Did You Know You Can Use Marathon’s
E-mail Marketing Program To Send Out Client Surveys?
As a client using the Marathon E-Mail Marketing Program, you can sign up for an additional feature that allows you to quickly and easily e-mail surveys to your existing clients. You can direct a survey to any designated client group or groups, or you can design a satisfaction survey to be sent to each client following the receipt of their finished order.
The satisfaction survey shown below benefits the studio in two ways: It provides management with important insight into how well clients are being served, and it also opens the door to testimonial opportunities. Here’s how it works:
Several days after order pickup or delivery, the studio sends the client e-mail shown below.
When a client clicks on the survey link, he or she is redirected to the actual online survey document, which can be completed in a matter of moments. The comments area allows recipients to add their personal thoughts.
As surveys are submitted, each client’s response can be viewed in the “Responses” section of the studio’s E-mail Marketing Account.
Your surveys can be customized to suit any marketing or management need through the use of an intuitive online layout system. If you are an existing Marathon E-mail Marketing Program user, contact your Internet Account Representative to learn how you can subscribe to the survey feature.
Marathon’s E-mail Marketing Program is perfect for photographers who wish to send e-mail newsletters or e-mail blasts to their clients because its features are designed with the needs of professional photographers in mind. Marathon’s program includes everything you need to manage your marketing from start to finish, built on a platform that combines easy self-serve features with custom newsletter graphics designed to coordinate with your unique marketing style. If you wish to learn about Marathon’s E-mail Marketing Program, which is supported by Marathon Internet Services, you can click here for more information, or call an Internet Account Representative at 800/228.0629.
Joel Bogeberg
commented on
April 23rd, 2010
I really like your new email marketing Product.
Marathon Websites & Services
commented on
April 26th, 2010
Thanks Joel! Just let us know if we can help in any way.
To celebrate our newest Package Website design, Basil, we've designed a FREE bundle for your internet marketing campaign! We've included files for your Facebook profile, a background for Twitter, and a header for your blog.
All templates are layered Photoshop files. While sample data is included, you'll need to insert your logo and images. A basic knowledge of Photoshop and working with layers is recommended. Although Marathon cannot provide support for modifying these files, each PSD file should give you a great start!
Need a website to match?
The background from this bundle is now available to use with any of our 2009-2010 Package Website Designs! To see how it looks on a real site, we've put together this sample with our "Basil" design:
Instructions:
Within the downloaded ZIP file, you will find files marked for use on Facebook, Twitter, and Blog. Please open the PSD file that matches the social networking site you are working with.
Select the layer of the image placeholder you wish to drop your first photo in to. Open the new photo you want to use to replace it, then drag or paste your photo directly over the image placeholder. Right click your photo and select "Create Clipping Mask". From here you can resize, rotate or drag your photo into it's desired position using the move tool. Continue repeating this process until all image placeholders are filled.
Hide the logo layer and drop in your own logo. Feel free to add any additional design elements you want such as your tagline, address and/or phone number. Once you achieved your desired look, save as a .jpg file and upload to either Facebook or Twitter.
For help with Twitter, log in and go to "Design." Which is found under Settings.
If you need help updating your Facebook picture, try reading the documentation in the Facebook Help Center.
If you have a question about the Package Website designs these templates are based on, please visit our website or contact a websites and services representative by calling 800/228.0629.
Establishing A Sustainable Competitive Advantage
The purpose of creating a Sustainable Competitive Advantage is to summarize how the business intends to survive against competition over time. A Sustainable Competitive Advantage is derived from an organization’s Core Competencies—those areas of specialized expertise that:
Provide specific consumer benefits.
Are difficult for competitors to imitate.
Are capable of developing new products and services.
Core Competencies typically are thought of in terms of things your company can do better than your competitors. When a core competency yields a long-term advantage, it helps to support the company’s Sustainable Competitive Advantage. Because a company’s Sustainable Competitive Advantage is distilled from Core Competencies, it pinpoints the reasons why a business is likely to survive against its competition over time. These reasons should be easy to understand, as they often form the basis of key selling points in promotional copy. Core Competencies typically are expressed as a list of bullet points.
Following is the Sustainable Competitive Advantage statement for Persnickety Pet Portraits and the Core Competencies from which it was derived:
Sustainable Competitive Advantage
Our photographers are nationally known for their skill and artistry in creating exceptionally pleasing, heartwarming portraits of pets and the people who love them.
We understand why pets are so important to the lives of our clients because we are pet lovers too.
We are experienced dog handlers, and we understand cat psychology.
We create custom heirloom-quality portrait art rather than cutesy calendar-style photos.
