Disclaimer: Before you chew my head off, by no means am I saying creating a website is a bad idea or a waste of time. It's actual one of the quickest and effective ways to impress a potential client and land that big budget project that we all dream of having. However, maybe for what ever reason creating a website isn't accessible to you. If that's you then stick around and continue reading because I'll be going over the ten ways to land continuous work without needing a website.
Reasons why you shouldn't or can't
I know you should never say "never" or "can't" but sometimes you might not have access to creating your own website. Maybe you're just starting out and you don't have enough content for a website. Maybe you don't have the budget to keep up with we website. Websites can get very expensive if you don't have marketing strategy to keep it self sufficient. So no ones blaming you if you don't have one.
- Not enough content for a website
- Not enough money hire a web designer or maintain a website
- Over whelming and don't know where to start
The Seven Alternatives
So we've established that you might not have access to creating a website and that's ok. So now what? Well no worries, it's not the end of the world because we there are other ways to establish work in the film industry. Let go over them.
1. Get Proactive
Go to them. The big budget consistent clients are not going to go looking for you. You have to find them. You most be persistent and call them until they answer. Do the research and find out who's in charge of the creative department and email them multiple times until you get a response (respectfully of course). Even if you have a website, you still are going to have to do this, so you might as well get in the practice.
2. Do It For Free
Free is always a good marketing tool. If you're just starting of clients are going to want to know if they can trust you to do a good job and if you don't have any work to show them its hard for them to trust. Even if you have a lot of work and a website, clients want to know that they are getting there moneys worth. It's a catch 22 because how do you get experience when no one will hire you because you don't have experience. The best way to get around all of these issues, is to do the first one for free. by doing the first one for free, you are creating trust between you and the client while also building up your content, experience and portfolio.
3. Spec Work
Let's say you want to work for a client that sells food. You've done your research and know that they need a food commercial. Good job. But here's the problem. If you've never done a food commercial before, how do they know that you are going to do a good job for their food commercial. A good way to remedy this problem is to make a really high quality food commercial of your own and show them what it would look like if you where to make theirs. This is known as Spec work in the industry and it's very effective because give the illusion that you have experience in their personal needs.
4. Word-of-mouth And Referrals
If you've read the first 3 tips, then now you know how to approach potential clients and land the job. Now it's time to do a stellar job and impress the client. If you do a well enough job, the client will be impressed and will refer you to another person who wants similar work. That person will also refer you to someone if you do good with them. And so on and so on. Before you know it, you'll have a clientele. You'll be know in that community as the film guy who does good work. A good pro tip is to incentivize referrals through giving percentages for referrals. Give a big enough percentage and clients will practically be working for you as booking agents. The leverage is that effective.
5. Get Your face On Other Peoples Website
Even if you have a website of your own, you can do this. We've talked about referrals in tip number four. Some clients will want to put you on there website when do consistent good work for them. They'll parade as their personal videographer and this is a good thing because it's free advertising. Here's a pro tip. Incentivize them putting you on there website by trading them. Free work for them putting you on the website.
6. Social Media
I was thinking not adding this in the list because it's so obvious. Social media is your friend when you're a business. Use Instagram as your portfolio. Make it look very professional and eye popping. Advertise on Facebook and create a YouTube account. It's free so why not. Another pro tip for you. Paid advertising on social media will jumpstart your business and can be more effect then even website if done properly.
7. Join Forces
Collaborate with other film people. You don't have to do this alone. Your chances raise when you work with multiple people and they are looking for work on your behave. Hire a talent agent. Let them find you work and give them a percentage. Go to networking events. Maybe your a cinematographer only. Find a director or a film editor and team up with them
Summary
There are hundreds of marking tips to consider when looking for film work. These are the most effective in my experience. I have ten years of experience in the film industry and this year is my first year having a website. The website is a great tool to have but it most certainly isn't the end all be all of marketing tool in the film industry. Hopefully you've read this article and found some useful tip to getting clients of your own
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