Photography business is NOT the easiest business out there, and requires way more hard work than you think!
Many people perceive it as the easiest business anyone can ever build. But is it really? Apart from clicking great pictures, the photography business demands session appointments, backend services, contracts, editing, deliveries, payments, inventory management, photoshop actions, marketing, pricing, profits, blogging, bookkeeping, social media, website, branding, and whatnot! Plus the competition. It does not sound easy anymore, right?
Wondering how can a photography business scale in this competitive world with so many actions to take?
Just like any other business, the photography business will also scale by providing incredible customer experience with the right customer retention strategies. Keeping the customers happy and delivering exceptional services is the key to surviving in any competitive industry. In the photography industry, it is essential to build a strong customer base to REALLY grow your business.
Customer experience refers to the perception your customers get about your business after going through the process of your services. It is the impression your customers have after experiencing your photography services. Customer experience directly impacts the growth of your business as it builds client relationships and attracts more customers through word of mouth or recommendations.
Let’s understand why building client relationships is important for a photography business.
The importance of exceptional customer service for photographers
A positive customer experience starts by providing exceptional customer service. The growth of a business can be determined by its customer experiences. Stepping into the shoes of your customers and understanding them is the first step while curating strategies to enhance customer service. Look at your photography business from your client’s point of view and ask yourself these questions:
- Are the process of the sessions streamlined to your expectations?
- How was the experience from the start till the end of the service?
- Was the customer interaction friendly and comfortable?
- Would you prefer your services as a customer?
- Are the prices worth it?
Customer’s loyalty is nurtured by positive customer experiences and makes them come back again and again. It helps build your business into a brand and retains customers. Customer experience also builds healthy and lasting customer relationships that benefit your photography business in the long run.
Keep reading to crack the code on how to build healthy client relationships and grow your business.
Communication is the key
Consistent and timely communication with your customers will keep you on top of their minds. Enhance a positive customer experience by communicating with your client before, during, and after your services. It ensures that your client is on the same page of the workflow as you and it is not diverted in the wrong direction.
Respond to customer’s queries within 24 hours and resolve their issues as quickly as possible. Failing to do so will sway away your customer in no time. Keeping a customer waiting for your response indicates that you are either too busy or too lazy, making the customer turn to your competitor and that’s the last thing you want!
Clear and foolproof packages and contracts
You don’t want to confuse your customers with complicated packages and contract formalities, right? Keep your packages and contracts easy to understand, affordable, and reliable. Complicated packages, contracts, and service descriptions are difficult to comprehend and will shoo the customer away.
Create strategic packages based on business profits and provide the option of two to three services clubbed together. Always make sure that you create a contract and get it signed by the clients before starting the work. This will provide a sense of credibility and keep you safe from conflicts.
Cut down on manual tasks
Would you prefer to choose a business that takes forever to fill in your details and asks you a ton of questions? Similarly, your business should not make a customer wait in doing things that can be done by automated systems. Manual and administrative tasks can be handled by automation tools like Picktime so that you focus on providing what you do the best!
Picktime is a free cloud-based photographers scheduling software that automates all your online appointment booking tasks and schedules it for you in your calendar. It manages all the service booking and scheduling tasks automatically without human intervention. Streamlining your workflow has never gotten this easy! It provides a personalized Booking URL that can be used by customers to book your services. It automatically fills in the details of your customers and services into the database and schedules the shoot in your calendar.
Tired of last-minute cancellations and no-shows? No worries! Picktime sends automated text and email reminders to your customers to keep them prepared and excited for the shoot. Additionally, it also manages payments and invoices, saving you from cash and delayed payments. Picktime is integrated with 30+ third-party applications so that you can manage all your administrative tasks in one place without having to install tons of applications. Some key features of Picktime Include:
- Online booking system
- One-click booking widget
- Team management
- Customer database
- Cancel and reschedule appointments
- Automated text and email reminders
- Multiple location access and more!
Be available online
With the ever-booming social media and its increasing users, businesses have a great opportunity to attract customers from around the world. A solid online presence improves customer impression leading to better customer relationships. Photography businesses can use social media platforms as a work portfolio to showcase their work. Online presence builds credibility of your business and also allows one-on-one interaction with your audience.
Take feedback and implement it
Many budding photography business owners often shy away from asking for feedback. Little do they know that feedback is the best way to understand what aspects of your business and photography services must be improved.
Feedback plays a vital role in maintaining a positive impression and building client relationships. It builds credibility and integrity among your customers when you ask for feedback and implement it. It builds trust and makes your customer feel important.
Pack up!
Building client relationships and providing exceptional customer service opens new growth opportunities. It ensures that your customer expectations are met, building trust, loyalty, and credibility. Remember that delivering top-notch photography sessions is equally important as well. Check out Picktime to eliminate the hassle of time-consuming tasks and save tons of time.