The studio and grounds are totally pet-friendly.
Our business has grown through the referral of satisfied clients.
Something WONDERFUL is always happening at Persnickety!
Core Competencies:
We enjoy a national reputation, having displayed at AKC’s Westminster Kennel Club show and having created the 100th anniversary cover for the AKC magazine.
We are experienced dog handlers.
We possess classic posing and lighting skills.
We have the ability to empathize with pet lovers.
We have an unusually deep knowledge base of dog breeds and cat psychology.
We are well versed in the history of animals in art and relevant compositional styles.
Our location and grounds are unusually pet-friendly.
We have a long-standing reputation for pleasing clients
We have a demonstrated ability to run a profitable business.
We possess a strong desire to create “fun” activities for pet lovers.
Looking for something fun to do with your slideshow? Check out K&K Photography's homepage for a really creative idea. Christine took our Sage Package website design, picked out her colors, and customized the images to reflect her studio's personality. Here's what she had to say about the experience:
Marathon has helped our business by giving us the ability to showcase our great work with an affordable template that looks custom and my prospective clients love. Some clients even booked us just from our website!
We love our site for two reasons: 1- that we can easily update the galleries ourselves, and we have room to customize. And 2- we LOVE YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE! It's so important to know that anytime I call I can get help from any of the customer service reps with a problem and that in most cases it can be resolved immediately. I love Arlen and some of the other guys who have been so patient and helped me when I tortured them on many occasions with questions. Everyone is always efficient getting answers to my questions if they can't answer them right away and if I have a change that actually can't be implemented in my template, someone always gives me an alternative solution.
That is really comforting to know when you are a busy studio and you are always trying to change to keep up with the industry.
For all the reasons above, I have had a great overall experience with Marathon.
Thanks again! Christine Kovnat
owner of K&K PHOTOGRAPHY
Thank YOU, Christine for such kind words! Congratulations on your beautiful website and keep up the good work!
New Package Website Designs
If you're looking to overhaul your web presence, be sure to check out our Package Website Designs for 2010. Each design allows you to add your logo, background, and colors to match your studio's unique style. Visit our website for more information on Package Websites or speak with a Websites & Services representative at 800/228.0629.
Becky
commented on
April 6th, 2010
Very nice.This is my first visit to your blog. I will be back. TerpCreek.com
Homepage Slideshow with Multiple Music Track Support.
iPhone/iPod Touch Friendly!
Thumbnail Galleries with Auto Slideshow.
Stylish Fonts.
Customizable Background image and website colors.
HTML Package Website is $495 and comes with 6 Gallery pages, 2 Information pages, and More!
Package Websites
Package Sites are the perfect solution for photographers whose goal is to create an impressive web presence with only a small investment of time and money. Package Sites feature a variety of Flash and HTML designs created with the professional photographer in mind. Simply choose your favorite template, then provide Marathon with your images and text, and your website will be up and running in about two weeks! All development is managed by Marathon’s team of professional web designers, so you can be assured of a great-looking, well-functioning, attention-getting website. Learn more about Marathon's Package Websites or Contact a Marathon Websites & Services Representative today at 800/228.0629.
These backgrounds can be used with any of our 2009-2010 Package Website designs. Visit our website for more information on these backgrounds and Package Websites or speak with a Websites & Services representative at 800/228.0629.
When your goal is to create a first-class senior portrait campaign, Marathon can help with:
EVERYTHING you need to create a comprehensive marketing campaign that gets your business noticed by the high school seniors you want to reach.
EVERYTHING you need to impress qualified seniors—from custom direct marketing materials to fully integrated Internet marketing strategies.
EVERYTHING you need to get seniors buzzing about your business through social network media promotions using Facebook and Twitter.
BEST OF ALL when you work with Marathon, you can count on support and guidance from knowledgeable account representatives, marketing specialists, and educational webinars — all at no additional charge!
3 different full-color 6x9 cards (1,000 of each) form the heart of your campaign. They’ll feature your images, your design style and marketing message on premium card stock with UV coating options that will get your business noticed!
CUSTPKG A(3 different 6x9 direct mail cards 1,000 of each - 3,000 total cards) $775
Experts agree that a marketing campaign consisting of a minimum of three successive pieces is key to successful promotion and increased profits.
This promotional package is designed to provide the maximum return for your marketing dollar and represents outstanding exposure at an economical price.
Price Includes:
Personal Account Service
Color Proof
Choice of 12pt. Gloss or 12pt. Uncoated Fine Card Stock
Aqueous Coating
Spot or Flood UV Coating on 12pt. Gloss Card Fronts
Reward your senior reps with Gift Cards, and/or use a Gift Card promotional mailing as an additional direct marketing opportunity. Seniors love to receive Gift Cards because they feel as if they are holding real money, which encourages them to spend it at your studio!
