What Is A Business Coach ?

Are You Too Cheap?

I am reading a book at present by Tom Poland called Leadsology.

Here is an extract…..

“My clients tend to offer premium-style services.

 Top of the shelf stuff.

 No compromises, only the most effective and best quality services.

 If you are similar, then here is your wake-up call: a failure to charge premium prices for a premium service will repel prospects, not attract them.

Furthermore, premium-priced services attract better-quality clients who are more motivated to implement your advice, who will therefore gain immensely more value than other people, and who will consequently refer more people back to you.

 This, even apart from the fact that you will make more money and have more cash in your bank account as a result of even one client engagement, is an extraordinarily powerful reason to ensure that you are one of the most expensive suppliers in the marketplace.

 Premium-quality clients just flat out do not respect cheap.

 Lastly, on the subject of premium pricing, having premium priced your main service, you should then additionally create what you perceive to be a super expensive, super-duper offering.”

It just makes sense.

Why would you want to attract the cheapest end of the market?

Did you know that Apple have an Apple watch priced at $14,000, as their super duper offering?

The key is to know what your target market is, and market to them.

There is heaps of additional FREE information about targeting your market on my NEW website www.berniegriffithsbusinesscoach.com.au

Difference Between A Business Coach And A Mentor

A mentor is more a relationship-oriented, and could be a friend or family member, and they don’t charge a fee.

Mentors generally are more concerned about the success of the business owner as an individual.

A Mentor is not a substitute for a business coach, as each accomplish very different objectives for your business.

A business coach helps your business tackle specific tasks and helps set the objectives, and has a commitment for growth both in the Business and the business owner.

The relationship with a business coach is most often over a twelve month period, and you could more than one coach over the lifetime of your business.

Many Photographers cringe, when they see what some coaches charge, so their normal reaction is to try to do it all by themselves.

Rather than worry about how you can’t afford a business coach, think how a coach could help, guide, and motivate you to grow your photography business,  not only in helping you to create a profitable business, but also one that you will enjoy without the stress.

How Does A Business Coach Help?

A coach will show you up to date Marketing strategies, and help you to think differently, to understand more about Marketing, Lead Capture, and Customer Targeting.

You have certain expectations of your business, but to bounce your dreams and hopes off someone who’s walked the road before, who can point out pitfalls, and strengthen areas that need it.

A coach is someone with a good insight and understanding, of proven, business strategies that will push you harder, while also keeping you focussed.

Marketing Advice

In any stage of your photography business, the entire marketing strategy efforts fall on the shoulders of you, the business owner.

A good business coach who has experienced branding, and proven marketing strategies, can dramatically lift the number of customers and sales, and grow your business.

Probably the most important factor is that a coach will keep you focussed, and can help you stay on track.

Having someone to be accountable to is very important as it is easy to let yourself off the hook.

A coach serves as an accountability partner, to give you a friendly kick up the butt, and push you through the challenges.

You may be thinking of getting a business coach for your photography business, or perhaps even a mentor, and as I have mentioned, there is a distinction between the two.

Most Photographers that have not found a business coach or a mentor haven’t done so because they believe is something that they can’t afford.

The reality is (and those who have a coach understand) that you can’t afford to do without one.

Are you like most other small business owners and being driven by your vision, and it’s got you working your backside off to keep the business bringing in money.

You are doing this with a “ flying by the seat of your pants” approach, making many mistakes, but at the end of the day, only YOU know what’s best for YOUR business because it’s YOUR baby.

But is this “do it myself” approach always result in giving the best outcome for your business?

Are You Coachable ?

The next question of course, if you decide to look for a Business Coach, is, are you Coachable?

Answer the questionnaire below to find out the answer.

Do you…………

  1. Listen to instruction?
  2. Act easily doing new tasks ?
  3. Have a really strong passion to succeed?
  4. Embrace getting out of your Comfort Zone?
  5. Strive to improve all aspects of your life and business?
  6. Have patience and persistence?
  7. Want financial success?

If you answered yes to all of these questions, CONGRATULATIONS, you will work well with a mentor or coach.

My creed has always been – Don’t tell me how good I am, tell me how I can be better.

Is this a creed that you follow?

A report by Infusionsoft and Emergent Research, Defining and Achieving Small Business Success, found that 94 percent of small business owners surveyed identify specific financial goals for their business, but only 65 percent are confident they will achieve them.

So over a quarter of small business owners have set specific financial goals for their business, but who can’t see how they can achieve them.

This is where Business Coaches come in.

Your photography business should be continuously growing, but keep in mind that as your business moves through stages of growth, you will have new challenges that will require changes in how you run your business.

In staying competitive and profitable with growth and change, don’t forget that it is ok to ask for help along the way.

QUESTIONS OR QUERIES….

CONTACT ME  info@aswpp.com.au

www.berniegriffiths.com

www.createaphotographybusiness.com

www.berniegriffithsbusinesscoach.com.au    

Photographer Gets World Record Facebook Post

Portrait Photographer Wins Gold Medal

Everybody knows that I love numbers, because your photography business is all about numbers.

Marketing “test and measure” is the secret to business growth.

When you find a Marketing Strategy that works and it gives you massive results, you simply keep doing it over and over and over again.

