Free business tools for photographers
Running a photography business can be hard, but there are some fab tools out there that have been created to make our lives easier. The best thing is that some of them are FREE!
As a busy photographer myself, I wanted to share my five fave FREE tools that I use daily to run my own business.
Canva - A free design platform that is super easy to use. There are shit loads of templates enabling you to create anything including snazzy social media graphics, newsletters, web banners, logos, brochures…the list goes on. You can upgrade to a paid version, but you can do most things on the free version. I bloody love it!
Mailchimp - A free email marketing automation platform, which makes setting up and growing an email list a piece of piss. You are limited to a certain number of email automations with the free version, but its a good way to get started (and we all know that done is better than perfect - don’t let it be a reason to procrastinate!)
Social Media - An obvious one, but I wanted to highlight how easy it is to get in front of clients FOR FREE! Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn…all free! Pretty amazing really. Pick one or two that your ideal clients will be using and focus on maintaining a consistent, engaging presence. You’ll soon grow a following that love you and your work.
Scheduling - I use Planoly but there are several different free apps that help you schedule your social media. On some blogging platforms you can also schedule your blog posts, so it’s worth checking yours. I find that dedicating time to sit down, plan, create and schedule my social media once a week frees up so much time and means that it all ties in with my messaging and I’m not posting any old shit just for the sake of posting something.
#journorequest - Literally the easiest way to achieve pieces of PR if you aren’t in a position to employ a PR expert. Jump on Twitter, pop #journorequest in to the search bar, click on latest at the top of the results and start scrolling through! With so many different requests tweeted, it is worth checking daily. You will need to respond quickly as journalists are often on a tight timeframe, so it really is fastest finger first. A great way to get your name out there and set yourself apart from the competition. I’ve recently been featured in Mother & Baby Magazine, have spoken on BBC radio as well as other national publications, most of which have been achieved via Twitter.
Running a successful photography business can be hard, which is why I have set up a free online community for photographers. If you’re looking for tips and advice on how to grow your business and start getting more clients then get yourself over there!