Because the perceived value is so much greater than that of traditional offers, such as coupons, Marathon has created laminated Gift Cards with the size and feel of a credit card. Each card features your custom design.
Gift cards can also be purchased in your choice of two package options that are ready to mail.
Gift Card with Folder #GCPKG1 includes Gift Card plus unusual 6x4 Card Folder (full color both sides) printed on card stock and scored for easy folding. UV coating on one side at no additional charge.
GCPKG1 gift card and holder (50) $355 (100) $417 (250) $603 (500) $946
Gift Card with Fold-over Note Card and Imprinted Envelope #GCPKG2 includes Gift Card plus 41/ 8 x 5½ folded notecard (full color both sides) printed on card stock and scored for easy folding. UV coating included on one side at no additional charge. Envelope features black custom imprint at no additional charge.
GCPKG2 gift card and holder (50) $355 (100) $417 (250) $603 (500) $946
Need help with your design?
Marathon will design your 3 marketing cards, senior blog header, senior web page template and email blast header!
Promotional Back Copy
Choose from a host of professionally written back copy options that will save you time in crafting the promotional message for each of your three marketing cards.Included at no charge.
Marathon’s back copy suggestions will help you to decide on a theme for your campaign and follow through with appropriate marketing messages on the back copy side of your three cards. Marketing experts agree that professionally written and formatted back copy is every bit as important to the success of your marketing cards as the front card design. If you choose to have Marathon provide a graphic design for your entire campaign, back copy formatting and design is included as part of the $300 design fee.
Social Network Media Support
Marathon can help you harness the power of social networks by providing graphic designs, consistent with your campaign, as well as prewritten copy posts and webinar information on how to make the most of this powerful senior marketing tool. Included at no charge.
Social Networking is a cultural phenomenon that almost overnight became a marketing essential for attracting high school seniors. Your Marathon campaign includes a graphic identity element for your Facebook page and a wallpaper design for your Twitter account, both of which incorporate the graphic style of your senior campaign.
Your Marathon designer will translate your campaign’s theme and design style into a senior webpage that drives home your promotional message. A free content page that shows and tells seniors how to prepare for their portrait session also is available. Included at no charge.
Repetition is a key success factor for any marketing campaign. Creating a senior webpage in the same marketing design style and using the same marketing theme presented in your three post cards or gift card promo, helps to drive home your marketing message through appropriate design and text repetition. You can choose to add your senior webpage to an overall studio site or to integrate it with a website designed especially for seniors.
Also available are your choice of two preproduced pages that provide helpful hints and insightful information that will enhance your ability to create better portraits and increase the size of client orders. Each “shows and tells” students how they can help you make their senior portrait session an unqualified success through topics such as appropriate clothing and makeup, what to do about braces and skin problems, portrait enhancement ideas, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Senior Blog Header and Blog Content
Dress up your blog with a senior header that features your campaign design style, and choose from several professionally written blog content posts that will build excitement about your photography. Included at no charge.
Your senior blog should serve as the central hub of your Internet marketing strategy. By linking your Facebook and Twitter pages to your blog, you can direct the attention of seniors to blog posts through which they can learn more about your business, including images and comments from your raving senior fans. Your custom senior blog header, when it is designed to complement your campaigns graphic design style, serves as further proof of your marketing skill and professionalism.
Email Header and Email Blast Copy
Spread the word about your senior offerings through email newsletter copy suggestions combined with your custom header. Send your own email blasts or ask about Marathon’s popular Email Marketing Service. Included at no charge.
Email blasts to seniors are another important way to involve them in your Internet marketing strategy. Provide links to your social networks and the senior sections and galleries of both your website and blog. And when you use Marathon’s Email Marketing Service, you can view important statistics that show which seniors, from which schools, are following each specific link that you set up. What’s more, an email marketing header that ties in with your senior marketing campaign will assure that your email blast gets noticed!
Other services available from Marathon:
Senior Mailing List and Mail Processing Services
A Marathon direct mail specialist can help you reach qualified seniors in your target area by researching students by gender, location, and household income. Marathon can even process your entire mailing so that you have one less thing to do in preparing for a busy senior season.
To get started on your 2010 Senior Marketing Campaign, or to learn more about any Marathon product or service, contact an account representative at 800/228.0629.
steven
commented on
March 26th, 2010
Could you give me some prices about a 2010 Senior Marketing Campaign???especially the mailing list...
thanks
Tom Godart
commented on
March 26th, 2010
More information about the senior marketing campaign please.
