There are two ways to grow your photo booth business: getting more bookings and charging more money for your services. And one of the best ways to accomplish both is by working to attract corporate clients. 

Why do you want to work with these businesses? Well, as we discussed in a recent article, bigger companies have larger budgets, and there are more opportunities to work with them. Not only do they have corporate events (often several a year), but you can collaborate on special retail promo events and even long-term marketing campaigns.

How to Work with Corporate Clients

If you’re not sure where to start, identify a business you would like to work with. Maybe you’re especially interested in what they do, maybe their product or service is something you’re passionate about, or maybe they share your values. Identify what makes each company a good fit and then start making a list of contacts.

Next, visit their websites and find out who is in charge of marketing or events. Then reach out by phone or email to pitch your services. Don’t forget to pitch all the features of your photo booth app to make sure that they are interested in your services! For example, with Onebooth you can use the green screen feature, add an animated overlay or even create a digital mosaic that you can show on a big screen at an event. Make sure to mention them.

Pro tip: Rehearse your pitch ahead of time so you can speak authoritatively on how you can benefit their business, so hiring you becomes a no-brainer.

Be Professional

Do what you do, when you say you’re going to do it. This means responding to emails, returning phone calls, and showing up on time. You also want to have a plan for onboarding and managing client projects. Hubspot, Pipedrive, and Dubsado are all great options.

Provide great Customer Service

This is twofold: you must be responsive, but you should also be proactive. If you can find a way to anticipate your clients’ needs and offer a solution well before they see a problem, then you’ve just made a great impression. Maybe this isn’t a “problem” per se, but it may mean that you share your great ideas for future campaigns and events.

Get Referrals

Once you’ve established a great relationship, you can ask for referrals. Also, know that the people in charge of events and marketing talk within their networks, so doing a great job can lead to even more referrals.

Build Your Network

Regardless of where you live, there are plenty of opportunities to network with other businesses. Maybe it’s a Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, maybe a Chamber of Commerce, and maybe it’s another type of networking event. The bottom line is to get visible at these events. One way to do this is to offer an in-kind event sponsorship that highlights what you offer and allows you to start making valuable connections.

Have a Great Web and Social Presence

In the article we linked above, we briefly mentioned that you need a great web presence. This is true, but you also need to be sure to have a powerful presence on social media, especially on professional networks like LinkedIn.

Website Do’s and Don’ts

If you don’t have the budget for a professional web designer, DIY websites today are incredibly easy. WordPress and Squarespace are two of the most popular platforms, and both have templates you can personalize to make a professional site. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you build your site:

• Your site should be well-organized. Your navigation should be easy-to-use. If your clients have to work too hard to find the information they need, they’ll move on.
• Make it easy to contact you! Leaving off contact information is a huge mistake many companies make – and it’s hard to get business if your clients have to jump through huge hoops to connect.
• Use great sales language. You may want to outsource this because it is often hard to write your own copy.
• Outline what they can expect when working with you. Includes a solid outline of your packages and pricing, and your onboarding process.
• Images should be appropriately sized. They should fit the design and shouldn’t be pixelated. 
• You must own the rights to use images. If you need stock photos, you can purchase them or use sites like Pexels and Unsplash.
• Consider integrating a blog or social feed. A blog is the best way to get people to your site (and keep them on it), especially when you offer valuable information to your clients. If you don’t have time to commit to a blog, but frequently share tips on social media, then you can add your social feed to your site. 

Use LinkedIn to attract Clients

If you’re not yet set up on LinkedIn, then this is an absolute must if you want to attract corporate clients. It’s as easy to create a business page as it is to set up a personal profile, and you should do both. You can advertise your business and also start connecting with people you want to build a relationship with. This absolutely, positively should include professional event planners.  

Don’t just send a connection request and ghost, though. You’ll want to introduce yourself and ask thoughtful questions about their companies. And definitely connect with people on the list of companies you made earlier. Even if they’ve said no, there is a possibility of working together in the future.

What’s more, part of the magic of LinkedIn is perceived connections. If someone sees you are connected to someone they know, it boosts your credibility.

So, what are you waiting for?

Working to attract corporate clients is the best way to grow your photo booth business. With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to connecting with clients that come to you again and again for high-value services.

What are some of the biggest successes you’ve had in attracting bigger businesses? Let us know in the comments!

And don’t forget to check out Onebooth! This iPad photo booth app is perfect to use for corporate events.