Okay, I have to share the screen-shot of the PDN page where, in the flippy-flippy of the animation, the blurb about my consultation appears.
Just like how you might get excited about seeing your work on a billboard or in a magazine, it’s fun for me to see my name there (and know it’s connected to my work).
The odd thing is that, completely unconnected from this and the release of my video presentation on websites (available here), there seems to be a sudden increase in discussions about photographer websites on several forums. And, unfortunately, most of what I am reading is about how to get it cheap.
Cheap is not what you should be thinking about when it comes to your site. This is where you need to be willing to loosen the pursestrings because of the potential impact. Your website is your most important marketing tool in many ways and if it so much as gives off a whiff off cheap or passé or poorly designed, it will hurt you more than I think many of you realize.
I would rather see someone allocate more funds to making a great site, even if it means, say, not having print promos for a year. It’s that important.
Leslie, photographers aren’t the only ones who are looking for websites done real cheap.
I’ve been in the web biz for 13 years, and I’m still amazed at the number of well-funded, successful business that think they’ve gotten a great deal because the president’s brother-in-law did the site for $150. Unfortunately, the site often looks like something that isn’t even worth $150.
So, do I try to get these people to see the error of their ways and pay the bigger bucks that a better website requires? Nope. I move on to the prospects who truly do have the money and are willing to pay for quality work.
One more thing: After your website is up and running, it is NOT finished. Believe me, you’ll be thinking of tons of ideas to make it better. So, be sure to get the recording device (pen, paper, whiteboard, computer, what have you) out so that you can capture those ideas. Then implement them.
Leslie,
I have been sneaking around since SB2 in LA. I followed your advise about livebooks and agency access. You have to spend it to make it. It’s
been slow going try to coordinate all the loose ends but it coming together. I am about to go for a strong launch and see where i land. thanks for all of your insight. Please fell free to roam my still developing site. PS I already want to upgrade with LB to the larger image size. They rock!
Scott
Scott Shepard Photography