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Microstock Photography Forum - General => Symbiostock => Symbiostock - General => Topic started by: djpadavona on May 30, 2013, 11:49
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I know this has been brought up before, and there are people on both sides of the argument. I don't like requiring user registration to purchase an image. It is going to reduce sales.
I went through the process to test my site, and wow, it was a PITA. It took a long time just to get the email once I signed up. As a customer, I can tell you that I would have given up by now and bought my images elsewhere. People will come to you through Google Images looking to buy one image, probably not to become a long term customer. Just let them make their purchase, and move along.
I'd like to see the user registration requirement as an OPTION. That way if anyone is steadfast on having the requirement, they can have it.
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I kinda agree with both sides of this, requiring registration and registration being a PITA and may drive away sales.
What I have done is set-up and allow facebook and wordpress.org sign-in using a plug-in.
I have not checked how well this plug-in works in 2.x.x if anyone want to test it for me....:)
stockimages.glennspecht.com/wp/
Glenn
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Glenn,
How did you set up the social media registration plugin? That sounds like a better idea than creating a user from scratch.
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Hi Daniel
Not sure what you found so hard, I have just registered on your site and it took me a few seconds - applied, went to my email and downloaded password, then entered password and logged in.
I have to admit I am on the side of requiring registration, I want to be sure that the address they have given is one that will get the download email confirmation. Many people do, deliberatly or accidentally type the wrong address. I sell other stuff online and we get people typing in their wrong snail mail address - a couple in the US have put the wrong state then blamed us when it did not arrive!
Hi Glenn
I tried
Wordpress - they need a wordpress.com account - our sites won't do.
Google - says
Stockimages.glennspecht.com would like to:
View basic information about your account
View your email address
Stockimages.glennspecht.com and Google will use this information in accordance with their respective terms of service and privacy policies.
More info
View your name, public profile URL and photo. View your gender and date of birth. View your country, language and time zone
View the email address associated with your account
I didn't bother :) but then I would rather deal directly with each site, might be my age or just awkwardness :)
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Tinny,
Tried it twice. The email showed up in 10 minutes the first time. The second time, not at all. Second email was to go to my government account - interesting that it didn't make it.
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Daniel, I often have that sort of problem - had it here with MSG which is why I have the name I have!
Having said I would not use social networking logins I realise a lot of people would so if Glenn would share I would appreciate it as well
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I use the social connect plug in
http://wordpress.org/plugins/social-connect/ (http://wordpress.org/plugins/social-connect/)
Yes I know that the wordpress it want is wordpress.org but a lot of bloggers use that site.
I don't like using Facebook etc to log into accounts, but a lot of people do...and if it helps with sales.
Glenn
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Maybe we need some clever person to create a Symbiostock log-in plug that works in a similar way - registered with one site then can use those details if the email address is confirmed with the rest of the network
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Maybe we need some clever person to create a Symbiostock log-in plug that works in a similar way - registered with one site then can use those details if the email address is confirmed with the rest of the network
That would be a great plug-in. It would raise awareness for the entire network.
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I could see how that would work with one site with their network connections that they make. For it to work across all SY sites not in your network there has to be some global registration somehow that recognizes that they're on a site with the theme installed. I'm not even sure that a global one would be feasible, reliable or safe.
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Registration allows buyers to keep track of what they bought and it is convenient if the download links do not arrive for some reason..
They can always login and see their purchases..
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I don't think I've ever bought anything online without having created an account on the seller's website. It's simply the way things work.
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I don't think I've ever bought anything online without having created an account on the seller's website. It's simply the way things work.
I have had the same experience. Rarely do I buy anything where I haven't registered. I suppose there could be some buyers in a big hurry, but I think for the most part, people are going to be returning (hopefully) and so just go ahead and create an account.
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Glenn,
I installed social connect but you need a facebook API to get the facebook button, how did you do it?
Cheers
Laurent
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Glenn,
I installed social connect but you need a facebook API to get the facebook button, how did you do it?
