Free Franchise - Web Design Update

Just to let everyone know, I have started the re-design and the new site will be

• much cleaner
• easier to navigate
• easier to book!
• fit in with everyone's pricing structure (provided a £25 booking fee is acceptable)

Should be up and running in a few days!

Booking Fee Commission

Thank you to everyone who has provided me with valuable feedback on my 'Free Franchise' concept.

One query that kept on cropping up was 'How do we know the lead has come from you and how do we pay you the commission?"

The simplest solution (to the portrait side of business) to this query I can think of is:

• Client reserves a booking online for £25.
• I then forward them a voucher for £25 giving them your location and contact details
• At the same time I contact you to confirm the clients' purchase and forward their contact details onto you.
• You then contact the client (or they contact you), arrange a time, do the shoot, ect...
• You don't have to worry about sorting commission for me since the sale of the voucher (the equivalent to most studio's booking fee) would settle matters my end
• You're then free to up sell to the client.

What do you think?

Free Franchise for Photographers

As some of you will know, I am soon about to be launching a Free Franchise for photographers looking to take advantage of any leads my website - richerimagephotography.co.uk generates.

The basic concept I am thinking of is:

• Leads get passed onto a photographer who covers a particular area and a particular field of expertise.
• Should the lead convert, I then take a commission.

This, I feel is a fair business model that provides no risk to you, the photographer.

However, I am aware that further terms and conditions will have to be in-place to ensure everyone involved has a clear understanding of how the system will work.

This is where I would really appreciate your input. To be blunt - this service has got to work, first and foremost, for you, the photographer.

My thoughts on the matter are...

1) Each photographer enjoys exclusivity for their area provided they apply a minimum standard of service. Namely:

• They contact the customer within 24 hours
• They are members of the SWPP or can demonstrate their competence behind the camera
• Any dispute over the quality of work is to be between the Photographer and the Client (i.e. no come back on me)
• Portfolio Images would need to be supplied for the website
  

2) An agreed Commission structure:

• £25 for a portrait session
• £50 for a Wedding up to £699
• £100 for Weddings between £700 - £1,499
• £150 for Weddings between £1500 -£1,999
• 10% for Weddings over £2,000
• Corporate - £10%
• Events - £10%
• Schools - £10%

3) Each Franchise will cover an area and category. A photographer is welcome to cover more than one provided it is part of their 'core' business

• Studio Portraits
• On-Location Portraits
  
• Maternity - Studio Based
• Maternity - On-Location Based
• Boudoir - Studio
• Boudoir - On-Location
• Events
• Weddings between £700 - £1,499
• Weddings between £1500 -£1,999
• Weddings over £2,000
• Corporate
• Food
• Architecture
• Landscape

In short, that's it. I want to keep everything simple and rewarding for everyone.

Please let me have your thoughts by the comments link (or email me direct).

Also, and just to let you know, I am putting together prices for prints (paper, acrylic and canvass) so you can order them through us as well. However, I will leave this side of the service to up to you - your decision whether to, or not to, use this service does not affect your franchise in anyway.

I am also putting together a subscription service giving all sorts of marketing and sales advice. Again - up to you whether you use it or not.

Thanks, look forward to your comments

A Change in Direction

A bit of a change in direction for me. For the better, and hopefully for many others.

My workload has changed somewhat. The dreaded 'Crunch' seems to be lifting and my phone has starting ringing again.

These days (I'm happy to say), I am doing what I do best - helping business with their new projects. I'm really enjoying getting back into the swing of things. Getting new projects off the ground is my niche - and I'm in a variety of projects ranging from a new way for businesses to source their legal services through to sourcing new suppliers of groceries to export to North Africa.

It's fair to say, no two days are the same!

So what's going to happen with the photography?

Well, the website is front page in Google for most of it's keywords. I'm thinking that other photographers can take advantage of this.

Need to put some thoughts together.....