How do I encourage quick ordering....

Rene`

I shoot alot of children's sessions. The problem is that I live in a small town and I have people who will procrastinate about ordering photos. If they order directly from me they get a package deal. Otherwise, they can order straight offline.


I have sold 1400.00 in the last 2 years straight off of SmugMug, but much more but much more from people ordering direct from me. But, how can I encourage them not to drag around. I tried the, " Please submit your order with in 30 days from the date that you are notifed of the upload ---- or pay an extra 20." Just doesn't seem to be working.

My husband says, "Make the galleries expire in a certain amount of time."

I am open for suggestions!! Anybody?

snaptie2002

How about charging an up front fee that is later applied to their print order?

Marty

Rene`

snaptie2002 wrote:

How about charging an up front fee that is later applied to their print order?

Marty

Thank's, Marty. I had thought of that. Suggestions for how much? Comments from others?

Frog Lady

snaptie2002 wrote:

How about charging an up front fee that is later applied to their print order?

Marty

if they order within 30 days... That way you've got some extra up front and they have an incentive to get the order in.

xris

This is one place where coupons will help -- when Smug makes them available. Simply provide a discount that expires in x days.

Packages also often work that way. "Package price valid until..."

A small (and happy) reminder several days before the deadline may help move the mountain too.

nobody

As the last poster said, coupons are certainly an option. Whether you use coupons or increase the price later, it is still a double-edged sword. As one who both competes in a photographs the sport of triathlon, I can say that there have been times when I have procrastinated a bit on entering the race, only to realize that I have passed a deadline and a late entry fee applies. In some cases, I've sucked it up and paid the fee, but in others I just didn't enter that particular race, went to another one, etc. In my case the late fee accomplished two things: (1) kept me from entering a particular race and (2) reminded me not to procastinate as long when entering races put up by that particular organization.

#2 is what the race director hopes to accomplish, but #1 is the price he pays for it. I suspect you'll see the same thing when selling photos -- if you significantly raise the price after a certain date, some people may lose interest in purchasing. For the race director, the benefit of early registration is logistical and it is fairly significant. For a photographer selling photos, the benefit of early ordering is only worth the interest rate you are paying or receiving. For this reason, I would keep the coupons or price differential for early ordering small -- under 10% for sure.

joviphoto

Rene` wrote:

My husband says, "Make the galleries expire in a certain amount of time."

Absolutely right! Sometimes hubbies get the answer right - in 39 years, I've managed to do so once or twice.

xris wrote:

Simply provide a discount that expires in x days.

True again. We've found success in this formula. But stick to it. We've had people call 3 days after expiration asking for the discount. Memorize this: "I apologize (you're not sorry, btw) but the discount was good for a specified period. The full price applies now." Combine the discount with the expiration and let it go, move on, this is a business. It's how you make part of your living, or at least pay for cool equipment. You'll always have someone looking for the cheap way out. I'm considering adding 15% to any gallery I have to make live again for some late comer. You have to make your own decision.

Marty wrote:

How about charging an up front fee that is later applied to their print order?

I haven't considered this one since we charge a good fee up front to do the shoot. It's a new idea to me. I'm not sure why I would pay you money now that I can have until later. Maybe if I paid $20 and it was good for $25 worth of goods (price them right to start out). I need to ponder this more. Could work if it's played right.

Understand you will always have those that come in late (try moving church meetings out one hour to help the late-comers get there on time - the first week the same people are still as late as ever!). Be firm. I like the discount/expiration process best. It's worked well for us with few late-comers.

xris

joviphoto wrote:

... We've found success in this formula. But stick to it. ...

Sounds like good advice to me! Thanks Joe.

bham

I think both a reward and punishment system is probably best. Order early some type of reward/incentive, discount if ordered directly through you, coupon, free print with order over $xx.xx, etc. Also have a punishment for to much procrastination, either increase in price, removal of gallery, cost to have gallery still be available, etc.

An example of both. If you order prints in the first 10 days you get 15% off when ordering directly through us. Then after 35 days the price increases 15%. And the gallery is removed after 45 days.

So they have 10 days to get a early discount, 25 days to order at normal prices, and a last 10 days to order at increased prices and then the gallery is gone.

joviphoto

Funny thing happened today - a lady at church came up and wondered why she couldn't find the pictures online of her son's wedding that I shot last December! She will have the opportunity to see them again...

davidweaver

LMAO...changing customer bahavior?! harharhar

some suggestions:
Do what many of hte big event photog companies do and charge an archive fee. This is sometimes a base, or percentage or base + percentage. I see a lot of 20 bucks plus 10% of the order 'archive' surcharge.

Not honoring the coupons that are a little old is not a customer-friendly practice.

I like giving away stuff (not below cost) to add to the experience. Someone recently bought a few prints and I sent them some mid-quaility digital only versions after they got the physical prints as a thank you. What's my cost? Not much, and the thought and thank you note are huge for repeat and word-of-mouth biz.

Just my 2 cents.

Cheers,
David