Part 3: Whats up with Facebook Contests?

This post is a part of the “What I learned in my first year” series.
Click on the links if you would like to read more:
Part 1:”The Investments”
Part 2: “Getting Published”

Do Facebook contests really work at bringing in more clients? 

      Hmmm… Im still unsure about this one! Ive hosted three facebook contests click here & here & here to see them, and I want to say that its brought me tons of clients, but so far the majority of my inquiries are referrals of past clients, friends, or family... Not much strangers who are forced to LIKE my page from Facebook contests :) 

Its always so stressful putting yourself out there hoping that you get enough people to join the contest... & that people actually vote! Each time I told myself that Id never do it again...
But what can I say I get urges to make clients happy with giveaways!

Contests bring you a lot of LIKES, but be prepared to Lose a big chunk after the winner is announced because its not who they were voting for! It makes me kinda sad to see the LIKES drop, its feels like Im getting dumped each time! I started reevalutaing myself and wondering what I was doing wrong… Maybe they think I talk too much or dont like my photos! But like my mama always said you can’t please everyone, so just be yourself! I figure that if they want to leave then so be it! We werent meant to be Facebook Friends anyway! “If they don’t like it then don’t look at it!”

I have to look at the bright side of things: contests are a way to market my business for FREE to hundreds of people regardless if they stick around or not. I want to Attract or Repel so I can get the clients that are RIGHT for me! I also need to focus on the 300 of the 400 LIKES that actually stick around, instead of the people I lost! Im grateful for those of you that stick around! :)

Before my first contest I had around 150 LIKES, after the contest I got up to 350 -But then went down to 300! Those 300 stuck around the whole time, then I hosted my second contest. I tried a different way to host the contest, which wasn’t too strict & I got an additional 200 LIKES, which eventually dropped down to 450. This last contest in November, I got up to 850 LIKES and then went down to 748! Im debating on having a “Comeback Contest” in May when I return from Maternity leave… but I think Im going to host it a little different. I need to find a way that works for me so I dont get so stressed out and a way that we dont annoy as many people by forcing them to vote lol! Any suggestions that have worked for any of you, or that you think might work better would be greatly appreciated! Im really itching to get over 1,000 LIKES! That would be sooo cool! That would mean that every time I post an engagement or wedding it would reach out to 1,000 people! Well that is only if they checked the “Show in News Feed” box.

Before I began my business I hardly used Facebook! Only to exchange photos with family & friends but other than that I was a pretty silent user. Now that Ive started my business page Ive surprised my family and friends with how much I post! (I try so hard not to overdo it, I promise!) But Ive realized that Facebook is an awesome tool to market your business for FREE, to build relationships with your clients & stay connected with them while gaining future clients! So each post, photo, or link is shared for a reason. :) there is a method to my madness!

Here are the photos from each of the Contest winners:

Click Here to see more of Marina & Josh's shoot

Click Here to see more of Lerissa & Kurt's shoot

Click Here to see more of Kristin & Jose's shoot