news0704

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Newsie bits
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Have you seen the movie: "An Inconvenient Truth" yet? If not, do it. Go see it or rent the DVD when it's out. I saw it with a friend last month and a few days ago I brought my wife, my 10 yr old daughter and her two young cousins aged 11 and 13 and saw it again. I wasn't sure if they would follow this very important message, but within the first 15 minutes my daughter tapped me on the arm and whispered: "Dad, I wanna buy this movie when it comes out."

I just had to say that. Now, onto some very serious matters, like motorcycles.....

I can't explain it. There's something about riding. The Harley guys have a saying "If I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand." I don't think they have ownership on that expression or its deeper meaning. Anyone who loves riding on two wheels and feels that sense of wonder, awe and adventure everytime they mount their trusted steed knows what I am talking about. I don't know that there is anything out there quite like it. Does this matter? Will it make me a better photographer? Person? Marketer?

In my opinion, yes! Anytime you do anything that stirs your soul, it's bound to make you expand in all areas of your life. I can even feel it in the summer as I am creating all my regular mix of weddings, studio portraits and outdoor images. I feel, hmmmm, more expansive. Creative. Free flowing. Confident. And I know the experience of riding contributes.

Now, I know some poeple don't care for them, and some feel they are downright dangerous, like my daughters horse trainer Cindi, who gets on 1200 pound muscle bound, often unpredictable animals everyday. The point is, she's got her passion, her "motorcycle"; and I got mine. What's yours? Is there something in your life that you would LOVE TO DO? Well, do it. C'mon. Time's moving on. It ain't waiting for you or me.
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I had a birthday in July. Wanna know how many candles on my cake? 48 I know, I know, I look great and don't look a day over 45 Actually, I still feel 22 and act even younger. That number does sound big and scary though. My goals, both yearly and for five years are reflecting a shift in priorities- namely health. I am amazed at what we do to our bodies. The crap we feed it. I am no saint in this area but I do try to keep things under control. If you achieve everything, but your health suffers: why? In my opinion- and this is about as spiritual as I am ever going to get in these letters- we have a purpose. I believe we are here to teach others. Pass on knowledge. So why not stay healthy so we can keep doing that. We spend way too much time, attention and money on the external parts of our lives- like hair, clothes, cars, houses..etc when what really matters is inside. Including our minds.

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Niagara School of Imaging August 20th -24th. It seems there are only a few spots left at this years program. If you hurry you might get in. I was talking with Rick Bell and enrolment is way up over last year. I've said it before, and I'll say it a million times; this is one of the best values in photography education out there. Click on the banner and check it out or go here to read about my program with James Hodgins.

Here's an interesting point: We have about 8 attendees from last year who are taking our class over again. In talking with some of them they tell me they really enjoyed it and had a blast. What an awesome testimonial!

Free Audio Download (expired)
Last month I talked about Bill. This month I phoned him and interviewed him. Grab that free download before I take it away. By the way, that interview is permanently parked over at No Bs Photo Success Inner Circle Forum. Members there have access to dozens of monthly interviews, all from successful people, mostly photographers.

No Bs Photo Success Studio Tour: A new item that we've recently added and our members are VERY excited about is the new studio tour video downloads. Last month James Hodgins, the other founder of No Bs Photo Success, came over and video'd me at my studio as I walked around showing off the inner workings of my humble little world.

Also, while he was down in Niagara USA attending a workshop, he popped in Charles VanDer Sluys' studio and that video is already posted in the forum with rave reviews from many members.

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Craig Minielly's been up to no good these days. He recently featured an article I wrote. Check it out, very instructive photography tips, especially for those using the Nikon system and the Nikon 880 flashes. There is a quick time photoshop tutorial video included with his newsletter.

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Photography Marketing Strategies
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I have been reading "Call to Action. Secret Formulas to Improve Online Results", by Bryan & Jeffrey Eisenberg, both affialiated with Roy P. Williams, founder of The Wizard of Ads, one of my favorite authors and marketing gurus. Amazing book. Very advanced and insighful stuff that supports my favorite marketing strategy: the use of words and copywriting.

