FAA - The Largest Art Site in the World?

[stockastic]

Everything between free and paid is the same except for the upload limit. 25 vs unlimited. ...

I don't think that's correct, I just put 29 images on my free account.  Besides the 'artist site', it's not yet clear to me what you get for the $30.

[update]  It looks like the big things you get with an 'artist' site is appearance in Google search, and sales through Amazon.com.  Maybe worth the $30 right there, if you make a sale through either of those channels.  The slightly-customized site itself isn't that big a deal in my opinion, but you do get a domain.

[shiyali]

The $30 is certainly worth it. You get unlimited uploads, and if you just make one sale per year it will pay for itself. FAA is the only POD site that reads IPTC metadata as far as I know which is a huge plus.

[Travelling-light]

I don't think that's correct, I just put 29 images on my free account.  Besides the 'artist site', it's not yet clear to me what you get for the $30.

You can put as many as you like up, but you shouldn't be able to price more than 25 at a time on a free account.

[stockastic]

I don't think that's correct, I just put 29 images on my free account.  Besides the 'artist site', it's not yet clear to me what you get for the $30.

You can put as many as you like up, but you shouldn't be able to price more than 25 at a time on a free account.

Ouch! Now I get it.   So I already need a 'pay' account.   

[ShadySue]

Thanks for all the info on this thread.
I've just joined up and have put my first photos up. Starting with the more pictorial of the photos I have on iStock and Alamy, but have ideas for things to try later.
Good to keep my out of trouble while I'm not uploading to iS. 

A question: At the moment, I opted out of Fb and Twitter - I don't use these sites much anyway (read 'almost not at all'), but if you opt in, is your work watermarked even if I chose not to have the watermark on the main FAA site (a decision I may reverse soon).

[CD123]

@ ShadySue
Was in contact with a paying contributor living close to me. According to her the feedback is that you have to be on the site for about a year to two and be quite active in their forums to start seeing any real sales. Just a heads up on that.

I opened a free account just to monitor it. 

[ShadySue]

@ ShadySue
Was in contact with a paying contributor living close to me. According to her the feedback is that you have to be on the site for about a year to two and be quite active in their forums to start seeing any real sales. Just a heads up on that.

I opened a free account just to monitor it.

Thanks for the info, I have the free account just now, only had time to set up my defaults and upload 7 pics, but I'll do more late Saturday or Sunday.
Got a fright when they said you had to put up a headshot before your work could be seen - that was nearly a deal-killer - but luckily it doesn't have to be an actual photo of me, so the world's monitors are safe.

[CD123]

@ ShadySue
Was in contact with a paying contributor living close to me. According to her the feedback is that you have to be on the site for about a year to two and be quite active in their forums to start seeing any real sales. Just a heads up on that.

I opened a free account just to monitor it.

Thanks for the info, I have the free account just now, only had time to set up my defaults and upload 7 pics, but I'll do more late Saturday or Sunday.
Got a fright when they said you had to put up a headshot before your work could be seen - that was nearly a deal-killer - but luckily it doesn't have to be an actual photo of me, so the world's monitors are safe.

Normally the very nice looking ladies who can afford such jokes (I am sure no monitor would have been at risk) - ever wondered why I have the leopard head 

I uploaded 25 a few days back. Had 9 views of 8 of them the first day and none the following 4 days so far. Will not put money into it unless I can get at least 1 proper sale or 3 small ones over the next 3-4 months. But that's just me.

[ShadySue]

I uploaded 25 a few days back. Had 9 views of 8 of them the first day and none the following 4 days so far. Will not put money into it unless I can get at least 1 proper sale or 3 small ones over the next 3-4 months. But that's just me.

I'll proably pay out once I get to 26 uploads - I pay for a Flickr pro account just for fun, so why not; also what else could I spend only $30 over a year that might make me some money - lottery tickets?

[Poncke]

Guys, I have the most average portfolio and I made 520 dollars last year and joined them 1 May. 30 dollars is nothing.

[CD123]

Guys, I have the most average portfolio and I made 520 dollars last year and joined them 1 May. 30 dollars is nothing.

Spent much time in their forums or promoting?

[Poncke]

Nope, nothing, promoting stuff amongst contributors is useless. I promote on my facebook and recently my blog and on twitter.

