The Smiler Marketplace attracts hundreds of potential clients who are actively seeking skilled photographers. By showcasing your Storefront on Smiler Marketplace, you increase your visibility and reach a broader audience, putting yourself in front of clients ready to book your services.
To keep the Smiler Marketplace at the highest standards and provide an exceptional experience for clients, we have set eligibility criteria for photographers who want to be featured. These standards ensure consistent quality throughout the marketplace and help your Storefront stand out to potential clients.
Here’s an overview of the steps you need to complete to become eligible:
Upload up to 10 high-quality portfolio photos that showcase your best work.
Connect your calendar and set your availability.
Offer a minimum of 3 active services that clients can book.
Gather at least 5 client reviews with an average rating of 4.6 or higher.
Let's walk through each step to make sure you get approval quickly and start leveraging the Smiler Marketplace to expand your reach.
Step 1: Upload high-quality portfolio photos
Your Storefront should showcase up to 10 high-quality portfolio photos that represent your style and skills. These photos provide potential clients with an introduction to your work and give clients a clear sense of what they can expect when they book with you.
To upload or update your portfolio:
Go to the “Storefront” tab of your Suite. This is where you can manage and customise your Storefront.
Within this section, scroll down to "Add your portfolio" to upload your top 10 photos by dragging and dropping them into place.
Use the 'Change order' button to rearrange your photos. Position your top four images first, as these are the first photos clients see. Updating your photos is straightforward: simply add new photos whenever you like or remove old ones by hovering over an image and clicking the trash icon.
📌 TIP: Consider adding a cover video to your Storefront. This video could be an excellent way to introduce yourself, describe your services to potential clients or provide them a glimpse into why they should book you.
Step 2: Connect your Google Calendar
Connecting Google Calendar to your Suite and setting your working hours let clients only book you during times you are available. This prevents double bookings and keeps your calendar accurate and conflict-free.
To connect your Google Calendar with your Suite:
Go to the “Storefront” tab in your Smiler Photographer Suite.
Proceed to the “Calendar” section and select “Connect Your Calendar.”
You’ll then need to log into your Google Account and authorise Smiler by selecting the necessary permissions, which enables it to manage conflicts and schedule new events.
Lastly, configure which specific Google Calendars you want Smiler to monitor for scheduling and updates.
To set up your working hours:
Go to the "Storefront" tab and access the "Calendar" section.
Here, you can specify your availability by selecting the days you work and toggling your availability on or off for each day.
You can set specific hours for each day; for instance, if you choose to work from 11 AM to 4 PM on Fridays, adjust the settings accordingly. This configuration ensures that clients can only book you during your designated hours and not during any existing appointments in your Google Calendar.
Step 3: Publish a minimum of 3 active services
One of the standout features of your Storefront is the integration of a seamless booking system. This system ensures that whether a visitor is using a smartphone or desktop, booking a photoshoot is straightforward and just a click away. No fuss, no back-and-forth, just a smooth and simple process that puts your services front and centre.
To add a new service to your Smiler Storefront:
Navigate to the “Storefront” tab and click on the “Services” section.
From there, you can either manage existing services or create new ones by clicking “Add Service.”
Choose a service category, such as “Couple’s Shoot,” and fill in the necessary details. Once complete, click “Create” to publish your service, making it directly bookable for clients.
Step 4: Have a minimum of 5 reviews with an average rating of 4.6 or higher
Client reviews play a pivotal role in the decision-making process. They offer a glimpse into the experiences of previous clients, providing feedback that is not only helpful for gauging expectations but also builds a sense of trust and reliability around the photographer's brand, significantly influencing their choice.
There are two ways to start collecting and showcasing reviews: by sending galleries to new clients and by reaching out to past clients. Let’s break down both approaches:
Collecting reviews from new clients:
Navigate to the “Upload” tab in your Suite and send a gallery to your client.
When they download their gallery, Smiler will prompt them to give a star rating and share feedback.
If needed, follow up with a friendly reminder, highlighting how valuable their feedback is for others.
Collecting reviews from past clients:
You can also reach out to past clients, inviting them to leave a review and give consent for using their photos. Here’s how:
Navigate to the “Storefront” tab and select “Customer Galleries.”
Click on “Upload Customer Gallery” in the top right corner.
Fill in the details and upload their photos.
Share the link with your client so they can leave a review and provide photo consent for display on your Storefront.
By using these strategies, you’ll build a strong collection of reviews to showcase your success and help future clients see the quality of your work.