The last few months have brought about many changes and uncertainties to the world economy and business structure. Although challenging and stressful for small business owners, it has also forced many entrepreneurs to rethink their strategy, alter their product offerings, and revise their plans.
With home buying, selling, and moving still happening amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as a real estate photographer, you may have been able to adapt your services to support yourself. With that said, if you’re worried about the future, know that there are some proactive measures you can take. By analyzing your business structure and service offerings, you can successfully adapt during this pandemic and come out victorious on the other side.
Organize your business
As a real estate photography business owner, you understand the time and attention your job requires each day. Typical days consist of early mornings and late evenings, projects, emails, and connecting with clients. Although you might thrive off the hustle and bustle of the industry and job itself, some days, you might be left with little time for housekeeping tasks. Business matters like paying bills, accounting, preparing client information, cleaning your office, or organizing your calendar are a few areas that might go on the backburner. Taking this time to get your business organized will be extraordinarily productive and help you more than you might realize. Although it’s tempting to be on go mode all the time, this forced pause can help you:
- Identify gaps in your real estate photography business
- Get your space and mind organized
- Help you make clear decisions
Prepare for uncertainty in the future
One thing to take away from this unprecedented time is that organizing and having a backup plan in your life and career is paramount. Although no one wants to think about their business failing or losing someone or something important in their life, it’s a fact of life that can’t be ignored. Instead of trying to avoid the inevitable, give yourself peace of mind by preparing early on in your life and career.
Purchasing a life insurance policy is one way to protect your future, family, and business. Depending on where you see your real estate photography business heading in the future, it’s a good idea to consider the unexpected. Also, buying a life insurance policy can assist your loved ones financially. They might be left to pay for any outstanding bills, mortgage, or expenses associated with your business. Use this time to have those crucial conversations so that you can put your mind at ease.
Stay connected to your clients
As the entire world faces the pandemic, consider what your clients might be going through and ways to serve as a helpful resource. It’s a good idea to stay in touch with potential clients and provide them with up-to-date information, photos, or interactive virtual tours. Reach out via email to individuals to see if they have any contacts you might be able to expand to or potential clients.
It’s part of your job to make sure clients have what they need—reaching out and following up can go a long way. Even if it’s unrelated to your current discussion, ask them how they are doing and if you can assist them. By leveraging technology, it’s easy to stay in touch with your client’s situation.
Brush up on your skills
If you are primarily working from home during this time, it’s an excellent opportunity to experiment with new tools and techniques that might enhance your services. Take the initiative to be a little creative and build on your skills. Try to:
- Increase your knowledge of the industry at large
- Brush up on real estate photography best practices
- See how you can offer a competitive edge
You can experiment on your own house or property. Reach out to family and friends to see if you can practice by taking photos of their homes. Depending on your financial situation, now might be a good time to invest in equipment that can take your photography to the next level. Should sales be down due to the pandemic, you might be able to negotiate a good deal with a local seller. Do your research and consider the benefits of investing in new tools and how they can grow your company.
Boost your online presence
With so many individuals working from home or adjusting their business to allow for safety and flexibility, there is an excellent opportunity to boost your online presence. If you aren’t already operating off various social media platforms, now is a great time to start. Having your work be seen and talked about is one of the best ways to attract new deals. Step-up your real estate social media presence by learning how to:
- Optimize your content
- Create engaging infographics
- Develop a streamlined approach to reach your target audience
Taking the time to learn more about how social media can improve your overall strategy and connect to the right clients is worthwhile. You can even automate and schedule posts in advance so you can regularly engage on social media platforms without having to sacrifice time out of your busy schedule. It’s important to stay current regarding your social media strategy, as there are constant app updates and trending ways to reach customers. Your content will be more likely to stand out among the crowd by keeping up with your audience.
Provide exceptional customer service
People want to work with professionals they can trust. Whether they are spending money or looking for an agent to help them buy a home, your clients want to know they are getting:
- Current information
- Competitive prices
- Best deal for their dollar
Learning to be professional and provide exceptional customer service shows your dedication to your job and clients’ happiness.
One of the best ways to expand your network and gain repeat customers is to provide the best quality service and work. Keep your commitments and make sure you deliver what you promised. Knowing what to expect, your clients and partners will perceive you as trustworthy – someone who will help them get the best results.
In the end
The last few months have been a real change in the pace of most individuals. Learning to navigate the real estate industry changes while staying up to date on your own business requires total commitment. By taking a few valuable lessons away from this challenging time, such as planning, taking an organized approach, and utilizing your unique skill set, you can develop your real estate photography business further and find great success.