Operationally it will be rather easy to get started. Depending on your budget you have the choice of buying equipment outright which can be quite expensive, or you can finance, or rent it. If you are on a relatively tight budget, or are not quite sure if you want to pursue this business long term it would be advantageous to go with the rental option. You will be able to rent all the basic equipment required for the taping of most any event, such as as camera, player, color monitor, lights and sound equipment. You can even rent editing equipment, or you may want to utilize an editing service in the beginning. A van or station wagon to lug the equipment round will be very helpful.
Other expenses will be for basic office supplies, telephone and answering machine, a professional brochure or 2 to 4 page flyer, business cards, etc.
While specializing in a given area such as social events, business services, or something else will probably make good business sense over the long term, it may be advantageous to pursue all markets during the first year. This will build revenue quicker and you will be able to determine which market you enjoy most.
Working social events can be trying. Some knowledge of social etiquette and how a certain event should be conducted will be very helpful. Even more, be sure you know who is truly in charge of the event. Each event will have is own little idiosyncrasies depending on the participants. It may be that a given relative should be taped more than someone else. Whoever calls the shots will be able to direct you.
Surely this business is ideal to be started from your home. As your business grows a design a design studio can be rented. Once you have the basic equipment in place, most of your revenue will go to the bottom line, unless you are renting equipment. It is therefore often possible to generate a profit relatively quickly.
While it may be necessary to grant credit to established businesses and organizations,it is not recommended that you grant credit for social events. To do so is not commonly done even by hotels and restaurants and is generally considered quite a risky practice.
Resources
Books & Publications: An excellent book is: "How to Capitalize on the Video Revolution", Holt, Rinehart & Winston, New York, NY
Videography Magazine, 50 West 23rd St.,New York, NY 10011 Broadcast Week, Box 5727, 2500 Curtis St.,S-200, Denver, CO 80205 Organizations: Women in Film & Video, 27 West 20th St.,New York, NY 10011-212-206-8555
Film councils can be found in most larger cities.
For additional information helpful in setting up your new business, information about licenses, permits, the legal structure of your business, taxes, insurance and much more refer to the Business Start-Up Fact Finder Manual.
Sunday
Videographer: Finding Customers Who Need Your Services
The Individual who has a good personality and enjoys mixing with people will have a marked advantage in this field. Since many individuals, organizations or companies may never have considered to utilize video for their event or presentation the trick is to create the demand through the sale.
Networking your services through a group of friends and associates will be most effective along with advertising. Advertising may be used to reach the social event buyer as in the case of wedding and barmitzvahs and advertising in business publications for a variety of business services. Yellow Page advertising will also be an excellent way to get known in your community. Direct mail properly followed up in personal and telephone sales contacts will also be quite effective.
Churches, hotels, restaurants, florists, jewelers, clubs and other organizations and businesses servicing the social market will also be able to generate new leads. Getting your name out to as many of these companies as possible will be a major plus. It is easy to track social events yourself. Check the social pages in your newspapers for engagement announcements and synagogue records for upcoming batmizah . You can then match names against those in the phone book and will be able to mail your brochure or flyer.
You may even consider specializing in a certain market segment as, e.g. legal videographing. Before you embark on this market find out what laws are in your state pertaining to videotaping for legal purposes. They differ substantially by state. An excellent way to get started may be to try associating with court reporting service. In states where it is legal, many of these services now tape the deposition in addition to keeping a written record of it.
Another fertile market may be to initiate a direct marketing campaign to an affluent neighborhood to sell video-taping services of valuables for insurance records.
In your sales presentations to various businesses, the time savings that can be accomplished through video presentations should be stressed. A real estate agent can save hours of time which can be utilized to generate more sales by utilizing video presentations of residences rather than driving potential buyers all over town.
You may be able effectively use bartering to get your business going. For example, you may want to video-tape one or more catering events for a carter and in return have the carter recommend your company. The free video-taping of a social event for the owner of a graphic design business or for a printer may get you a free brochure.
Networking your services through a group of friends and associates will be most effective along with advertising. Advertising may be used to reach the social event buyer as in the case of wedding and barmitzvahs and advertising in business publications for a variety of business services. Yellow Page advertising will also be an excellent way to get known in your community. Direct mail properly followed up in personal and telephone sales contacts will also be quite effective.
Churches, hotels, restaurants, florists, jewelers, clubs and other organizations and businesses servicing the social market will also be able to generate new leads. Getting your name out to as many of these companies as possible will be a major plus. It is easy to track social events yourself. Check the social pages in your newspapers for engagement announcements and synagogue records for upcoming batmizah . You can then match names against those in the phone book and will be able to mail your brochure or flyer.
You may even consider specializing in a certain market segment as, e.g. legal videographing. Before you embark on this market find out what laws are in your state pertaining to videotaping for legal purposes. They differ substantially by state. An excellent way to get started may be to try associating with court reporting service. In states where it is legal, many of these services now tape the deposition in addition to keeping a written record of it.
Another fertile market may be to initiate a direct marketing campaign to an affluent neighborhood to sell video-taping services of valuables for insurance records.
In your sales presentations to various businesses, the time savings that can be accomplished through video presentations should be stressed. A real estate agent can save hours of time which can be utilized to generate more sales by utilizing video presentations of residences rather than driving potential buyers all over town.
You may be able effectively use bartering to get your business going. For example, you may want to video-tape one or more catering events for a carter and in return have the carter recommend your company. The free video-taping of a social event for the owner of a graphic design business or for a printer may get you a free brochure.
Videographer
Vital Information
Start-up Investment
Low - $1,000 or less for home-based operation
High - $100,000 and up for outside offices and acquisition of sophisticated equipment.
Break-even time - 2 months to 1 year
Estimate of Annual Revenue and Profit
Revenue $30,000 - $800,000 Profit (Pre-tax) $20,000 - $250,000
A Market With Continued Major Growth
New video technology of recent years has created opportunities for a new segment of professional videographers. While certain types of video-taping will require a highly skilled videographer in assignments such as sports events, or a stage presentation, other assignments such as the taping of individuals for a dating service, legal depositions, insurance matters, and most social events will mostly require good knowledge of the equipment, experience, and the ability to work with various groups.
The marketability and demand for various services is almost unlimited. Video presentations are more commonly used now on sales presentations of all types, various insurance claim matters, real estate sales, all types of training material and in a variety of other situations. The market is really only limited by the ability of the videographer to sell his services for a variety of purposes.
