Business and software
How to avoid the dreaded junk folder
Here's a statistic about emails I'm completely making up... 64% of the time when someone tells you they never received your email, they either never check email or they're just lying.
Totally fabricated statistic, but I bet it's not far off.
Ok, but what about the other 36%?
Those emails end up in your client's junk folder. Or even worse, in the junk folder of a POTENTIAL client.
How to get around this?
The answer is so stupid easy, some of you may feel the urge to make fun of me. But here it is...
Text people to let them know you sent an email and tell them to check their junk folder if they don't see it.
I started doing this consistently last year and my response rates went through the roof!
You may be saying, 'Why not just send a text in the first place, dummy?'
First, you need to have a talk with your mother about calling people names.
Second, you're absolutely right. If it's something quick and simple I just send a text. But usually if I'm sending emails to a prospective client or to confirm a shoot, the emails are a little more involved. Those types of messages just can't be sent by text.
So if you're having problems with email deliverability give that a try and see if it helps.
Otherwise, if you want to completely geek out and try to figure out why your emails are going to the junk folder in the first place, check out this email deliverability checker from Mailook. This free tool will help you to identify and fix your email deliverability issues in a more technical way.
Either way, good luck and may your emails never be lost...
Instagram and Social Media
Facebook updates you may want to check out
I remember a time when I cared about Facebook changes... A LOT!
These days my focus is more on Instagram, but it's still important to keep up with changes in the land of Zuckerberg as they tend to also have an impact on Instagram.
With that in mind, here's a list of Facebook updates for April, 2021.
Two that jump out...
First, it appears that Apple's new App Tracking Transparecny update is going to have an impact on tracking and ad optimization. So if you use the Facebook pixel or do any advertising on either Facebook or Instagram you could be impacted.
Second, the new business suite features look kind of sweet (see what I did there?)! Among other things, you can now schedule Facebook AND Instagram stories right in the Business Suite for free.
If you're not familiar with the Facebook Business Suite, here's a good article that will have you set up in no time!
Clubhouse App - Now available for Android
If you're like me and tried to download Clubhouse for your Android phone, but ended up with a project management app, you'll be happy to hear the real version of the popular app is now available in the Google Play Store.
I believe it's still invite only and honestly, I'm hearing less and less about it every day. Has it already gone the way of Periscope and Yik Yak? Probably not.
But if you're looking to jump in or you're still not sure what Clubhouse is, check out this article on getting started with the app.
Meet the Photographer
Mo, Mo, Mowbray
For this week's interview we took a short ride in the SeniorInspire bus to the land of cheese where we sat down with our favorite lighting salesman, Michael Mowbray.
We met at MoLight HQ where Michael was in the middle of testing out some new, top secret Godox equipment. To prevent me from spilling the beans I was forced to sign an NDA and wear a blindfold for the entire interview.
Here's what we talked about...
SeniorInspire You're a man who wears many business hats. Photographer, instructor and lighting salesman. On a perfect day, which of the three are you doing?
Michael Mowbray A little of each. Maybe a headshot session, then helping someone find the right lighting solution to fit how they shoot, and finally wrapping up the day with a podcast.
SI I'm sure you hear a lot of the same questions over and over about your MoLight products. What's a question you wish people would stop asking?
MB Will my Flashpoint trigger work with this Godox light? I cannot even begin to convey how much I hate that Adorama chose to rebrand the Godox products that they sell. And even after explaining it, people cannot seem to trust that the products are identical. The big difference is the level of service and support that you will receive from MoLight versus one of the big box stores that just want to push product out the door.
SI What's a question you wish people WOULD ask you?
MB Why should I buy from MoLight? What makes MoLight different? I love answering that question because I do believe that no one can match what we do for product knowledge, customer service and support, and our extended warranty.
SI There's a ton of lighting 'advice' offered on Facebook every single day. Is there something you wish people would stop repeating?
MB OMG, where do I start? I see a lot of really bad advice every day. It’s shocking. One of the biggest misnomers, however, is that you need high speed sync (HSS) to freeze motion. Frankly, HSS sucks at freezing motion as the pulsing from HSS makes your flash act like a constant light. What freezes motion with flash is a very short flash duration. The best flashes around for that is the Godox QT series.
SI Which would you rather have? A day with ten $3k MoLight sales or a cure for male pattern baldness?
MB I’ll take a $30,000 sales day any day. My wife doesn’t care about male pattern baldness.
SI LOL. That's literally what she says.
OK, if you could instantly pick up a skill, what would it be?
MB To play the guitar like a master.
SI What is your favorite type of Wisconsin cheese?
MB It’s probably a tie between pecan smoked blueberry white cheddar and Bella Vitano.
SI Sounds good! Do you own one of those cheese hats they wear at Packer games?
MB Nope. Cheese is food, not formal wear.
SI Who are your photography heroes?
MB My friends who slug it out every day trying to grow their businesses in a tough, competitive environment.
SI OK, one last question... Are there any new or upcoming MoLight products you're really excited about?
MB Godox has released a ton of new products in the past few months, with most of those being amazing new LEDs. Godox has gone all in on LEDs -- big, small, silent, colorful -- you name it and it's now in their lineup. Watch also for a new lineup of microphones and small video monitors coming from them. Everything is available in the MoLight store.
SI Loving all the new LED's in your store, but hands down my two favorite MoLight purchases ever have been your Rolling ScrimFlector which completely rocks and your economical lightstands which have been a life saver.
Any chance I can get a peek at what you're testing today?
MB Ok, get him out of here.
And with that I was lifted out of my chair and escorted back to the SeniorInspire bus where I was finally allowed to take off my blindfold. On the bright side, one of the two goons who carried me out handed me a card with printed directions to Michael's favorite local cheese shop.
Of course he was right, that Bella Vitano is delicious!