MicrostockGroup Sponsors


Author Topic: Best platforms form selling direct?  (Read 17607 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

lucato

  • [<o>] Brasil


« on: March 11, 2015, 06:53 »
+1
Hi folks.

You guys that are already selling direct, have tried several WP themes, Joomla and platforms. So, I wonder:
1. in your opinion what is the best platform, wp theme to sell images direct and why. It can be free or paid versions;
2. What is your monthly average selling direct?
3. Does it worth all your effort (Setting all platform, upload, keywording, payment gateway, and so on)?

I have tried Symbiostock, but never had a single sale or even a single registration. :0(

Thanks.



PaulieWalnuts

  • We Have Exciting News For You
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2015, 07:55 »
+7
There is no "best" system. Best is subjective and depends on your needs. Is a Ferrari the best car? Not for a family of ten who likes to tow a camper into the mountains. Do you need RM? RF? Print fulfillment? Client portal? Custom developed/hosted/cloud model? Etc. So if you haven't already, I'd be thinking about strategy first. And that should lead you to a platform. My goal was a cloud system that offered the best user/mobile experience for customers, gave me configuration flexibility, offered RM/RF/Print like bigger agencies, and had good SEO. After evaluating a bunch of systems that led me to Photodeck.

Do you have anything unique to offer? The people who are buying direct probably couldn't find what they wanted at the stock sites and ended up doing a Google search. So in my opinion, to do well at selling direct you need to offer something stock sites don't.

Do you know SEO? You will need to be very good with IPTC content and SEO so people can find your work through search engines. And being good at social media would help. It's a huge amount of effort and will probably take a while before you start seeing sales.

Symbiostock is known to have good SEO qualities because it's Wordpress and Google likes Wordpress sites. If you didn't do well with Symbiostock then I'd question if a different web platform is going to do any better for you. Something else is wrong. Maybe pricing was off, or IPTC data wasn't optimized, or maybe your images aren't any different from what stock sites offer.

One thing I will say, is that I've found there are plenty of buyers will to pay more for the right image. They have no problem paying hundreds per sale. So that tells me there are probably a ton of images on micro that are being offered for a few dollars that could be getting a few hundred. Not only that but contributors are getting 20%-ish of a few dollars instead of 100% of a few hundred. If I make a handful of direct sales per month that would equal the bunch of dollar-ish downloads I get through micro sites. Some image subjects are so saturated that they probably are only worth a few dollars. What can you offer that's unique? What's your strategy? What are your requirements?

Has it been worth my effort? It has been a ton of effort and yes it's absolutely worth it. So much so that my site is my focus this year and I've stopped submitting to stock sites a while ago.
« Last Edit: March 11, 2015, 08:00 by PaulieWalnuts »

50%

« Reply #3 on: March 11, 2015, 08:45 »
+2
It's all about marketing your own content (which should be great) the platform doesn't really matter that much. I would stick with your Symbiosite the time needed for building up all again on a new platform is better invested in marketing and creating new and better content!

« Reply #4 on: May 16, 2015, 10:27 »
0
Hi folks.

You guys that are already selling direct, have tried several WP themes, Joomla and platforms. So, I wonder:
1. in your opinion what is the best platform, wp theme to sell images direct and why. It can be free or paid versions;
2. What is your monthly average selling direct?
3. Does it worth all your effort (Setting all platform, upload, keywording, payment gateway, and so on)?

I have tried Symbiostock, but never had a single sale or even a single registration. :0(

Thanks.

...then you've clearly missed an important aspect, which is adequately and effectively promoting your site.

Symbiostock is not meant to be a set-it-and-forget it magic tool, but for the additional margin (i e that 80%-or-so cut in so-called "commissions" conventional microstock agencies tear out of your work) you are expected to do some work as well. That would be learning some SEO and effective promotion techniques. Depending on the size of your portfolio=expected turonver, this can be a fairly small price to pay. The legacy Symbiostock Theme (now called grfx Plugin for WP, https://wordpress.org/plugins/grfx/) has great SEO functionality built in and already takes care of the basics for you, plus there is an ongoing meta search network to improve things even further -- the rest is up to you.
« Last Edit: May 16, 2015, 10:30 by stuttershock »

« Reply #5 on: May 16, 2015, 12:48 »
+2
I'm really happy with Photoshelter but I also have a large portfolio of journalistic and travel images there and mostly license my work found there to magazines and book publishers. My site there has also gotten me into some galleries and museums and I'm in the process of negotiating a deal that will be huge if it goes through, thanks to my site.

