Picture by Aileen Choi
You probably began your images enterprise primarily based in your ardour for creating photos and connecting with folks. Odds are it’s most likely not since you love responding to emails, drafting spreadsheets, and different behind-the-scenes administrative duties. However sadly, these admin duties are a compulsory a part of working a profitable enterprise. That’s the place a digital assistant is available in.
A VA can take the admin duties off your plate, releasing up time to give attention to the elements of your corporation (and your life!) that you just love essentially the most. However they will accomplish that far more than simply reply to emails. Sara Rogers and Aileen Choi—Vancouver photographers and co-owners of Collectively We Co, providing a spread of enterprise administration and digital assistant providers—are sharing 10 duties your VA may deal with to assist your corporation run smoother and develop quicker.
Picture by Sara Rogers
1. Shopper Relationship Administration (CRM) Setup and Upkeep
Shopper relationship administration is a course of by which a enterprise interacts with clients. For photographers particularly, it will probably embody emails, managing appointments, monitoring availability, and so forth. Nicely, nobody ever checked out a CRM and thought, “Wow, that appears like loads of enjoyable to arrange!” At the very least, nobody we all know!
If the concept of CRM setup and upkeep makes your head spin, offload it to your VA. Your digital assistant can arrange leads, arrange automation, and comply with up with potential shoppers. They are often answerable for the preliminary setup, ongoing upkeep, and any troubleshooting that comes up. Out of the blue, your shopper checklist is organized, and also you’re on high of your shopper relationships, all because of your useful VA.
2. Website positioning-Pleasant Running a blog
Present us a bunch of photographers, and we’ll present you a bunch of people that perceive the significance of running a blog however are manner behind on creating posts. With occasions to seize, pictures to edit, and numerous different duties, we get it—life will get busy!
A digital assistant may help dig you out of your running a blog gap and guarantee your weblog stays present, exhibiting off your work and experience. From marriage ceremony tales and life-style shoots to ideas for engaged {couples} and posts on the perfect venues in your metropolis, your digital assistant can create Website positioning-friendly content material your potential shoppers will love.
Bonus tip: After you have new weblog posts written, your VA may also assist with content material repurposing. Share that great weblog content material in your e mail e-newsletter, on social media, on a podcast episode, and so forth.
Picture by Sara Rogers
3. Picture Curation and Submission for Publications
Along with curating photos and sending them to your shoppers, you might also need to submit your work to marriage ceremony blogs and magazines (like Junebug Weddings!). That is an superior alternative to function your work, meet new shoppers, and join with different distributors.
Sadly, the duty of curating and submitting could be very time-consuming. As soon as once more, your trusty VA can step in and save the day. Depart it to them to pick the perfect photos, optimize them for the net, deal with the submission course of, and monitor your options.
4. On-line Gallery Retailer Setup and Administration
Creating a web based gallery retailer the place your shoppers can order prints and albums not solely helps your shoppers get essentially the most out of their photos but additionally creates a fantastic passive revenue stream for you. If this isn’t one thing you could have arrange but, you’re lacking out. When it’s arrange and managed accurately, it’s a fantastic passive revenue stream.
Your VA may help you design and create your retailer, combine it along with your chosen printing labs, handle orders and promotions, and even oversee transport and dealing with. They’ll make the shop expertise seamless in your shoppers and for you!
5. Album Design and Proofing
A handcrafted marriage ceremony album is among the greatest methods in your shoppers to relive their pleased day again and again and positively beats solely their photos on their telephone screens. However designing an album generally is a enormous time suck.
Fortunately, your digital assistant can deal with this one for you. From deciding on photos, creating layouts, and receiving suggestions out of your shoppers, they may help you ship lovely, well-crafted albums that don’t take up hours of your time.
6. Electronic mail Administration and Template Creation
As a busy images enterprise proprietor, you’re used to an overflowing inbox. Getting right down to Inbox Zero can take hours (or days!), and even while you do reply to every thing, you’ll get up to discover a full inbox the very subsequent day.
As an alternative of drowning in a sea of emails, hand over your corporation e mail account over to your VA and breathe a sigh of aid. They will keep on high of your inbox and guarantee each potential shopper receives a immediate response. Your VA may even design e mail templates for widespread inquiries, making your entire e mail course of extra environment friendly.
7. Occasion Day Doc Preparation
Whether or not you’re on set for a industrial shoot or capturing a marriage, making ready for an enormous images occasion day could be tedious. Most of us would slightly join with our shoppers than spend hours getting organized.
Activity your VA with retaining every thing and everybody on monitor for occasion day. They will create timelines, put collectively picture lists, look into permits and licenses, and liaise with different distributors. Allow them to fear concerning the admin particulars when you give attention to the images.
Picture by Sara Rogers
8. Social Media Administration and Content material Creation
Most photographers know that sustaining an lively presence on social media is important for advertising and marketing your corporation and connecting with potential shoppers. However with algorithm updates leaving you unmotivated and infinite scrolls by way of TikTok sucking up all of your time, it may be straightforward to get unfocused.
Give your self that social media cleanse you deserve, and go this job on to your VA. Your digital assistant can handle your accounts, create and schedule posts, have interaction along with your followers, and make sure you’re on high of any developments or new options.
9. Publish-Manufacturing Coordination
It looks as if non-photographers do not know how a lot time and power goes into post-production and modifying photos, proper? However we all know all about these late-night modifying classes. Fortunately, a digital assistant (and a little bit little bit of AI) may help velocity issues up.
Your VA can coordinate along with your post-production groups or AI software program, handle the culling and modifying course of, and get the photographs prepared in your closing contact. By using AI and the talents of your VA, you’ll save your self numerous coffee-fueled late nights.
Picture by Aileen Choi
10. Administrative Assist for Pictures Contests and Awards
Coming into images contests and awards is an effective way to share your work with a broader viewers and community with different photographers. Plus, when you win, it’s an enormous increase to your credibility, Website positioning, and your ego.
In the event you don’t know the place to begin with coming into contests, let your VA demystify the method for you. They will analysis contest alternatives, preserve monitor of deadlines and necessities, put together and submit your entries, and (hopefully) let you already know while you win.
Bonus tip: Don’t overlook to share any contest wins and awards along with your viewers. Your VA can replace your web site and put up on social media to share the pleased information, proving to potential shoppers how superior you’re.
Picture by Sara Rogers
In the event you’ve seen an increase within the variety of e mail inquiries you’re getting and also you discover your schedule filling up quicker and quicker, that’s a great signal. It means enterprise is booming, and it’s time to recruit some assist. And Vancouver photographers Sara Rogers and Aileen Choi would possibly simply have you ever satisfied to rent a digital assistant.
In the event you’re able to reclaim your time and stage up your images enterprise with out sacrificing your revenue, try Collectively We Co. They provide a spread of enterprise administration and digital assistant providers designed particularly for photographers.
Picture by Aileen Choi