, no matter how good an marketing you are, starting and growing a small business is tough work. It requires guts. It drains you. Its mentally taxing. But its also extremely rewarding to those you make it.

The truth is, all businesses need to do the same 3 things: Attract new business. Close new business. Fulfill on their promise to their customers.

If you’re not doing one of those, you don’t have a business. If you are doing them, then general small business rules almost always apply.

I hope that helps.

Most blogs do NOT have a contact form built into a post… just an area to comment, yet your website has a contact form that should be a part of the flow of your site.

The point is, setup your blog to allow you to capture leads just as easily as your website does, and use it to that end. He’s not saying to withold images.

The suggestion to offer an article on how to pick a photographer or something useful in exchange for an email address is just smart, it’s not witholding anything that you would have normally given otherwise.

I agree with the tactical approach that you shared here. While money may not be the first goal everyone thinks of in social media it does relate to the value in captivating an audience. Whether that’s simply good vibes, lots of traffic, ad revenue or actual people buying your stuff — it’s still value.

In the examples you shared about Twitter and Facebook it’s important to consider the segmentation and attitude of those communities separately. Likewise, build value through clever contributions on each and build exclusivity in each community.

I like it, good stuff. I think many other photogs will enjoy it.

~joe

Can you please elaborate on who that should work?

I would strongly recommend to all my fellow photographers to click on my website to see how easy it really is to be up and running shortly.

The tools that are offered make it so easy to promote your stores and with the merch store I am now selling my photography directly on facebook!

Its the evolution of business and the ones that believe its a waste of time and useless will soon realize their customer base isn’t growing.