Start-up Investment
Low - $1,000 or less for home-based operation
High - $100,000 and up for outside offices and acquisition of sophisticated equipment.
Break-even time - 2 months to 1 year
Estimate of Annual Revenue and Profit
Revenue $30,000 - $800,000 Profit (Pre-tax) $20,000 - $250,000
A Market With Continued Major Growth
New video technology of recent years has created opportunities for a new segment of professional videographers. While certain types of video-taping will require a highly skilled videographer in assignments such as sports events, or a stage presentation, other assignments such as the taping of individuals for a dating service, legal depositions, insurance matters, and most social events will mostly require good knowledge of the equipment, experience, and the ability to work with various groups.
The marketability and demand for various services is almost unlimited. Video presentations are more commonly used now on sales presentations of all types, various insurance claim matters, real estate sales, all types of training material and in a variety of other situations. The market is really only limited by the ability of the videographer to sell his services for a variety of purposes.
How to Make Money With Your Camera
Several millions homes nowadays have some kind of photography equipment. Some operators are strictly amateurs but others do a professional job shooting for fun, even with very inexpensive equipment.
If you own a camera and can take some reasonably good pictures, you definitely can make money with your hobby by selling pictures.
The market for pictures is tremendous. It has been estimated that magazines and newspapers buy over 60 millions photos a year, although most of the pictures are taken by professional photographers, there is a good deal of non professional hobbyists making a good extra income selling their pictures to specialized markets, little known by the majority of people.
This information is intended to help you find a market for your pictures, assuming you already take pictures good enough to be sold. If you feel that your work could be improved, there are a number of courses available, and you can also develop professional touch and technical know-how by simply subscribing to specialized magazines.
There is an incredible amount of markets for selling your pictures, and the number is growing every day.
The beginners should avoid markets already overcrowded by professional competitors, like very well known magazines, which obviously deal only with professionals.
The best markets for a non professionals are
* Trade journals, * Special interest magazines, * Real Estate, * Small local papers.
By consuming a great amount of pictures, maintaining a constant demand for new ones, and paying less than well known magazines, they avoid the competition of professional and industrial photographers, and buy mostly from non professionals like yourself.
Special interest magazines attract very special groups of readers. For example, magazines on hobbies, sports, gardening, etc...They are bought by subscriptions or on newstands.
Trade journals are directed at very special professional and Trades. They generally sold only by subscription.
To begin with, it would be advisable for you to get a book on professional photography from your local library. This step will enable you to get acquainted with copyright laws and special tips for selling your pictures.
The starting photographer should concentrate on subject he is familiar with, for example a special hobby and what he enjoys shooting the most, whether it is sceneries, children, animals, etc...
By finding out what is your speciality, you will be able to select your market and determine what magazines could be interested in your work.
The following guide is just a sample of companies in the market for photos. It is difficult to keep such a directory current as companies constantly change their policies, addresses, editors and so forth. It is up to you to develop your own markets by submitting photos you believe to be appropriate to editor's needs. After the addresses are listed the rates paid more for extraordinary subjects depending of the news value and the quality for the accepted photo.
GENERAL NEWS AND FEATURE INTEREST PICTURES SYNDICATES:
* Service, Box 2801, Washington, DC 20013 $10 to $40.
* Newsweek International Service, 444 Madison Ave., NY 10022 $20 and up.* Transworld News
* Stock Photos Unlimited, 29 W 38th St NY, NY 10018 $10 to $40.
MAGAZINES INTERESTED IN FEATURE PICTURES:
* New Times Magazine, 1 Park Ave NY, NY. 10016 $50 and up
* Popular Photography, 1 Park Ave, NY, NY. 10016 $30 and up.
* National Enquirer, Lantana, FL 33464 $35 to $150.
SPORTS MAGAZINES
* Fishing World, 51 Atlantic Ave., Floral Pk, NY 11001 $30 and up
* Tennis Illustrated, 4222 Campus Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660.
* Golf Digest, 495 Westport Ave., Norwalk CT 06856 $15 and up.
TRADE MAGAZINES:
* Amtrak, 400 Capital St., N.W Washington, DC 20001 $35 and up.
* Track Talk, 2205 W Fairview Ave., Montgomery,AL 36092
FAMILY LIFE AND NATURE MAGAZINES:
* National Wild Life, 225 E Michigan, Milwaukee, WI 53201 $50 and up.
* Cats Magazine, Box 557 Washington, PA 15301 $10 to $30.
* Good Housekeeping, 959 8Th Ave., NY, NY. 10019
FARM LIFE MAGAZINES:
* Mother Earth News, Box 70 Hendersonville, NC. 28739 $50 and up.
* Vegetarian Times, Box 3104, Chicago, IL 60690 $20 and up.
HOBBIES AND CRAFTS MAGAZINES:
* Science Digest, 224 W 57th St New York, NY 10019 $25 to $60.
* Popular Electronics, 1 Park Ave, NY, NY. 10016.
GREETINGS CARDS SYNDICATES:
* American Greetings, 10500 American Rd., Cleveland, OH 44144. $30 and up.
* Graphic Adventures, 9801 Harwin, Bldg O, Houston, TX. 77036. &60 and up.
A simple equipment should produce pictures good enough to sell, but of course, if you own special accessories, use them!
After you have selected the field you want to specialize in and found several magazines related to your speciality, study what kind of pictures the editors are buying. A general description of picture requirements is often listed in the magazines. You can also find out by looking at the pictures used in previous issues. Submit only the pictures you consider as good or better than the ones being used.
Send your pictures to the Picture Editor of the magazine by finding the address in the publication itself or in the Directory of Trade Journals at your local library, if the publication is not sold on newstands.
If you are a beginner, start offering standard black and white prints, which are easier to sell because they actually are the ones having the greatest market.
Here is how your prints should be prepared in order to sell them:
* Glossy paper is preferred. Single weight paper via cheaper and require less postage when mailed. Pictures must be flat.
* Most publication (But not all of them) Prefer 8"x10". Check the specific requirements of the publication before you prepare your photos for sell.
* Number each negative, so each print you make will have a number.
* Order a rubber stamp with your name, address, telephone number and an extra line for the number of the picture and stamp these informations on the back of the print you want to offer.
* Always use stiff cardboard between the prints you are mailing to protect them, and make a neat package.
