This blog post is another in a new blog series for JFP, “Photog Tips.” I’m planning to make it a more regular thing when my new website, blog and brand launch SOON, so be sure to come back later, too. 🙂 This tip is for photographers who have small businesses, but can really be useful for any small business owner. Tip: Be a fast emailer. Plain and simple. If you have a photography business, or any small business, really, try to be fast. In my opinion, it’s a CRUCIAL part of good business and being successful…and it’s a fairly easy thing to do! I’ll never forget the time I reached out to a few photographers about taking family beach portraits while we were on vacation a few years ago. One photographer got back to me in a few days, one got back to me in two weeks and one never responded! Are you serious?? I’m okay with waiting a few days, but two weeks or never!? How do those people still have a business?? In a world where some people are impatient, last-minute and needing instant gratification, waiting more than a few days to respond to client/customer emails is not good business practice. So here are my reasons why you should be a fast emailer: 1. It’s professional. I’m assuming that all small business owners want to be professional in some way, shape or form. Wearing presentable clothes, being punctual, having well-designed marketing materials…these are all things that make you professional. But how’s your communication? If you’re responding to emails promptly, your clients/customers know you’re serious and reliable. 2. First impressions. When a prospective photography client emails me, it might be their first personal connection with me. If they’ve read my website or blog they probably have an idea of my personality and the kind of person I am. But it’s not until they actually attempt to interact do they get the real thing. If I email them quickly (within 48 hours is my rule…a little more is okay if they emailed me late Friday because I try not to do computer work on the weekends), they right away have a good first impression. If it takes me more than a few days, they may start to think negatively of me and my business because they’re waiting. They may start to see me as unprofessional and people don’t want to spend good money with unprofessional photographers, right? 3. It’s easy. For some photographers, emails can be a daunting task. Whether you’re inbox is constantly full or you simply don’t like the act of writing emails, making emails a priority can be easy. You don’t need to do it all day every day, but make it a daily thing. When I sit down at my inbox, my goal is to answer emails that have been waiting for more than about 24 hours. If I have other things to accomplish that day, I stop. I didn’t spend a ton of time on emails and I responded to those that needed me in a timely manner. 4. It puts you above the others and you earn trust. I have some brides and grooms tell me that they are impressed with my turnaround time when it comes to emails. They find themselves waiting around for responses from other wedding vendors and it gets frustrating. If I can be a source of relief and positivity during their planning just by being a good emailer, I know I have a good chance at standing out and gaining their trust. Easy, right? Open up that inbox and make it happen! 🙂