Well, is there a good reason why we can't discuss keywording and the pros and cons of a keywording service here openly?

I am definitely one of those who consider keywording (for selling my photos online) a necessary evil. Not just that: it also needs to be done right. That takes some effort and time, which, unfortunately, isn't quality time for me.

Usage of a keywording service so I can focus on making great images sounds like a great idea. But it doesn't work. At lest not for me.

OK. That isn't fully true. I am still happily using Picworkflow to help with the keywording task. It doesn't work in saving me time and effort in the end BUT it does work in providing better results.

In order to keyword the bulk of my photos you need detailed knowledge of location and/or subject. If I provide that upfront as a detailed description I am already half done. If I don't provide that description the outsourced keywording becomes meaningless at best. From my experience there are only about 20% of the images where hiring a keywording service makes sense. With those images I am often surprised by the angle the keyworder has been looking at the image. Sometimes it is just plain wrong but often enough it is very valid and provides keywords that I would have never thought of. That means I am now spending time reviewing the work of the keyworder instead of doing the keywords all by myself. It leads to better quality keywording, which justifies the very reasonable price tag, but it doesn't save me a minute of the much hated keywording task.

I don't think anyone could provide an affordable keywording service that would free me of that task.

Now, back to keywording