What NOT To Do In Business || Photography Edition
Welcome back to the next post in the, “What NOT To Do In Business” series.
Today we are talking about:
If all you ever do is move your website around, change your name every other day, or try to launch too many things at one time your audience, and potential clients may get thrown off. They may just quit tuning in all together.
Here are my 3 simple tips for staying consistent with this:
1). Make sure you like your business name, and research it.
— This is a pretty essential step as a business owner. If you are a photographer make sure you use your own name, or your business name means something. No business names with the words sexy, hot, or any other derogatory word. You want to be respected, and actually gain business right?
When you are going into the photography field, and you have a pretty common name, (Ex: Sarah, Amanda, Nicole, etc.) chances are you’ll run into trademark problems. What I mean by that is, someone will have their business name as, for example, Amanda Ann Photography. Well, that just happens to be your name too. If that person has a TM logo beside their business name, that means there could be legal implications if you try to name your business that.
If that person does not have their business name trademarked, e-mail them, and communicate your idea to them. Do it in a pleasant, non-threatening way. Or simply decide to name your business something else.
In short, just do your research, and you will be fine.
For me, Light & Hope Photography means more than just my past two business names combined together. It’s what I want to bring into my business. I want to bring light into dark places, and give people hope when they come across my blog.
What does your business name mean to you?
2). Don’t change your Facebook name, or move to a different page 20x’s in a year.
— I am actually guilty of this, and I have had people ask me if I had finally kept one page. Embarrassing right? I know that Facebook can be a bit of a bear to deal with as far as changing the URL of Facebook page, but that’s no reason to keep moving. I am all for brand consistency, but as long as you have the same color schemes, and photos people will find you, and recognize you. You don’t need to keep moving your page around, and losing potential clients, and readers.
3). Don’t change your website design around every 5 minutes.
–Again, I am so guilty of this! But it really is all about consistency. If you find that you can’t keep a design, or aren’t satisfied with what you are doing maybe it is time to find a designer. Make sure that you have saved back some money towards your business. Professional design websites are an investment that will pay off.
Again they are an investment, so shop around, and find a designer you like.
Or if you still want a professional look, but don’t quite have the money for a designer you can always check out pre-made templates like the ones that Promise Tangeman designs. They are professional, and let you experiement with your inner DIY diva. You won’t be spending your life behind the computer trying to come up with the perfect, flawless design. Focus on progress, and not perfection in your business.
What is your number one tip for what NOT to do in business? Leave it in a comment below, I would love to hear your thoughts.
Stay Beautiful!
Love,
