person, was very concerned that she would need to be something
other than herself. I reassured her that she should indeed be true
to herself. I reminded her that many people enjoyed being with
quiet people and that a person who was as well-grounded and
organized as she was would indeed find her spot.
I was reminded then, as I remind you now, of the truth that
we are all different, and you do need to consciously think about
the type of person with whom you would like to work daily and,
in addition, who would best represent your studio on the phone.
Consider the fact that you do not need a ton of money in
order to hire a marketing assistant. This is usually a part-time
responsibility, and you can start them off for as little as five
hours per week. With tasks clearly defined and geared toward
your sales and marketing needs, having as few as twenty hours
of consistent support per month will surely improve your rev-
enue stream. The busier you get, the more funds you will have
and the more help you might need. Clearly this is a position
that can grow as your business grows. Marketing assistants are
usually paid by the hour, allowing you access to these important
partners at any point in your career.
Should you find that you could maintain your daily tasks
but have specific needs that require the advice of an expert,
consider hiring a marketing consultant.CONSULTANTSThe job of a consultant varies according to the skills and
interest of each professional. As one of the first in the country,
I have had the opportunity for the last twenty-eight years to
watch my industry develop. Consultants’ services usually
revolve around one or more of the following categories:- Talent development, that is, working with the photographer
to develop a clear and focused vision that is marketable - Creating sales and marketing programs
- Developing online and print portfolios
- Teaching photographers how to price, negotiate, and
license images - Training sales staff
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