The other day I was chatting with a friend about a few business idea and our talk went drifted on to our competitors. I never worry about what my competition is doing. I DO keep an eye on them but I don’t allow it to consume my thought as much as it did 2 years ago. Here’s the thing I want to share with you; you are the expert in your field. My friend and business coach Jeff Gibbard of True Voice Media has always told me that anyone can take a half way decent picture today. The camera industry has made it REALLY easy for anyone to do that today, the question that you have to ask is what do you bring to the table that makes you stand out? What makes a client book you over someone else. I am a Head shot Photographer as well a family photographer. I Photographer birth sessions and take a limited number of newborn sessions. I know where I need to put my focus. I will however send clients to my competitors, and have on many many occasions.
So don’t be afraid to make referrals to your competitors. I do it all the time. I will say something like I am sorry I am booked or we are just not a fit for each other but XYZ will be a better Photographer for you and here is their card. Please let them know that I sent you. What this does is show you value your completion and you know and respect them. You also respect your clients enough to know when the relationship is not a good fit and will tell your client you are not just in this for the money. You are placing their needs FIRST and they will recognize this. A few things will happen, if they go they probably weren’t your client to begin with, the referring business MAY send you a referrals which is always a good thing. But I don’t ever expect either. I have learned that I need to put MY business and Family first and that means knowing where my limitations. I enjoy having a pizza party dinner with my children, I enjoy hearing the door close and the foot steps of my husband at the end of a long day. There aren’t enough clients in the world that can compensate for this missed feeling, so yes I will pass one or two up.