Yes you are right if that sounds a little like McDonalds.

From doing many “test and measures” they came up with a formula and have replicated it thousands of times all around the world…..in fact 118 countries and territories around the world and serve 68 million customers each day. McDonald’s operates 362,500 restaurants worldwide, employing more than 420,000 people.

Ok you say….. Bernie, don’t get carried away…..I am a one man/woman business and I am not trying to be global.

I am with you….but would you like to find a “magic” formula so that you could turn on a Marketing tap, to give you heaps of leads that you can convert into good paying customers?

I am sure that I heard you say yes, so back to my world record headline.

Last week I did a Facebook post with a photographer in New Zealand.

These are the results…………….

The post was Boosted for 5 days at a total cost of $50.

The post was created through Adverts Manager.

Her target was women 30 – 60 years old in a 30klm radius of the studio.

She directed those interested to a link on her website were they filled out a form asking various quesions to qualify them for purchasing extra photographs.

The post had an amazing 36 shares.

The post reached 16,497 people, 50% of these were organic … because of the high number of shares.

There were 159 comments.

A total of 150 likes.

There were 740 people who clicked on the link on the Facebook post and went to the form on her website.

A total of 298 of these went to the trouble of filling in the form..that’s around 40%.

Given the data that she received from the form, she contacted those she felt would be the best prospects that would most probably spend the most from their photography sessions.

So far, and with 200 more people to contact she has booked in 16 highly qualified photography sessions.

Is this worthy of a GOLD medal in the Facebook Photography Marketing Olympics?

Bernie Griffiths Photography Business Coach

9 Things That Are Stalling Your Photography Business

In the forty plus years that I had my studio, and in the last few years that I have spent coaching other photographers as a Photography Business Coach, there are certain traits that I have learned hold us back from reaching the success in growing our business.

Below are 9 lessons that I have learned as a Photography Business Coach.

  1. Instant results don’t always come.

Too quickly you think “this is a waste of time, I am not going to do it anymore.” Give new strategies a chance to blossom before you stop doing them. Test and measure for a realistic amount of time. Success is always just around the corner. Be patient, persistent, and give yourself a realistic timeline to achieve the results you want.

  1. Don’t compare yourself to others.

It’s your business, and you can look at others who are much further down the road from you, but don’t compare and wish that you had their business. You only have a perceived value of the success of their business anyway, unless you have access to their profit/loss statements. You shouldn’t feel inadequate, discouraged, or lacking something. Focus instead to where you are now compared to yesterday and, totally focus on where you are going.

  1. Be busy doing the important.

Ok I am guilty. I used to spent too many hours tweaking my website, reading other blogs, and playing with new apps, and “magic wand” software. Hours turned into days, as I sat at my desk appearing very busy but actually doing nothing constructive at all. Eventually I learned what the “right” things were to focus on my business. Are you doing the same?

  1. Always take action.

Are you a list and plan maker? You spent a lot of time planning and then don’t act on anything to bring those plans to reality? Any action may be imperfect, but it will be much more useful than all your lists and plans, without any action. In fact your actions may change all the plans you made in the first place, so spend most of your time on acting, not planning, if you want to progress your business.

  1. Don’t ask yourself the wrong questions.

You spend your time and energy wondering if you are doing the right thing. Why not change these uncertainties in your head to how, who and what, in relation to actions. Get help me and spend your energy finding answers to the right questions, that will ultimately help you take increasing steps closer to success.

  1. The right time is now.

Do you procrastinate and keep putting something off because you don’t feel that you are ready? Maybe you tell yourself that you need to make a few changes, wait until the kids have grown, or leave it until next year when you have more time. Your mind is playing delay tactics and it is winning. Start now! Do something! If you start you will quickly discover what else needs to be done, and you will progress toward your dreams much sooner.

  1. You really are worthy.

You may think that you are lacking in some way, and that maybe you should not try too hard to set too high an expectation, in case you fail. So you aim a little lower or even try something easier. Don’t let your head play tricks on you. Everything gets easier the more you do it. Be persistent and you will discover that this is one of the secrets to success. Work at it and stick to it, and you will find the success you were looking for will come to you. You are indeed worthy.

  1. Listen to your heart.

If you are new at something and you want to learn how to be better, don’t you think that you should seek advice? Unfortunately you assume everyone you speak to knows what they’re talking about. Sometimes though the problem is that the wrong advice can take you in so many different directions that you’re mind gets confused, and that confusion stops you from taking any actions. Listen to the voices within. Let them guide you.

  1. You need professional help.

Getting help is not a sign of weakness. It is more a sign of sensibility. Yes you have this grand idea that you want to succeed on your own. But the reality is that we all can do better if you get the right help. Reaching out and getting experienced guidance can skyrocket your photography business. It surprises a lot of people when they learn that I have a business coach to guide me in my own business. It is the best value money that I spend. It is an investment for my future. Without my coach, I know that my business will not reach its full potential.

Making Money With Facebook

Don’t worry we recorded the webinar “Facebook For Photographers”, with Social Media expert Loren Bartley, owner of Imactiv8……www.impactiv8.com.au

Here is the link…..   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hstSEVr0eC8

Everything that you have been told about how to grow your photography business is WRONG www.createaphotographybusiness.com

Photography Business Coach