Comments on: Why I Chose an E-Mail Marketing Service to Boost My Photography Business http://rising.blackstar.com/why-i-chose-an-e-mail-marketing-service-to-boost-my-photography-business.html Professional Photography Blog Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:56:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Petehttp://rising.blackstar.com/why-i-chose-an-e-mail-marketing-service-to-boost-my-photography-business.html/comment-page-1#comment-57280 Pete Sat, 12 Mar 2011 14:07:10 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=9507#comment-57280 Hi. I ve been searching for a while about how to get OPT in e-mails.. maybe anyone on this blog could elucidate the mistery for me and melissa?:) Thx. Hi. I ve been searching for a while about how to get OPT in e-mails.. maybe anyone on this blog could elucidate the mistery for me and melissa?:)
Thx.

]]> By: Jenniferhttp://rising.blackstar.com/why-i-chose-an-e-mail-marketing-service-to-boost-my-photography-business.html/comment-page-1#comment-56873 Jennifer Sat, 05 Mar 2011 17:20:37 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=9507#comment-56873 I agree with Thomas. I think they should be updating their database more often.. I agree with Thomas. I think they should be updating their database more often..

]]> By: Juliehttp://rising.blackstar.com/why-i-chose-an-e-mail-marketing-service-to-boost-my-photography-business.html/comment-page-1#comment-56562 Julie Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:02:19 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=9507#comment-56562 Hey Gordon. Can you share the results? Thanks. Hey Gordon. Can you share the results? Thanks.

]]> By: Melissahttp://rising.blackstar.com/why-i-chose-an-e-mail-marketing-service-to-boost-my-photography-business.html/comment-page-1#comment-23111 Melissa Wed, 24 Nov 2010 22:49:07 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=9507#comment-23111 Yes. I can't get it either. Hot do you get OPT in e-mails? Thanks. Yes. I can't get it either. Hot do you get OPT in e-mails?
Thanks.

]]> By: Kelsohttp://rising.blackstar.com/why-i-chose-an-e-mail-marketing-service-to-boost-my-photography-business.html/comment-page-1#comment-16127 Kelso Thu, 05 Aug 2010 20:41:36 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=9507#comment-16127 We're new to e-mail marketing as well.. one thing I do not fully understand -> how do you get OPT in e-mails? We're new to e-mail marketing as well.. one thing I do not fully understand -> how do you get OPT in e-mails?

]]> By: Craig Ferguson (@cfimages)http://rising.blackstar.com/why-i-chose-an-e-mail-marketing-service-to-boost-my-photography-business.html/comment-page-1#comment-12555 Craig Ferguson (@cfimages) Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:35:01 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=9507#comment-12555 Thanks Margaret, that's more or less the approach I've been taking. I've also got my archives at Photoshelter but haven't really turned that into extra licenses yet. Thanks Margaret, that's more or less the approach I've been taking. I've also got my archives at Photoshelter but haven't really turned that into extra licenses yet.

]]> By: Margarethttp://rising.blackstar.com/why-i-chose-an-e-mail-marketing-service-to-boost-my-photography-business.html/comment-page-1#comment-12550 Margaret Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:48:08 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=9507#comment-12550 In response to Craig Ferguson (@cfimages): I wouldn't look for targeting a geographic market, but rather target the subject market. You have a great location, which needs to be known to the people who want to license your images. With the internet and a good website, you can sell to anyone from anywhere. For example at PhotoShelter.com where I have my website, they have international direct download sales & payment capability. Location is no longer limiting! In response to Craig Ferguson (@cfimages):
I wouldn't look for targeting a geographic market, but rather target the subject market. You have a great location, which needs to be known to the people who want to license your images. With the internet and a good website, you can sell to anyone from anywhere. For example at PhotoShelter.com where I have my website, they have international direct download sales & payment capability. Location is no longer limiting!

]]> By: Kimberlyhttp://rising.blackstar.com/why-i-chose-an-e-mail-marketing-service-to-boost-my-photography-business.html/comment-page-1#comment-8754 Kimberly Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:10:39 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=9507#comment-8754 Interesting post. I'm always interesting in these topics, because my email does a good job of capture spam and I wonder how these companies manage to get past a spam filter. Good luck with the service. Looking forward to future posts. Interesting post. I'm always interesting in these topics, because my email does a good job of capture spam and I wonder how these companies manage to get past a spam filter. Good luck with the service. Looking forward to future posts.

