Boost Your Digital Image Sales
Strategies for Selling More Photos and Maximizing Profits
Contents
9 Tips to Boost Your Digital Image Sales
Selling digital images can be a lucrative venture for event photographers, but it requires more than just creating stunning images. To truly succeed in the competitive marketplace, you need effective strategies that help you stand out, reach your target audience, and generate consistent sales. Below we’ll explore 9 valuable tips to help you sell the most digital images and maximize your profits.
Awareness
Before the event inform as many attendees as possible that you will be covering the event and where they can purchase them (your website / e-commerce store). Ways to inform people are through your social media channels, ask the event to share your information through their social media, hang QR code signs around the event informing people how to access their images and/or hand out business cards with your website at the event.
Promptness
In many cases, the demand for event photos is highest immediately after the event. People who attended the event or were involved in it may be eager to relive the experience and purchase photos as soon as possible. Therefore, it’s generally a good idea to make the photos available for sale shortly after the event concludes.
Choose the Right E-Commerce Platform
Selecting the appropriate platform to showcase and sell your digital images is key. Don’t get carried away with a website features but the fundamentals you require. Does the platform allow you to upload quickly, organize images, provide a watermark to stop stealing of images, can customers easily buy images, and you can get paid immediately (or within the timeline you want - many systems require a minimum $ amount before they will pay you, we do not!). We are biased of course and think the simplicity of PhotoServe focuses on what a Photographer needs to sell not tons of “extra” features customers or photographers can get lost in. Do your own research and find the right fit for you.
Quality
Taking quiality images matter, we will assume you take pretty good images or you wouldn’t be reading this. For event photography you can do batch changes for lighting, but do not waste time adjusting every image! Remember our previous tip about “Promptness”, you will loose sales if you are too slow to market and will your adjustments to the images actually increasing sales?
Quantity
Quantity of images matter. You need to try to capture all the participants of the events and as many candids of those people as possible. However, don’t give 5 options of the same image, give one or 2 at most, it allows the buyer to easily make a decision and they aren’t going to buy 5 of the same looking image.
Price Your Images Competitively
Pricing your digital images can be challenging. Evaluate market trends, compare prices of similar images, and factor in your experience and image quality. Price your images so you are making the money you need, low balling your work hurts yourself and other photographers. Offering a discount such as buy more save more can increase sales. At PhotoServe we have seen great success with increasing overal sales with our “buy more save more - each regular-priced image you add to your order entitles you to an additional 10% discount off the next, all the way up to 50% per image.” It entices people to buy more images that they otherwise would not have. To dive deeper into how to price, check out our article How to Price for Event Photography.
Market and Promote Your Work
You need to effectively market and promote your work. Utilize social media platforms, engage with your audience through regular updates (such as when you post images for a particular event especially if it’s a multiday event), behind-the-scenes candids, and what your discount offers include. Collaborate with events to help get the word out on how to purchase images. Include links directly to the folders you want people to view, make it easy for people to find your site.
Offer Limited Duration for Sales
Creating a sense of urgency can drive demand and increase the perceived value of your digital images. Consider offering images for sale for 6 months, you can remind people on your social media you will be removing images after then. This approach can create a sense of urgency among buyers and incentivize them to make a purchase.
Provide Excellent Customer Service
Delivering exceptional customer service can foster customer loyalty and generate positive word-of-mouth. Respond promptly to inquiries, address any concerns or issues promptly, and provide support throughout the purchasing process. Building a reputation for outstanding service can lead to repeat business and referrals.
Summary
Selling the most digital images requires a combination of quality work, effective marketing, reliable e-commerce platform, and customer-centric strategies. Remember, persistence, adaptability, and continuous improvement are essential as you navigate the ever-evolving digital marketplace.
Enjoy the process and watch your sales grow. We are rooting for you!
