| With the ever growing use of the Web for | | | | had to spend considerable time and effort visiting |
| personal and business use, the need to be found | | | | different photographers, or by going to a wedding |
| via search engines and online directories is | | | | fair, to see even a small percentage of what is |
| becoming ever more crucial to the success of | | | | now possible.The challenge now becomes to be |
| your business.If the mantra preached by Estate | | | | found on the internet. A client is likely to make a |
| Agents is "Location, Location, Location", then for | | | | general search, something like |
| Web Users it is undoubtedly "Information, | | | | speciality-photographer-location. e.g. Wedding |
| Information, Information". With more than 7 million | | | | Photographers Windsor. Individual photographers |
| Broadband lines already in use in the UK, and | | | | will find it hard to get their site to the top of this |
| growing daily, the transfer of business from | | | | search list. Competition is continuing to increase, |
| conventional to internet channels is changing at a | | | | and an increasing understanding of search engine |
| phenomenal pace.In the same way that digital | | | | strategies is needed to be successful.Although it is |
| technologies have overtaken film in photography, | | | | still possible to get an individual site well seen on |
| online search engines and directories are rapidly | | | | the search engines, this is becoming increasingly |
| turning paper based directories into a thing of the | | | | hard to do, particularly for competitive areas such |
| past. How much longer will we be willing to clutter | | | | as weddings, portraits and commercial |
| our homes and offices with large reams of paper | | | | photography, and in larger towns and cities. This |
| which, by their very nature, are limited in what | | | | means that the use of online directories to help |
| they can provide, when we can search quickly | | | | direct potential customers to an individual site will |
| and effectively online and have access to | | | | become increasingly essential.Tony Eatough is a |
| information way beyond what was ever possible | | | | Director of Photo Resource Limited, a Company |
| before.We believe specialised directories will be an | | | | who provide a comprehensive UK and Ireland |
| essential marketing tool in the coming years. This | | | | database of Professional Portrait, Wedding and |
| is especially true for photographers because the | | | | Commercial Photographers, and works in |
| web offers their clients the ability to see and | | | | partnership with John Henshall in the |
| assess their photographic "products" online in a | | | | implementation of a Digital Imaging web based |
| way that is impossible with paper listings.For a | | | | magazine and archive of Digital Photography |
| customer looking for, say, a wedding | | | | articles over the last 14 years. Tony previously |
| photographer, the internet gives them the | | | | worked for Eastman Kodak running their |
| opportunity to view and assess the work of a | | | | Professional Photography business for Europe, |
| variety of photographers during a single session | | | | Africa and the Middle East. |
| on their PC or Mac. Previously, they would have | | | | |