How a simple blog idea launched a VERY lucrative business
In February of this year, I had the opportunity to move to Atlanta, Georgia so my fiance could accept a job to advance her carreer. Without work for me I looked at it as an opportunity to follow my dream of making “passive” income through the internet and also start the photography business I have been failing at for many years (at least I haven’t made a living at it).
I do feel obligated to tell you that atlphotographers wasn’t my first attempt at making an online income. It is the first blog that I’ve written with passion and consistancy though. I started looking at what was lacking in the world of photo-blogs and saw a need for more product reviews, networking opportunities, and in Atlanta more passion.
My first post was an informative piece about photography in general and I spend a few days getting the look of the template I used together, tweaking SEO settings, etc.
I had just bought a tripod for my beach set-up and thought I would write a review to test the waters. Low and behold – the review climbed in google searches to outrank even the manufacturers website. In my excitement I wrote an email to the manufacturer and requested more products for review and to my suprise they started sending me goodies. With this, I’ve been able to call companies whenever I need something and just ask – and everything is provided in exchange for my reviews – VIRTUALLY FREE!
Contact forms embedded in atlphotographers.com
I started really taking the blog seriously when I finally moved to Atlanta in March and added contact forms, subscription fields, and started posting some of my work and before I knew it people were filling out the request forms and asking to pay me for my photography services. I’d estimate that around $800/wk is made from leads generated by my blog.
Static Photographer Request Page
This has begun to snowball because when I go on a shoot, I direct people to my site to view the galleries. Sometimes they order prints, sometimes they book me for their own needs, and sometimes they click on an ad – making me more money.
In the end, I’ve built a well-ranking photography site that generated leads, makes ad revenues, supports my business, gets me free products, and is fun for me to operate.
Flash photo galleries on atlphotographers.com
I’ve even since accepted a job in IT/Development as a consultant for others wanting to do what I do for their business. Our team is building I-phones apps and social networking sites for me as we speak.
My ad revenues are still modest – about $2/day but recently I joined a couple of banner ad sites and have sold ads amounting to another $20/month or so. In the long run it all ads up is almost paying the payment on my new car. The only other thing I have done is post video review across the net for the products I’ve reviewed – it helps with traffic.
If you have any questions about starting a photography blog, or any other development project for that matter, please contact me at jcamp@atlphotographers.com – and remember, it’s not only about Atlanta Photography
-Joshua Camp
Congratulations Joshua
It is prove that with passion to something it is possible to make an impact. Like in your case photography is a passion and you must be good in taking pictures people love or else you would not be get the requests you get.
You harvest the power of the internet to your advantage for your off-line activities, which you in return link to internet, to your blog.
It is going hand in hand, and it is natural. This alone makes you stand out from others who try to make money online.
One last one you take what you do serious, you got a professional mind towards what you do. It is a business and its fun or it is fun and a business, up to you.
Congrats again.
Joshua,
It sounds like you did everything right! Congratulations on a job well done. Thank you for sharing – this is an interesting and inspiring article.
Kay
Buzz Marketing Pros
Wow what a great story and very inspiring. I agree with August Ashley, your passion for what you were doing helped with both your online business and your offline business.
Congratulations to you Joshua and thanks for sharing your story with us.
wow..this is a new skill to be a good internet narketing
Good for you! I have 10 blogs around my money site and make nothing.I really don’t understand what it takes to do that well.It looks like , after 2 posts,your blog is making you money.Is it because of your specific niche or the way you blogging or what? Probable combination of all elements.I am happy for you J.
Good article! I’ve a have a blog and have been trying to get it ranked, but I really have to get to grips with SEO. I too am writing about something I have a passion for (Scrapbooking and Papercrafts) and I think I need to put some ads on and bascially use it a lot more – just like you! Thanks for sharing your information.
Sunday
This was a very good post as a case study. I visited your blog, it’s beautiful and, were I looking for this service, I would certainly explore the site for more information.
Thank you so much for posting it!
Linda
Congratulation, to tell your experince with this blog, I star my bloging about 3 months where a show to the spanish markert the oportunities that i found on the web, let me tell you this is a beatifull experience becaused using a blog you can meet a lot people in the word, also you can made extra money , you just need to work hard looking for good products to try, congratulation Again
Jesus Arturo Flores
I agree that starting out does seem overwhelming but with new sense of energy one can begin to see the current state of affairs turn around which only injects further energy. Great points and thank you for sharing.
Do you get to keep the goodies
after the review is done…?
I might also try that.
What an awesome story! My blogs seem to do nothing but you have inspired me to keep trying. Thanks!!
Jim Clary
well i seems to be a very lucrative business being an Atlanta photographer, but more than a business it’s a life style a love that profession
Photography seems to be very popular in the search engines. People like looking at photos, no doubt about, which is why I too have recently tried creating a blog on photography. Except in my case I promote other photographers work provided they meet a certain criteria. This in fact is generating small amounts of revenue with my banners & pay per click advertising.
Therefore I certainly agree that a site on anything to do with photography is certainly a worthwhile endeavour.
Congratulations on your success. I have a brother who is also trying to make his passion for photography his full time income. I’m definitely forwarding this information to him to see how you’ve made it a success. I’m sure he would love to receive free product. If you find some great buys, feel free to talk about them on our site with a back-link to your reviews. I’m sure our readers would love to find your information.
Joshua:
This is an excellent case study! I think you were able to nail it with your blog because of the combination of passion + demand + knowing how to optimize and monetize your blog.
Well done!
Cheers,
Thomas
Hey Josh,
Nice job on the site. I’m actually creating http://www.AtlantaWeddingPhotographerSite.com since I’ve noticed alot of sites aren’t that great and yours is probably the first I’ve seen in a while I like for this topic.
We should talk more, and link together too since they are pretty relevant.
I’ll send you an email.
AskMichaelHart.com
Wow, nice insight, congratulations! I wish my site would become profitable too in the long run.
Great story and rare one I must admit. Sudden search engine success is something everyone wish for, but usually it takes months of work, writing good content and SEO effort.
Best wishes
The passion is so important. It is the only way to be Able to consistently apply effort. It stops being work and people sense the integrity behind the content. Great work.
The lesson is to start with something you love or at least have a genuine interest in.
great article. I am a wedding photographer and struggle getting traffic to my site. You gave few a few good ideas for my wedding samples site. Thanks
Traffic generation is always an area of interest,Thanks for the great ideas!
All The Best,
Jason