Time to wrap it up...

It's time to wrap up my social media marketing course, and to look over all that I've learned, and determine my next steps. I've enjoyed this class tremendously, really. I think that I've analyzed my personal brand more in this class than I have an any of my other marketing classes.

When I look back at the course, there is one message that continually pops at me - personality. Being clear with who you are and what you're doing, and ensuring that message gets across clearly is the most important part of social media. There are so so so many platforms, and each platform has its own differences. And really, with how fast technology is changing, there will probably be many more and different social media platforms in the future. But if you have a strong sense of who you are and what your business is trying to accomplish, then you can use any platform to get that message across.

One thing I will definitely make more use of going forward is this blog. This blog is a place where I can really be who I am, and connect with my audience on a more personal level. In the past, I've been hit or miss with my postings, and haven't posted frequently enough. In the future, I intend to add blog posts to my marketing calendar, and ensure it becomes a regular thing. I will use other social media platforms to engage with my audience, but the blog will become my main source of communication. And be sure to look for more variety in the future. I will be adding a regular video feature to the blog. Some of these will be Q&A with some fabulous moms, and some will answer questions about what a portrait session with me is like. And I'm going to start adding some awesome behind the scenes video footage, so you can really see what it's like to be on set. And of course, there will be no shortage of adorable, squishy babies.

Well, that's all for now, folks. I'll be implementing these big changes really soon. If there's anything you'd like to see on the blog, be sure to leave a comment below and I'll add it. Until next time....

Because we're all in the trenches together...

Welcome back! Last week, I gave a short little intro into podcasting. And I'm back this week with a new podcast. Last week, I told you about me and what newborn photography is. This week, I'm diving into what sets me apart from other photographers. There are so many photographers out there, it can be hard to know which choice you should make. And it can be hard to tell just from looking at portfolios alone. So take a little listen below, and see why I'm not all that different from you.

Podcasting

So I'm trying something a little new this week - a podcast! This is just a taste, to tell you what Melinda Larson Photography is all about. But make sure you check back over the next few weeks, as I've got some big ideas for podcasting.

Professional Social Media

This week is all about professional social media. Now, I'm no stranger to social media. I've wasted more hours than I'm willing to admit perusing my social media accounts. I love seeing what my friends and family are up to, sharing what's happening in my crazy life, and connecting with awesome people.
But in my heart of hearts, I am an artist. And I use social media as an artist. I love to share to images that I create, and I love to connect with other artists and see what they are creating. There is an entire community of photographers on social media who share work, inspire each other, and band together to help one another improve our craft.
When this week's assignment was to dig into LinkedIn, I have to admit I was reeeaallly skeptical. LinkedIn is the "business suit" of the social media world. What value could it really have for me, the artist? But I was pleasantly surprised. I did in fact find a photography network on LinkedIn, although not quite as strong or bonded as found on other platforms. What I found really beneficial was the ability to connect with other business owners. Hampton's Chamber of Commerce and Norfolk Young Professionals are both really strong groups on LinkedIn that I have joined. As much as I pride myself on being an artist, I am also a businesswoman. And LinkedIn gives me some great business connections.
So, this self-confessed artist may have been a bit quick to judge, and I'm planning on keeping my LinkedIn up and running and tap into my businesswoman side a little more often.

Video Blogging!

Video blogging is something that I've always been a bit intimidated by. I mean, I'm the photographer. That means I'm supposed to stay behind the camera. It's my happy place. But I'm also quite intrigued by the idea of video blogging. I love the idea of being able to give ya'll a "behind-the-scenes" look at what my photo sessions look like. And I think it would be a fantastic way to really connect with you fabulous mommas.

One of my favorite video bloggers is Ana Brandt, of The Art of Pregnancy and Newborn. Ana has really got this video blogging thing down to a science. Her behind the scenes videos are always so interesting, and I love how she is able to seamlessly integrate her video across all of her social media platforms. The full videos are hosted on Youtube, but she takes smaller snip-its of the video to share on her Instagram feed and Facebook page.  So you can see at least part of her video on all of her social media accounts, and head to Youtube if you really want to see it all. And her consistency! It's awesome. That is one of the key things I will need to work on for future video blogging. It's tough to come up with original content on a consistent basis, but Ana does it beautifully. But enought rambling from me. Here's peek at Ana's work...and EEK! Twins!