I market my site, but have not done anywhere near as much marketing as I would like. Fortunately,   the main Photoshelter interface has the advantage of attracting the kinds of buyers that are interested in the kind of work I license, most of which is RM and licensed in the $50-300 per use range. While I can do direct downloads from the site, most buyers email me and negotiate, so that's something to consider too. Since I do assignment work, I'm comfortable with this and actually like the contact as it can lead to more work.

I have worked hard at captioning and keywording my images, and have had work featured on the main site, though I haven't done as much with getting my work out front as I would like.

So, as PaulieWalnuts says, there's no "best" platform, it really depends on what you're licensing. If Photoshelter sounds like it might be an option for you, feel free to PM me if you have specific questions. I'm happy to help.


Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #7 on: May 21, 2015, 11:28 »
+1
I think it's a cost vs reward question. It can't hurt to have your site online with your images for sale

Well, yes and no. I like having a site online, but the site itself has made me no money. And the time I spent designing the site and uploading and keywording thousands of images could have been spent creating more images for the sites that do sell. There's no way to say for sure, but I figure I probably would have made several thousand extra dollars over the past year if I hadn't taken the time to build my own site. In fact, I've really neglected it over the past couple of months...it's my last priority now.

Also, I do marketing for a living, and the last thing I feel like doing on my own time is more marketing. With the micro sites, finally someone does the marketing for me instead of the other way around.

However, I did "meet" many really nice people through the Symbio effort, so that was great. And one in particular give me several custom assignments, so a big, big thank you to her. :)

Building your own site is a lot of work, and marketing it is even more. Just something to keep in mind.


Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #9 on: May 21, 2015, 12:22 »
0
Oh sure, I tried a variety of social media (free and paid), blogging, Google ads, etc. etc. More time and money wasted tweeting and posting and writing, only to barely break even money-wise. And since time is money, again, that's time I could have used to create images that would already be selling elsewhere.

Plus, since I get paid six figures to tweet and post and write ads, to do that for "free" for myself just annoys me, because I know what my writing time is worth. (It's worth a lot more than my drawing time.) And I could have spent that time writing ads for someone else and made even more money.

« Reply #10 on: May 21, 2015, 12:29 »
-2
Plus, since I get paid six figures to tweet and post and write ads, to do that for "free" for myself just annoys me, because I know what my writing time is worth. (It's worth a lot more than my drawing time.) And I could have spent that time writing ads for someone else and made even more money.
Really you make sooooo much money your time isn't worth promoting your site but it is worth it to complain about it here?   ::) 

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #11 on: May 21, 2015, 12:43 »
+12
Plus, since I get paid six figures to tweet and post and write ads, to do that for "free" for myself just annoys me, because I know what my writing time is worth. (It's worth a lot more than my drawing time.) And I could have spent that time writing ads for someone else and made even more money.
Really you make sooooo much money your time isn't worth promoting your site but it is worth it to complain about it here?   ::)

I spend a lot less time complaining here than you do. ::) And a WHOLE lot less time taking snarky potshots at people.


« Reply #12 on: May 21, 2015, 12:51 »
-10
Plus, since I get paid six figures to tweet and post and write ads, to do that for "free" for myself just annoys me, because I know what my writing time is worth. (It's worth a lot more than my drawing time.) And I could have spent that time writing ads for someone else and made even more money.
Really you make sooooo much money your time isn't worth promoting your site but it is worth it to complain about it here?   ::)

I spend a lot less time complaining here than you do. ::) And a WHOLE lot less time taking snarky potshots at people.
I'm pretty sure both of those claims are extremely untrue.  But don't let me waste anymore of your time you could be making thousands of dollars in the time it's taking you to respond here.

marthamarks

« Reply #13 on: May 21, 2015, 14:34 »
+2
And one in particular give me several custom assignments, so a big, big thank you to her. :)

 :D

« Reply #14 on: May 21, 2015, 14:34 »
+6
Well, with the new Symbiostock for example, it reads metadata. Assuming your photos are all tagged anyways, that's quick. And as for designing, well - yes, that takes some time, but probably less than it did in the past.....

the ORIGINAL symbiostock reads meta data,  so it's misleading to trumpet this as a new feature!  a caution to anyone thinking of migrating to the new version -- you'll lose all the SEO you did thru the Yoast plugin -- robin confirmed the conversion does not bring that data across

« Reply #15 on: May 21, 2015, 17:26 »
+2
Just FYI Photoshelter reads all your metadata and provides safe redundant backup of your images.

« Reply #16 on: May 21, 2015, 19:31 »
+2
As it stands right now I would go Photoshelter long before joining Robin's hosting.

