Is there work out there....? inspiration needed for cold calling!

[hypermum1]

Hi all. My husband is an extremely talented commercial photographer and we own our own business. It has been running for nearly 4 years now but things are getting harder and harder! I am focussing on trying to get new business in which means cold calling! We make good use of social marketing but have come to the conclusion that we need to make more of an effort going out and dragging the business to us rather than waiting for it to find us! I just wondered how other small business owners/freelancers are finding it out there at the moment?

I have freelanced for ten or so years (editorial), but have had virtually no work in the last two months, which is by far the longest period I've had without work. I have been cold calling for about two and a half months but no joy. My BIL is a freelance designer and has had very little work for the last 12 months too. So I guess it's just a difficult climate at the moment.
Hope you find some new business.

THanks! It is certainly very harsh out there at the moment! Guess we just have to keep at it! Hope you get some business in soon too. xx

Do you have kids at school?

I've noticed that at my DS's school, a local photographer with kids at the same school has a very prominent profile. She takes photos at Nativity plays, sports days etc and then the school puts them on its website. She receives no payment for this but the photos are obviously up for sale. She did this at our pre-school and gained a fair amount of business from it. She also offers family sittings as raffle prizes at school fundraising events. Recently, she's offered a free family photo at a special Family Photo Day where each family pays £10 for the sitting.

I think it's a case of getting your face known at community events in order to raise your profile.

Good luck!