"Our business is your success." That's one thing we at PPA try to tell our members...in every way we can. We pour all our resources into helping members prosper. It's the focus of our ads, our member benefits and the customer experience we provide. In this multimedia world, it takes a multi-pronged approach to really connect to a customer. We strive to live that message and model it to our members. Are you living your message? Peruse the following articles on different aspects of company-to-customer interactions, for they just might help you make every moment count.

Enjoy the articles,

Scott Hersh
Director of Sales and Strategic Alliances

We all know the saying, "Two heads are better than one." That saying holds true for marketing, for you increase your market reach and your brand impressions when combining different methods. So yes, a combination approach can form a powerful statement, but it can also be more difficult to manage at first (think about raising twins!). Read on for more strategic combination advice. 

Web ads have to do a lot in a very small space--they have a lot on their shoulders! Above all, though, web ads (like all ads) must be noticeable. They have to zero in on your targeted audience, drawing their attention first and their interest next. Arm your ads with the ability to do just that, thanks to the info and design tips in this article. 

You know why photographers should want your product or services, but why should they want it from YOU? Take a second to think about your customers: how they are treated and how they could be treated better. "Our business is our customer, not our product or services," says Liz Tahir in this article. And she's going to remind you of ways to make sure your customers know that fact, too! Get the full story here.

Film vs. digital, print vs. online advertising. Neither choice is inherently right or wrong. You simply must choose what works best for you in specific situations, using each medium's strengths to your advantage. New technology adds edge to online ads and can make them into so much more than informative sales bits. And with all of print advertising's physical and visual properties, the sky's the limit with what you can do to really stand out. Each choice is a winner in the right situation. Thinking about taking your advertising to the next level? PPA and Professional Photographer magazine can help you put some of the ideas in this month's articles into play, making the best of both worlds: print and online.

Are you making the most of the technical and creative advantages available in online banner advertising? Message, design and placement are just a few of the factors you can tweak to increase your click-through rates and improve your ROI. Get the full story here.

Print satisfies communication needs that digital cannot. Readers experience print differently than they do digital communication and that creates opportunities for you. While digital is perceived as the cheaper medium, you should remember that print should still have a place in your communication mix where it can have optimal impact in driving sales and building your brand. Get the full story here.

As an exclusive benefit for Corporate Members you are able to participate in PPA's Super Monday Photo Workshops. Promote yourself and your products at studio classes across the country--the only cost to you is offering a product discount or giveaway to the attendees!

Each participating PPA Corporate Member will provide a special offer that we will include in the bonus package given to each photographer attending the programs. In addition to your exposure to all the attendees at Super Monday, your logo and offer will also be included on the Super Monday web page and in our extensive e-mail marketing campaigns.

The price of entry to this special program-simply a special offer to the attendees! No additional cost is involved.

If you would like to participate please submit:

1. 25 word description of the discount or offer
2. Promo code so the offer can redeemed at your company's web site
3. Estimated value of your offer or giveaway
4. Logo in high-res EPS or JPEG format along with the web address you would like the logo to link to.
   

Please email this information to cpearson@ppa.com by August 31st.

Don't miss out on this once-a-year opportunity to put your product in front of this eager group of photographers!

Are you shouting to be heard? Maybe it's less that customers are ignoring your products, and more that they simply don't hear or see them. People are getting their information in many more places nowadays...and they often get that information on the go, browsing websites on their smart phones or laptops. So take a walk with your customers and save your "voice." Amplify your messages with more online techniques, like the online contests mentioned in the articles below.

Enjoy the articles,
Scott Hersh 

People want to win something, and your customers are no different. But if you're going to use a contest to build Twitter followers, find user-generated content, increase brand awareness or so on, do it right! There's a lot more you need to consider before you gleefully announce, "Enter my contest!" What about an official contest hashtag? What's your plan to create buzz? What are you going to do AFTER the contest? Read on and plan on. Get the full story.