How do I find work for my printer?

[huguito]

I normally print just for myself, and give away lots of prints to others as gifts, one can have just so much wall space at home and just so much money to frame prints.

I would like to make some extra income from my printer, after a lot of tuning in the last year or so I can get really beautiful output on paper and canvas.

How would you go about starting to look for print clients?   Is there a better place to advertise or to find artist to offer reproduction printing?

Any ideas?  I am sure I am not the first here thatone day look at his printer thinking, "How come I am not making any money out of you? "

Hugo

[huguito]

Sounds like a good starting point
Thanks

Hugo

[tlester]

Where did the other reply go?

[huguito]

I don't know
I remember having one reply that's not there now

[dgberg]

First and foremost a good website.

[Jeff Magidson]

I am sure I am not the first here that one day look at his printer thinking, "How come I am not making any money out of you? "

Hugo

I would look at it like this: Your printer is just another tool, not a money making device. There are much easier ways to make money! If you want to print for pay, you will be the one working hard to find and satisfy clients and doing all the other work that goes along with being in business. Your printer will just be along for the ride.

[brinked]

Sure a great website is good.  But its no use if you cant market it properly.  So here are some ideas that can get you started.

1. Start locally.  Visit/email/call local photography studios who would have a use for your services.  Offer them to see examples of your work and what you can offer them.
2. If you own your own designs or photos, you can try offering them for sale as prints on places such as etsy, ebay etc.
3. Build a website, can be as simple as ordering a script such as photography orders, or having one custom made for you with a sweet design.  Once you have a website the entire world is at your disposal.  Network with photographers, and businesses who offer products that can benefit from your service.  Maybe you can provide a better rate, dropship etc.

With a website you can also toy with adwords, facebook ads, twitter, advertising directly on websites that already capture your target audience etc.

Best of luck.

[Aaron F.]

Sure a great website is good.  But its no use if you cant market it properly.  So here are some ideas that can get you started.

1. Start locally.  Visit/email/call local photography studios who would have a use for your services.  Offer them to see examples of your work and what you can offer them.
2. If you own your own designs or photos, you can try offering them for sale as prints on places such as etsy, ebay etc.
3. Build a website, can be as simple as ordering a script such as photography orders, or having one custom made for you with a sweet design.  Once you have a website the entire world is at your disposal.  Network with photographers, and businesses who offer products that can benefit from your service.  Maybe you can provide a better rate, dropship etc.

With a website you can also toy with adwords, facebook ads, twitter, advertising directly on websites that already capture your target audience etc.

Best of luck.

Brinked is right. You can have a great website but if no one knows about it, they ultimately don't know about you. Do your footwork and get out and meet people. Go to networking events, call, knock, or email people who you WANT to work with. They'll probably already have a printer/service that does what you do, but ask them if there's anything that they'd change if they could. It's not an easy question, but one that should be asked if you want to wedge your way in.

Thank you for asking this question because it got me back into looking for new clients. I've been slacking lately.

Best of luck! Keep us posted.