Tuesday, September 6, 2011

How to Get the Most from Your Customer Interviews Advice for Professional Photographers

By Clwyd Probert


Customer meetings are so vital for your business and your reputation that a large amount of thought and care needs to be put into them. Many a wedding photographer will feel that showing an easy album of their work is good enough to close a deal. This isn't true, the arena of professional photography is extremely competitive and everything that you do toward enlarging the amount of clients that sign up is crucial.

First you've got to decide where you are going to meet your bride. Sometimes there are 3 choices:

- At your work (or home) address
- At the clients home
- At a neutral location suitable to both of you.

Which you go for will depend on where you are based and the sort of business you run. If you have a studio in a village centre then everyone will come to you. However if you're based out in the country then you will have to visit your bride or meet at a local coffee shop.

If you have to meet away from home, try and select a location which is quiet, so that you can be heard without interruption and that appears like a quality venue. Choose a time of the day when the place is at it's least busy "it is worth phoning the venue beforehand to check on their quiet times.

If you've got to go to go to the client, try to make sure you take everything you need to sign the deal, including detailed price lists and contracts. If you guarantee to put something in the post, then there is always the possibility that they may change their mind.

When you arrange the meeting, try to make sure that all the decision makers are present. This is typically relatives of the bride or groom who could be coughing up for the event.

If the bride comes to your studio confirm it is clean, neat and smells fresh. There is little worse than working into somebody's house and feeling that you need to walk right back out again.

If at all possible run a show on a large projector or large high-definition display. Size does matter and people will be impressed by the size of the pictures which they are used to viewing on a tiny laptop screen.

Put plenty of work into your display albums make sure that they're truly galvanizing and show off the particular traits you're trying to stress.

Always talk in positive terms about the things that you will be doing for them. Talk as though you are already their selected paparazzo. Before they leave "ask for the business "never allow them to go with a simple thanks. They might have made their decision and are prepared to sign at this time "explain that dates are going quickly and you would be very pleased to document their wedding.

In summing up, treat people with respect and kindness and treat them in the same way you would like to be treated by a 5 start hotel. Remember, you're selling a 5 star service.




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