Headshots and branding online are an important way to increase your web traffic, but in person networking and local business resources are invaluable. I am a member of both the Greater Topeka Partnership and the Holton/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and have found immense value in the resource and networking opportunities.

As a headshot photographer serving Topeka, Lawrence, Atchison, and the Holton area I appreciate the opportunities to network with other local businesses and for the the opportunity to support local brands with my gifts and talents. As a small business owner I see the struggle to gain visibility and to find the right connections to grow a brand. I can’t think of a better way than being a part of a business organization whose sole mission is to support local business with networking, grant opportunities, and business resources.

Ways to Gain Visibility

Visibility is the name of the game. You want your name on the tip of tongue when something is thinking about your niche market. I for sure want anyone thinking of team or group portraits, individual headshots, corporate or executive headshots , or young professional need a headshot after they graduate or before starting their first job search to think of Still and Wild Headshot and Branding Photography. I want them to know that I take their brand very seriously. I want brands I work with to look good…. no great. More than that I want them to be profitable. Afterall, my value is found in helping making brands look more valuable so they can grow and increase their profits. I want their formal and casual professional headshots to be used on their websites and social media to make them money by sharing their team skills and expertise to their target market.

While I can hope my message is clear on my website I have found taking the time to personally engage with brands has been a key to my success. Here are a couple of ways I position my headshot and branding photography business to brands in Topeka, Holton, Atchison, and the surrounding areas.

Network

• Being at events where I can be a part of a round table discussion about a key community topic or networking at a monthly meet up in Topeka or Holton is exactly where I need to be to gain visibility. It may be where a lot of businesses need to be. You never know when you are the solution for someone you meet and people are much more inclined to hire someone they know than a stranger. I highly encourage you to jump in to your local chamber. Attend monthly meet ups and make it a point to meet people. Might it feel awkward when you don’t know anyone…yes.. do it anyway. Networking is a long game. It is about going in with the goal of becoming friends and enjoying people…. and down the road maybe you can work together.

• Have your business cards ready to hand out. I suggest a printed card over an electronic card personally. I think they are easier to hand out during quick casual introductions.

• Know the answer to this question, “What do you do?” Get this statement down to a short elevator pitch. Again… your goal isn’t to sell anything at this networking event.. it is to introduce yourself and learn about others…but that doesn’t mean you don’t want to leave everyone you meet wanting more! Connect this statement to your website so when they want more and pull out that card you gave them from their wallet, your message is consistent from your conversation to your website.

• Send an email after the networking event to reach out to schedule a lunch with someone, thank them for the conversation, and ultimately expressed a desire to learn more about THEM.

• Create relationships first—- a sales second.

Host Events

Recently through my own marketing journey I saw a massive need to learn SEO and Website design with clear messaging. I always thought website design was about how attractive I could make my site look. As a creative photographer I lean into pretty, but pretty doesn’t cut it on line. I was finding that while I was working hard photographing local brands and brand owners, my website wasn’t being found. I know that while I am far from an expert (and honestly maybe more of a danger than a help at the moment with my SEO skills) I do know that we cannot build websites by starting with the pretty stuff. We have to be strategic with the words we use, the title and layouts we create, and most of all the message we want to send. We have to thinking like a consumer who is needing a solution to they problem and create website copy that helps them see the issue and positions you as the solution. It has to be message plus beautiful images. As I work with brands I see over and over again an excitement to rebrand but a chaotic brand message. So many brands offer lots of products or services and they can’t quite focus their message— which results in ineffective image creation and marketing. Ultimately it leads to frustration because you are working hard to have a fabulous website that looks stunning, but isn’t effective at selling or positioning your solution.

I decided to create a monthly marketing mastermind for business in Jackson county, KS because while I am just one business, there are other brands desperate for help and direction. I know there are local resources that we can find who are willing to teach and market their skills to other local businesses. After all we all win when we all succeed. There are many on line brands who depend on high quality branding images and tailored messages and brick and mortar businesses who depend on social media and work of mouth (as well as their websites) to drive traffic to their front doors.

I also hosted a headshot day for the Holton/Jackson County Chamber where members could schedule headshots at a value price. It was a great partnership and again boosts the brands and individuals in my local area. We will continue to hold them on the 4th Wednesday of the month at Willcott’s Taproom in Holton at 5:30 pm. Have something to teach or want to learn…let us know.

If you have a skill that you think will support your community, provide education, or just be a way to network —- make it happen. Ask what you can do or even suggest a couple of ways you can provide value to your community.

What an angel or saint you might think. While I do love to talk business and marketing (maybe a little to much to my friend’s dismay) and I do want friends who I know in my local area to be more successful in their business, I also know that these events position me as an expert in branding photography and strategic brand visuals. Give away great free content that is useful to others and they will want to hire you for more. Give away crap and they won’t. Plain and simple.

Get on the list to get our emails about upcoming Jackson County marketing mastermind events!

Provide Content

Your local chamber is always looking for experts to share information that other members will find valuable. After all, your chamber is working to create value for members through education, networking, and marketing. You can share content on a way you have saved money on marketing, how to set up effective google ads, how to create Reels or other social media content, how to connect with key demographic, etc… you have knowledge that someone is looking for. Again you don’t have to give it all a way, but this is essentially free marketing for your brand and once again positions yourself as an expert.

Now while it is great to do this kind of content out of the goodness of your heart — by creating content that creates a backlink to your website— helps your SEO! It helps position you as an authority (because you are), gets traffic to your site because people are clicking on your super helpful information, and google sees your site as something special to share.

If you are not a part of your local chamber I highly encourage you to join. The typical annual amount is low compared to the value of what you get. Plus it gives you a front row seat to brand and business owners that can make a big difference if your business.

Still and Wild Headshot and Branding Photography Studio is located in Holton Kansas and serves Topeka, Holton, Seneca, Sabetha, and Atchison areas. If you are a business that needs professional corporate headshots, team or staff groups images, or branding content for your website or social media please contact us.