Business Coach Mark Grant has taught cold-calling techniques to over 100 photographers, either at his AOP workshops or individually. Here are his top five tips designed to generate those vital ‘go-sees’

Pictures: Andy Stewart

Do you enjoy getting on the phone to art buyers, art directors, designers or prospects to book a ‘go-see’? I’ve asked many photographers this question and I can count on the fingers of one hand the number who said ‘yes, I just love getting on the phone – bring it on!’ More than 99 per cent don’t enjoy cold calling and will do anything to avoid it or find some other way of generating interest in their work, often spending thousands of pounds in the process.
However, before you run in the opposite direction, it’s worth bearing in mind that cold calling is one of the most effective and lowest-cost marketing strategies to get a ‘yes, I’d like to meet you and look at your work.’ It can also be mastered with a little knowledge and practice. So here are my top five tips to encourage you to pluck up the confidence and to get on the phone. After all, nobody died by cold calling. At least, not to my knowledge…