I got my hands on Perry Marsall's first book on adwords years ago and without a doubt he is the definitive adwords go to guy when it comes down to running successful, smart and accountable ads.

He now has a new version out and it's a must read. We used his techniques, and continue to to this day, with great success. His skills and knowledge helps keep us ahead of the pack and our heads above water. We literally built an entire business on adwords alone and his help was invaluable. A must read for any serious adwords user.

Check it out here on Amazon

Rob

Profitablestudio.com newsletter video on goal setting for photographers.

"Hi there Rob,

I have just received the latest Profitable Studio Newsletter and I have to say thank you. Somehow your newsletters are always about the things that are happening here with me right at the time they are happening. Last month you were talking about fairies and having enough interest to do more than one day…so you are going to. I have exactly the same thing going on here, we booked out 2 days within days of doing our first ever fairy sessions – looks like we may even do 3 days at this rate, I am still having people ask to be put on the pre-register list for our February Fairy Day.

This latest newsletter has struck a chord as well. I have read the SOGR (because you recommended it) and will read Earn What You Deserve as well. I have also recently read the E-Myth, Sleeping Your Way to the Top (not what it sounds) by Ben Angel as well as being a member of NoBS, Profitable Studio, SPU, PSH and Six Figure Photographer. All of these resources have been motivational, inspirational and played a huge part in what my business has become and will be in the future.

My story goes like this. I was a horse photographer for years and didn’t feel like a photographer..really. I wanted a challenge, I wanted to do more and that’s when I found NoBS and realised just how little I knew. In April last year I did my last horse event and in May (about 7 months after becoming a member of NoBS) I kicked off my re-incarnation as a baby, children and family photographer – with zero clients! I worked part time 8 hours a week at a panel beating shop which generated enough income to keep the bills paid.  Fast forward to the last 3 months. In October this year, my little studio (which consisted of me only, until a couple of weeks ago) did over $11000 in sales. November was just over $10000. These are figures that just a few months ago, I could never have dreamed of. My Santa’s Workshop sessions alone generated $9945 during that period. I held Santa’s Workshop last year and did 20 sessions over 2 days. In July this year, I mentioned Santa in the Newsletter and booked out 2 days @ 15 sessions per day, I went on to book another 2 days for a total of 60 sessions (137 children) over 4 days – wild!!!  I could have booked 7 days easily had I been physically capable of doing more – I knew I couldn’t turn any more around prior to Christmas with all the other stuff (baby’s, children, maternity, families) as well. I am still getting enquiry about Santa’s Workshop – amazing!

My BFY program continues to grow with over 40 babies been/going through and forward bookings for several not born yet. My word of mouth referrals bring in new clients every week. Fairies are selling like hotcakes and I am getting more and more requests for maternity, Platinum Baby, Families and children all the time. I am growing out of my double garage studio and I have had to outsource some of my editing and very recently have put a casual employee on to assist with the admin tasks.

When I was a horse photographer $56000 for a year was good! I have done just on $40000 in the past 5 months…

Why am I telling you all this? Well, I wanted to say thank you. From the bottom of my heart – thank you! While I am only at the beginning of my journey and I still have so much to learn about photography techniques, marketing, business, myself and so many other things – I have you and everybody at NoBS to thank for the education, skills, mindset that I have gained in such a short time. I have no doubt that had I not found NoBS and the other educational sites that NoBS has led me to, I would not be doing what I am today. Just two years ago, I was undergoing counselling for depression!

I am only average. But, it goes to show, that if you are determined to expand your knowledge, put your ego aside and realise how bad you are, commit to learning and be prepared to work towards the things you want – even average joe’s can achieve their goals. You have said so many times MOVE! And the universe, cosmos whatever it is that you believe in will move with/for you – that is so very true. When you think you can, when you truly believe you can, and set your mind to it,  things really do fall into place.  I still have a long way to go to become as good a photographer as I want to be and to build my business to what I see for it in the future,  but I am definitely on my way.

My next plan is to make it all the way from Australia to Inferno – depending on how busy I am that is!  So until I can thank you in person, I will thank you again here. Thank you!

Warm regards,

Alicia Birch"

$85,000.00 in one month in portrait sales?

