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Could We Talk about Product Shots?

No matter what you sell, you need Images to use in your Marketing. Just as we ‘eat with our eyes’ first, we also are drawn in and ‘buy with our eyes’ as well. To be unforgettable, the Props you use taking your own photography or the Images you find, it’s generally best to use Natural light and surroundings, a bit of Nostalgia, which you’ll learn to arrange in a New and Different way.

Your Images actually begin to tell the Story before you even write a word. For instance, I think Eggs are so photogenic. For the Coach, an image of Eggs starts the story with- Hope, Possibilities or Potential. For the gardener, a twining Vine might signal Growth, Reaching for Light or Support.

So! Let’s talk about Product Shots!

Product shots are different for websites, e-commerce, Etsy shops and more! Are Product Shots boring? They don’t have to be, just remember: The whole purpose of product shots is to show off your products! The photos draw folks in and the body of the description can be short. A few things never change:

  • Product Shots should always align with your Brand. Check out brands you love and are similar to yours for reference.
  • Product Shots should have simple backgrounds- white, gray and black are typical, depending on the colors of your products.
  • Always use Simple Props that convey the use, season or to add color, even nostalgia.
  • The lighting you use for Product shots is generally brighter. *there is lots of information out there about how to do this.
  • Try to use a simple but interesting arrangement for your Product Shots.
  • What you add matters. Is the photograph Relevant? Does it Show off the to its Best Advantage?
  • inspiration.

Pro Tips: Product Shots are and should be different. That doesn’t have to be boring or just the product on a piece of foam core board. The background needs to be simple enough not to overwhelm the product. It’s Okay to do different Angles. Don’t just use flatlay photography for product shots. And remember this: It’s Not Okay for your product to look wrinkled or messy, or just flat without a bit of sprucing up. If the product needs a bit of sprucing up? Think about adding Color- a few flowers or natural materials usually work. Just make sure whatever you do gives clues, is on brand and is relevant to the product. Keep your website and shopping sites easy to navigate, lots of white space, easy to read description and Pricing. Product shots really do sell your products! It’s a big part of Visual Marketing! And don’t forget: Product Shots might not always ‘work’ on your social media sites, so take multiple types of photos, some for social media and some more for product shots! All the best!

*PS If you are already going through my course- an expanded version of Product Shots has been added to the course!

Love y’all, Brenda

‘Creator – ‘Be Unforgettable’ online marketing course https://camellia-s-cottage-blog.mykajabi.com/about-course-copy-1-ed7ee1ac-4438-4133-968b-ffee43106f2b

Posted on by camellia's cottage

What is Visual Marketing? The Art of Visual Story and more..

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Hello!

If you’re new here, so thankful to have you with us! As you may have noticed the seasons are definitely changing! And what that means is that we are entering Fall and Winter Holiday Season! New Colors, New Designs. New Images. New Content to Write. New Marketing efforts! Did I hear a groan? Yes, I know. And I also know this- Visual Marketing is the best way to do it all!

The question recently was asked- What is Visual Marketing? Well, the short answer is that Visual Marketing is the Art of Visual Storytelling. Your Brand Colors. Your Products and Images. Your Designs. The way you Market what you offer. Your Written Content all add up to a Visual Story that has an energy that only you can offer! It takes all 5 of those components! Is this new? Not really, it’s just that if you focus on just one aspect, you may not be getting the word out there in a way that makes folks want to make a decision or purchase your products. Remember the statistics- 600% recall what they See! 20% recall of what they Read! 300% will make a Purchasing Decision with Visual plus Compelling Content! (there’s the sweet spot!) And that blend is known as Visual Marketing! Visual Storytelling is the best way to sell your Products and Services! Let me give you an example:

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Let me tell you a story: .Marc and Robert lived in Paris and had been friends from childhood. Both had a brilliant creative parent. . Marc’s father was a famous glassmaker who crafted jewelry, vases, chandeliers and even glass hood ornaments- for very expensive cars.. .Robert’s mother was a famous fashion designer- beautiful soft and feminine clothing. .Marc’s father was Rene Lalique, yes of the famous Lalique Glass. .Robert’s mother was a famous fashion designer- beautiful soft and feminine clothing. .Marc’s father was Rene Lalique, yes of the famous Lalique Glass. Robert’s mother was Nina Ricci. .Nina Ricci and her son Robert decided that a signature fragrance would be added to the fashion design business. Robert would be in charge. The scent would go on to be one of the top 5 fragrances in the 20th century. World War 2 had ended. Folks were getting married in record numbers. This fragrance would be worn by countless brides and beautiful ladies. The blend of roses, iris, gardenias and carnations won their hearts. Grooms were ready for peace and hope. .Robert hired his friends Rene and Marc to design the fragrance bottle- they designed the top with 2 doves and a rising sun as a sign of peace. The box which housed the parfum was a soft yellow trimmed with pure white. . The name of the fragrance is L’ Air du Temps (love fills the air) and was worn as a sign of Hope. It was released in 1948. .This fragrance was still highly prized and worn by those same war brides and their daughters… so what sold the fragrance? . The colors? The bottle design? The way it was displayed? The Name? the creative Blend? the Story? . I sold it. It was all of the above. That’s what visual marketing is! .It’s that amazing blend of color, design, beautiful images and thoughtful displays and oh my yes- the Unforgettable Story!

That’s the Power of Visual Marketing- it’s the art of Visual Storytelling with Color Values, Good Design, Wonderful Images, Compelling Written Content and Basic Marketing Principles.

As you plan your posts- remember to tell those Stories! Use Color to speak their language. Use great images, be aware of the lighting you use. Make sure you aren’t using too many templates and collages, they often confuse the eye with too many images to focus on. If you use a lot of colorful images, be sure to add space- my favorite way to do this is to add White Space as a Quote with simple Fonts! Also, it’s worth noting now that the best holiday prices are before Black Friday- so plan those discounts now!.

I hope your upcoming Seasonal and Holiday Marketing efforts are now in the planning stage and you’ve got some great ideas to showcase your products and services! And while you’re at it- go ahead and plan those Holiday Gift Guides! I can’t wait to see the images you share, the colors you choose and those amazing stories I’m sure to read! All the Best.

Love y’all, Brenda

Creator of ‘Be Unforgettable’ Online Marketing Course

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Everyday won’t be Your Favorite Day…

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Hello!

I hope your week is going well! Can you feel the shift in seasons yet? When the temperature dips a few degrees, I think- Oh, it’s almost here!’ Fall is one of my favorite seasons. So is Spring. Yet, not every day of those seasons turns out to my ‘Favorite Day’. I read an article in Inc. com by Joe Procopio entitled ‘This is What Startup Burnout Looks Like’

Am I Burnt Out, no, I’m not, yet I have experienced these things. What Joe talked about was profound and true. He said:

It had stopped being fun a while ago… Not Everyday is Going to Be Your Favorite.’ Joe Procopio

If you have a business or are dreaming of one. This will always be true. Mr. Procopio continued his story. One thing he said made so much sense.

‘After every success, big or small, in business or otherwise, there’s an immediate period of letdown equal in proportion to the magnitude of the work it took to get there.’ Joe Procopio (emphasis is mine)

It took a year to create my online course– even though folks ‘who knew’ said it would only take 90 days! Nope. I had to learn more technology than I ever thought it would take. I’m a Plodder when it comes to something I believe in! And believe in my course? I certainly do! I also know my ‘Why’. I love small businesses, artists and creatives. With 30+ years in Retail, doing everything from running my own shop, selling at wholesale, working with trunk shows and with large corporate stores in fashion, fragrance and even Home and Garden Shops- I Knew I had Knowledge to share.

Then, came launch time… the success of an actual finished course was followed by the dread of getting it off the ground. I had a plan. And the plans couldn’t begin until I started posting about the Course! I am thrilled some folks agreed to become Founding Members and the first ones through were testers. Incredibly helpful people, I’ll be forever grateful to them! For the time they’ve taken and tips they’ve given me to make it even better going forward. Still, that part was harder than I had expected. Why? Because, I had focused so long and hard to get it written, videoed, uploaded and the framework it takes to develop an online course- when it was done? It felt sort of like a letdown.