* Use kraft envelopes and always write "please don't bend" with a red felt on the envelope to avoid any improper handling of your pictures.
* As you cannot expect to sell all the pictures you submit, include a self-addressed return envelope with enough postage, so the ones rejected can be mailed back to you.
* It is not necessary to send a letter with the pictures as it will not help to sell the pictures.
* Make sure to obtain written consent from anyone whose picture you have taken and intend to sell. You can obtain the standard forms called "Model Release" in many photo shops, and when you send your picture to the editor, enclose a copy of the release with them.
Do not offer the same picture to more than one publication at the same time, but if your pictures are rejected by one magazine send them to other publications.
Many amateurs are making money in this little known field. You will be able to do the same by following the simple advices outlined in this report.
If you own a camera and can take some reasonably good pictures, you definitely can make money with your hobby by selling pictures.
The market for pictures is tremendous. It has been estimated that magazines and newspapers buy over 60 millions photos a year, although most of the pictures are taken by professional photographers, there is a good deal of non professional hobbyists making a good extra income selling their pictures to specialized markets, little known by the majority of people.
This information is intended to help you find a market for your pictures, assuming you already take pictures good enough to be sold. If you feel that your work could be improved, there are a number of courses available, and you can also develop professional touch and technical know-how by simply subscribing to specialized magazines.
There is an incredible amount of markets for selling your pictures, and the number is growing every day.
The beginners should avoid markets already overcrowded by professional competitors, like very well known magazines, which obviously deal only with professionals.
The best markets for a non professionals are
* Trade journals, * Special interest magazines, * Real Estate, * Small local papers.
By consuming a great amount of pictures, maintaining a constant demand for new ones, and paying less than well known magazines, they avoid the competition of professional and industrial photographers, and buy mostly from non professionals like yourself.
Special interest magazines attract very special groups of readers. For example, magazines on hobbies, sports, gardening, etc...They are bought by subscriptions or on newstands.
Trade journals are directed at very special professional and Trades. They generally sold only by subscription.
To begin with, it would be advisable for you to get a book on professional photography from your local library. This step will enable you to get acquainted with copyright laws and special tips for selling your pictures.
The starting photographer should concentrate on subject he is familiar with, for example a special hobby and what he enjoys shooting the most, whether it is sceneries, children, animals, etc...
By finding out what is your speciality, you will be able to select your market and determine what magazines could be interested in your work.
The following guide is just a sample of companies in the market for photos. It is difficult to keep such a directory current as companies constantly change their policies, addresses, editors and so forth. It is up to you to develop your own markets by submitting photos you believe to be appropriate to editor's needs. After the addresses are listed the rates paid more for extraordinary subjects depending of the news value and the quality for the accepted photo.
GENERAL NEWS AND FEATURE INTEREST PICTURES SYNDICATES:
* Service, Box 2801, Washington, DC 20013 $10 to $40.
* Newsweek International Service, 444 Madison Ave., NY 10022 $20 and up.* Transworld News
* Stock Photos Unlimited, 29 W 38th St NY, NY 10018 $10 to $40.
MAGAZINES INTERESTED IN FEATURE PICTURES:
* New Times Magazine, 1 Park Ave NY, NY. 10016 $50 and up
* Popular Photography, 1 Park Ave, NY, NY. 10016 $30 and up.
* National Enquirer, Lantana, FL 33464 $35 to $150.
SPORTS MAGAZINES
* Fishing World, 51 Atlantic Ave., Floral Pk, NY 11001 $30 and up
* Tennis Illustrated, 4222 Campus Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660.
* Golf Digest, 495 Westport Ave., Norwalk CT 06856 $15 and up.
TRADE MAGAZINES:
* Amtrak, 400 Capital St., N.W Washington, DC 20001 $35 and up.
* Track Talk, 2205 W Fairview Ave., Montgomery,AL 36092
FAMILY LIFE AND NATURE MAGAZINES:
* National Wild Life, 225 E Michigan, Milwaukee, WI 53201 $50 and up.
* Cats Magazine, Box 557 Washington, PA 15301 $10 to $30.
* Good Housekeeping, 959 8Th Ave., NY, NY. 10019
FARM LIFE MAGAZINES:
* Mother Earth News, Box 70 Hendersonville, NC. 28739 $50 and up.
* Vegetarian Times, Box 3104, Chicago, IL 60690 $20 and up.
HOBBIES AND CRAFTS MAGAZINES:
* Science Digest, 224 W 57th St New York, NY 10019 $25 to $60.
* Popular Electronics, 1 Park Ave, NY, NY. 10016.
GREETINGS CARDS SYNDICATES:
* American Greetings, 10500 American Rd., Cleveland, OH 44144. $30 and up.
* Graphic Adventures, 9801 Harwin, Bldg O, Houston, TX. 77036. &60 and up.
A simple equipment should produce pictures good enough to sell, but of course, if you own special accessories, use them!
After you have selected the field you want to specialize in and found several magazines related to your speciality, study what kind of pictures the editors are buying. A general description of picture requirements is often listed in the magazines. You can also find out by looking at the pictures used in previous issues. Submit only the pictures you consider as good or better than the ones being used.
Send your pictures to the Picture Editor of the magazine by finding the address in the publication itself or in the Directory of Trade Journals at your local library, if the publication is not sold on newstands.
If you are a beginner, start offering standard black and white prints, which are easier to sell because they actually are the ones having the greatest market.
Here is how your prints should be prepared in order to sell them:
* Glossy paper is preferred. Single weight paper via cheaper and require less postage when mailed. Pictures must be flat.
* Most publication (But not all of them) Prefer 8"x10". Check the specific requirements of the publication before you prepare your photos for sell.
* Number each negative, so each print you make will have a number.
* Order a rubber stamp with your name, address, telephone number and an extra line for the number of the picture and stamp these informations on the back of the print you want to offer.
* Always use stiff cardboard between the prints you are mailing to protect them, and make a neat package.
* Use kraft envelopes and always write "please don't bend" with a red felt on the envelope to avoid any improper handling of your pictures.
* As you cannot expect to sell all the pictures you submit, include a self-addressed return envelope with enough postage, so the ones rejected can be mailed back to you.
* It is not necessary to send a letter with the pictures as it will not help to sell the pictures.
* Make sure to obtain written consent from anyone whose picture you have taken and intend to sell. You can obtain the standard forms called "Model Release" in many photo shops, and when you send your picture to the editor, enclose a copy of the release with them.
