Check these out...
2/1/10 - www.ExhibitAcomp.com
2/16/10 - www.c4fap.org
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Clive Barker's Dark Bazaar
Leading Halloween costume company, Disguise (a division of JAKKS Pacific, Inc.), teams up with renowned horror novelist, screenwriter and director, Clive Barker, to launch ‘The Dark Bazaar’ an extensive new line of Halloween costumes that transform Barker’s visions into wearable art. The bizarre costumes and accessories based on never before seen characters from the Master Mind of Horror complete this dark collection and are set to hit retail shelves in time for the Halloween 2010 season.
Clive will be attending the Halloween and Party Expo in Houston later this month, and will be signing autographs at the Disguise booth.
Contact info@fotoprojx.com for other licensing opportunities with Clive Barker.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Developing a Core Marketing Message
Central to effective marketing is a message that speaks powerfully to the needs of your prospective clients. This message becomes the foundation of all your marketing - your business promise, or to use another phrase – your creative brief.
With the new year upon us, now is the time to plan your new marketing efforts, the Core Marketing Message is the platform for everything else – logo, web design, taglines, promos, direct mail, e-mail newsletters, sourcebook ads - all marketing strategies.
You need to maximize your resources and pinpoint your marketplace for your marketing to be effective. The first step is to go inward – establish an understanding of what you are selling, the value of your “product” and who should buy what you are selling.
Completing the following exercise will help you in creating your core marketing message. The first time you do the exercise just brainstorm – jot down ideas, things that come immediately to your mind. You can later go back and fine-tune your ideas.
Exercise:
Target Market: What clients do you serve? Give a detailed profile of your ideal client – basic facts such as geography, industry, values, characteristics, interests. This should be a focused segment of the marketplace. Think of this as your ideal client “wish list” – go for it, don’t hold back.
What Problem, Challenge, Issue, are your clients facing that would make them seek your assistance? List all problems, challenges, fears.
What Solution, Results, do you produce when working with clients? What do your clients expect to get as a result of working with you?
What Proof do you have that you can in fact deliver that Solution? References, Testimonials, case studies that make a strong case for your results.
Differentiation – what makes you stand apart from your competitors? What makes you unique, special, memorable? List keywords or phrases that communicate your value or brand.
Fortified with all this information you can now write a short description of your business – your creative brief – that clearly states what you do and who you wish to work with. Make certain you mention what makes you unique. Adopt a differentiation strategy – if a creative doesn’t perceive your brand as being different from your competitors you won’t win the marketing battle – it’s a battle of perceptions.
Whether you are aware of it or not you are also selling emotion – happiness, pride, joy, satisfaction, confidence, relief, piece of mind, etc. It is a big leap of faith for a client to decide to work with you. Having all your marketing deliver a concise, cohesive message reflects directly back on you and the perception of your brand – from business cards, letterhead, portfolio style, page layouts, web design, to the method of delivery, - consistency is an important strategy. Marketing materials communicate the face of your business, and you, to prospective clients and the rest of the community, so make certain they are telling the story you want to tell.
Consistent marketing and visibility puts you in the running for getting actual business. It should be reinforced over and over again, to build and strengthen your brand identity, and to give potential clients a clear reason to be interested in your business.
With the new year upon us, now is the time to plan your new marketing efforts, the Core Marketing Message is the platform for everything else – logo, web design, taglines, promos, direct mail, e-mail newsletters, sourcebook ads - all marketing strategies.
You need to maximize your resources and pinpoint your marketplace for your marketing to be effective. The first step is to go inward – establish an understanding of what you are selling, the value of your “product” and who should buy what you are selling.
Completing the following exercise will help you in creating your core marketing message. The first time you do the exercise just brainstorm – jot down ideas, things that come immediately to your mind. You can later go back and fine-tune your ideas.
Exercise:
Target Market: What clients do you serve? Give a detailed profile of your ideal client – basic facts such as geography, industry, values, characteristics, interests. This should be a focused segment of the marketplace. Think of this as your ideal client “wish list” – go for it, don’t hold back.
What Problem, Challenge, Issue, are your clients facing that would make them seek your assistance? List all problems, challenges, fears.
What Solution, Results, do you produce when working with clients? What do your clients expect to get as a result of working with you?
What Proof do you have that you can in fact deliver that Solution? References, Testimonials, case studies that make a strong case for your results.
Differentiation – what makes you stand apart from your competitors? What makes you unique, special, memorable? List keywords or phrases that communicate your value or brand.
Fortified with all this information you can now write a short description of your business – your creative brief – that clearly states what you do and who you wish to work with. Make certain you mention what makes you unique. Adopt a differentiation strategy – if a creative doesn’t perceive your brand as being different from your competitors you won’t win the marketing battle – it’s a battle of perceptions.
Whether you are aware of it or not you are also selling emotion – happiness, pride, joy, satisfaction, confidence, relief, piece of mind, etc. It is a big leap of faith for a client to decide to work with you. Having all your marketing deliver a concise, cohesive message reflects directly back on you and the perception of your brand – from business cards, letterhead, portfolio style, page layouts, web design, to the method of delivery, - consistency is an important strategy. Marketing materials communicate the face of your business, and you, to prospective clients and the rest of the community, so make certain they are telling the story you want to tell.
Consistent marketing and visibility puts you in the running for getting actual business. It should be reinforced over and over again, to build and strengthen your brand identity, and to give potential clients a clear reason to be interested in your business.
Deadlines for January
Check out these competitions and reviews...
1/12/10 - www.c4fap.org
1/15/10 - www.fstopmagazine.com
1/17/10 - www.rohophoto.com
1/27/10 - www.visitcenter.org
1/31/10 - www.px3.com
1/12/10 - www.c4fap.org
1/15/10 - www.fstopmagazine.com
1/17/10 - www.rohophoto.com
1/27/10 - www.visitcenter.org
1/31/10 - www.px3.com
Friday, January 8, 2010
How to Stand Out & Calls for Photography
My last week as a photo editor at Graphis I collected all the promos I received... it filled a file box to the top! Never mind my overflowing email in box! The challenge for artists is how do you stand out from all the other artists submitting their art???
The photo shows half of the promos piled on my desk
Define your vision and brand, consistently deliver your message across all media... For me the promos that remain memorable are the odd and uniquely shaped, bursts of color, large oversize envelopes, personalized prints, gorgeous calendars and emails that really reveal something about the artist.
As a consultant I firmly believe that competitions, contests and portfolio reviews should be part of your marketing plan as this is a perfect way of breaking out from the pack and is certainly blog and twitter material.
Check out these calls for submissions:
SHOTS MAGAZINE
Subject: Smoke & Mirrors
Deadline: 2/1/2010
Website
PDN PHOTO ANNUAL
Deadline Extended: 1/25/10
Website
LET'S DO LUNCH
Subject: Friends and Family - meals on a more personal level
Down to Business - lunch with a purpose
Street delicacies only available on the boulevard
Solo meals on your own (desk/park/kitchen/auto, etc.)
Deadline: 1/20/2010
Website
Good Luck!