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #17 on: May 22, 2015, 06:40 »
+1
Oh sure, I tried a variety of social media (free and paid), blogging, Google ads, etc. etc. More time and money wasted tweeting and posting and writing, only to barely break even money-wise. And since time is money, again, that's time I could have used to create images that would already be selling elsewhere.

Plus, since I get paid six figures to tweet and post and write ads, to do that for "free" for myself just annoys me, because I know what my writing time is worth. (It's worth a lot more than my drawing time.) And I could have spent that time writing ads for someone else and made even more money.

I'm assuming the down votes are from people who tweeted and posted and got great results. Maybe you can share your strategies here?

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #18 on: May 22, 2015, 06:43 »
+2
Oh sure, I tried a variety of social media (free and paid), blogging, Google ads, etc. etc. More time and money wasted tweeting and posting and writing, only to barely break even money-wise. And since time is money, again, that's time I could have used to create images that would already be selling elsewhere.

Plus, since I get paid six figures to tweet and post and write ads, to do that for "free" for myself just annoys me, because I know what my writing time is worth. (It's worth a lot more than my drawing time.) And I could have spent that time writing ads for someone else and made even more money.
I didn't mark this post down, but I'm wondering why people pay you "six figures" to tweet and post and write ads, but when you did it for yourself you "barely broke even".

« Reply #19 on: May 22, 2015, 07:01 »
0
Six figures a month or a year ? 100.000 or 900.000. Makes huge difference.

Justanotherphotographer

« Reply #20 on: May 22, 2015, 07:13 »
+5
Could we please get off Shelma's back.

Good on you for doing so great in your other career.

Sometimes it just feels like whenever anyone posts even hinting at any success inside or outside the industry they get pounced on, come on now.

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #21 on: May 22, 2015, 07:16 »
+6
Oh sure, I tried a variety of social media (free and paid), blogging, Google ads, etc. etc. More time and money wasted tweeting and posting and writing, only to barely break even money-wise. And since time is money, again, that's time I could have used to create images that would already be selling elsewhere.

Plus, since I get paid six figures to tweet and post and write ads, to do that for "free" for myself just annoys me, because I know what my writing time is worth. (It's worth a lot more than my drawing time.) And I could have spent that time writing ads for someone else and made even more money.
I didn't mark this post down, but I'm wondering why people pay you "six figures" to tweet and post and write ads, but when you did it for yourself you "barely broke even".

I wish I could tell you why my website isn't selling. (Well, it is, but just enough to break even. I'm one of a handful of Symbio people who make sales every month.) I'm assuming one reason is because I haven't made a major time or financial investment in marketing. Another could be the competitive landscapehow do you compete against SS, Getty, iS, etc., when your portfolio is barely a drop in the bucket compared to theirs? I was hoping the linking aspect of Symbio would give us some sort of edge, but it doesn't seem to have worked out that way.

The large micro and macro sites spend millions on marketing each year. That includes market research, media placement, PR, website optimization, an aggressive worldwide sales force, parties for big clients, and so many other variables that are impossible to replicate as an individual.

The vast majority of small businesses fail, even when they have the backing of large investors.

And finally, I work in large multinational ad agencies, with staffs of thousands of people doing different specialized jobs. If working in advertising automatically led to success with your own business, we'd all quit and start our own businesses. But unfortunately it doesn't work that way. It is a lot easier to just have a job and make a salary than to take the risk to start something on your own.

For me personally, I look back at the amount of time I spent on my site and wish I'd spent it drawing or writing instead. I'd have a lot more money in the bank today. But that's my opinion and experience, and perhaps others feel it was worth their time.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #22 on: May 22, 2015, 07:47 »
+4
Could we please get off Shelma's back.

Good on you for doing so great in your other career.

Sometimes it just feels like whenever anyone posts even hinting at any success inside or outside the industry they get pounced on, come on now.

I wasn't on Shelma's back.
It was a genuine question. I've been pondering these issues for ages myself.
Over on FAA, people always go on about how important it is to market, but I've tweeted into the abyss, pinned into the abyss and I have no idea how to make it work. I can't see why ads would work, surely everyone uses AdBlock or whatever.

Someone over there actually posted: "For example, if you photograph flowers, join gardening forums and market there". That example had me baffled. It seems that if you're a fine art flower photographer, you almost certainly buy your perfect specimens, and those I know who photograph flowers don't garden at all. Then how does it work?
Forum post, "Anyone suggest reasons why my scabious didn't come up again this year?",
Reply: "Oh, never mind, I have a photo of scabious which you could buy".

