We'll be releasing the next version of our blog software on October, 28th. There will be some downtime starting around 8 PM CST while we upgrade the blog system. Since our blog is a stand alone product, all other services will run as normal.
You can look forward to these new features!
New Layouts
The ability to tag your posts
Schedule when you want your posts to come out
Easily link to your social networking profiles
View Comments directly from the blog view
Easily sort your Pages and Links
If you have any questions about this upgrade, please contact a Websites & Services Representative a 800/228.0629.
Drawing a blank on what to say in your next email campaign?. Here are a dozen ideas designed to get you started with content that goes beyond ordinary newsletters and promotions. Take them and make them your own.
Recap five things you learned at the last event you and your team attended.
Showcase the latest work, news and awards from your company.
Compile news from your industry, and add your brief take on it.
Record a video interview highlighting an employee's expertise or style.
Feature the charitable groups your organization works with.
Take content from online seminars and turn it into an email.
Share three things folks might not know about your product or company.
Collect and share your employees' favorite sites, products or articles.
Create a how-to series or videos or articles in your field of expertise.
Tell a particularly compelling story from or organization's early history.
Ask a customer the three things they like best about your work, service or product.
Summarize articles from your blog, fan boards or anywhere else you've got content.
12 years ago Yervant and Anie Zanazanian set out to capture the high-end wedding marketplace in Melbourne, Australia, by opening their first studio in the city's High Street fashion district. They have earned their reputation as the leading boutique studio in Australia through hard work, prodigious talent, and an understanding of the importance of imprinting their brand through the creation of compelling products and comprehensive image marketing.
From the beginning they targeted the fashion-savvy bride who appreciates individuality and novelty, catering to a very specific clientele that looks for a distinctive edge in their choices and lifestyles. Today, Yervant is regarded as among the top five most recognized wedding photographers internationally, and the studio is now located in Melbourne's newest and most prestigious downtown development: Docklands. The studio space they purchased boasts 10 large street-level windows right on the main boulevard.
The studio itself is distinctly designer-inspired to convey luxury and fine quality, yet also to make clients feel welcome and comfortable. According to Anie, whose business sense is a match for Yervant's artistry, client experience is vital to the success of their business. "From the moment a client steps into our studio," she explains, "the feeling of luxury that we exude, the array of highest quality products, our conduct and deportment throughout their visitation, and what they take home with them are designed to make clients remember the experience. We know we have mastered the art of welcoming and impressing our clientele, but it is equally important that the experience goes home with them in a package; hence our stationery and marketing collateral are designed to keep on telling our story . . . keep on selling and impressing."
Yervant Photography's marketing materials accomplish just that! Developed through Marathon as part of its BellaGrafica line of boutique studio marketing materials, the collection is designed to appeal to wedding couples who value fashion panache and elegant story-telling photography.
Even the presentation of the studio's marketing materials is about an experience to remember. Anie explains: "We present our materials in a shiny, smooth, and luxurious black box. We do this because we want our clients to take home a piece of luxury: a special gift that each client will sit back, undo the luxurious silk ribbon, and open to reveal our miniature sample albums, a CD of images and messages, and a presentation folder containing specially designed components of our various offers, price lists and promotions."
Anie describes their collection, pieces of which are available for purchase through Marathon, as "sensual and chic," and she explains how this flair for luxury and fashionable design is choreographed throughout the entire collection from their business correspondence materials and order forms to their presentation folder, Bridal Gift Registry materials and their impressive product packaging: "The square format stands out amongst the typical rectangle shape of other business stationery, and the luster finish, silver lettering, embossed logo and fine paper choices of each piece radiates sheer luxury."
Business Cards: We chose square format to match all our other stationery, which stands out from ordinary rectangular shapes, and includes a unique die cut to the bottom.
Note Pads: We use our themed note pads when taking notes from clients in their presence. It suggests attention to detail, thorough-think process, uniform high quality, and no compromise in all that we do.
Invoice Paper, Contract Paper, Letterhead, “With Compliments” Slip: These items are themed to match the core design, again suggesting thoroughness in all we do . . . quality all the way!
Invoice Envelope: We present our invoices, receipts, contract, etc. in this attractive envelope-type wallet, as it shows discretion when dealing with monetary transactions, and also it helps the client keep these materials intact and not misplaced.
Bridal Gift Registry: We offer a Gift Registry to those who “have everything and do not wish to receive another toaster,” or to those who love our work, but perhaps could not afford us. The Bridal Gift Registry increases possibilities.
Gift Registry Card: The bride includes this card within her invitation card stationery. Guests can contribute toward the entire wedding photography package and HomeArt.™
Gift Cards: Ideal for portrait clients, the laminated gift card has a defined value and is packaged in a beautiful presentation folder that will not need wrapping as each presentation is very impressive to give to family members or friends as baptism gifts, birthday gifts, engagement gifts, etc.
