Marketing?

[Christopher Barrett]

Ok, this is a little embarrassing, but I've been making images for 20 years and I don't know a thing about marketing. Most of my clients are 10 year plus relationships and my PR campaigns pretty much consist of just going out drinking with them. In my still career it is always about the relationships and my vision. I bought the R1 to augment those situations and offer more to my existing clients, but sure it would be nice to do new and different work as well.

In the film world it seems to be at least somewhat about the camera... ie a producer has a project in X location and they're like, ok who has Reds in town X?

Given that, how do you make yourselves more visible? Obviously you have a website with samples of your work... but beyond that? I'm doing a short with a friend this Spring that I'm really excited about and has nothing to do with my commercial work, so I definitely want to start thinking about how to publicize that too. I think I'm going to end up doing a DP website that is separate from my current site.

It seems like a lot of you are finding really creative ways to go about this.

Thoughts?


CB

 

[George Butterfield]

Given that, how do you make yourselves more visible? Obviously you have a website with samples of your work... but beyond that?

Put your "reel" and list your services on your website. Get the names of all Directors in your area, e-mail them, pointing them to your website. Have your website on your business card. Find out what productions are going on in your area, let these people know you have a RED.

 

[mark corderoy]

Online social media...

Online social media...

Online gives loads of opportunities; twitter, facebook and blogs (BTS stories etc) can all help. Results can be very quick, particularly if you participate in other peoples social networks (commenting, asking/answering questions).

 

[Rob Ruffo]

Online gives loads of opportunities; twitter, facebook and blogs (BTS stories etc) can all help. Results can be very quick, particularly if you participate in other peoples social networks (commenting, asking/answering questions).

interesting - please tell us more - like the OP I have basically zero web presence, and do everything word-of-mouth 100% old-school

 

[Jeremy Torrie]

It really all depends...I have always looked after myself and my projects first -i.e. making sure I can provide for my family first and foremost...but I have a multitude of skill sets: writer, director, producer, editor, camera op (don't call myself a DOP even though I could), and so on with over 100 hours of nationally broadcast television and a couple of features under the belt...this means I have a number of ways to generate income, and yet I still have no website (shame on me).

When things get slow however I pay visits to sets and meet with the cam dept. and/or PMs just to remind them what I have available as far as gear. And because I produce I have relationships with many producers so that helps too.

That said I did recently participate in a workshop on Online Marketing & Multiplatform Strategies in relation to building audience and found it to be very, very useful...