2023 Year In Review

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

– Mahatma Gandhi

Reflecting on 2023: Photography Business Lessons Learned

As I close out and reflect on my 2023 business year, I see my growth and more importantly learned some invaluable lessons.

1. The Power of a Deposit

So it's no secret I'm not a morning person - but I'm working on it. So when my 9am photo session suddenly evaporated at 855am with no explanation and with that insidious "ding" from the cell phone notification, I knew it was time to reevaluate my booking process.

In 2023 I implemented a 50% deposit requirement which curbed the no-show behavior but unfortunately added a significant administrative burden now that each client would receive two invoices each. There's definitely a trade off, but at the end of the day, if I don't value my time, how can I expect anyone else to.

2. SEO Isn't Rocket Science

in January 2022, I decided to jump ship from my website of 6 years and find a new host because I wanted to improve my site's Search Engine Optimization (SEO). After almost paralyzing myself with analysis, I finally discovered "Photobiz," a website builder with a punch. The ability to add key words and meta description to each and every webpage has been a game changer. Two years later my lead generation report clearly shows how improving my website SEO directly increased how many clients found me through a google search. Are you a photographer, want to try out Photobiz? Ask me for my referral link to save you money on your first year.

3. Reviews Influence Buyer Behavior

By the end of 2023, I accumulated 103 five star Google Reviews. While this seems like a lot, it took four years of asking, cajoling, and educating clients about the importance of a simple review. I get it, I have been known to fire off a negative review without anyone asking, especially when the service has been horrible but what is it about leaving a positive review that we tend to procrastinate? I wrote a blog post about the Power of Google Reviews last September, and while many of my clients tend to skip this part, there are many more who show up on my studio doorstep "because I was impressed with how many great reviews you have."

4. Social Media Is A Time Suck

I'll be the first to admit that despite how active my social media channels appear, I am not a fan of how much time social media takes in terms of building and delivering content. Algorithms on all the major platforms hate the small business owner, unless we are willing to pay to play. Having said all this, I do believe there is some value, in that it helps keep a company "top of mind." I recommend knowing where your audience is, e.g. you'll notice in the graphic above that LinkedIn serves my business better than the other social media platforms. Heading into 2024, I've written a content management strategy and enlisted an accountability buddy approach to stay motivated.

5. Accountability Buddies Keep Us Honest

I'm a big advocate for mentoring and finding ways to pay it forward. One resource we all have is the Accountability Buddy system. I typically have one or two assigned to myself a year. The buddy doesn't necessarily have to be in the same industry as you. We have recurring, scheduled meetings to talk, commiserate, educate and of course hold each other accountable on business related goals.

Laura with her accountability buddies