Here is a brief excerpt that says it all:
"....the secret of persuasion lies in the skillful use of action words:[quoting Williams] "The magic of advertising is in the verbs...Describe what you want the listener to see, and she will see it. Cause her to imagine taking he action you'd like to take, and you've brought her that much closer to taking the action." The success of Williams' own ads, as well as the ads created by those he has mentioned, speaks for itself. Sound is invasive, intrusive and irresistible. Driving sound through Broca's [part of the brain] area allows us to cross the bridge to the dorsolateral prefontal association area, otherwise known as the imagination.

So what does this mean for marketing your website? It means you will be most successful when you use words that cross from the ear almost directly to the prefrontal cortex, the decision part of the brain. The killer app in web marketing is not sight, it is sound, wether heard directly (audio) or mentally (ad copy). It is not the design of our website that sells. It is the content- the words. Are there exceptions? Of course! But don't bet your budget or your business on them. Choose your words carfeully. Every word you use on your website is drop of the magic potion."

REPEAT THAT LAST PART: It is not the design of our website that sells. It is the content- the words.

Again, louder: It is not the design of our website that sells. It is the content- the words.

What is the key lesson in this? What matters the most? One word in that last statement says it all: sells.
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I am starting a new display push. Have been displaying at a local, and very popular Pat & Mario's restaurant for years now. They generously donate an entire wall that leads off the main area to the washrooms. This is a very very busy restaurant and a very busy corridor. The owners even installed track lighting for my images.

I do confess I have been remiss in updating the display and decided to do something about it. I started asking about the wall when the owner interupts me with: "do whatever you want, it's all yours."

Sweet. I then spoke with his wife and said I wanted to update and expand the area, and highlight a new style of photography which includes funky crops, matting and posing. And, why not use their family for this? She jumped all over it and booked her session within days. Free session for them and I will even give them the images when they get old and tired.

I am sure my wife, the accountant, is cringing at this idea. Free session and free prints. In my opinion it is a small price to pay for an incredible opportunity to promote to thousands of very qualified prospects every year. And it builds goodwill with the owners. I want them on my side.

Also, while at the other end of town a few days ago having my left arm and right knee looked at by a sports therapist (I'm falling apart) at a sports therapy clinic (my second visit there) in a great mall location, and, after getting to know the therapist/business owner a little better, I says to her right after paying my bill: "Great spot you have here. And look at all those walls. They need images of a sporty type nature. Don't you think?Why don't I create some for you. No charge. All free."

She's like :"YEA!". Okay, we'll talk. And talk we will. I just landed another opportunity. This place is BUSY! I had no idea such a place existed, until I started collecting my own sports related injuries. My guess is the people that go there are active and care about their bodies. They likely feel good about themselves too.

Below is a quick and fast sample I created that sort of represents that funky new look I just spoke of (again, stay tuned):

But it's the company policy.......Telling people "its against our company policy" is very cold. I recently had a conversation with a buddy who is one of the top producers at RBC (Royal Bank Commerce..sells stocks, bonds etc). Anyhoo, the office manager, who gets paid a salary, while my buddy is 100% commision but earns way more, because mr manager just ain't got the same poeple skills, even though they have the exact same jobs, dif titles. So mr manager was pissing off a very high profile client with the "Its not our policy" and my buddy intervened and when he did and found out what mr manager was doing/saying to remedy the situation, cringed when he heard. My buddy sat down with the client and started talking to him like a person. With respect. Understanding. Communication, one person to another. Fixed it. Then later tried his best to explain to mr manager why he coudnt fix it with his "aint our policy" approach.
There is NO BLACK AND WHITE solution here. Many photogs try and find the more technical answer, and although in and of itself its a good idea to have your policies layed out in a manual or similar, the delivery is the key.
You want to craft your services so they aren't always conflicting. If you have a problem on an ongoing basis maybe its time to re evaluate your packaging.
You should also PRE-EMTIVELY manage any objections that you can't change but that keep coming up.
I know avery succesful photog in Toronto, rick bell, www.rickbell.com His approach is extremely simple. evy shoot $800.00, here's the CD. DONE. Kaching. do 4, 5, maybe 7 or 8 of those a week. everyones happy. NO "policies".

GURU CORNER:

This has been circulated via email. You may seen it before, a I have sevral times, but always good to re-read:

*Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.*

Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!

Rule 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

That's it for now folks! hope you enjoyed my monthly rant.
Thank You
Robert Provencher

Hold on to your hats and take names! I will tell all! Muchos gracias!

"Business has only two functions - marketing and innovation."
~ Milan Kundera~