Author Topic: New project, need feedback or ideas please (Read 9764 times)

Christos Georghiou · « **on:** September 21, 2012, 02:05 »

Hi, Microstockgroup people, the reason I am posting is to get some feedback on a project.

There has been some talk on the forum over the years about contributors finding a way to sell directly while overcoming the drawbacks of each of having a limited number of images.

Well, Leo Blanchette, the illustrator famous for those orange men business mascots, has come up with a great idea for interlinking portfolio sites and is enough of a programming whizz to pull it off.

He kindly set me up with a site so he could test out some of the functionality. It is basically a one click upload site, fantastically easy to use.

My site is here:

http://www.atstockillustration.com/

and Leo's is here:

http://www.clipartillustration.com/

I have been getting decent sales even with just the two sites on the network and zero promotion by me, and kept 100% of the money paid by the buyer.
Apparently that is because of some great SEO stuff Leo has been working into the way the site works. I think the real strength of the idea is that it can work as a network of contributors all bringing in traffic.

The idea is to eventually make it possible to search across a network of sites from any one contributors site. Each contributor would have control over their own site, pricing and so on and get paid directly by the buyer.

If you don't want to sell direct it can also be used as a "referral engine" to your other agents like IS, so exclusives may get something out of it to.

So here's the problem, Leo has already spent a lot of time working on this, and will have to spend a lot more to get the project complete. I have been racking my brain trying to work out how he could finance the model. I have got permission from him to post here to ask if anyone has any ideas about how this could raise revenue, I think a lot of us would like to be able to be part of something like this, but how would you be prepared to pay for it? Monthly subscription? One off payment for the site? Should he maybe Kickstarter it? Any ideas or feedback would be very much appreciated.

leaf · « **Reply #1 on:** September 21, 2012, 03:09 »

How are the sites linked together? Is it just the drop down link at the top so you essentially refer eachother to eachother's sites? Or is there any cross searching working or other cross promotion?

I think the idea is great. For the solution to be useful to the buyers it would make a lot of sense to be able to search everyone's photos on the network at once. It would be a pain to have to create accounts or log into a new site every time you find a new image though (if it's from a different user).

Anyhow, if you can get the kinks worked out - I think it would be fair to charge once for the software solution and then charge another amount to be hooked up to the network.

Would this solution only work with your wordpress (it is wordpress isn't it?) mod or would it work with a ktools install? There are quite a few people with ktools already so if you could make it work with that it would be a big bonus and your user base would grow quite a bit.

Christos Georghiou · « **Reply #2 on:** September 21, 2012, 03:35 »

As far as I can work out it will involve having new Wordpress site rather than being integrated into any existing install. I am not sure how familiar he is with ktools, but I have sent him the link to this thread. He is on here from time to time, so I guess he will be on to discuss the ins and outs. He is in the US and I am in the UK so I think he is probably asleep right now!

The main idea is definitely to have a cross search working, the idea about charging for the site, and then maybe a subscription charge for being on the network was one I have run by, Leo. The issue is finding funding so the development can continue prior to launch.

Do you think that people would be prepared to pay into a Kickstarter project to get this off the ground? I know I would, but I have had contact with Leo for some years and know how passionate he is about it and that he has the skills to make it work.

sharpshot · « **Reply #3 on:** September 21, 2012, 03:41 »

If there's enough sales, I don't mind paying for the software and having a monthly or annual charge for the ongoing work. I've been put off starting my own site and have been waiting for a better option.

Kickstarter might be a good idea but wont there be ongoing costs as well?

Christos Georghiou · « **Reply #4 on:** September 21, 2012, 03:45 »

Quote from: Christos Georghiou on September 21, 2012, 03:35

As far as I can work out it will involve having new Wordpress site rather than being integrated into any existing install. I am not sure how familiar he is with ktools, but I have sent him the link to this thread. He is on here from time to time, so I guess he will be on to discuss the ins and outs. He is in the US and I am in the UK so I think he is probably asleep right now!

The main idea is definitely to have a cross search working, the idea about charging for the site, and then maybe a subscription charge for being on the network was one I have run by, Leo. The issue is finding funding so the development can continue prior to launch.

Do you think that people would be prepared to pay into a Kickstarter project to get this off the ground? I know I would, but I have had contact with Leo for some years and know how passionate he is about it and that he has the skills to make it work.

