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Microstock Photography Forum - General => Selling Stock Direct => Topic started by: illustrationist on August 01, 2013, 12:39

Title: Finding and connecting direct private buyers.
Post by: illustrationist on August 01, 2013, 12:39
Hello everyone,
 :)
I will be thankful for any idea concerning the bellow-

I am willing to sell stock illustrations that I design.

As this point, my main interest is how to find private customers, so I will be able to sell the images to them directly.

At this time I am also willing to avoid using stock agencies, nor opening a website of my own, so the only reasonable solution seems to be selling directly to customers, but I am willing to learn how to find such customers, who may be willing to buy images on a regular base (I focus my designs on comic backgrounds)

Thank you for any idea.

Kind regards,

The illustrationist :)
Title: Re: Finding and connecting direct private buyers.
Post by: rimglow on August 01, 2013, 13:08
It is in the agencies best interest that this doesn't happen. They don't want you to sell direct to their customers.
Title: Re: Finding and connecting direct private buyers.
Post by: Beppe Grillo on August 01, 2013, 13:26
Contact Advertising agencies (graphic studios), little and bigger.
Send them a portfolio with a CV (resume)
Try to get an appointment with their Art Buyer or some Art/Creative Director.
I think that in the era of Internet the direct contact is still the best solution.

This is one way
And it is a long and hard work.

You could contact directly the companies, but avoid the biggest because they generally work with advertising agencies.

Another way is to find an agent that will represent you.
But it is difficult to find a good agent, and it will cost too.
If you are not already a known designer it is a solution that I would not consider at the moment.

Don't expect that somebody will do this work for you for free…
Title: Re: Finding and connecting direct private buyers.
Post by: picture5469 on August 01, 2013, 13:28
Try symbiostock
Title: Re: Finding and connecting direct private buyers.
Post by: cthoman on August 01, 2013, 13:48
You've eliminated a lot of options, so it may be a tough road. I've tried the cold calls with very little success. Agents usually want to deal with artists with existing clients or reputations. Most of my contacts come in from walk-ins (since I have a large web presence). That can take time to build though. I wish there was an easier answer, but it's tough out there. If you find a better way, please let me know.
Title: Re: Finding and connecting direct private buyers.
Post by: illustrationist on August 01, 2013, 14:03
Thanks for the replies :)
Title: Re: Finding and connecting direct private buyers.
Post by: Leo Blanchette on August 01, 2013, 14:50
Thanks for the replies :)

A lot of my own custom work comes from my own site. Usually a client will have something in mind, do a google search, and find your copyrighted images -

Then quite often being people who respect copyright and the value of the work, they will contact you and its generally nice.

Yes, you could open a Symbio-site, and that will be instrumental in getting out 'Out there' without having to be married to Microstock.