Are Times Tough? pt 2

1. Don’t Give Up (but be willing to quit). I recently read an article about the power of quitting. When you have the ability to quit, you are empowered. Your business is not running you, but you are running the business. So what do I mean? Well, don’t give up on your dream of owning your own business, being a photographer, being your own boss, helping kids feel good about themselves, etc. But be willing to quit doing things that just aren’t working. Sometimes, it’s so hard to admit the truth that what you’ve done before (even successfully at one point) isn’t working – and it needs to die. However, realizing that you can kill time and money wasters gives you power over your business.
2. Tighten Up Your Strategy. I imagine that most of us on a very regular business sit down to get things done for our business. Very likely, you have a to-do list to help you in that process (maybe just in your head, but a to-do list none-the-less). Here’s a great article to challenge you to not allow your to-do list to become your strategy. In other words, don’t think that just because you’re marking things off your list, that you are accomplishing what you’ve set out to do. Think about how you are going to grow your business. Then define what that looks like in a day-to-day setting.
3. Redefine Your Niche. There is a good possibility that your niche is what got you in trouble in the first place. For many photographers, they were able to say no to so much the past few years, because what they did say yes to was so lucrative, they didn’t need to say yes to everything. Again, see #1, but it’s okay to say yes to things you didn’t say yes to 5 years ago AND it’s okay to begin enjoying those things again. Part of the beauty of saying yes to things (again) is that you learn new techniques and systems that you can carry over to the rest of your business and photography. So if you have been strictly a senior photographer, see what you can add to that niche to help grow your business, but still fits your style and philosophy (for our studio it has been children’s photography and even a few weddings). You might check out this USA Today article too, for a few ideas.
4. Get Online! There is a good chance that just by the fact that you’re reading this, you are already online and pursuing the online avenue as far as you can. But maybe it’s time for a change. A change in how your website looks and feels. Or maybe a change in how you are using the internet to market your business. HERE is a great article on how you can get online and grow your business with a free Google account and $10. A lot of it is very simple and easy to do things, but when you begin to grow or change your online presence it empowers your business to change too.

Overall, let me encourage you, that it can and it will get better. It won’t be easy. It will continue to be hard, but it will get better. Keep at it and DON’T GIVE UP!