ETA with regards to my site, just to clarify, I didn't have the site before. It was all created via Leo's template. I just had to fill in the blanks and upload my portfolio, all the image pages were automatically created and data extracted from the images. There is also a section on the dashboard for creating discounted collections just by identifying which images you want in them and uploading a cover image. Like these:
http://www.atstockillustration.com/collections/

Christos Georghiou · « **Reply #5 on:** September 21, 2012, 03:49 »

Quote from: sharpshot on September 21, 2012, 03:41

If there's enough sales, I don't mind paying for the software and having a monthly or annual charge for the ongoing work. I've been put off starting my own site and have been waiting for a better option.

Kickstarter might be a good idea but wont there be ongoing costs as well?

There will be, but with Kickstarter you offer incentives to people that support the development. So if you donate a certain amount you get just the initial site, if you donate more you get a site plus a year on the network maybe?
Then people who buy in after the project is finished would have to pay more than those who paid in to get it completed.

Reef · « **Reply #6 on:** September 21, 2012, 03:55 »

Its a good idea though Envato already does something similar. And something similar would require serious coding. There are some amazing Wordpress and CMS templates being developed these days so I would imagine its not impossible to produce. Not easy either!

sharpshot · « **Reply #7 on:** September 21, 2012, 03:58 »

One problem would be that if people pay upfront but have appalling images, they will have to be included in the collection. If I was starting this, I would want to select good quality portfolios to start with and to be able to have some way to reject those that upload junk and inappropriate images.

Christos Georghiou · « **Reply #8 on:** September 21, 2012, 04:10 »

Quote from: sharpshot on September 21, 2012, 03:58

One problem would be that if people pay upfront but have appalling images, they will have to be included in the collection. If I was starting this, I would want to select good quality portfolios to start with and to be able to have some way to reject those that upload junk and inappropriate images.

I don't think that it would be like a traditional agency where the collection is curated. I think that the buyer will have the option of searching the artist/ photographers site they are on or be able to "search the network" if they can't find what they are looking for. Maybe buyers will use it to find a photographer they like and then search within the photographer's own site?

Something that concerns me is if someone wants a site on the network and they are violating copyrights or something like that. I guess that people would have to be able to DMCA to get sellers removed from the network?
I am also thinking that having to pay for a site and use of the network will discourage most people with illegal or unsalable images, because they would not be able to get a return (if their work is no good) or get booted from the network and lose money (if they are stealing images)

I know Leo is open to suggestions at this stage so I am sure he will take your comments on board.

Christos Georghiou · « **Reply #9 on:** September 21, 2012, 05:23 »

Quote from: leaf on September 21, 2012, 03:09

......For the solution to be useful to the buyers it would make a lot of sense to be able to search everyone's photos on the network at once. It would be a pain to have to create accounts or log into a new site every time you find a new image though (if it's from a different user).......

Sorry I didn't respond to this bit. I think that they log in with their Gravatar or Wordpress ID and then the payment is handled through Paypal. I don't think they would have to log into each site individually(?), they would just be paying into the Paypal account of the photographer they buy from.
How this would work if they buy several images from different photographers in the same transaction I don't know.

Leo Blanchette · « **Reply #10 on:** September 22, 2012, 03:02 »

Quote from: sharpshot on September 21, 2012, 03:41

If there's enough sales, I don't mind paying for the software and having a monthly or annual charge for the ongoing work. I've been put off starting my own site and have been waiting for a better option.

Kickstarter might be a good idea but wont there be ongoing costs as well?

Sales are wonderful on my site. Matches the best other sites I upload too! The theme is SEO'd all the way through.

Leo Blanchette · « **Reply #11 on:** September 22, 2012, 03:07 »

Quote from: Reef on September 21, 2012, 03:55

Its a good idea though Envato already does something similar. And something similar would require serious coding. There are some amazing Wordpress and CMS templates being developed these days so I would imagine its not impossible to produce. Not easy either!

Reasons why wordpress is chosen:

1. Flexibility.
2. Extensibility.
3. Useability

.

The microstock interface installs as a theme, and carries out all of the functions. Image uploading, resizing, watermarking, managing. It handles paypal, user accounts, and the list goes on.

Its a "set it and forget it" situation with images. Once they upload, the convert into product pages instantly, extracting IPTC data.

