How can you use Facebook to sell more of your images and promote yourself effectively? At Cutcaster, we have compiled a few basic steps, which will help you leverage the power of any social network but specifically for Facebook in order to effectively market your photography business:

1. If you do not already have a Facebook account you will want to create one. Make sure to fill out all the fields on your Facebook profiles so that people who visit your profile can learn more about you and the type of photography you do.

2. Sharing your images is critical. “Like” your images at Cutcaster by clicking the like button below your image’s thumbnail on any image details page. The number of times an image is “liked” at Cutcaster via the Facebook button is one factor that gives your images a boost in our search results.

3. Upload watermarked versions of your images to Facebook and make sure to highlight a wide sampling of your artwork and areas of specialties. You must always be aware of the Facebook user agreement which you should examine and why we tell you to use a watermarked version. Once you have them uploaded this is where you will want to link to your Cutcaster portfolio in the description area or specific images in your port. Make sure you use your referral links so you earn more money.

3. Ask some of your clients for permission to post some of your images to their page so other potential clients who are connected to them will see your images.  In this case, anyone connected as a friend of your client on Facebook will see the posted image. This exponentially grows the group of potential customers you will reach.

4. Post updates of what you are doing professionally or shooting to the wall of your Facebook page. If you have an outside website or use a stock photo agency like Cutcaster, then use the wall to promote your other sites. If you’re about to publish some new photographs, then this is a good time to let your Facebook community hear about it!

5. It’s a great idea to create a Facebook fan page which you can use as a promotional tool for your photo or design business. Give people updates on upcoming shows, new images, new techniques you are learning, workshops you are attending or offer special deals to potential customers.

6. You need to be posting fresh new images to your Facebook pages regularly that highlight your improvement and continued education as a photographer, that highlight new areas you are experimenting with or new aspects of your work. These subtle hints will serve as reminders that your photo or design services are available.

7. Like and participate on groups at Facebook which are related to your photography work and interests. Make sure your comments are insightful and thought out i.e. not “it’s good to be here” or “nice shot” spammy. Pose questions if you want to get a response. By providing valuable information on other users pages you will be actively helping their community and growing your own reputation as the go to person for your area of photography.

8. When posting an image to your facebook page or someone elses’ fan page, you are able to change the title name which serves as an anchor link back to your image’s page. Since you are able to manipulate the title by choosing your own, you can pack it full of relevant keywords you are trying to target through search engine optimization.

Have you joined the other Cutcaster fans on Facebook? Our Facebook page highlights useful design and photography tips as well as connects our contributors with our buyers. Login to Facebook and visit http://www.facebook.com/Cutcaster to like our page.

Easter is fast approaching and it’s just about that time when image buyers and researchers begin their image search to find the best Easter pictures for Easter 2011. According to Christian religion, Easter is the greatest feast day in the Christian 2011 calendar, and celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  This year Easter 2011 falls on April 24th. Our creative team at Cutcaster has assembled a few Easter picture lightboxes to help find the best Easter images fast. Cutcaster offers a wide selection of easter clipart, easter bunny pictures, easter egg picture as well as free easter pictures. So if you need Easter photos or vectors for your Easter basket, an Easter egg hunt or to symbolize the religious significance of the day check out our Easter photo collection and Easter egg picture lightbox.

The above Easter pictures are the copyright of their respective owners and can be purchased and used for only a few dollars after you purchase a royalty free license from Cutcaster.

On that note….

We are aggressively expanding our buyers list through a number of channels. I make about 20-30 phone calls a day to introduce Cutcaster and learn about how companies are licensing your content. Like I said before it’s a grueling and long process but I see it paying dividends and sales are improving month over month. I realize that not everyone is making sales at this moment so please stay patient as we grow The addition of corporate accounts and Cutcaster credits will offer buyers another two ways to purchase content from us that work seamlessly in their licensing workflow. I am really excited about the Corporate accounts for large image buyers. In addition, we have been dropping press releases, sending out email blasts to publishers, advertisers and graphic designers, joined two affiliate networks, created coupons and discount codes for buyers to use, optimized our site and blog even more, started buying keywords on major search engines, started advertising in publications that are best for reaching our demographic, going to trade shows for image buyers and doing in office meetings/demos with potential customers.

As always things are happening behind the scenes that would bore you but I hope this sheds light onto what we have been doing to keep ourselves busy and moving successfully forward. If you ever want to talk to me personally my email is john AT cutcaster DOT com or my cell is 215-688-2751. I am free to help at any time

On the other hand we have been getting a record number of uploads for Cutcaster which is great for our images buyers. We are all working overtime to make sure that the images and vectors are placed into the marketplace as quickly as possible and apologize for any delays. We also want to make sure we have the highest possible quality as well as best keyworded files so buyer don’t waste time looking around Cutcaster. This is a huge step forward for everyone. Keep the content coming and we will make sure it is available as soon as possible. Thanks again for your support.

Business Ethics by Stephen K. Henn (notice how there is lots of copy space for the title at the top of the buildings)

Full Throttle by Gregg M. Steinberg (notice how the speedometer is going on full)

Wrench in the System by H. Hambrose

Intuitive Manager by Eugene Sadler-Smith (sorry, don’t have a cover for you because the book hasn’t been released yet – but lets see what you can come up with!)

Space Exploration for Dummies by Shana Priwer

Gre test for Dummies

Trading for Dummies 2nd Edition

Reconnecting by Joseph J. Luciani

Fire Your Therapist by Joe Siegler (sorry, don’t have a cover for you because the book hasn’t been released yet – but lets see what you can come up with!)