And, this- We count the cost of doing business in terms of the outlay of cash it takes to do business. That’s a Known. What is almost never counted in the cost is the mindset, the emotions, the errors, the commitment, the underlying feeling of doubt- even the ‘heart and soul’ it takes to keep things going. Truth? That’s part of the real Cost of doing business.

What about you?

  • Have you created a painting, a piece of jewelry, a course or created something else you’ve invested your heart in? Then, thought –
  • I’m not liking what I have to do now? To put myself out there.
  • Or Doubts arise. I’m too old, who will listen to me? I’m too young, I don’t have enough experience. U don’t have enough followers. Then…
  • Letdown occurs. This is what I’ve been struggling with? Is this all it is?

Now that my course has Students going through, it’s a thrill. Still, my course is just now in Launch. As I was about to launch, I knew the drill- the first order of business was to get my mindset in the right place!

Then, I was asked to participate in a pilot program- basically about Mindset. This was extremely important for me. One suggestion was to make a Vision Board, something I hadn’t done in years. Was the board about my goals for my course- actually there was only one portion on the board about that. Most of the rest? was about creating jobs. Yes, you read that right! Add in a few were personal dreams. And one was to make sure-

I surrounded my inner circle with Balcony People (another time, another newsletter). I also went back through some updated segments of an Online Course I began in 2019. And! I stepped up how many podcasts, newsletters, masterclasses I took. In case you’re wondering, I truly believe in Online Learning, Podcasts and more!

Why? because I get to share some of that with you! This week, I realized some things I could do to define myself better as a whole and not just part of what I do. I hope you’ll do that too.

Finally, Joe Procopio says: ‘..I was free of the remorse of tying my self-worth (to his business). ‘…I was now doing it for the reasons I started doing it in the first place… and to launch that rocket as high as it would go.’

What great advice! We aren’t Human Doings- We are Human Beings after all. If you’re struggling now, go back to your ‘why’ and make a list of your ‘reasons’.

It might not be your favorite day everyday- yet I can attest to the fact that the Favorite Days are there and if you know and see the Letdown Days creeping up on you? You’ll be better at picking yourself up, dusting off your list of the ‘whys’ and ‘the reasons’. After all, those are your best tour guides.

Love y’all Brenda

I hope you’ll take time to check out online learning while you’re doing your unique kind of business, and of course, I hope you’ll take a look at my Online Course –

Be Unforgettable Beginner’s Guide to Visual Marketinghttps://camellia-s-cottage-blog.mykajabi.com/about-course I’d love to have you there!

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August and September…

Hello! I hope you’re having a Great Week! It’s still hot where I live… though as Back to School has started here, I’m thinking of cooler days, Fall travel plans, seeing big plump pumpkins and enjoying all of you! Thank you for your kind responses to my blog- it means the world to me. Why? You always make my day, wherever you are! If you’re new here? Wonderful to have you!

This will be an important post, why? Because it’s Time Sensitive! I wrote about this in my last newsletter yet! It really needed to be at the top of a newsletter not at the bottom! (that’s where I generally put the best marketing stuff)

Number One! August and September are the Best Months of the Year to Launch new products! Let me say that again- August and September are the best months in the Retail Calendar Year for Launching New Products! I can hear some of you now saying- but what if I don’t have a new product? Well, create one or repurpose something you’ve had before! It’s a great time to do it! Time sensitive means- You literally have just Six Weeks! *This is true worldwide, not just in the US.

white and black polka dot gift box on white textile

Number Two– actually helps you with Number One. Commit right now to creating one piece of Content every day! Did I hear a groan? Here’s what you did not hear- I didn’t say. Create an IG post every day. I didn’t say you have to do a Reel or Video every day! I said, ‘Create one piece of content everyday’. If you need to batch 7 pieces of content to use throughout the week- Please do that! An IG post per day? No, I didn’t say that either! My “One Piece of Content Strategy’ is this:

  • Post to IG- probably my usual 3 times per week. I may increase this to 4 during August and September.
  • Create a unique Story for my IG- a Reel, short appropriate to my brand or my personal life, that I choose to share. Probably more than one!
  • Create a PDF or something new to offer folks who might be interested in my online course. It’s always good to be creating new content! Maybe I won’t use it right now, but it’s something I can use later when I’m pressed for Time!
  • Add a video to my small YouTube account- this is, after all the 2nd largest platform in the world! Or add something new to my Pinterest account- which has been sadly neglected.
  • Create Compelling Content for this Newsletter! *please note: the Algorithm doesn’t change your email list! And really? it rarely affects your blogging efforts either!

