5 Tips for Building an Online Presence that Gets Your Business Leads — and Clients with Ease

The million dollar question for every photographer, no matter their niche, is…”How can I get more leads and book more photography clients?” We’re always looking for new and better ways to bring in more business! 

There are so many different strategies you can try to accomplish this, but today, we’re gonna talk about an important — and budget-friendly — strategy you can start using right now: building an online presence. With the right online presence, you can get noticed and start getting booked.

Tip #1: Find out where your ideal clients hang

I’m starting with this tip because it’s so important to market your photography business to the right people. If you’re not talking to your ideal clients, you’re wasting your time and money. You also waste the time of potential clients who aren’t the right fit for you.

So, start with this one first so you can give yourself the best chance to connect with quality leads. What social media platforms are your dream clients using? What are they liking, sharing, or engaging with?

As photographers, it’s safe to say that we usually find our ideal clients on Instagram or Pinterest. They’re good platforms for finding local businesses, and we get to showcase our work. However, age is gonna play a role in which social media platform your clients use most. 

Millennials and Gen Z are typically on Instagram and TikTok, while Gen X are on Facebook and in Facebook Groups. My ideal clients are millennials, but I’m starting to notice Gen Zers creep in now! Which means my strategy has to evolve to make room for them, too. Don’t be surprised if the same thing starts happening to you!

Tip #2: Showcase your best work

Social media platforms are visual platforms, so use them to show off your stuff! Treat your feed as a mini portfolio that will help clients get to know your style.

But don’t just post any and every photo from your sessions. Be selective with the work that you post. Yes, post images that you really love, but I want you to also post work that your ideal client can relate to and can see herself in. 

Think about the type of photography work you love best and the clients you love working with most. Post the images that reflect that. This is how you’ll book more clients in the same vein. It’s like putting what you want out into the universe so that the universe will send it back to you.

Oh, and here’s a quick bonus tip: only share one photo at a time. 

It’s really tempting to share a carousel of photos, but I encourage you to save your content! Don’t use it up all at once. If you do want to share a carousel, you can always create a graphic of a testimonial or tips for clients on what to wear to their shoot.

Tip #3: Provide valuable content

Speaking of content, you’re more than just your best photos! Think outside of the box and get creative with the content you share with your audience.

Maybe you share short behind-the-scenes clips of what it’s like behind the camera. Or, you can post answers to common questions for people who have never booked a boudoir session before. 

You’re talented and knowledgeable about photography. Use your online presence to show that off! With this content, you prove to your audience that you know what you’re doing, and that you’re the best person for the experience they want. 

This kind of content will nudge people to book you, and it’ll keep fans of your social media coming back for more.

Tip #4: Talk to your audience

Once you’ve attracted potential clients with your gorgeous photos and engaging content, what’s next? How do you turn them into qualified leads?

You talk to them, of course! Use social media to keep conversations going and start them, too. And don’t worry — if you’re an introvert like me, it’s pretty easy to engage.

Here are three easy ideas to help you get started:

• Respond to anyone who comments on your content. Thank people if they compliment you. Answer any questions you get. The same goes for DMs, too.
• Ask your followers questions to encourage engagement. Maybe start an “ask me anything” conversation, or ask people where they’d most love to shoot a session. 
• Share behind-the-scenes content that’s relatable. Photos of your pets or your family. A quick tour of your studio. Relatable content makes a big impact.
• Message anyone who follows you with a quick thank you and a compliment. Don’t pitch anything; this is just to start connecting with your followers.

Remember, your audience doesn’t just want to admire your work. Most of your followers want to get to know you as a person, too. Share what you’re comfortable sharing and be yourself. Have fun with it!

Tip #5: Be consistent

My fifth and final tip for building an online presence that’ll bring you leads and get you booked? Be consistent! Stick with your strategy for showing up online. 

Building an online presence is really hard if you only show up when you want to make a sale or when you’re desperate for clients. People can sense when brands do that. And it takes so much longer to create that presence if you’re not online enough.

Does being online enough mean posting multiple TikToks a day or making brand new Instagram Reels every day? Not at all! I definitely don’t do that.

When I say “consistent,” I mean posting regularly. Figure out a schedule that works for your goals and your audience. That might look like one podcast or video a week, and Instagram posts every other day. Or maybe it’s a blog once a month and one Instagram a week. 

Your options are endless! Just find out what works for you and stick with it. Go online and engage with your audience to stay top of mind and start seeing the results you want.

Make the most of your social media

You can find a lot of potential clients in your online spaces! Remember to first find out which online spaces are most popular for your ideal clients. They’ll vary based on who you serve and their demographics.

Then, share the work that you want to keep doing, work that your ideal client will love and relate to. But don’t limit yourself to just photos. You can share behind-the-scenes content, tips, testimonials, anything that makes sense for your brand and business!

Remember to talk to your audience, too. Ask questions and keep those conversations going. Most importantly, be consistent when building an online presence. Give your audience a chance to know you as a person. And be yourself! Let that gorgeous personality shine.