Paid Vendor/Photography Competitions...Yes or No?
If you're a photographer, you have photographer friends...and guaranteed you've seen them win these awards, they all have different names, some are 'wedding photographic' competitions, some are 'vendor awards' some have totally different names.
If you win or take part you get to post some fancy little circular logo on your site becuase you are a finalist. So lets break it down and deal with it immediately!
They promised you business didn't they?
So have you seen them on Google when searching for wedding photographers in your area?
How big is their social media presence? Probably smaller than yours no doubt.
Is a client REALLY going to go search for "SA Wedding Photographer Awards" or whatever their name is?
Why are there so many different businesses doing this...why isn't there just ONE reputable one that every bride knows?
90% of brides find their photographers on where...you guessed it...Google!
You ACTUALLY paying these companies?
If you a photographer and you didn't know...these photographer friends are PAYING annualy to be listed with these companies to enter a meaningless competition.
In 8 years I have never "WON" a single "paid" award...and not a single bride has asked me if I have ever won an award. (Now don't get me wrong, photographers like Cliff Mautner and Brenizer etc that hold international awards from WPPI etc...those awards are truly hard earned awards!)
90% of brides find their photographers on where...you guessed it...Google!
So, the average 'company' hosting these awards charge around R5000 a year. Thats around R500 a month you could spend on your very own Google Advertising to YOUR website sending brides that physically searched for wedding photographers in your area.
Im 100% confident that money spent on your OWN advertising for your website will generate 99% more leads than advertising on the next 'pop up' vendor trophy website thats showcasing wedding photographers.
So you ask...why do these other 'companies' exist...well for the majority, they are dead end advertising streets for photographers and a great low cost 'easy running' business for them.
Now to answer the question...for me its a definite NO!
If it has been working for you and its generating loads of leads, great!
If you wondering if you should sign up with one of these companies...I would recommend spending your hard earned money with Google Advertising (AdWords) instead.