]]> By: Will Sebergerhttp://rising.blackstar.com/why-i-chose-an-e-mail-marketing-service-to-boost-my-photography-business.html/comment-page-1#comment-8741 Will Seberger Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:15:11 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=9507#comment-8741 Best of luck, and I hope it works for you.My experience with these services over a four year period has been quite lukewarm.But, then, if spam didn't work, people wouldn't send it. I did get jobs from Adbase and AgencyAccess, but in retrospect, I would have probably gotten more jobs, or at least more attention, from using the $1200/year for custom portfolios mailed to my targets or flying my books out to people for in-person reviews.Everyone and his brother is (ab)using these systems now and I find it really, really hard to believe that any editors or ADs are paying attention to emails from unknowns anymore.I'm going the other way on email marketing to new clients (of course I'll email the people I have relationships with); and I'm not alone:http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2009/12/18/2010-is-all-about-getting-personal/http://blog.noplasticsleeves.com/?p=366As for the "once the lists are set up" theory...probably not. People change jobs in this business as often as most people change underwear. Especially with constant layoffs and closures.Plain and simple, the easy part of this job is making pictures and conversation at the bar. The hard part is finding clients worth having. Especially now.Really, the means qualify the message. If I see my work as being fit to mass-mail to hundreds or thousands of potential clients, what do I think of my work? Probably not as much as if I have an on-demand magazine or other portfolio book printed and sent to them. At least, that's how the client may see it.I'm sure others have had different experiences, and I hope you do too.Hopefully one job will pay for the service, and the second will come to make it a profitable decision. Best of luck, and I hope it works for you.

My experience with these services over a four year period has been quite lukewarm.

But, then, if spam didn't work, people wouldn't send it. I did get jobs from Adbase and AgencyAccess, but in retrospect, I would have probably gotten more jobs, or at least more attention, from using the $1200/year for custom portfolios mailed to my targets or flying my books out to people for in-person reviews.

Everyone and his brother is (ab)using these systems now and I find it really, really hard to believe that any editors or ADs are paying attention to emails from unknowns anymore.

I'm going the other way on email marketing to new clients (of course I'll email the people I have relationships with); and I'm not alone:

http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2009/12/18/2010-is-all-about-getting-personal/

http://blog.noplasticsleeves.com/?p=366

As for the "once the lists are set up" theory...probably not. People change jobs in this business as often as most people change underwear. Especially with constant layoffs and closures.

Plain and simple, the easy part of this job is making pictures and conversation at the bar. The hard part is finding clients worth having. Especially now.

Really, the means qualify the message. If I see my work as being fit to mass-mail to hundreds or thousands of potential clients, what do I think of my work? Probably not as much as if I have an on-demand magazine or other portfolio book printed and sent to them. At least, that's how the client may see it.

I'm sure others have had different experiences, and I hope you do too.

Hopefully one job will pay for the service, and the second will come to make it a profitable decision.

]]> By: Thomas Burkehttp://rising.blackstar.com/why-i-chose-an-e-mail-marketing-service-to-boost-my-photography-business.html/comment-page-1#comment-8736 Thomas Burke Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:44:23 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=9507#comment-8736 We signed up for a years worth of e-mails from Adbase. The year is just concluding and frankly, we can't point to a single response. Hope your results are much better, but we're of the opinion that their lists are rather tired. We signed up for a years worth of e-mails from Adbase. The year is just concluding and frankly, we can't point to a single response. Hope your results are much better, but we're of the opinion that their lists are rather tired.

]]> By: Chris Ridleyhttp://rising.blackstar.com/why-i-chose-an-e-mail-marketing-service-to-boost-my-photography-business.html/comment-page-1#comment-8715 Chris Ridley Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:38:32 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=9507#comment-8715 I assume it's just US only, if it was in the UK too I might have a look at it in more depth, looks good though. I assume it's just US only, if it was in the UK too I might have a look at it in more depth, looks good though.

]]> By: Chris Turnerhttp://rising.blackstar.com/why-i-chose-an-e-mail-marketing-service-to-boost-my-photography-business.html/comment-page-1#comment-8714 Chris Turner Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:33:59 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=9507#comment-8714 Hey Gordon,Good post for me as I'm looking for a way to mass market my photography as I'm close to launching it properly.What sort of thing will you be including in an marketing email? I have often thought about doing it but wouldn't really know what to put in it!Thanks, Chris. Hey Gordon,

Good post for me as I'm looking for a way to mass market my photography as I'm close to launching it properly.

What sort of thing will you be including in an marketing email? I have often thought about doing it but wouldn't really know what to put in it!

Thanks,
Chris.

]]> By: Craig Ferguson (@cfimages)http://rising.blackstar.com/why-i-chose-an-e-mail-marketing-service-to-boost-my-photography-business.html/comment-page-1#comment-8713 Craig Ferguson (@cfimages) Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:29:28 +0000 http://rising.blackstar.com/?p=9507#comment-8713 Timely post for me as I've been considering something similar. The main thing holding me back at the moment is that I live in Asia and have yet to find a recommended database covering this region. If any readers know of any, I'm all ears. Timely post for me as I've been considering something similar. The main thing holding me back at the moment is that I live in Asia and have yet to find a recommended database covering this region. If any readers know of any, I'm all ears.

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