Do not offer the same picture to more than one publication at the same time, but if your pictures are rejected by one magazine send them to other publications.
Many amateurs are making money in this little known field. You will be able to do the same by following the simple advices outlined in this report.
Start Video Taping Service
This is a fabulously profitable business that's still infancy. And for sure, if you want a business that takes no special training, expensive office set-up or large investment--yet is capable of showing almost immediate profits--this is it!
Now is the ideal time to get started with your own Video Taping Service. Purchasing and learning how to operate, as well as maintain the necessary equipment, and the operating procedures have been so simplified that almost anyone with the ability to read, can study a video instruction manual for a couple of hours and immediately produce professional quality, highly marketable video tapes. Without a doubt, video tape technology has replace Super 8 home movies as the most-desired memory-saving system.
One and two-person video aping services around the country are reporting gross earnings of $50,000 to $100,000 per year. One operation we looked into, reported an income figure of $80,000 during the preceeding 12-month period. They were accepting taping jobs from all quarters and keeping 4-hired teams busy.
Marketing imagination, organization, and attention to detail are the keys to success in operating this business. Ideas and request for a new things or events to tape and preserve for later playback/viewing, are coming in faster than one can list. Then, there are so many things to remember and minor details to take care of, that the only way to operate successfully is with a series of checklists..for the person selling the service as well as the man or woman on the recording camera.
But don't let mentioning of details to remember, scare you off. On the contrary, you'll find video equipment easy and inexpensive to practice on, especially when compared to attaining a comparable degree of expertise with film. You can use the same tape over and over again, and this is definitely a business where the phrase "practice leads to perfection," applies without qualifications or reservations.
To start a video taping service,You'll need a video "porta-pack" recorder, and at least a half dozen tapes. Check around in your area. Start by "reading up" on all the available equipment used for video taping. A trip to your public library and few hours browsing thru the periodicals on video equipment should give you added interest and a basic indoctrination. Next, check out the suppliers listed in the yellow pages of your telephone directory. A few phone calls to those places listed, plus a few in-person visits, should supply you with enough catalogs and "idea material" to keep you plenty busy for a week or more. These elementary learning steps are necessary as the foundation of your business.
You should be able to buy a good quality video porta-pak recorder for about $850, with blank tapes for $20 or less. When you buy, always dicker with the dealer--explaining to him that you're in the process of establishing a video taping service, and if he will include a supply of tapes with the recorder, or at least give you an especially good price on them, you'll probably buy all your tapes from him. It may not be your regular way of buying things, but when you're starting a business, every dollar counts, so always shop around for the best prices.
Once you have your video recorder, take it home and start practicing with it. Think of yourself as being on a job for a homeowner or an insurance company, taking a photographic inventory of the house and/or the occupant's possessions. Practice by making a tape record of your own household furnishings. Make a tape, then play it back and critique your work. Then do it again, and again, until you have a tape you can use in sales presentations to homeowners and insurance companies. Video tape recordings of this kind are becoming extremely popular with homeowners and insurance companies alike.
Then, look thru your weekend newspaper and make a note of the girls announcing wedding dates. Open your telephone directory and call these girls on the phone. Ask them if they'd mind if you came to their wedding and make a video tape of it, without any obligation to them of course.
So you go to the wedding, introduce yourself and practice making a video tape of the wedding ceremony. Take the tape home and critique it. Keep this up until you have a tape you're reasonably proud of, and then call the bride. Ask to come over and let her see the tape. Explain to her that you're just getting started in the business, and you simply want her comments and suggestions. Chances are, when she sees the tape, she'll want to buy it.
While you're in this learning phase of your new business, visit an apartment building and arrange with the manager to make a video tape of her showing the apartment to you as a a potential renter. Contact, a couple of property management and real estate firms, and do the same thing with condominiums and houses for sale.
You might want to listen in on the police radio frequency, and make tapes of auto accidents, particularly those involving injuries. Another idea might be the taping of golfers practicing at the local driving ranges. Other ideas include any kind of sports practice session, birthday parties, special anniversaries, baptisms, bar mitsvah's, publicity stories, sales presentations, and "fireside chats" by company presidents or general managers.
These are just a few idea suggestions you might want to pursue. You may find a certain kind of video tapping assignment especially enjoyable and want to specialize in that area. Or you may want to leave the door open for any kind of assignment and handle each as the opportunity presents itself.
Whatever you decide, there are a few "sure success" points to keep in mind as you begin to sell your services. Remember, the idea of having a video cassette system in one's home, is gaining in popularity every day. There area already some two-million videocassette recorders in American Homes, with an estimated 100,000 being sold to new customers every month. Further estimates indicate that by 1990, at least one half of all U.S. households will own either a videocassette recorder or a videodisc player. All this means your market is growing and is expected to continue growing thru the end of this decade.
Virtually everyone would like to see himself as a star in home movie. Thus, when you show him a video tape of himself in the starring role, he'll either buy the tape on the spot or want you to make a similar tape for him. Regardless of false modesty, everyone likes to show pictures of himself, and explain to his friends the different highlights of his or her life. With this understanding about your prospect in mind when you make a sales presentation, your closing rate should be quite close to 100 percent.
The best way to sell your services is to run a regular ad in your area newspaper. Such an ad might be similar to this one:
VIDEO TAPPING SERVICES Whatever your idea or assignment, we can handle it for you! No job too large or too small! We're experts at taping weddings, anniversaries, birthdays parties and other special occasions. Commercial assignments also welcomed. Your satisfaction is guaranteed, so give us a call---123-4567,right now!
When you receive calls in response to this ad, your objective will be two-fold: Find out what kind of taping job they have in mind, and set up an appointment to show them an example of the kinds of tapes you can produce for them. Show them an example of your work. Once you've met with them, and shown them a demonstration tape, you should have the sale in your pocket.
Never meet with a prospect in a selling situation without some sort of demonstration tape to show him. Try to match the tape you show them, as closely to their wants and needs as possible. Wedding tapes you have made for prospective wedding clients, and shots of golf practice or instruction to golfing prospects.
Besides an ad in the newspaper, and the yellow pages of your telephone directory, make copies of the ad and get it up on the bulletin boards in your market area. Send news and publicity releases to all the media in your area, definitely whenever you've got an unusual or special kind of assignment.
