MicrostockGroup
Agency Based Discussion => 123RF => Topic started by: Dan on February 13, 2013, 13:04
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Does donating a free image results in better exposer and more sales?
I'm beginning to believe it might. Donated 2 on 2/12 (one was a golf cart. On 2/13 a pic of a golf cart was bought (although a different one) Coincidence?? Or a sign it might pay off or yet maybe too early to tell.
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You should never give your pictures away for free.
That resembles a buy out, you image is spread all over, and as you have noticed you may get a download or two, or even 20.
But that amount does not compare to putting an image in the trash or the feel free to copy bin.
By giving away you undermine yourself, the agency and other agencies.
Luring you into do it is a competitive advantage for the agency on behalf of you and other agencies.
Do not do it.
Also if the agency wants to do fancy free marketing, it can do it out of the commission it gets.
Thats the purpose of agencies, they get shares because they market.
Its their meaning of life.
Your meaning of life is to produce content.
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Usually the only one who profits from "free" images is the stock agency itself...
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I wouldn't do it - even though they only give away a very small size.
They pitch it as getting you exposure but I think that may be overstating the case a bit. It helps the site to have some freebies - perhaps.
I have only done free image of the week at a few sites (iStock never took any of the things I offered) as it seems that a 1-3 week giveaway as a way to help a site that it truly your partner (remember those days??) is a reasonable thing to do even if it doesn't boost your sales. But that's one at a time rather than the pool of freebies.
I recall selling an image at one agency while it was a freebie that week at another - I don't think regular buyers go looking for freebies - so in general I don't think it hurts much.
And as far as doing anything to help 123RF, even if I thought it would help them I'd stay away as they've been so anti-contributor as they've walked away from the 50/50 split to a "what did you do for me last month" model of royalty levels.
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Why give it away when it seems everyone is fighting for images to retain value.
I think you'll be sending the wrong message with that kind of behaviour.
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Just 2 for 30 days so i gave it a chance. Did the golf cart sale come from the freebie altough it was a different pic? I won't do it again anytime soon unless i start getting more DL's.
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I think having the free section is good if it brings buyers to the site (instead of pilfering off Google) but it's a trap for us. Lucky for us there are plenty who fall for it. You don't need to add more.
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Does donating a free image results in better exposer and more sales?
I'm beginning to believe it might. Donated 2 on 2/12 (one was a golf cart. On 2/13 a pic of a golf cart was bought (although a different one) Coincidence?? Or a sign it might pay off or yet maybe too early to tell.
NO
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123 pretty much is a free section