This is the Transcript of the #WeddingMarket #Chat on September 19th, 2012. How to Create Customer Evangelists Using Social Media With Jasmine Star. The answers were made on Twitter so responses will appear different.
This Transcript was sponsored by Wedding Marketing Online ( @WeddingIndustry ) at http://www.weddingmarketingonline.com
Learn more about Jasmine Star at
Join Our Wedding Market Chats For Wedding Professionals Every Wednesday at 10:00PST, 1:00EST, and 6:00GMT (UK time) with the #WeddingMarket Hashmark On Twitter. Learn something new to help your business grow every week. The chats are hosted by Wedding Market editor Julie Albaugh (@juliealbaugh).
Q1: How did you become a wedding photographer?
A: I was in law school but left when my mom had a relapse w/ brain cancer. I married shortly after so she could be at my wedding. After my wedding, I fell in LOVE with photography and started my business shooting my 1st wedding in Oct. 2006.
Q2: What steps did you take to start your wedding photography business?
A: My biz was built entirely on Word of Mouth so client care was uber important. I got a website & a blog & things took off!
Q3: How did you get involved with social media?
A: Social media really started in 2010 for me because that’s how clients were sharing my images & passing my name.
Q4: How do you handle Social Media On A Daily Basis ?
A: I update social media 4-5 times a day with personal status updates as a way to create connections & show who I am. Every day…I spend about a 45 minutes per day to social media.
I need to make sure my work is my priority, and not social media. I have set times and that’s IT!
Q5: How do you handle the different social media networks?
A: Twitter is micro updates for me & FB is more conversational in nature & the best way to share images & grow my business.
Q6: How should wedding pros be starting conversations?
A: Wedding pros should be using social media to showcase WHO they are, not WHAT they do
Q7: What should wedding pros be saying or doing with their social media?
A: Social media should be personal in nature & not about RTing compliments about oneself or how great your work is. In regard to social media, people want to connect with the person who runs the business, not the business person. I only engage with actual clients on social media…it’s very personal to me.
Q8: I understand you starting blogging before Twitter & Facebook.
Can you tell me more about that?
A: My blog is good to showcase my full personality & leverage my love for writing. I blog 5-6 times a week now, but when I started it was 3 times, but I always try to keep it fresh and updated!
Q9: What are your thoughts on @Pinterest ? How are you using it for your brand?
A: Pinterest is awesome! Its important as a Content Creator to use images as a way to market your biz & help spread your name!
Q10: Can you tell me how you turned customers into cheerleaders ?
A: My clients became cheerleaders because they became a part of my story & wanted me to succeed like the success was their own. My first wedding was a referral from a friend!
Q11: What are your thoughts on how to build a community network?
A: How to build a community network? Give…Help…LOVE. Find ways to Give, go out of your way to Help, and LOVE til it hurts.
Q12: What would like everyone to take away from this #WeddingMarket #Chat ?
A: Its not about what you do, its about who you are. Clients might forget what you did, but won’t forget how you made them feel.
#WeddingMarket Question: Do you worry about clients expecting images on Social Media too soon after an event?
Answer: My goal is to always exceed expectations & post a sneak peek less than 5 days after the wedding!
#WeddingMarket Question: Do you have a personal preference regarding media platform, i.e., Twitter vs. Facebook…Pinterest, etc?
Answer: I prefer FB because it’s scalable and conversational in nature…and most my clients prefer sharing that way!
#WeddingMarket Question: How do you utilize facebook to attract new clients?
Answer: The key with FB is to be yourself…not your business. Yes, its good to showcase images, but show who you are!
#WeddingMarket Question: What times during the day do you feel like you get the most exposure to your followers?
Answer: I do a ‘push’ update at 8am PST because it’s still before lunch EST and the mornings always work best! A ‘push’ tweet is pointing somewhere, versus a personal update about me…like what I’m eating!
#WeddingMarket Question: With all the social marketing you do, how do you ensure customer service to your clients isn’t jeopardised?
Answer: Make friends in the blogging & wedding community & collaborate. The best growth happens organically.
#WeddingMarket Question: Do you blog every wedding you do?
