If you have been prepping for the busy season with high school seniors, your first step is to find quality senior representatives or models that will endorse you and your business. This article will provide you a few easy networking tips for finding and screening senior reps for the upcoming year.
Since most of us have been out of high school for a while, we are out of the loop as far as knowing students that age. The good news, if you find the right reps your first year they will continue to refer their friends to your business. Our studio finds the most success with asking our current clients local to the area or previous senior clients, however, there are other methods to finding potential reps.
Clients Socialize with your clients during their session. The first year after we moved to a new area, finding reps was a daunting task. I asked people who I met a social events if they knew students that age. Even though they weren't in high school or had kids that age, almost everyone knew someone that had a connection to a local high school. Simply ask for the contact information for those people and send them a friendly email. They will more than likely help you out with a few names. If you have photographed seniors in the past, ask them for names. Almost every student knows a few kids that are a year or two younger than them. This is how we select our reps, they are strictly nominated from last year’s seniors. I narrow done the names after researching who they are and how involved they are in their community and social media.
Application Process Another method for finding senior reps is through an application process. You can have upcoming seniors visit your website to apply to be a part of the program. You can also generate buzz and promote through social media. This is a great way to get more exposure. Ask you applicants to tag your business and promote to their friends. Remember, kids this age are on Instagram and Twitter. Their parents are on Facebook. The application process can work if you have a following of upcoming seniors. If you are new to the senior market, this may not work for you unless you already have some connections at your local high school. You can also target the parents of seniors by asking your local Chamber of Commerce to add it to their newsletter. Have a plan in place in case you get more requests than you want. You don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings or allow a potential client to have a negative experience. You want them to come back and book their senior session with you.
School Involvement Get involved with school activities whether it is a choir concert, basketball game, or a bake sale. Schools constantly have fundraisers going on around town. Get plugged into the news of your local high by reading their website. Most high schools have a community calendar so you can see what events and activities are open to the public. Plan to attend some of these functions to meet and socialize with students, parents, and faculty. On a side note, make a genuine attempt to be a part of your local high school at all times during the year. Randomly showing up to one school function a year to find reps may make you look like a creeper. Another opportunity is getting involved in school dances. We are offering free prom portraits this year. It is being marketed to our 2014 and 2015 reps and the seniors we photographed over the past year. They are able to bring their friends and dates to a location during a two hour window for a free portrait. Not only is this a great way for potential clients to see you in action, but a great way to give something back to those who supported you over the past year. The parents have been very grateful and excited about this opportunity.
The key to finding models and reps is being involved in your community and school. Once you get plugged into your local network, finding reps and models in the future will get easier. You next step is screening your potential candidates. First, check them out online and make sure they are using social media. Ask around to ensure they are involved and have a good reputation at school and in the community. If they are exceeding expectations, contact them and see what their reaction is to your offer. Their excitement and commitment will be a gauge at what you can expect over the following year. Make certain they are excited and want to help promote your brand. Have a list of expectations and bonuses ready to give them so they can decide if they want to be apart of your program. Hopefully, your next step is to answer all the phone calls and emails from potential clients.
I'm not sure I get this article. I'd be considered a stalker trying to do this, I think...
I think exactly the same way as Spy Black!
I was a senior 2 years ago, and I currently have a video business focused on them (mostly on private schools).
What I have noticed during this time is that many of the high schools have a reputation of their own, and by working with these high schools you get to be known as "The videographer that always works with X school."
Many people tend to like and even wait to see the video of these particular schools. Kind of aspirational marketing.
By working primarily with these schools, the other ones will start calling and wanting to work with you.
Hope it works!