Why aren't people calling our business?

Question

This in NOT an attempt to solicit or promot our business. I am coming here for honest answers from those willing to help.

My husband is a new wedding photographer in our area and we have send over 25 people to his website. Not one called back.

So, there must be something wrong? Can it be the prices? We are priced right below the average for our area. Can it be the website itself? There is a wierd picture that ended up in the home page slide show that needs to be removed. Can it be that people just don't like his style or taste? Is it a variety problem? He redid his website and does not have alot of variety up yet.

I know this might be a lot to ask of you all but for those who come here to help out (not just to earn points) will you be willing to help us figure it out? Will you to his website and see if you notice anything that might be keeping clients away?

Again, I am not trying to promote our business. I doubt any of you live near us anyway, or in the same state or country for that matter. I just need honest opinions. Where better to do that here where we are all strangers?

Hey, if you feel like saying something nice feel free too.

There has to be something wrong. What can it be?

jasonlanier.com

sorry for the typos. I typed too fast and did not do spell check!

Answer 1

I spent a few minutes on your website and have a few comments about it however, I did want to comment about the business itself a bit.

I noticed your area code is 951 so you're located in the inland empire, correct? I live in OC and know of (3) photographers that have entered the wedding photography business in the last 3 to 5 years. All agree that 90% of their work is from referral.

It seems that their websites are more of a reference tool to illustrate different photo techniques or their own style. Marketing is purely a secondary function.

A big part of the sale is not only the quality of photos but the attitude and professionalism of the actual photographer. The couple needs to feel confident and have all their questions answered to their satisfaction. In other words, you need to sell them on your level of service and a website cannot do that. You may want to mention the website as a secondary source but nothing replaces a face-to-face sit down.

The website itself is nice but it's very dark. I'd add some color while keeping it simple. I had quite a few B&W photos taken at my wedding so I do appreciate the look but many may not. On my LCD monitor it also seemed to make everything just look too dark.

I would also recommend that the buttons along the top not be overlapped by the small photo in the upper left. Since it's all B&W, it seems cluttered and messy. Again, a very clean and simple look.

The discussion forum is a unique idea but I think it draws attention away from the overall intent of the site. If you want to host a forum, put it somewhere else. Remember that many bride's view their wedding day as a once-in-a-lifetime fantasy and a forum is just too realistic. You're selling the dream.

I don't think the pricing is an issue.

My final recommendation is to go to the wedding shows. Your exposure will be big and the cost is relatively low. Just know that you will be there with about a dozen others so it is essential that you stand out.

Answer 2

From my own experiences a Web site is but a background type of advertising, a third party, something most small businesses don't even need.

As a first avenue for creating new business, web sites fail miserably as you will have to, on average, send at least a thousand people to your site for every actual customer (and even that could be a conservative number, I've seen 100,000 people get sent to a site before someone got one lousy sale).

This is because the Internet isn't a trusted source. Unfortunate as this is, the huge amount of evidence in direct support of why we should not trust the Internet is not helping.

There exists the time factor as well... You really need to have been in business AND servicing customers for at least 5-8 years before the calls seem to come in on their own, but that is not to say that advertising should fail so miserably for a new enterprise, either.

May I advise running a small ad in your local newspaper, keep the website, but use the dotcom as a thing you put on business cards, receipts, and perhaps at the very bottom of your newspaper ad.

I am sorry in advance if this disappoints you, but wish you the best of luck, and hang in there, it does get better in time.

Answer 3

There are several issues to contend with here:

1) If they can't find your site, they won't look for it.
2) If they can't use your site, they won't try.
3) If the product or service you sell doesn't stand out from the competition, it won't sell.

Go and get yourself a copy of "Don't Make Me Think" by Steve Krug (make sure it's the second edition) and read it.

When you're ready, do some usability testing.

Find someone who knows little if anything about surfing the web. Have them try to find your site and take notes while they browse your pages.

Have them go through the entire process of booking an appointment and ask them when they're ready to give up.

Resist the urge to help them, let them struggle through the pages, ask them what they're thinking while they're going about it and you'll see where your problem areas are.

Seriously, read the book. It's still a bargain at twice the price and worth every penny.

Answer 4

The website looks great from my point of view. One thing I didn't look for though- Is your contact information on every page?
Prices would be way out of my budget (but I'm getting married in Oklahoma).

To give yourself a comparison, visit the web sites of the most successful photographers in your area- learn what they do well, what their prices are and where they are weak.

Also, how many bridal shows did you attend last month and this month? How many bridal guides/magazines are you in?

Is there a wedding planning website for your area? Here in Tulsa, www.weddingdecisions.com links all the vendors of wedding relating services, there may be something similar in your area.

Also, as the more well known photographers in you area get booked up, don't be surprised if you start getting more visitors to your site and phone calls.

Best of Luck.

Answer 5

Went to the website. The pics are pretty! However, it seems like he only shot one wedding and one engagement. There should be variety of people and places. Since you are just starting, you should give discounts to those who allow you to post pics on your website. Get the ball rolling, get more pics up and also price your self not just below the average but a decent amount below as you are new to the business. I'm not sure where you are located but different religous ceremonies might be nice as well. Also, why not sweet 16s and bat mitzvahs as well?

Answer 6

you have to plan better and find the right way to advertise yr business. find out what the rival businesses in yr area or on line are doing to promote and pricing. promotion and word or mouth also can make or break a small business. read tips on planning and running small businesses, marketing , advertising and much more to help you better on this site

Answer 7

maybe they just don't know about your business or the ones that know about it don't like what they see on the website. Get someone, non-biased, to look at it.