Answer: YES I blog every wedding & shoot I do. Its important I do because it shows I care equally about every client.
#WeddingMarket Question: Do you have set hours?
Answer: Yes, I have set hours! 6:30am to 6:30pm…and that’s a RULE in our house! My work days are usually 12 hours long with a break for lunch and the gym.
#WeddingMarket Question: How can we engage more with followers on Facebook?
Answer: Engaging on FB is more about connecting on a personal level and less about your work. Try a personal update!
#WeddingMarket Question: It is very difficult to be “different” and have more clients! How can I be different?
Answer: Being ‘different’ only means being YOU. Because there’s only one you and no one can copy that.
#WeddingMarket Question: What is your turnaround time for weddings?
Answer: Turnaround is stated as 4 weeks, but I usually deliver in 2. I try to exceed expectations, not meet it
#WeddingMarket Question: Do you add your clients as friends or do they add you?
Answer: Once I book clients, I’ll friend them on FB because I tell them I want to tag them in cute photos soon!
#WeddingMarket Question: Do you think there is a such thing as getting too personal on social media? Are there boundaries?
Answer: Yes, being too personal is a boundary that one mustn’t cross. Be personal, not an over-sharer.
#WeddingMarket Question: You deliver wedding photos in 2-4 weeks & blog w/I a few days? How do u keep up?
Answer: I keep a strict working schedule. I have to. My clients are my priority & I need to keep them happy.
#WeddingMarket Question: Do you use Social Media to try to connect with poeple you don’t actually know?
Answer: I use SM to deepen preexisting relationships.
#WeddingMarket Question: On average, How many images do you upload on the blog for a wedding?
Answer: I upload no more than 23 images for a wedding blog post…I also add a slideshow with 80 images.
#WeddingMarket Question: What resources would you suggest for someone to find their writing voice?
A: Writing is like riding a bike…the more you do it, the better you become. Read and write a TON!
#WeddingMarket Question: When you add photos to facebook do you let your clients know they cant crop or change the images?
A: When i share images on FB, it has my logo on it and usually clients respect that or add a link to my site
#WeddingMarket Question: Do you separate what u post on your business page as what u post on your personal fb page?
A: Yes, I separate FB posts on my business and personal page.
#WeddingMarket Question: who do YOU look at for inspiration- other photogs, fashion, television, music? You know a lot of us look at You.
A: Magazines are my biggest inspiration! W, Vanity Fair, Vogue…they make me think and feel differently!
#WeddingMarket Question: How long did it take for you to start your business up full time? Or did you quite your law job right away?
A: I started my business in early 2006 and in April 2007, I was Full Time.
#WeddingMarket Question: Perhaps I’m not the best marketeer and need a bootcamp session?
A: A marketing bootcamp isn’t needed…just think of what your clients need before they need it & they’ll share.
#WeddingMarket Question: I’m a 2.5yr photog. I say yes 2 non-paying clients, but don’t have many paying clients. What should I do?
A: Continue to build your portfolio and slowly start charging. I started with $200 per session and grew from there.
#WeddingMarket Question: What about Instagram? I follow you – find your photos inspirational. Do you use it for biz or more for fun?
A: Instagram is more for fun, but I occasionally share sneak peek wedding images as way to show my professional work.
#WeddingMarket Question: From TheFix, I believe you said that you don’t handle family requests for prints. If so, how do you remedy this?
A: I recommend an online professional print lab they can order on their own, like Mpix.
#WeddingMarket Question: What are your thoughts on Google +? I hear photogs are really big on there.
A: I think G+ is a good idea for photogs, but prospective clients aren’t really there!
#WeddingMarket Question: I started photography in Jan. & am now an intern for a successful photographer. What ?’s should I be asking her?
A: The best questions are the ones that happen in real time. Pay attention to the details and find ways to help!
#WeddingMarket Question: How many images do you give to your wedding clients?
A: I average 100 images/hour on a wedding day, so an 8 hour wedding yields 800+ images
#WeddingMarket Question: What are your thoughts on Bridal Shows/Expos? Do you participate?
A: I don’t participate in bridal shows because people there are looking for a photographer, not looking for me.
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