Microstock Photography Forum - General > Selling Stock Direct
2017 Selling Direct, Personal Stores [updated]
Leo:
Continued from here: http://www.microstockgroup.com/symbiostock-general/to-the-'legacy-users'/msg474259/?topicseen#new
I've had a few people nudging me on my past endeavors to create an ideal stock-image sell-direct solution.
[edit: thread has been aggressively trolled, so I've distilled the Q/A into this main post here:]
See the screenshots below. These are images of a working system I use for myself. Its a client-side website generator for your stock images. It removes the complexity of web design by pre-generating and pre-processing on your computer, then uploading the resulting website to your server.
This allows an artist to simply input FTP credentials (like any stock website) and the software manages everything else.
I created this system because I wanted to set up my website to stand the test of time, and require 0 maintenace -- forever. By reducing dynamic files and not using CMSs like Wordpress, there is no need for upgrades and maintenance. Hacking threats are reduced as well. Server resources are used only to serve html and images.
The main beauty in this is absolute simplicity and the speed resulting.
What it is:
-A simple static website generator.
-A way to simplify and save time in self-hosting your image store.
-A way to use "cheap hosting" without sacrificing performance.
What it isn't:
-A solution to microstock political/economic issues often spoken about.
-A guaranteed way to sell independently (this differs from person to person).
-A network or co-op.
-Complicated.
How can a static (html-only) site perform ecommerce functions?
All functionality is Javascript run (browser) and not server side.
Why not just use some other self-hosting solution.
You certainly can. Other solutions can be useful for people with some experience in web design. The purpose of this is ultimate simplicity and stability, not to mention SPEED. Most dynamic sites can be rather high maintenance or resource hogs. This removes all those burdens.
Will it generate AWESOME looking websites?
It will generate minimalistic and clean websites, devoid of a style-statement, with all focus on your product and a rapid-checkout scheme. The pages (much like my website) will be mobile-device compliant and standards compliant, besides having the basic SEO considerations.
Is it better than the other stuff everyone has tried?
It is far different, with different priorities (simplicity, speed, user-friendliness). If you want a super-feature-oriented, super-customizable site, it might be better to learn a bit of web-culture/design and use one of the common options. This is for people who, like me, don't want to be bothered with my site except to just add products occasionally.
Please note that I am currently refining and rewriting the systems for largescale use, but it works thus far. My website is Django-run, but the client-side page-generator works fine.
More information provided on previous thread.
Image explorer (not unlike Adobe Bridge)
Image search:
Meta data:
Previews/sales info:
Uploader:
Site monitor/viewer:
Speed, performance, and crystal-clean code is usually my objective. I'm not so concerned with boastful gloss in ecommerce sites -- I believe in functionality first and minimalism so as to keep focus on the product.
Currently I am pursuing other things, having left off from microstock a long time ago. But still, people may wish to find a "graveyard" or final resting place for their images that they can leave for 10 years without thinking about it. That is what I did, and I enjoy sales on my site too. Because my site runs so clean, it has absolutely no issues on minimal-charge hosting.
It is my honest opinion that for any continued survival in this business more changes will be needed in expectations as well as pursuits. Meanwhile I do enjoy building this stuff :)
SpaceStockFootage:
I didn't really understand most of the stuff above! Can you make it a bit clearer exactly what this is?
--- Quote from: Leo on December 27, 2016, 03:37 ---
But still, people may wish to find a "graveyard" or final resting place for their images that they can leave for 10 years without thinking about it.
--- End quote ---
What, you mean like uploading them to DepositPhotos?
Leo:
--- Quote from: SpaceStockFootage on December 27, 2016, 03:55 ---I didn't really understand most of the stuff above! Can you make it a bit clearer exactly what this is?
--- Quote from: Leo on December 27, 2016, 03:37 ---
But still, people may wish to find a "graveyard" or final resting place for their images that they can leave for 10 years without thinking about it.
--- End quote ---
What, you mean like uploading them to DepositPhotos?
--- End quote ---
Its an attempt for the ideal level of simplicity and performance for running your own store. Its also an attempt at perfection, or at least to come as close to it as possible.
Regarding the graveyard bit -- yes -- self-hosting such as this is really the art of having your own vending machine. I build stock image vending machines. The other guys do too, but I coined the term. 8) Put money in, image comes out.
sharpshot:
I think it will only be perfection when we have one site to upload to, instead of many people having their own site and wasting money paying for domains and hosting fees. I still think the majority of people will find it hard to break even running their own site and what's the point of that?
Leo:
--- Quote from: sharpshot on December 27, 2016, 04:59 ---I think it will only be perfection when we have one site to upload to, instead of many people having their own site and wasting money paying for domains and hosting fees. I still think the majority of people will find it hard to break even running their own site and what's the point of that?
--- End quote ---
It truly is a tough call. I really like having my own site to sell from, and given a choice I would never get rid of it. But others rightfully take your view as well. If there was a genuinely good and profitable agency that could be counted on indefinitely, it would certainly be worth shutting down my independent pursuits. But this world promises much and gives little, so I've developed my own strategies just to find a happy and productive medium.
I'll see if the idea takes, and if not I'll check in another year from now as things continue to evolve.
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