*** Edited to include link ***
http://www.warmpicture.com/isa.htm



Per the suggestions put forth by Elena and Lisa to form an alliance of independent microstock sellers, touched on in this thread:
http://www.microstockgroup.com/microstock-services/ktools-photostore/

I propose that we form this alliance immediately.  What I have in mind is a webpage (which I can host) which includes a list of independent sites, and a brief description of what the site has to offer.  For instance:

DJPadavona's Image Emporium - specializing in images of warm weather scenics, American sports, isolated apples, and the female walrus in its natural habitat.

What I think we could use -

1)  A Designer.  If someone wants to jazz up the page and make it look snazzy, I'm sure they can do better than me.  Also interesting would be a way of randomizing the order of the list, so the same people aren't always first or last.

2)  A few "Street Team" members.  These people would be in charge of getting the word out.  Maybe target Twitter, and every time someone complains about an agency, be ready to show them "other options."

I really don't think anything else is needed to get this started.  I'd love to hear any other ideas which incorporate our existing websites.  Maybe Leaf can set up something through MSG to promote the indies?

Count me in!

What I have to offer:
- Some experience with Website and Server management (DNS Registration - private and anonymous - this can be important here), basic Website Design, installation of PHP scripts...I can`t programm scripts myself and customization is limited but I`m used to install, manage and keep sites up.
- Money. I would be willing to donate.
- My advice and experience.
- Coffee

Who else is in? :-)

Forget Twitter.  All it would take would be one really great 30-second spot on the Superbowl.

I can't wait until next February to place an ad in the Super Bowl.  So in the meantime...

I found a javascript routine which will randomize the order of our websites each time the page is loaded.  I'll throw together some text on fair pricing and buying direct from artists, and we should be good to go.

Anyone with an indie website who wishes to be part of this

1)  You must have a storefront so buyers can purchase direct from you
2)  Send me your website address in this thread, or via PM
3)  Add a sentence or two describing your site or your specialty (isolated kiwi, walruses, etc)
4)  If you are part of the list, be willing to promote it however you feel comfortable (designer forums, etc)

Let's roll!   

Just PMed you, Dan.

I'm interested; are there any other ways to make a stock website other than KTools, KTools seems to be a bit of trouble, judging by threads on this forum.  I have a regular website but it does not offer direct purchase of various images

 

I have a base page up with text regarding fair commissions, and the benefits of buying direct.
http://www.warmpicture.com/isa.htm

It isn't ready for prime time because as of this evening, we only have two websites listed     So the sooner we can add to this list, the sooner we can do whatever we can to promote it.  Cory, Lisa, Elena, etc., would love to put you on the list.  Paulie, no reason we can't list your Photoshelter site even if it is RM and not RF.

Good for you, Dan, for taking the initiative.  If this can get off the ground, count me in

Oh, FWIW, whoever would be taking the lead on the social networking should probably not use their screen name from the micro sites. 

We will have to tread a thin line in not getting booted for "competing" with them. 

I would think / hope that the sites would not ban someone for being competition.  I can think of quite a few top microstock contributers that have either their own sales site or their own agency(s) .. I feel they have set the standard with those users. 

I would be interested if buyers only had to sign up once and could then buy images from any site.  I just don't see it working for everyone if buyers have to sign up to everyone's personal site.

agreed, I think this will be the week spot in something like this working.  If the buyer could just use a central payment method though, it would be quite easy for them - especially if they didn't have to sign up for anything.  Just fill their cart and one click pay through paypal or something.

Why not partner with the founder of this site? The chances of success is greater!

I hate to be a wet blanket, but this is the same thing posted by elenathewise in this thread, which didn't go anywhere either:
http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/for-people-who-sell-their-own-images-invitation-to-join-stock-image-portal/

Just putting a bunch of links on a page is not a solution to anything.  Buyers aren't going to visit the page - they don't particularly care about the arguments given there, and the page looks like it's from the late 90s.  I appreciate the enthusiasm in trying to do something, but you might as well just not do anything in this case.

What you need to do is create a software solution people can use (or integrate into ktools or whatever) that can output a metafile that a central site can use to create a search database, which will then lead to these other sites.  Although, then, you have the issue of "why doesn't the match favor me?!!?" and such.

Or something else.  But a list of links isn't it.

But does a list of links do anything on the negative side? In all of the research I have done on SEO, one of the things always listed as a plus is links to and from a site (in addition to a lot of other things). I realize this isn't going to put us all on the first page of a google search for photographers or stock photos, but isn't it at least a start? Something besides sitting around thinking negatively and doing nothing? I thought it was.

I didn't necessarily think that buyers would seek out the page specifically. I was thinking more along the lines of the more buzz there is out there, the better. For instance, if I have one link in and out of my site, I have 1 chance of someone seeing it (NOTE: and I am making up numbers here, this is not real data). If I have 20 links in and out of my site, I have just increased my odds by 20 or more.

I read the post by Elena when it happened. She was also asking for money. So far Dan has not. Not that I would mind helping pay for something, but did Elena actually set up a portal? If so, I would be willing to take a look at that, too, and see how it will work.

I am open to hear about any ideas. If the idea is NOT going to be a. another agency  b. cost me an arm and a leg  c. do any harm   then I'm willing to listen. 

I see your point Sean.  Obviously this is not going to amount to a lot of traffic right now.  But I am with Cathy that it beats doing nothing. 

This idea of an alliance of independent, contributor-run sites is in its infancy.  With time I expect all of us will become more sophisticated about how to market ourselves.  Perhaps in a couple of years we might even have figured out how to gain a significant portion of the market. 

Gotta start somewhere, and Dan's idea seems like a good starting point

+1