How to Become Your Own Master Marketer from THE MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER

Would you rather be hated on or ignored? In marketing there are only two paths: be loved/hated or to be ignored.

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Marketing, Branding, Entrepreneurship Principles For Success

MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER is your new philosophical and practical primer to succeed as a modern photographer in today’s digital world.

‘Marketing’ is seen as a dirty word. But never forget: what makes great companies great isn’t only having good products. Great companies and great individual artists are also master marketers.

For example, Steve Jobs was both an artist and master marketer. He made beautiful devices like the iPod, iPhone, and iPad, but he knew he needed master marketing to make his products sell. He invested millions into commercials, and worked with the best advertising agencies like Chiat\Day.

So for you to succeed as a modern photographer, it isn’t enough for you to make good pictures. You must become your own hypebeast, market yourself, and build a strong following.

Some ideas how you can become your own master marketer:

1. Be Your Own Hypebeast

If you don’t believe in you, how do you expect others to believe in you?

EVOKE STRONG EMOTIONS // MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER

Be your own hypebeast— build up the hype for yourself.

Don’t wait for others to start promoting you. Promote yourself.

As a practical tip, when in doubt, it is better to over-promote yourself. Why? Most of us are shy at promoting ourselves. You must overcome your shyness and the culture of “modesty” which hurts our chances of success.

Don’t fake humble. You’re dope.

2. Social Media & 1,000 true Fans

Your labor is not free. From THE MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER

Social media is overrated. Don’t get stuck in trying to accumulate followers for the sake of it.

Rather, focus on building ‘1,000 true fans.’

Consider, if you want to make a living from photography, you probably don’t need more than 1,000 “true fans” in the world, who are willing to pay you money for your pictures or services.

So focus on building a small, focused following — rather than a large and “mildly interested” following.

3. Email Newsletter Marketing

Eric Kim photography Bauhaus Piet Mondrian

To become a master marketer, make your own email newsletter. I personally use mailchimp.com.

The benefit of using an email newsletter is you have direct access to your fans and follower do. Your messages are more likely to enter their inboxes, than being lost in their social media streams.

How to get people to signup for your newsletter

Give them an incentive. For example, when you join my newsletter you get all these free dope things (street photography visualizations, presets, and other goodies).

And also, a tip- when you do guest blog posts for other websites, don’t promote your Facebook or Instagram or social media. Rather, promote your newsletter.