[ShadySue]

Hmm, none of my three friends on Fb or the pervs who 'follow' me (doing nothing) on Twitter will be remotely interested.

[Poncke]

I dont think I ever got a sale from promotion, its just keywording and having something somebody wants to pay for.

[stockastic]

I just signed up and I now have 55 photos online.  Begin holding breath.... NOW....  [silence as I wait for a sale].

[mtkang]

hi guy, i have a free account with some photos in it, however, i can't find a page that tell about sales?

How do i know i made any sales?

thanks a lot!

[CD123]

hi guy, i have a free account with some photos in it, however, i can't find a page that tell about sales?

How do i know i made any sales?

thanks a lot!

After you logged in, look to the right side of the "FineArt" logo. Your name is there + "Profile", "Behind the Scenes" and "Activity". Click on activity and you will have whole selction of reporting buttons (on last row is sales).

[nicku]

Hi,

I just joined FFA.... I'm ''lost'' in the site... I have a few questions::

1. There is any review on the uploaded images?
2. WHERE CAN I SEE MY UPLOADED IMAGES??? after i keyword and set the prices
3. How could i edit my images?

[sharpshot]

I'm a bit put off by the shipping prices to the UK.  I've sold a few things on Zazzle and Redbubble but don't think anyone from the UK is going to pay the FAA shipping prices.  It's baffling why they wouldn't have a deal with a European printer, to reduce those shipping costs.  It leaves them open to competition and if they don't do something about that, they probably wont be the largest art site in the world for long.  I know the US market is huge but it can't be as big as the rest of the world.

I know some of the microstock sites have dabbled with selling prints but perhaps seeing how well FAA are doing might make them look at it more seriously?  It would be nice to not have to upload all my portfolio again.

[Poncke]

Hey Sharpshot, I have added that suggestion to the suggestion thread. I am with you on this one. They have shipping prices of over 200 dollar and I questioned that as well. It seems they either making big money off that or they have the wrong courier. Other US based sites have shipping of 18 dollar to Europe. I think FAA current shipping prices is negatively affecting sales to the rest of the world so their market is reduced to the US and Canada only.

If you look up the suggestion thread you can back up my suggestion or add you own. Maybe we can start a new thread here, and rile up the troops to all suggest lower shipping cost or a EU POD printer.

[ShadySue]

I'm a bit put off by the shipping prices to the UK.  I've sold a few things on Zazzle and Redbubble but don't think anyone from the UK is going to pay the FAA shipping prices.  It's baffling why they wouldn't have a deal with a European printer, to reduce those shipping costs.  It leaves them open to competition and if they don't do something about that, they probably wont be the largest art site in the world for long.  I know the US market is huge but it can't be as big as the rest of the world.

I agree, and it is worrying when most of my content isn't of direct US interest.

[Poncke]

There are loads of Americans that want art from the old continent on their walls

[CD123]

Hi,

I just joined FFA.... I'm ''lost'' in the site... I have a few questions::

1. There is any review on the uploaded images?
2. WHERE CAN I SEE MY UPLOADED IMAGES??? after i keyword and set the prices
3. How could i edit my images?

Login, go to profile, then images, then upload.  Use the single upload first, as they suggest. That will take you step by step through the process. After that things start to make more sense.

[BaldricksTrousers]

CD = There is no review, it's up to you to edit yourself. Needless to say there's a lot of dross on the site.

 To view your stuff go to the behind the scenes tab next to your name in the top-bar to get your control panel. Then click on the "artwork" tab to see your portfolio. There's not much to it as far as using the site goes.

When you open an image from the gallery in the artwork file, there is an "edit this image" tab below it.

For me, one great advantage of this site is that it encourages me to branch out and do something other than simple stock shots because there is a chance of stuff selling for a decent price which wouldn't make much of an impact on microstock.=

[etienjones]

The way I look at it is simple, spend one day to organize your site and see what it brings at the end of the year.  I am much too lazy to invest a lot of time but who knows.  I have 9 Galleries with a couple of hundred images . . . .  that should tell me if I wasted $30 and a day's work.

As to a profile picture,  I am of the opinion that the more out of focus my picture is, the better I look.   

http://4-steven-jones.fineartamerica.com/