Marathon Press
commented on
March 26th, 2010
Absolutely! The best way to learn how this program can work for you is to talk directly with an account representative by calling 800/228.0629.
Sandra Lemin
commented on
March 26th, 2010
WOuld love some prices on this. Can you purchase part or does it have to be all of the campaign?
Marathon Press
commented on
March 30th, 2010
We've updated this post to make things a bit clearer. If you've still got questions, please let us know!
What's Best for Your Business
Product Branding or Call-to-Action Marketing?
Small businesses shoulder a very heavy marketing burden. Because independent studios lack the resources of large companies that spend millions polishing their image and promoting their brand, photographers historically have tended to spend most of their promotional time and money on action marketing that is designed to create short-term profits rather than build a long-term brand. Increasingly, however, financially successful photographers are demonstrating the value of both “image marketing” and “action marketing.”
Image Marketing is designed to promote the value of your photography. Often referred to as institutional advertising or product branding, image marketing tells the world that your products and services are the very best and why, specifying what is unique about your business. Although these ads do not use these exact words, the implication is: If money were no object, all consumers would buy from you.
Action Marketing is designed to stimulate business, usually during a specific timeframe. Industry experience shows that action marketing is most effective prior to gift-giving occasions, especially Christmas and Hanukkah. Action marketing also can be effective during times of seasonal change (such as spring and fall) or for limited-time events that feature a specific product and/or include special offers.
Experienced marketers recognize a link between image marketing and action marketing: Studios that excel at image marketing enjoy better action-marketing results than those that stick to action marketing alone. Why? Image marketing builds brand identity and helps to create a demand in the marketplace; this brand equity carries over to action-marketing activities, typically increasing their profitability.
The Link Between Image Marketing and “Want Photography”
Portrait/wedding photography can be broken into two categories: Need Photography and Want Photography.
Need Photography products refer to those that satisfy the requirements of lifestyle situations such as weddings, graduations, and even school activities and sports. Brides and grooms need a wedding photographer in order to document and relive the grand occasion; high school seniors need a senior portrait for yearbook purposes as well as to commemorate an important milestone; and parents need to purchase pictures of their child’s team so that he or she is not the only child left out when the picture-day photos arrive.
Want Photography comprises those types and styles of photography that budget-minded consumers might consider to be luxury products. Even though photographers could rightly argue that all families need to have pictures of their children and of the family itself, these needs can be fulfilled by mass-market studios and low-price school picture packages. For families to be persuaded to pay much more for portraits of their family and children requires more intensive marketing—marketing that presents a compelling message about why they should give you their business. This is the mission of image marketing. While action marketing can be very effective in promoting need photography, industry experience shows that it takes much more image-building promotion to be successful in creating a demand for want-photography products.
Rarely does any studio in engage in Image Marketing or Action Marketing exclusively; most studios move between these two types of marketing depending upon their management objectives when they create an annual marketing plan and as that plan evolves throughout the year. One strategy that is common to both types of marketing, however, is that each is likely to be more successful when a campaign is involved.
The Importance of Marketing Campaigns
The hallmark of successful marketing is continuity. A one-time promotion or a single ad placement is not a fair test of whether a marketing strategy is working: Sporadic and reactive attempts at marketing typically are a waste of time and money. Marketing efforts must be frequent and consistent if you are to maintain a solid relationship with your existing clients and let new prospects learn about your business.
The most effective way to achieve market penetration, when you wish to promote a specific outcome, is through a campaign. Campaigns typically involve multiple marketing resources directed toward achieving a specific marketing and/or financial objective. These marketing resources can include direct mail, Internet marketing, media advertising, social network media, partnership marketing, portrait displays, and public relations activities. When you choose multiple marketing resources, each specific activity helps to reinforce the others in a cohesive manner that allows your business to get noticed.
Adrian Hitt
commented on
March 22nd, 2010
Great article and insight! Thanks so much for sharing. Good reminders as the season begins to ramp up again.
Paul Marlin
commented on
March 22nd, 2010
This article offers a lot for all levels of photography. Thanks Paul
produces marketing solutions for professional photographers through promotional printing, Internet marketing, and educational resources. Marathon is prepared to help in building a business that allows you to follow your passion and create long-term professional success.
Reward your senior reps with Gift Cards, and/or use a Gift Card promotional mailing as an additional direct marketing opportunity. Seniors love to receive Gift Cards because they feel as if they are holding real money, which encourages them to spend it at your studio!
Joel Bogeberg commented on April 23rd, 2010
I really like your new email marketing Product.