But hearing success stories from actual studio owners, running real business
in real towns and cities, making real sales, every day, all year long,
with real breathing clients, toe-to-toe, belly-to-belly sales, cumulatively
month after month, year after year, is a  good thing.

 

Money is not evil. There are evil people, but no evil money.

 

It's important to get over the icky feelings we have about money.
I say, grow up, and get a prosperity consciousness.

 

Easy to do? NO! I struggled for years and years with all the negative
programming that I grew up with, heard at the top of the stairs as a child
and from our culture. You know what I'm talking about.

 

The key here is to get responsible about money, recognize it not as
a negative thing, but as frozen energy, an idea, a possibility.

 

I think those who react with vehemence towards money
have serious internal issues. And are fear based, not prosperity consciousness
based. Money, like many things in life, is a responsibility. The more you have,
the greater the responsibility. Or, as I like to think, responsibility is a challenge to grow
and become a better person.

 

Put money and profits into your consciousness and learn where you
might have road blocks. This is not easy for many of us.

 

 

I have two books you could read. One, Earn What You Deserve

by Jerrold Mundis. This book changed my life years ago.

 

And two, The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles. A free download
that you could also acquire as an audio. I've read this book several times,
and have listened to the audio CD three times so far. Worth a serious
study.

 

Finally, I want to share with you a quick list that might make
some, or most of you squirm. From the book mentioned above,
Earn What You Deserve, is a list that I personally had printed out
and posted in a laminated plastic on my bedroom mirror, to remind me.

 

I had this in front of me for about ten years. And it's something I truly
believe is indicative of actual symptoms of poverty consciousness.

 

Do you see yourself on this list? If so, you make want to retool, rethink
and reprogram yourself for prosperity. If not, and you're doing great, kudos to
you my friend for joining the ranks.

Underearners are:
*ARE USUALLY IN DEBT
*HAVE LITTLE SAVINGS, FEW ASSETS
*OFTEN IN FINANCIAL CRISIS
*FEEL STRESS, PAIN AND FEAR OVER MONEY
*DO UNPAID WORK: VOLUNTEER, CHARITY or SHOWCASE WORK
*HAVE A VAGUE IDEA OF WHAT THEIR EXPENSES ARE
*BELIEVE MONEY WILL SOLVE ALL THEIR PROBLEMS

 

Some final thoughts to prosper by:

*Do not debt
*Do not take work that pays you less
*Do not say no to money
 

Listen, being poor won't help the poor. Being prosperous will.

Yours in photography,

Robert Provencher

Should you enter print competitions? If so, why? Here's some insight for you..

So, I created this video reply, and posted some comments from one of
my photography manuals that I wrote a few years back on Publicity for
Professional Photographers….

CLICK ON IMAGE

First off, print competitions are rarely a reflection of the real
business world of running a studio. It is a universe unto itself and
the rules are unique. Think about other competitions in other
areas such as the academy awards or dog shows or figure
skating or karate tournaments or horse shows or whatever,
where the guidelines are based on unrealistic and sometimes
bizarre views, and the only thing that matters is how technically
correct the presentation is.

If a hunting breed takes top ribbon at a dog show, does that
mean he'll do well in the field under realistic conditions? No
guarantee. If a photographer pulls off many first place ribbons,
does that guarantee him or her business, success, satisfied
clients, or great looking photographs under realistic
circumstances? Not a chance.

The rules in competition can seem very odd, strict and a true
antidote to creativity, however, they are set up with solid
intentions and you will benefit immensely if you go in with the
right mindset. But recognize them for what they are: an aspect of
your photography career that ought to be given your utmost
attention, but not the end all be all.

You can't take ribbons to the bank or have them create clients for
you. But you can get some media attention and this, (besides the
great training you will receive photographically, and the fact
that you will be tempered by the critiques and "toughened" up
by the mean old judges when they score your prints less than
what your babies deserve…) and media is a great way to position
yourself as a respected artist in your community.

Photography contests have the same structures that are
prevalent in many other fields. Namely, a panel of judges. This is
always the wild card in the equation but if you follow some basic
strategies you can do well.

Is it wrong to shoot images for competition? Absolutely not!
Collect images and samples from books and magazines an
websites. Creatively borrow them and try to duplicate the ideas.

yours in photography, Robert Provencher