Print Card: We insert individual 5"x7" and 7"x10" prints in these cards, and a set of 10 fits in the coordinating presentation envelope. We designed these cards so that each image maintains value, remains pristine, and impresses the giver and receiver.
Portrait Packaging Envelopes: Like their content, our envelopes are also designed with the core theme.
Belly Band: Simple but elegant, the band carries the theme of the core design, providing a finishing touch to any bundle that we assemble. Whether it is our presentation box or portrait print envelopes, it is the finalé of our packaging!
Embossed Tags: Each belly band is fastened with a logo-embossed tag that finishes the package even more luxuriously.
Stick-on Tags: Each wall print HomeArt™ piece always has a stick-on label on the back with our contact and website details.
To learn more about the Yervant and Anie Zanazanian business profile, click here. To visit their studio website and blog, click here. View their entire BellaGrafica Collection by clicking here.
Ron Burg
commented on
September 19th, 2009
Well done great choice for color
Thank you for sharing
Very few photography studios stay in business long enough to celebrate a 50th anniversary, but that's exactly what Bert and Cindy Behnke and Bert's mom, Connie, did in 2006, when the family business celebrated its golden anniversary. Founded in 1956 by Connie and Bert's late father, Al, Bert purchased the business in 1985, and his wife Cindy joined it in 1991. Connie, who is well known as a teacher and consultant in the areas of studio design and sales, continues to work with studio owners through her firm CMB Associates. Connie's skills and knowledge clearly have rubbed off on Bert and Cindy, so in 2001, when they decided to move the business from a retail space in Frankfort, Illinois, to a purpose-built home and studio in the nearby suburb of Mokena, they were well prepared to tackle the job, with Bert serving as general contractor and Cindy supervising the interior design.
Beginning with the end in mind
The couple set three major goals during the planning stage of this extensive project:
Develop a property where home and studio could function comfortably together, one that provided a pleasant work environment with adequate separation from the home for themselves and their family and a positive community image and relaxed environment in which to welcome clients.
Provide them with the increased equity that comes from owning a building where real estate values were stable, while reducing operating expenses for the studio.
Create an environment that provides opportunities for outdoor portraits just outside the studio door and even possibilities for expanded background choices by using stylish interior settings within the home.
The couple did just that and more. It is hard to imagine a more attractive and functional environment than the residential studio that the Behnke's created.
Designing for accessibility, style and comfort
Clients have no problem identifying the Behnke's residential studio, as two pillars that clearly mark the location flank the driveway entrance.
A stone path directs clients to the studio entrance, at left, which is clearly identified by a bronze plaque and antique camera that not only helps to define the studio entrance, but also serves as quite a conversation piece for clients making their first visit to the studio.
An elegant, yet homey, foyer greets clients when they enter the studio. Like the rest of the studio, the foyer features portraiture as a central design element.
A beautifully furnished sitting room is the perfect environment for discussing portrait design possibilities with clients during planning consultations.
The sales room features a display of portraits in various sizes ranging from wall installations to desk accents.
Designing with portraiture in mind
The spacious camera room provides endless options for working with both studio lights and natural window light.
Elegant double doors, which separate the studio from the home, open to reveal the home's dramatic entry-foyer staircase, which can serve as a spectacular background for portraits. The 8-foot x 8-foot quad-panel doors were specifically built into the scheme to allow photography of larger groups in their camera room. By opening the doors and positioning the camera in the foyer, it allows photography (using a standard lens) of groups up to thirty people, even though the camera room is only 20 feet x 16 feet.
This view of the property shows how Bert and Cindy have maximized the home's placement and landscape design to serve as a convenient outdoor studio. As there website says: "The studio is located on two beautifully wooded acres where we do much of our outdoor photography. Our home/studio was built with portraiture in mind."
Results that pay off
When Bert and Cindy began plans for the new home studio, the business was located in a rented space comprising 1,800 square feet devoted to the studio, plus 900 square feet of work area. At that time, the Behnke's owned a 2,200-square-foot home with a real estate value of $200,000. Today, the 6,200 square-foot home studio, which sits on 2 wooded acres, has a real estate value of $750,000. "In the design of the studio, we were careful not to do anything that would hurt the building's eventual resale," Cindy explains. "It can easily be sold as a dual-purpose property or simply as a larger residence."
However it is not just the improved financial position and reduced operating costs that Bert and Cindy value about the transformation. Bert explains: "In our old location, it was very hard to do the type of lifestyle photography and outdoor portraiture families love, because we were completely hemmed in, and traffic and new construction were a big problem. The fact that we can make attractive outdoor portraits right outside our door makes good business sense, as we can shoot several additional sessions each day because we don't have to travel. Cindy and I also enjoy the fact that we can work in the evening if we choose to do so, and we can schedule evening appointments at our option because we don't have to travel to work. We really appreciate this flexibility."