Honestly, I'm on one of the main UK gardening forums as I'm a beginner gardener. I know almost nothing, but was very conscious of being that person who always 'takes' and never 'gives' info/help on a forum. So when someone asked a question about a specific product, and no-one answered in a couple of days, and I happened to know a source, I posted with the suggestion, actually saying I'd never bought or used the product, but I knew it could be got from a certain (charity website) source, it didn't go down well - they seemed to think I was advertising, presumably as it was the first 'helpful suggestion' I'd made.
« Last Edit: May 22, 2015, 07:49 by ShadySue »

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #23 on: May 22, 2015, 07:48 »
+2
Oh sure, I tried a variety of social media (free and paid), blogging, Google ads, etc. etc. More time and money wasted tweeting and posting and writing, only to barely break even money-wise. And since time is money, again, that's time I could have used to create images that would already be selling elsewhere.

Plus, since I get paid six figures to tweet and post and write ads, to do that for "free" for myself just annoys me, because I know what my writing time is worth. (It's worth a lot more than my drawing time.) And I could have spent that time writing ads for someone else and made even more money.
I didn't mark this post down, but I'm wondering why people pay you "six figures" to tweet and post and write ads, but when you did it for yourself you "barely broke even".

I wish I could tell you why my website isn't selling. (Well, it is, but just enough to break even. I'm one of a handful of Symbio people who make sales every month.) I'm assuming one reason is because I haven't made a major time or financial investment in marketing. Another could be the competitive landscapehow do you compete against SS, Getty, iS, etc., when your portfolio is barely a drop in the bucket compared to theirs? I was hoping the linking aspect of Symbio would give us some sort of edge, but it doesn't seem to have worked out that way.

The large micro and macro sites spend millions on marketing each year. That includes market research, media placement, PR, website optimization, an aggressive worldwide sales force, parties for big clients, and so many other variables that are impossible to replicate as an individual.

The vast majority of small businesses fail, even when they have the backing of large investors.

And finally, I work in large multinational ad agencies, with staffs of thousands of people doing different specialized jobs. If working in advertising automatically led to success with your own business, we'd all quit and start our own businesses. But unfortunately it doesn't work that way. It is a lot easier to just have a job and make a salary than to take the risk to start something on your own.

For me personally, I look back at the amount of time I spent on my site and wish I'd spent it drawing or writing instead. I'd have a lot more money in the bank today. But that's my opinion and experience, and perhaps others feel it was worth their time.

Thank you for your detailled reply.
As I said, it was a serious question, and your answer more or less confirms what I suspected.

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #24 on: May 22, 2015, 08:14 »
+3

Someone over there actually posted: "For example, if you photograph flowers, join gardening forums and market there". That example had me baffled. It seems that if you're a fine art flower photographer, you almost certainly buy your perfect specimens, and those I know who photograph flowers don't garden at all. Then how does it work?
Forum post, "Anyone suggest reasons why my scabious didn't come up again this year?",
Reply: "Oh, never mind, I have a photo of scabious which you could buy".

Honestly, I'm on one of the main UK gardening forums as I'm a beginner gardener. I know almost nothing, but was very conscious of being that person who always 'takes' and never 'gives' info/help on a forum. So when someone asked a question about a specific product, and no-one answered in a couple of days, and I happened to know a source, I posted with the suggestion, actually saying I'd never bought or used the product, but I knew it could be got from a certain (charity website) source, it didn't go down well - they seemed to think I was advertising, presumably as it was the first 'helpful suggestion' I'd made.

Yeah, I don't know why you'd try to sell flower photos to gardeners. Gardening publications, maybe.

If you're a beginner at anything, it's just natural you'll take more than give at the beginning. As you get more experience you can give back. Same with microstock, no?

All I can tell you is that by the time the creative department gets an assignment, dozens of other people have already been working for months figuring out the competitive landscape, conducting focus groups, compiling psychographic and demographic information about the target audience, etc. Then your work is subjected to a thousand different opinions, more market research, expert media placement, etc., before it goes live. If you're tweeting, you're the creative department, and you're missing all that background support and information. You're flying blind.


 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
2 Replies
5732 Views
Last post July 10, 2009, 12:46
by massman
5 Replies
6937 Views
Last post January 24, 2012, 12:05
by RacePhoto
3 Replies
6211 Views
Last post September 28, 2014, 08:56
by asmai
4 Replies
5671 Views
Last post March 02, 2015, 20:33
by sweetgirll
18 Replies
33411 Views
Last post September 09, 2015, 14:30
by PeterChigmaroff

Sponsors

Mega Bundle of 5,900+ Professional Lightroom Presets

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors