Facebook helps photography business grow

Mucking around on Facebook for hours while you’re at work might sound like a recipe for disaster, but for not for Joanna Coleman.

She spends up to five hours a day on Facebook, but reckons the time she spends on the social network accounts for up to 70 per cent of business for the photography business she runs with her husband, Andrew.

Pictures U Carlisle was set up two years ago in London Road, Carlilsle, and the popularity of its family portraits and wedding photography has been fuelled by its success on Facebook where over 4,000 people follow its every move.

Joanna posts up examples of family portraits every day which are then shared around Facebook by the subjects and their friends.

Husband Andrew is understandably grateful for Joanna’s social media skills. “We get around 60 t0 70 per cent of our studio work and 15 per cent of weddings through Facebook.

“Joanna is always on there keeping things up to date, tagging people in pictures and taking off anything irrelevant .”

And Joanna Coleman will be sharing her experiences on using Facebook at a half day conference next month orgranised by the News and Star to look at ways that social media can help Cumbrian businesses.

The event at Tullie House on March 25 will include: an overview of social media with Cumbrian digital consultant Andrew Armitage, practical tips on making the most from social media with Cumbrian Newspaper's digital strategy manager Nick Turner and a look at the legal dos and don'ts surrounding social media with Aaron Lyons of Burnetts Solicitors

There will be also the chance to network with other . our "digital champions" - local businesses who have already made a success of social media.
These will include: Joanna Coleman, of Pictures U Carlisle; Claire Willis, owner of Snugbaby and award winning online businesswoman; Gemma Bell who runs Carlisle web development and design company Elevensixdesign; Rebecca Watson, marketing manager at the Cumberland Pencil Company and digital trainer Kate Norman.

Laptops will be available so that you can get practical advice on using Facebook, Twitter, etc.

The half day conference is being organised by the News & Star in association with Armstrong Watson.

If you need more details or have any questions go to http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/socialmedia or email Nick Turner on nturner@cnmedia.co.uk

How to get your ticket:
Tickets for the social media for business half day conference cost £35 each. You can either buy the tickets http://tinyurl.com/6zradec or call 01228 612645 during office hours.