Bert believes that the move to a home studio was well timed: "Years ago, some people might not have felt comfortable going to a home-based business," he says. "But today a home office has become a status symbol. I believe our clients are far more relaxed doing business with us in our home rather than the hustle and bustle of a retail setting."
The Behnkes have succeeded in creating an environment that appeals to their clients because it has much the same look and feel of their own homes. "We have always provided the best possible product for our clients," Bert concludes, "and we believe the home environment adds to the quality of their experience."
You can see more examples of the fine portraiture that Master Photographers Bert and Cindy Behnke create in and around their residential studio on their website by clicking here. Take time also to read more about the history of the studio and the many accomplishments they have achieved through past and present leadership in Professional Photographer's of America (PPA), of which Bert is a past president and founder of PPA Charities. Together, and individually, Bert and Cindy present programs on portraiture to state, local, national and international associations. To inquire about their programs, call 708.479.6700 or email bert@behnkephoto.com.
The Behnkes chose the Marathon HTML Package Site "Yin-Yang" for their website because of it's simplicity, it's ability to maximize viewing of their images, and, says Bert: "It was a great value and so easy to complete; all we had to do was get the images together and send in several pages of copy. Marathon did the rest."
AL Aguayo
commented on
September 17th, 2009
What Bert and Cindy Behnke have done is what I am striving to do, is my dream which I hope will come true some day in the near future.
I just lost my studio due to a big leak (that almost ruin my studio equipment as well). So I am back at home starting this October.
I am still working in the marketing and income of the studio, though I have 10 years in business.
You have inspired me to keep working towards my goals, because now I know that it is possible.
Thanks.
AL
www.aa-photography.com
801-603-9837
Now you can learn from one of the industry’s super-marketers, Sarah Petty, who directs one of the industry’s fastest-growing and most-profitable studios. Become an exclusive member of Café Joy for our lowest price ($99 - regularly $199) and you’ll get a monthly jolt of marketing inspiration designed to help your business succeed. For a $35 monthly subscription, you’ll receive
Sarah’s CDs: filled with marketing ideas and strategies she uses in her studio
And if you’re just looking for a way to make some extra cash during the busy holiday season, Tasty Templates is for you. Sell just 40 cards at $5 each and you’ve paid for them!
15 of the best professionally designed holiday card templates available in the industry. View them here!
Upsell your best clients without having to scramble to design during your busy season
At less than $15 per card, it’s a great way to build your brand for an introductory price of just $199 (regularly $299)
Use code TASTY100 to purchase and get $100 off for the next 48 hours!
Persnickety Pet Portraits, the latest addition to Ann and Jim Monteith's portrait studio, is the focus of an article appearing in the September issue of Professional Photographer Magazine. The concept was to create an additional income stream for Monteith's Countryhouse Studios by focusing consumer attention on pet photography through a niche business supported by an aggressive marketing plan. To accomplish this, the Monteith's utilized Marathon's Marketing Advantage Program (MAP) which assisted them in developing a comprehensive marketing campaign to address the following marketing needs:
business identity
opportunity marketing
client acquisition
client education
boutique packaging
relationship marketing
Internet marketing
The Monteith's also benefitted from exclusive benefits reserved for MAP members such as:
Professional one-on-one review of marketing needs to assure that marketing activities fit the business position today and are relevant to future goals.
Real savings on all Marathon and BellaGrafica marketing products as well as complimentary services reserved exclusively for MAP members.
A structure that spreads marketing payments over time, so that you can “pay-as-you-market.” Spread many of the program costs into monthly payments through a points-plus-payment system that assures participants receive significant discounts across the entire Marathon and Bellagrafica line of products.
Ongoing support by a personal MAP Facilitator, whose primary function is to help keep planning and execution on track and to assure program fees are being used efficiently.
If you're in need of a web presence, but not ready to spend the time or money to develop a full website, Marathon's Quicksite is just for you. Getting started is super fast and it's free when you start your monthly hosting. A Quicksite provides your customers with session proofing, Marathon's client education content, and a convenient contact form. You can also easily connect to your existing blog, Facebook, or Twitter accounts.
Contact a Websites Account Representative directly at 800/228.0629 or click here to learn more.
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.
Drawing a blank on what to say in your next email campaign?. Here are a dozen ideas designed to get you started with content that goes beyond ordinary newsletters and promotions. Take them and make them your own.
Ron Burg commented on September 19th, 2009
Well done great choice for color Thank you for sharing