...And thats just what it does now. I've already experimented with scripts to generate posts that link to your agency portfolios to get referals...

The "shared results" will show primarily your site's content, and a number of images (which you determine) fetched from your friend's sites. In fact, all search results are really just XML docs which are available to any network sites which may request them. The "drop down" link is just what I have now for customers to navigate the site network.

In a nutshell, it will be a sort of "grand network" which operates as one big site, with as much personal independence as possible.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #12 on:** September 22, 2012, 07:27 »

Nice work Leo.

sgoodwin4813 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 22, 2012, 07:42 »

This is exactly what is needed - like Amazon but for images.

velocicarpo · « **Reply #14 on:** September 22, 2012, 09:31 »

Why not start a foundation which accepts donations. I really love the idea and would be willing to pay a amount of money if it is a´guaranteed that it is ongoing and under developement. (only condition: do not exclusively use paypal for accepting payments)

cthoman · « **Reply #15 on:** September 22, 2012, 10:02 »

Sounds interesting. Sign me up.

I guess I forgot to mention that an initial signup fee or monthly subscription fee works for me as well.

Babbalouie · « **Reply #16 on:** September 22, 2012, 10:15 »

Sounds fantastic to me if I understand the premise. We could join for a fee and have a complete site with the ability to sale our own images with links or connections to other members sites. Is this somewhat close to the idea?

Anyka · « **Reply #17 on:** September 22, 2012, 11:37 »

+1 interested here. Never sold through my own site, so this might be something for me.

Morphart · « **Reply #18 on:** September 22, 2012, 11:53 »

+1
Interested too! Got programming and web design knowledge if it can help!

click_click · « **Reply #19 on:** September 22, 2012, 12:33 »

+1 I think the theme looks great.

I'd be willing to pay a (reasonable) one time fee.

One thing that I'm really concerned about is the security of the high-res files. Are those located outside the public_html folder? And also the security of the rest of the site would be interesting to know.

cascoly · « **Reply #20 on:** September 22, 2012, 13:00 »

i'm interested - i currently have a smugmug site, but have been considering alternatives after their recent large price increase

re kickstarter - i dont think this project would qualify under kickstarter rules, since it's commercial and ongoing, but still worth checking out.

Equus · « **Reply #21 on:** September 22, 2012, 14:24 »

I like the sound of this and would definitely be interested. One problem I see though, and it also applies to Picturengine, is licensing. Are people really going to buy half a dozen images from different producers if they all have different licenses? Especially if they are paying microstock prices. It seems to me that people joining such a scheme would need to agree to all use the same licence.
If that can be sorted, I would want to join and would be willing to pay, monthly subscription would be most convenient.

Amanda_K · « **Reply #22 on:** September 22, 2012, 14:52 »

I'd be really interested in in seeing where this goes and what you come up with fee wise. I think a one time set up fee would be good to get the theme installed, how are you handling hosting? Would we be able to self host and register our own domain?

Leo Blanchette · « **Reply #23 on:** September 22, 2012, 15:29 »

Quote from: Babbalouie on September 22, 2012, 10:15

Sounds fantastic to me if I understand the premise. We could join for a fee and have a complete site with the ability to sale our own images with links or connections to other members sites. Is this somewhat close to the idea?

Yes, that is correct. One thing that is up in the air - if all sites are connected I may create a central cart database, so if a customer browses multiple sites and carts items all across the network, when the finally check out they do so at a central site which then accepts payment and keeps a small service fee, then delivers all of their purchases. But still working that out. I always opt for simplicity.

Leo Blanchette · « **Reply #24 on:** September 22, 2012, 15:32 »

Quote from: Morphart on September 22, 2012, 11:53

+1
Interested too! Got programming and web design knowledge if it can help!

Thanks! I might need help! Was thinking of taking an open source route with technical hub like a forum.

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Author Topic: New project, need feedback or ideas please (Read 9764 times)

Christos Georghiou

leaf

Christos Georghiou

sharpshot

Christos Georghiou

Christos Georghiou

Reef

sharpshot

Christos Georghiou

Christos Georghiou

Leo Blanchette

Leo Blanchette

Sean Locke Photography

sgoodwin4813

velocicarpo

cthoman

Babbalouie

Anyka

Morphart

click_click

cascoly

Equus

Amanda_K

Leo Blanchette

Leo Blanchette

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