Have some impressive business cards printed, and hand them out to whomever, and as often as you can. The slogan on your business card might read: Have Video Tape Recorder,Available for ANY kind of assignment--You name it and I'll tape it...
Radio and/or television advertising will probably be more expensive than the resulting job assignments will sustain, so be very cautious when considering this type of advertising. However, it will very definitely be advantageous for you to pursue guest interviews on just about any kind of broadcast talk show. Talk show appearances and free write-ups about your business in your local newspapers are promotional angles to reach for at every opportunity. Always be on the lookout for promotional ideas and gimmicks that will result in area -wide publicity for your services.
The bottom line is simply this: Don't be adverse to creating a story or set of circumstances if it results in a talk show appearance or newspaper write-up for you.
How much should you charge for your services? Basically, the going rate in most large metropolitan area is about $50 per hour you spend on the assignment. Thus, you're going to have to learn to estimate pretty accurately just how long each job is going to take you to produce a quality recording. It's always a good idea to check out what other video taping services in your area, or in a comparably sized city in your neighboring states are charging. Newsletters and trade publications serving businesses of this type are available, however we don't know of any that have attained national prominence as of the date of this report. Check with your equipment supplier on any that he might know of...
Success with a business of this kind does not require an office set-up or any special education or training. You can start it on a part-time basis from your home, and parlay it into a full-time, very high profit profession. The prestige this business will afford you is similar to that of a doctor.
Starting with a young couple's wedding, if you follow up on each sale properly, you'll probably end up making tapes for the birthdays of each of their children, school graduations, anniversaries, more birthdays, family histories, last wills & testaments, and into a whole new cycle with each generation.
You will need imagination, an affinity for people and selling moxie. Imagination is important because in many instances, you'll have to suggest an idea for your taping services. Although just about everybody would like to have a taped record of some event or part of their life to pass along to future generations of their family, most will not be able to decide what to tape until you suggest something to them. You'll also find that almost no one is aware of even half your capabilities until you make suggestions.
Taking pictures of people requires an ability to get along well with people--get them to relax, and immediately feel comfortable in your presence. You've got to be persuasive while exercising a great deal of tact and diplomacy. Make friends easily and quickly. Be aware of, and understanding of wants, desires and ambitions.
Actually, selling and getting along with people, are almost synonymous. Life is and on-going program of selling yourself to achieve your own wants and ambitions. Read a few good books on the art of selling, such as: HOW TO SELL YOURSELF by Steve Girard; and HOW TO SELL ANYTHING TO ANYBODY by Tom Hopkins. remember, selling is really just a matter of recognizing someone's needs and then satisfying those needs with a product or service.
Your customer will automatically accept it as fact, that you have the professional knowledge and equipment to fulfill their needs. All you have to do is reassure them, listen to their reasons for these needs, and in closing the sale, become a good friend to them.
And that's it-- the plan can enable you to get started with your own Video Taping Service. By following our suggestions, and with a bit of energy as well as persistence, you should be able to begin with very little start-up investment and quickly begin to realize the fruits of your own profitable business.
If you have any questions, or run into special problems feel free to call me or drop me a line. Having laid it all out for you, the rest is up to you---Your future is in your own hands...
Now is the ideal time to get started with your own Video Taping Service. Purchasing and learning how to operate, as well as maintain the necessary equipment, and the operating procedures have been so simplified that almost anyone with the ability to read, can study a video instruction manual for a couple of hours and immediately produce professional quality, highly marketable video tapes. Without a doubt, video tape technology has replace Super 8 home movies as the most-desired memory-saving system.
One and two-person video aping services around the country are reporting gross earnings of $50,000 to $100,000 per year. One operation we looked into, reported an income figure of $80,000 during the preceeding 12-month period. They were accepting taping jobs from all quarters and keeping 4-hired teams busy.
Marketing imagination, organization, and attention to detail are the keys to success in operating this business. Ideas and request for a new things or events to tape and preserve for later playback/viewing, are coming in faster than one can list. Then, there are so many things to remember and minor details to take care of, that the only way to operate successfully is with a series of checklists..for the person selling the service as well as the man or woman on the recording camera.
But don't let mentioning of details to remember, scare you off. On the contrary, you'll find video equipment easy and inexpensive to practice on, especially when compared to attaining a comparable degree of expertise with film. You can use the same tape over and over again, and this is definitely a business where the phrase "practice leads to perfection," applies without qualifications or reservations.
To start a video taping service,You'll need a video "porta-pack" recorder, and at least a half dozen tapes. Check around in your area. Start by "reading up" on all the available equipment used for video taping. A trip to your public library and few hours browsing thru the periodicals on video equipment should give you added interest and a basic indoctrination. Next, check out the suppliers listed in the yellow pages of your telephone directory. A few phone calls to those places listed, plus a few in-person visits, should supply you with enough catalogs and "idea material" to keep you plenty busy for a week or more. These elementary learning steps are necessary as the foundation of your business.
You should be able to buy a good quality video porta-pak recorder for about $850, with blank tapes for $20 or less. When you buy, always dicker with the dealer--explaining to him that you're in the process of establishing a video taping service, and if he will include a supply of tapes with the recorder, or at least give you an especially good price on them, you'll probably buy all your tapes from him. It may not be your regular way of buying things, but when you're starting a business, every dollar counts, so always shop around for the best prices.
Once you have your video recorder, take it home and start practicing with it. Think of yourself as being on a job for a homeowner or an insurance company, taking a photographic inventory of the house and/or the occupant's possessions. Practice by making a tape record of your own household furnishings. Make a tape, then play it back and critique your work. Then do it again, and again, until you have a tape you can use in sales presentations to homeowners and insurance companies. Video tape recordings of this kind are becoming extremely popular with homeowners and insurance companies alike.
Then, look thru your weekend newspaper and make a note of the girls announcing wedding dates. Open your telephone directory and call these girls on the phone. Ask them if they'd mind if you came to their wedding and make a video tape of it, without any obligation to them of course.
So you go to the wedding, introduce yourself and practice making a video tape of the wedding ceremony. Take the tape home and critique it. Keep this up until you have a tape you're reasonably proud of, and then call the bride. Ask to come over and let her see the tape. Explain to her that you're just getting started in the business, and you simply want her comments and suggestions. Chances are, when she sees the tape, she'll want to buy it.
