Social media was the topic of conversation at the PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo this year. Photography industry professionals met Oct. 22-24 in New York for the annual conference where the buzz was all about how to use social media effectively for networking, marketing and building business.

Nelson Nunes, President and Co-founder, ADBASE:

"The thing that most struck me was that people were really excited about Twitter. My takeaway is that, in these challenging times, everyone is looking for something they can do to drive more business. But I think the jury is still out on how significant a contribution Twitter can make. In the way that photographers described how they are using it, and what they’re getting from it, my take is that Twitter is mostly about networking with peers and that, occasionally, would result in a local, non-commercial job. For your hardcore commercial photographer, I haven’t heard of anyone getting lots of success with Twitter."

Jen Charron, Director of Marketing, ADBASE:

"Everyone was talking about how to engage in social media and social networking in a way that’s effective and helps their business. There are some photographers who are using it all the time, and then there are those who want to, but don’t know exactly how to get started, what to focus on, and how to approach it. I believe that social media is the buzz right now because it’s something new and different and the photographic community is looking for more ways to promote their businesses and get their names out there."

Gail Lambino, Marketing Coordinator, ADBASE:

"This was my first PhotoPlus Expo so it was a great event to meet key industry people. At the "How to get work from ad agencies" seminar moderated by Debra Weiss, I learned that photographers need to balance the hype of promoting themselves with keeping up their skills. Another thing I learned at the conference is that artists really need to research who they’re targeting and how exactly these people want to be contacted. One suggestion I heard for marketing on a shoestring is not to overlook traditional ways to showcase your work. There are lots of non-profit and community galleries that artists can be a part of, especially if they’re just starting out or want to become known in their region."

Aslan [Alex] Stohr, Customer Support Associate, ADBASE:

"My number one takeaway from attending Blake Discher's seminar "Is your website making you money?" is how editorial and corporate photographers benefit more from SEO because their clients are more likely to search using Google than would ad agencies, which use different tried and true sources. One of the best things about going down to New York for PhotoExpo is being able to put names to faces. I was able to meet some of the board members from the APA and the ASMP. For anybody looking to gain knowledge in the industry because they are either inexperienced or are breaking into different markets, the seminars are amazing. And the networking, for the established pros, is certainly worth the trip."

Juliette Wolf-Robin, Owner, PrintBrat:

"Leading up to the Expo, I heard a number of people talking about the RED camera [which shoots digital stills and motion]. People are definitely trying to find out more about the camera, whether photographers will start doing film work, how they would do it and where they would use it."

We at ADBASE are always interested in hearing about how you and your business are navigating the latest industry trends and issues. You can help us develop new Insight content and ADBASE business marketing resources by contacting us at insight@adbase.com.