Hello, I'm new to Microstock Group and this is my first post.  Been following discussions for a while and figured I'd get involved.  First question is one I've been wondering for a while.  Has anyone experienced an increase of traffic to their portfolio or sales after offering clips or images for free?

(I apologize if this has been covered before)

Never tried it. It devalues my hard work and I doubt people looking for free stuff will turn into paying customers.

I have never seen any evidence that freebies boost paid sales for my own  portfolio. Back in the earlier days of microstock (before agencies were solidly established) I viewed the free image offerings as a way to help the agency build traffic for itself and I did offer images for a weekly freebie. That was then. I wouldn't do it now.

Did that several times a few years ago and I never saw increased sales.

They're only designed to draw more traffic to the site. It will do nothing for your sales. It's common sense, why would it? If a buyer wants an image in addition to the free one they will do a general search on the site.

Ok, sounds pretty unanimous, hasn't helped anyone.  I appreciate everyone taking the time.

NO.

About 8 months ago I offered one of my clips as a free video of the month. I did see a slight increase in related sales. Out of the 5000 free downloads I had 10 sales of a related theme. So nothing to amazing but deffinatly a slight increase. It also helped a file reach higher in the search and so I've been getting more sales since.

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on March 10, 2016, 20:54
I have never seen any evidence that freebies boost paid sales for my own  portfolio. Back in the earlier days of microstock (before agencies were solidly established) I viewed the free image offerings as a way to help the agency build traffic for itself and I did offer images for a weekly freebie. That was then. I wouldn't do it now.

just as "Black Friday" specials which the whizz kids at Harvard et al have "now discovered" to cost money overall...

Quote from: Cider Apple on March 10, 2016, 22:05
About 8 months ago I offered one of my clips as a free video of the month. I did see a slight increase in related sales. Out of the 5000 free downloads I had 10 sales of a related theme. So nothing to amazing but deffinatly a slight increase. It also helped a file reach higher in the search and so I've been getting more sales since.

Thanks.  Which site was it?

Its the lie the agencies try to sell you

They are not getting anything free from me. Soon we will have to pay them for letting us upload a photo.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

I've found its either useless or hurts sales. If your image is part of a set of complementary elements (the others of which you sell ) you might see success.

Quote from: Tyson Anderson on March 11, 2016, 00:20

Quote from: Cider Apple on March 10, 2016, 22:05
About 8 months ago I offered one of my clips as a free video of the month. I did see a slight increase in related sales. Out of the 5000 free downloads I had 10 sales of a related theme. So nothing to amazing but deffinatly a slight increase. It also helped a file reach higher in the search and so I've been getting more sales since.

Thanks.  Which site was it?

istock