While you're in this learning phase of your new business, visit an apartment building and arrange with the manager to make a video tape of her showing the apartment to you as a a potential renter. Contact, a couple of property management and real estate firms, and do the same thing with condominiums and houses for sale.
You might want to listen in on the police radio frequency, and make tapes of auto accidents, particularly those involving injuries. Another idea might be the taping of golfers practicing at the local driving ranges. Other ideas include any kind of sports practice session, birthday parties, special anniversaries, baptisms, bar mitsvah's, publicity stories, sales presentations, and "fireside chats" by company presidents or general managers.
These are just a few idea suggestions you might want to pursue. You may find a certain kind of video tapping assignment especially enjoyable and want to specialize in that area. Or you may want to leave the door open for any kind of assignment and handle each as the opportunity presents itself.
Whatever you decide, there are a few "sure success" points to keep in mind as you begin to sell your services. Remember, the idea of having a video cassette system in one's home, is gaining in popularity every day. There area already some two-million videocassette recorders in American Homes, with an estimated 100,000 being sold to new customers every month. Further estimates indicate that by 1990, at least one half of all U.S. households will own either a videocassette recorder or a videodisc player. All this means your market is growing and is expected to continue growing thru the end of this decade.
Virtually everyone would like to see himself as a star in home movie. Thus, when you show him a video tape of himself in the starring role, he'll either buy the tape on the spot or want you to make a similar tape for him. Regardless of false modesty, everyone likes to show pictures of himself, and explain to his friends the different highlights of his or her life. With this understanding about your prospect in mind when you make a sales presentation, your closing rate should be quite close to 100 percent.
The best way to sell your services is to run a regular ad in your area newspaper. Such an ad might be similar to this one:
VIDEO TAPPING SERVICES Whatever your idea or assignment, we can handle it for you! No job too large or too small! We're experts at taping weddings, anniversaries, birthdays parties and other special occasions. Commercial assignments also welcomed. Your satisfaction is guaranteed, so give us a call---123-4567,right now!
When you receive calls in response to this ad, your objective will be two-fold: Find out what kind of taping job they have in mind, and set up an appointment to show them an example of the kinds of tapes you can produce for them. Show them an example of your work. Once you've met with them, and shown them a demonstration tape, you should have the sale in your pocket.
Never meet with a prospect in a selling situation without some sort of demonstration tape to show him. Try to match the tape you show them, as closely to their wants and needs as possible. Wedding tapes you have made for prospective wedding clients, and shots of golf practice or instruction to golfing prospects.
Besides an ad in the newspaper, and the yellow pages of your telephone directory, make copies of the ad and get it up on the bulletin boards in your market area. Send news and publicity releases to all the media in your area, definitely whenever you've got an unusual or special kind of assignment.
Have some impressive business cards printed, and hand them out to whomever, and as often as you can. The slogan on your business card might read: Have Video Tape Recorder,Available for ANY kind of assignment--You name it and I'll tape it...
Radio and/or television advertising will probably be more expensive than the resulting job assignments will sustain, so be very cautious when considering this type of advertising. However, it will very definitely be advantageous for you to pursue guest interviews on just about any kind of broadcast talk show. Talk show appearances and free write-ups about your business in your local newspapers are promotional angles to reach for at every opportunity. Always be on the lookout for promotional ideas and gimmicks that will result in area -wide publicity for your services.
The bottom line is simply this: Don't be adverse to creating a story or set of circumstances if it results in a talk show appearance or newspaper write-up for you.
How much should you charge for your services? Basically, the going rate in most large metropolitan area is about $50 per hour you spend on the assignment. Thus, you're going to have to learn to estimate pretty accurately just how long each job is going to take you to produce a quality recording. It's always a good idea to check out what other video taping services in your area, or in a comparably sized city in your neighboring states are charging. Newsletters and trade publications serving businesses of this type are available, however we don't know of any that have attained national prominence as of the date of this report. Check with your equipment supplier on any that he might know of...
Success with a business of this kind does not require an office set-up or any special education or training. You can start it on a part-time basis from your home, and parlay it into a full-time, very high profit profession. The prestige this business will afford you is similar to that of a doctor.
Starting with a young couple's wedding, if you follow up on each sale properly, you'll probably end up making tapes for the birthdays of each of their children, school graduations, anniversaries, more birthdays, family histories, last wills & testaments, and into a whole new cycle with each generation.
You will need imagination, an affinity for people and selling moxie. Imagination is important because in many instances, you'll have to suggest an idea for your taping services. Although just about everybody would like to have a taped record of some event or part of their life to pass along to future generations of their family, most will not be able to decide what to tape until you suggest something to them. You'll also find that almost no one is aware of even half your capabilities until you make suggestions.
Taking pictures of people requires an ability to get along well with people--get them to relax, and immediately feel comfortable in your presence. You've got to be persuasive while exercising a great deal of tact and diplomacy. Make friends easily and quickly. Be aware of, and understanding of wants, desires and ambitions.
Actually, selling and getting along with people, are almost synonymous. Life is and on-going program of selling yourself to achieve your own wants and ambitions. Read a few good books on the art of selling, such as: HOW TO SELL YOURSELF by Steve Girard; and HOW TO SELL ANYTHING TO ANYBODY by Tom Hopkins. remember, selling is really just a matter of recognizing someone's needs and then satisfying those needs with a product or service.
Your customer will automatically accept it as fact, that you have the professional knowledge and equipment to fulfill their needs. All you have to do is reassure them, listen to their reasons for these needs, and in closing the sale, become a good friend to them.
And that's it-- the plan can enable you to get started with your own Video Taping Service. By following our suggestions, and with a bit of energy as well as persistence, you should be able to begin with very little start-up investment and quickly begin to realize the fruits of your own profitable business.
If you have any questions, or run into special problems feel free to call me or drop me a line. Having laid it all out for you, the rest is up to you---Your future is in your own hands...
Earn Money With Your Camera
One of the easiest ways to making extra money is with a camera. More people own cameras than radios, and photography is the fastest growing hobby in the world. Yet using a camera as an extra income tool is largely overlooked!
With a little imagination, a flair for showmanship, and just a hint of showmanship, the average man or woman, or even teenager, can easily make an extra $300 a week with his camera.
You don't have to have one of the popular, more expensive cameras either, or a lot of high priced attachments and equipment. in many instances, a Polaroid or other "off-the-shelf" camera will suit the purposes perfectly. The only special piece of extra equipment you may want to invest in would be a tripod for mounting the camera in certain situations.
One of the easiest ideas is to visit a children's clothing store in one of the busy shopping centers, or the children's department in one of the large department stores. Sell the manager or store owner on the idea of your setting up in a corner of the store or department, and taking pictures of the shoppers' children. He can promote the fact that you'll be in the store taking pictures for a special prices during certain hours---perhaps on Friday evenings and all day Saturdays---in his advertising, thus drawing more patrons into his store because of you.
You'll need a sheet or plain piece of material, or some sort of imaginative set for a background. But this can be easily make or build yourself. You should also have an eye-catching poster that calls attention to what you're doing and the prices you're charging. Unless you're a commercial artist, spend the money to have this sign made for you by a professional. The next and last thing you'll need will be a two-part receipt or coupon.
This can be a simple piece of paper about 2 inches wide by 5 inches long. On the left side draw lines for your customers to fill in their name, telephone number and address. You might also want to include space for additional information such as the child's name and age and number of children in the family, for future efforts, but keep it brief and simple.
On the right side of this coupon, have your business name, address and telephone number, plus a quick outline of the different kinds of photography work you handle, and perhaps a business slogan such as "Satisfaction Guaranteed or You Don't Pay."
To add a little bit of class to this coupon, take the basic outline of this idea over to a instant print shop. Tell them what you want; show them your outline; and have them typeset everything. Then put a fancy border around the whole coupon and have it printed on colored paper. The best color is a "dollar bill" shade of green. If you want to give it even more class, you could have it printed on green, lightweight card stock. You'll want to divide the "information" side of this coupon from the "business card" side with a dotted line and perforations.
If you layout this coupon properly, you should be able to get six of them on an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper or card stock. This means the printer can print and cut 6,000 of them for about the same cost as printing circulars or flyers.
On your printing, shop around for the best deal, but in the end, it shouldn't cost more than $60 for all 6,000 coupons which will come those 1,000 sheets of paper or card stock.
Now, when you take a person's picture, regardless of whether it's an "in-store" set-up out on the golf course, or along the street, you give your customer one of your coupon-receipts and tell them their prints will be ready in a couple of days. They fill in the information part of the coupon and give it back to you, retaining your "business card" portion of it.
When the prints are ready, you can phone the customer and remind him--volunteer to deliver and collect; send them through the mail with a bill; or make arrangements with a store to take care of them until the people call for them and pay at that time.
Most stores, golf courses, bowling centers, and other retail merchants will be glad to handle this part of it for you, because it brings the customers back into the places of business, and provides another sales opportunity for them.
By all means, be sure to include an advertising circular with each set of pictures you deliver. This circular should explain how the customer can get more prints, how he can get enlargements of his favorites, and details relating to all the other photography services you offer
Back to the original "in-store" picture taking set-up during evening shopping hours and on weekends for extra income. You can call attention to your "in-store" set-up, and bring in more business with a few merchandising promotional ideas. In the following paragraphs we give the highlights of a few ideas that have worked well. However, you should keep your eyes open to observe additional promotional ideas that could be adapted to fit your new business.
Dress a helper in a clown suit, and take pictures of the kids in his lap or with his arm around the kids. Put a sandwich advertising board on a helper and let him stroll through the shopping center advertising the fact that you're in a Kiddies Clothing store taking pictures.
Promote a "Baby of The Year" contest where you can take pictures of the babies, display the pictures on a "show board" and offer $100 cash plus a merchandise prize in a big drawing at the end of the year.
Set up a booth in the mall and promote "Instant Snapshots." Be a Roving Photographer and take candid shots of shoppers and promote a "Shopper Of The Year" contest. Work with a clown and have him "attach himself" to the kids, and ask if they'd like to have their pictures taken with him. Build and inexpensive and portable set, such as an airplane, a race car, bucking bronco, hand-shaking scene with a famous person or "balloon figures" and take pictures of the people standing in or on these sets.
Get out to the golf course and take pictures of the golfers teeing off. Get over to the bowling centers and take candid shots of the bowlers in action. Do the same thing wherever there's a sports event taking place. Be on the spot and ready whenever there's an opportunity to take team pictures.
You might follow, or hire someone else to follow a Little League team through its season, taking candid and action shots. You then arrange the best pictures in a photo album with the team's name and year on front. You should be able to sell one of these albums to each member of the team.
There's also the idea of "just" strolling through the park" on a Sunday afternoon. You can take candid and interesting pictures of couples, children and people in general spending time with their relatives.
Keep tabs on the announcements of new births. Send advertising literature to the new mothers, and follow up with a phone call efforts to set up photography sessions.
Keep tabs on the engagement notices in the weekend papers. Send your sales literature to the brides-to-be, and follow up with phone call efforts to take the wedding pictures.
Set up a household and business photo inventory service. With this idea, you contact the insurance companies and determine if they will approve and endorse photographs you take of their policy holders' household, personal, and business property in loss claims.
Most will, and from there--working either with the help of an insurance agent, the agency itself, or on your own--contact owners of property and sell them on the idea of you taking pictures of the household goods they have insured. You take the pictures--a pictorial inventory of everything they're claiming or would like to claim on an insurance policy--and then identify the pictures, giving one set to the property owner and the other set to his insurance agent or company.
Picture inventories of household and personal property is still a new thing, but everywhere it's been introduced, it's definitely proven to be a super money- maker for the people willing to get out and hustle.
If this idea arouses your interest, you might want to check into a going franchise operation that gives you a complete business manual, operations guidebook, and ongoing consultant services: Photographic Inventory, PO Box 4046, Morgantown, WV 26505.
Once you decide that using your camera to generate extra income is what you're going to do, get out and use your camera, start taking pictures, and allow yourself the opportunity to build. Give yourself the chance, and you'll quickly begin to think of hundreds of ideas for taking pictures, merchandising ideas for promoting your services, and sales angles for increasing your profits.
The important thing is to get started, regardless of how small your start, and begin cashing in on an idea that's still in its infancy. This is an idea that can produce new concepts for profit every day of the week. An idea that can be fun, as well as financially rewarding for you!
You've got the idea and the plan--the rest is up to you. You've got the ball; now run with it!
With a little imagination, a flair for showmanship, and just a hint of showmanship, the average man or woman, or even teenager, can easily make an extra $300 a week with his camera.
You don't have to have one of the popular, more expensive cameras either, or a lot of high priced attachments and equipment. in many instances, a Polaroid or other "off-the-shelf" camera will suit the purposes perfectly. The only special piece of extra equipment you may want to invest in would be a tripod for mounting the camera in certain situations.
One of the easiest ideas is to visit a children's clothing store in one of the busy shopping centers, or the children's department in one of the large department stores. Sell the manager or store owner on the idea of your setting up in a corner of the store or department, and taking pictures of the shoppers' children. He can promote the fact that you'll be in the store taking pictures for a special prices during certain hours---perhaps on Friday evenings and all day Saturdays---in his advertising, thus drawing more patrons into his store because of you.
You'll need a sheet or plain piece of material, or some sort of imaginative set for a background. But this can be easily make or build yourself. You should also have an eye-catching poster that calls attention to what you're doing and the prices you're charging. Unless you're a commercial artist, spend the money to have this sign made for you by a professional. The next and last thing you'll need will be a two-part receipt or coupon.
This can be a simple piece of paper about 2 inches wide by 5 inches long. On the left side draw lines for your customers to fill in their name, telephone number and address. You might also want to include space for additional information such as the child's name and age and number of children in the family, for future efforts, but keep it brief and simple.
On the right side of this coupon, have your business name, address and telephone number, plus a quick outline of the different kinds of photography work you handle, and perhaps a business slogan such as "Satisfaction Guaranteed or You Don't Pay."
To add a little bit of class to this coupon, take the basic outline of this idea over to a instant print shop. Tell them what you want; show them your outline; and have them typeset everything. Then put a fancy border around the whole coupon and have it printed on colored paper. The best color is a "dollar bill" shade of green. If you want to give it even more class, you could have it printed on green, lightweight card stock. You'll want to divide the "information" side of this coupon from the "business card" side with a dotted line and perforations.
If you layout this coupon properly, you should be able to get six of them on an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper or card stock. This means the printer can print and cut 6,000 of them for about the same cost as printing circulars or flyers.
On your printing, shop around for the best deal, but in the end, it shouldn't cost more than $60 for all 6,000 coupons which will come those 1,000 sheets of paper or card stock.
Now, when you take a person's picture, regardless of whether it's an "in-store" set-up out on the golf course, or along the street, you give your customer one of your coupon-receipts and tell them their prints will be ready in a couple of days. They fill in the information part of the coupon and give it back to you, retaining your "business card" portion of it.
When the prints are ready, you can phone the customer and remind him--volunteer to deliver and collect; send them through the mail with a bill; or make arrangements with a store to take care of them until the people call for them and pay at that time.
Most stores, golf courses, bowling centers, and other retail merchants will be glad to handle this part of it for you, because it brings the customers back into the places of business, and provides another sales opportunity for them.
By all means, be sure to include an advertising circular with each set of pictures you deliver. This circular should explain how the customer can get more prints, how he can get enlargements of his favorites, and details relating to all the other photography services you offer
Back to the original "in-store" picture taking set-up during evening shopping hours and on weekends for extra income. You can call attention to your "in-store" set-up, and bring in more business with a few merchandising promotional ideas. In the following paragraphs we give the highlights of a few ideas that have worked well. However, you should keep your eyes open to observe additional promotional ideas that could be adapted to fit your new business.
Dress a helper in a clown suit, and take pictures of the kids in his lap or with his arm around the kids. Put a sandwich advertising board on a helper and let him stroll through the shopping center advertising the fact that you're in a Kiddies Clothing store taking pictures.
Promote a "Baby of The Year" contest where you can take pictures of the babies, display the pictures on a "show board" and offer $100 cash plus a merchandise prize in a big drawing at the end of the year.
Set up a booth in the mall and promote "Instant Snapshots." Be a Roving Photographer and take candid shots of shoppers and promote a "Shopper Of The Year" contest. Work with a clown and have him "attach himself" to the kids, and ask if they'd like to have their pictures taken with him. Build and inexpensive and portable set, such as an airplane, a race car, bucking bronco, hand-shaking scene with a famous person or "balloon figures" and take pictures of the people standing in or on these sets.
Get out to the golf course and take pictures of the golfers teeing off. Get over to the bowling centers and take candid shots of the bowlers in action. Do the same thing wherever there's a sports event taking place. Be on the spot and ready whenever there's an opportunity to take team pictures.
You might follow, or hire someone else to follow a Little League team through its season, taking candid and action shots. You then arrange the best pictures in a photo album with the team's name and year on front. You should be able to sell one of these albums to each member of the team.
There's also the idea of "just" strolling through the park" on a Sunday afternoon. You can take candid and interesting pictures of couples, children and people in general spending time with their relatives.
Keep tabs on the announcements of new births. Send advertising literature to the new mothers, and follow up with a phone call efforts to set up photography sessions.
Keep tabs on the engagement notices in the weekend papers. Send your sales literature to the brides-to-be, and follow up with phone call efforts to take the wedding pictures.
Set up a household and business photo inventory service. With this idea, you contact the insurance companies and determine if they will approve and endorse photographs you take of their policy holders' household, personal, and business property in loss claims.
Most will, and from there--working either with the help of an insurance agent, the agency itself, or on your own--contact owners of property and sell them on the idea of you taking pictures of the household goods they have insured. You take the pictures--a pictorial inventory of everything they're claiming or would like to claim on an insurance policy--and then identify the pictures, giving one set to the property owner and the other set to his insurance agent or company.
Picture inventories of household and personal property is still a new thing, but everywhere it's been introduced, it's definitely proven to be a super money- maker for the people willing to get out and hustle.
If this idea arouses your interest, you might want to check into a going franchise operation that gives you a complete business manual, operations guidebook, and ongoing consultant services: Photographic Inventory, PO Box 4046, Morgantown, WV 26505.
Once you decide that using your camera to generate extra income is what you're going to do, get out and use your camera, start taking pictures, and allow yourself the opportunity to build. Give yourself the chance, and you'll quickly begin to think of hundreds of ideas for taking pictures, merchandising ideas for promoting your services, and sales angles for increasing your profits.
The important thing is to get started, regardless of how small your start, and begin cashing in on an idea that's still in its infancy. This is an idea that can produce new concepts for profit every day of the week. An idea that can be fun, as well as financially rewarding for you!
You've got the idea and the plan--the rest is up to you. You've got the ball; now run with it!
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