stand out branding + strategic web design for golden hour photographers

You just spent months pouring your time, heart (and money) into your new Showit website or branding and are finally about to launch it…

YOU ARE EXCITED TO BE DONE AND PROUD OF WHAT YOU CREATED.

But what’s next? How do you successfully launch your new online presence to the world and make the most of this experience? No worries, I combined 14 of the best post-launch strategies (and 1 big no, no) I recommend to clients to generate hype and increase your REVENUE around a launch. Before you hit PUBLISH, read on my friend…

1. Plan for social media launch graphics!

We provide several high-quality launch graphics showcasing your new brand and website within our packages but if you want to DIY it, Canva is a great resource for free mockups. Plan social media captions and schedule any Lives for the next few weeks!

2. Update your social media! 

Update any photos, business descriptions, cover/header graphics, etc. to help promote the launch. Add your new Instagram links page (also complimentary in our packages!) or email list signup to your social profiles. Instagram now allows up to 30 characters within your profile tagline – max it out with keywords clients are searching for! For example, an Elopement Photographer might use the phrase “Pacific Northwest  Weddings & Elopements” take advantage of as many keywords as you can since those words are searchable!

3. Get creative with your audience

Engage on social media platforms to help share the news. Know of a local moms group? Facebook hangout your clientele is posting in? Post your news there! Share an exclusive offer to that audience specifically and as always ask them to share the deal to claim! 

4. Tell a story

Tell stories about the way people have used your photos, the reason behind them, and the memories they have made. Testimonials are great to insert into these! Plus, you then get the attention of the followers of the people you’re showcasing, essentially appealing to two audiences at once!

5. Give a sneak-peak

Use Instagram Stories to give authentic, behind-the-scenes looks at the design, photos, fonts, and your new color palette. Even sharing the work that has gone into this process from start to finish, these glimpses build hype while speaking to a core value: transparency.

6. Team up with local artists or vendors

Host Instagram Takeovers with local vendors, groups in the community, or similar niched businesses. A brand’s willingness to collaborate with its community is an endearing quality, helping it establish authenticity.

This gives you a substantial platform to promote your brand, gets their followers interested in the launch, and shows that you are supportive of your community. Bonus: this genuine approach goes a long way to building brand trust!

7. Have a giveaway

Instagram Giveaways are an excellent way to gain followers and increase hype around your launch. To enter, all fans need to do is follow you on social media and like the contest post. Once a winner was chosen (at random) they received a free canvas, 20% off, heck why not offer a free session?  

8. Play a game! 

Followers love a challenge- make it fun! Create a game like “First person to find this graphic/photo/phrase on the new site wins _____”. Make them comment the answer or shoot you a DM. Then announce the winner to your social media! 

9. Video teasers

There’s still nothing like a sharp, shareable video to get your audience buzzing on social media! Reels are an excellent way to do this. Share tidbits of each page every day leading up to the launch. If you can’t quite figure that out, take advantage of stories and just post daily. The more eyes on your big news, the more interest you’ll gather!

10. Create a hashtag

This clever approach gets the audience excited about their involvement and more engaged in your launch. By clicking on the hashtag they can then view all the other posts you’ve made regarding your launch and spread the news!

11. Share brand photos! 

Did you have a recent brand shoot to prep for your new site? Share those on social media while mentioning your launch!

12. Create a blog post to introduce your new site!

Write, design, and schedule your blog posts that will help promote your brand. – And include any freebies to get email signups! Tell all about the process and what people should expect to see when they visit. Tell them the why behind the revamp and how you feel now that you’re finally launched! People love all the juicy details!

13. Utilize Pinterest!

Pinterest is one of the best ways for photographers to connect with clients. If applicable, optimize your Pinterest boards, descriptions, and profile. Create branded covers and 4-6 branded templates for future posts. Those launch graphics and brand photos I mentioned earlier work great as pins, just make sure they link back to your site! 😉

14. Use your email list bayybeee!!

Use your email list to your advantage. They are your most loyal following and they are already nurtured. This means that they’ll likely share the excitement with you, ask questions and begin talking about your new website with you to their following.

If you don’t have a list, it’s okay – now’s a great time to start one! I use Flodesk which is an incredible platform that allows me to reach my audience in a way that showcases my brand aesthetic. Get people to join your list by getting them to subscribe, offer freebies like “A Clients Guide to Fall Session Outfits” or “First chance to sign up for a sought-after mini-session”. Create your email sequences while you’re at it! I recommend to have a ‘Welcome’ sequence to start growing your list.

Don’t forget to update your email signature and newsletter footer! Include the launch or sales page to direct traffic to the right URL and link that within your email footer as well. 🥳

Okay now for the big no, nos- What do you not show?

Just don’t show all of it at one go! You need to build suspense so slowly rolling out the changes is a great way to go, especially if you’ve just updated your branding! Let them warm up to the change before throwing it at them all at once! 😉

MOST IMPORTANTLY…

Be YOU. I see so many people getting ready to launch their websites and feel completely out of their comfort zones. If you struggle with the graphics side of things then use ours! Hire a VA to help you with your email list so that you don’t have to worry about that side of things either.

If you are currently looking to have your own Showit website designed or if you have any further questions about the launch process and how I can help please feel free to get in touch!

Want to learn more about our custom branding & Showit web design packages? Definitely check them out here, and shoot me an email with any questions!