Since my Online Course is now in the Launch Phase, I don’t want to miss an opportunity to tell you a little about it- Be Unforgettable Beginner’s Guide to Visual Marketing will help you learn how:

  • To share your values with color before you write a single word! (Saves so much time!)
  • Not sure how to do a layout for your social media sites so that it really looks like a Brand? or as I say- like a beautiful Virtual Shop Window!
  • Not sure what images to choose and use? I teach you that with my Favorite Props, Materials and Images! This includes some tips about the difference between Product Shots and Social Media posts.
  • Don’t like Writing Content? I get it. I’ll teach you time tested proven methods, easy and fun too!
  • Really dread Marketing your products or aren’t sure how? In Marketing 101, you’ll learn methods that won’t feel icky or salesy!
  • In just over a month, your site will look wonderful, I predict you’ll be thrilled!

I always say: ‘The Sooner Your Site looks beautiful and your Copy is Compelling, the sooner your products will begin to sell!’

Here’s the link to my course: https://camellia-s-cottage-blog.mykajabi.com/about-course-copy-1-ed7ee1ac-4438-4133-968b-ffee43106f2b

All the best if you have new products or services! I hope August and September are truly successful! Would love to hear from you!

Love y’all, Brenda

Creator- Be Unforgettable Beginner’s Guide to Visual Marketing

Posted on by camellia's cottage · 2 Comments

Add in some Merry Missions…

Whether you’re a shopper or a seller, this is the time when retailers back off large discounts, or if they are offering them, watch out for exclusions to that discount. As sellers you have a choice to do discounts or exclusions as well. I recommend it, because guaranteed holiday delivery is ending shortly and the big sales happen later. So, What Now? How to keep your customers coming back, checking into your site?

Several of my favorites have begun adding ‘merry missions’ or ‘holiday happiness’ in their online advertising. What are Merry Missions and how can they help with your holiday marketing efforts? These are amusing, easy and fun things that aren’t sales-y (which all of us are tired of by now!) Merry Missions make opening your notices fun! Alternate your site with activities that are sure to keep them coming back. Here’s a few I’ve come up with …

  1. What Christmas Ornament brings you the best holiday memories?
  2. Add extra marshmallows to your Hot Cocoa- just today! You deserve it!
  3. Wrap your packages by twinkle lights, it makes the task so much nicer..
  4. Name and sing your favorite holiday song or Christmas Carol. Sing as loud as you like! No one’s listening…
  5. Enjoy a candy cane while you write and mail a few love letters. If there ever was a year for it, this is it!
  6. Do a ‘hunt and gather’ walk, work your found treasures into your holiday decorating!
  7. Read your favorite Children’s Book- Velveteen Rabbit, Secret Garden or ‘Twas the night before Christmas…’  Children’s books are a sure way to amuse and charm.
  8. Make, bake and decorate a batch of cookies, even if they aren’t made from scratch or even perfect. Psst: Displayed by candlelight, no one will notice anyway!
  9. Get all Dolled Up even if you don’t have any place to go… watch a sweet holiday movie, it will make it seem like date night!
  10. Write your holiday wishes and tie them to the tree or better yet? Fulfill a few wishes!

Adding fun and Joy to your holiday advertising or even with your friends and family is sure to be a hit, especially this year. And! I’m sure you can come up with even better ones than I did to dole out one at a time…

And who knows? You might start a new tradition that will continue through the years… Merry Missions are way to build your audience and if it’s working for the big companies? Then I’m sure your customers will love you for it.. You’ll have to trust me on this!

Love y’all, Brenda

I’m wishing you much success! And PS Merry Missions work for product or service based businesses!