Online Listing vs Your Own Website for Photographers

Table of Contents

• The Flaws of Online Listing Platforms
• How Do These Platforms Generate Leads for You?
• The Reality: It's a Race to the Bottom
• The Smarter Solution: Your Own Website + Google Ads
• ROI Comparison: Your Website vs WedMeGood
• Conclusion

You shouldn't invest your hard-earned money into online listing sites like WedMeGood or WeddingBazaar. Why? Because the only one really making money is the platform, not you. Don't just take my word for it—check out these reviews.

Source: https://www.navdeepsoni.com/wedmegood-review/

Refer to these Quora answer: (it's not for photography, still the platform is same)

WeddingBazaar review from App Store:

A photographer shared that despite reducing his prices by 40%, he still struggled to convert leads from WedMeGood.

Why does this happen? These platforms feature photographers who charge anywhere from INR 10,000/day to INR 1,00,000/day. And your potential clients are often wedding organizers searching for the best photographer with the lowest price. When there's little difference in how the photos look across all profiles, they'll naturally pick the more budget-friendly option. Learn more about common mistakes photographers make with their websites.

How Do These Platforms Generate Leads for You?

Before jumping into better alternatives, let's first break down how these wedding platforms generate leads. They use two primary methods:

1. Google Ads – When someone searches for "wedding photographer near me" or "wedding photographer in [city name]" on Google, the results show ads that these platforms pay for. The client then clicks on the ad and lands on a page showcasing hundreds of photographers.

2. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) – These platforms also rank organically in Google search results by investing heavily in SEO. However, the benefits of SEO go primarily to the platform itself, not individual photographers.

Once potential customers land on these listing pages, they have access to hundreds of options. They'll typically reach out to 5-10 photographers, most of whom are on the first page of the results. If you're lucky, you might make the cut. But with so many competitors, your odds aren't great.

The Reality: It's a Race to the Bottom

On these platforms, your pricing can make or break your success. If you charge below INR 25,000 and pay for a membership, you might see a reasonable return on investment. But ask yourself: Do you really want to target only budget-conscious clients? What about clients who value your work and are willing to pay more for quality?

Online listing sites create an illusion of opportunity while making it harder for you to stand out. Your listing is one among hundreds, making you just another option for price-sensitive clients. It's like fishing in a dead lake.

The Smarter Solution: Your Own Website + Google Ads

Instead of competing with hundreds of photographers on these platforms, why not compete directly with the platforms themselves?

Here's the better solution: Build your own photography portfolio website and run profitable Google Ads to attract clients straight to you. Learn more about how to attract clients through your photography website. ClickMe can help you do exactly that.

With your own website, you control the narrative. Imagine ranking #1 on Google when someone searches for a photographer in your city, and instead of landing on a crowded listing page, they land directly on your website. You can showcase your story, your best work, and set clear, transparent pricing. Once clients are on your site, there's no competition—just you.

ROI Comparison: Your Website vs WedMeGood

Let's look at the numbers:

WedMeGood: The subscription costs range from INR 15,000 to over INR 4 lakh annually, depending on your city and showcase level.

Assumptions for the Comparison

To give you a clear picture, let's break down some assumptions we're making for this comparison:

Parameter	Your Own Website	WedMeGood
Costs
Website Setup	INR 20,000 (one-time fee)	INR 30,000 (annual subscription)
Annual Maintenance & Hosting	INR 5,000	-
Monthly Google Ads Budget	INR 10,000 (total INR 120,000/year)	-
Promoting Listings	-	INR 20,000
Total Annual Investment	INR 145,000	INR 50,000
Revenue Generation
Average Booking Value	INR 50,000	INR 30,000
Estimated Leads per Month	20	10
Estimated Conversion Rate	25% (5 bookings/month)	10% (1 booking/month)
Total Revenue	INR 3,000,000	INR 360,000
ROI Calculation
Total Revenue	INR 3,000,000	INR 360,000
Total Investment	INR 145,000	INR 50,000
ROI Formula	((Total Revenue - Total Investment) / Total Investment) x 100
ROI	1,973.79%	620%

When you look at the numbers, it's clear that having your own website leads to a much higher return on investment (1,973.79%) compared to using a listing platform like WedMeGood (620%). By investing in your own website and running effective Google Ads, you not only take control of your branding but also maximize your revenue potential. This means you can connect directly with clients who truly value your work and are ready to pay a fair price for it.

Is This Realistic?

While these assumptions can paint a hopeful picture, let's get real for a moment. The actual outcomes can vary quite a bit based on several factors.

1. Costs for Your Own Website:

   • Website Setup (INR 20,000): This is reasonable for a basic setup on platforms like WordPress or Wix. Just keep in mind that more complex designs can ramp up the costs.
   • Annual Maintenance & Hosting (INR 5,000): This figure is pretty standard for basic hosting and upkeep, but can increase if your site sees more traffic or you add more features.
   • Monthly Google Ads Budget (INR 10,000): This is a realistic budget for a small photography business. However, the effectiveness will largely depend on how well you target your audience.

2. Costs for WedMeGood:

   • Annual Subscription (INR 30,000): This aligns well with typical pricing for listings on platforms like WedMeGood. The extra promotion costs can also be realistic based on feedback from users.
   • Promoting Listings (INR 20,000): This can vary widely depending on how aggressively you want to promote your listing.

3. Revenue Potential:

   • Average Booking Value (INR 50,000): This is a fair average for wedding photography in many markets, but your actual value might differ based on your experience and demand.
   • Estimated Leads from Google Ads (20 per month): Achieving 20 leads each month is feasible with a well-optimized campaign, though it might take some time to establish.
   • Estimated Conversion Rate (25%): This conversion rate is on the optimistic side, with more typical rates hovering around 10% to 20%.
   • Estimated Leads from WedMeGood (10): This seems reasonable given the competition on these platforms.
   • Estimated Conversion Rate (10%): Again, this is realistic but can vary based on how compelling your profile and portfolio are.

When you look at the numbers, it's clear that having your own website leads to a much higher return on investment (1,973.79%) compared to using a listing platform like WedMeGood (1,100%). By investing in your own website and running effective Google Ads, you not only take control of your branding but also maximize your revenue potential. This means you can connect directly with clients who truly value your work and are ready to pay a fair price for it.

But here's the problem: you're paying to be one of hundreds of photographers, hoping clients will pick you. That's not a solid strategy—it's a gamble.

Now compare that to running a website with a focused Google Ads campaign, where every lead is coming to you. No sharing the spotlight with others.

Conclusion

Online listing platforms are not designed with your success in mind—they're designed to make money off your work. If you're tired of competing with hundreds of photographers for budget-conscious clients, it's time to take control.

By building your own website and running smart Google Ads campaigns, you can attract clients who value your work and are willing to pay for it. You'll no longer be just another name on a list—you'll be the first choice for clients visiting your site. Make sure to optimize your website images using our image format converter tools to ensure fast loading times and better SEO performance.

Let's stop fishing in dead lakes and start catching bigger fish. With ClickMe, we'll help you stand out and compete with the platforms themselves, not just the photographers.