articles/Profiles/francis-pullen-page2
by Angela Adams Published 01/10/2015
Did it take you long to establish your name and brand?
It took about 12 months, in a very competitive andcrowded market in my geographic location.
Any tips on how you managed that so efficiently?
I engaged a local marketing and PR company, whotargeted wedding venues, suppliers, magazines andlocal press. When I started, I needed a USP (UniqueSelling Point), and we discovered that many of theexisting photographers didn't offer much flexibilityor real value for money (expectation of the client forprice quoted), particularly for wedding 'packages' andfixed pricing. So in the early days, this became mydifferentiator without compromising my own incomeand workload. Clients loved this approach and thework flowed in!
How do you attract clients and what market do youtarget?
Much of my work comes through word-of-mouthrecommendation, but I also use the full gambit ofwebsite, social media and agencies to maximise mytarget market, which mainly lies in the middle ground,but I also target the higher end where I can.
How do agencies assist your business?
Agencies provide some of my corporate work, soanything from head shots to business interiors andeven farming machinery in action. I'm also a memberof a local photographers' agency called 'CambridgePhotographers', who supply similar work includingweddings.There are of course commission fees to pay, butflexibility in both pricing and product offer are key tomy business, so providing I'm happy with both, thenthere isn't a problem.
What percentage of your time is spent creating imagesversus time spent on business administration andmarketing?
I think it's the classic Pareto 20/80 split, so well knownby sole trader business owners.
Do you manage your own website, SEO, marketing,social media presence and PR or do you pay others todo that for you?
I manage all these operations myself, especially asI can do so in real-time, rather than using a thirdparty which would introduce time delays. One of thedisadvantages of the digital age, is that everyone hasan expectation of immediate results and delivery.
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