Cheers
Laurent
I already had a Facebook API for use on several other projects... sorry I can't remember the steps involved but I don't remember it being difficult.
Glenn
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Start here: http://developers.facebook.com/web/ (http://developers.facebook.com/web/)
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Ok thanks I ll have a look at it:)
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Hi Daniel
Not sure what you found so hard, I have just registered on your site and it took me a few seconds - applied, went to my email and downloaded password, then entered password and logged in.
I have to admit I am on the side of requiring registration, I want to be sure that the address they have given is one that will get the download email confirmation. Many people do, deliberatly or accidentally type the wrong address. I sell other stuff online and we get people typing in their wrong snail mail address - a couple in the US have put the wrong state then blamed us when it did not arrive!
Hi Glenn
I tried
Wordpress - they need a wordpress.com account - our sites won't do.
Google - says
if they give a fake email they STILL have to give a valid paypal, so where's the problem? they don't get an picture until they pay
i'm much more concerned about the people who don't like giving out their info but are happy to use paypal
for my online games, use went up dramatically when I took out the requirement to give an email -- anyone who didn't would just be logged as guest
I don't think I've ever bought anything online without having created an account on the seller's website. It's simply the way things work.
I buy lots of things online where I only have to go thru paypal
partly it may be what sort of buyers we're expecting - but whatever the case it should be optional for the site
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for my online games, use went up dramatically when I took out the requirement to give an email -- anyone who didn't would just be logged as guest
I don't think I've ever bought anything online without having created an account on the seller's website. It's simply the way things work.
I buy lots of things online where I only have to go thru paypal
partly it may be what sort of buyers we're expecting - but whatever the case it should be optional for the site
Exactly my point. Registration is a sure fire path to spam filling up your email box, quite unfortunately. I register only when I absolutely have to. I take the attitude of "Don't Call Me, I'll Call You" when it comes to any business.
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I think I have to agree with the other posters here that required registration will be a hindrance for image sales for multiple reasons.
Here's one:
I'm working on setting up our site and I just registered myself for the first time. I got an admin email almost instantly letting me know that someone registered but it's been over half an hour and I still don't have the customer email letting me know I registered. As a buyer if I was ready to open my wallet but had to wait for an email that didn't come pretty darn near instantly chances are I would have lost interest by now.
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I dont know of a site that doesnt require a registration for a download. Its a once off, and then all they need to do is login when they come back. I think people expect to sign up these days. And its only a username and email, very quick. I do agree that emailing the password might be a it cumbersome, but if they want the image, they will register.
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Imagine the mess a buyer is facing who wants to buy 10 images from 10 different SY sites ::)
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I dont know of a site that doesnt require a registration for a download. Its a once off, and then all they need to do is login when they come back. I think people expect to sign up these days. And its only a username and email, very quick. I do agree that emailing the password might be a it cumbersome, but if they want the image, they will register.
if the site uses paypal there's no need to register
clickbank just takes you to a payment screen, no need to register to download programs or images
for those who want it, it should be an option
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I'm working on setting up our site and I just registered myself for the first time. I got an admin email almost instantly letting me know that someone registered but it's been over half an hour and I still don't have the customer email letting me know I registered.
Rare bug. Please tell me your hosting? Maybe your prob might help me finally solve it.
Also I'm only available minutes at a time whereas I had donated 3 months of 8-14 hour days before.
I had more to say, but I think I'll open a thread.
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I dont know of a site that doesnt require a registration for a download. Its a once off, and then all they need to do is login when they come back. I think people expect to sign up these days. And its only a username and email, very quick. I do agree that emailing the password might be a it cumbersome, but if they want the image, they will register.
if the site uses paypal there's no need to register
clickbank just takes you to a payment screen, no need to register to download programs or images
for those who want it, it should be an option
Not a real solution, but is it possible to set up an anonymous guest account? Then set the username and password to default to "guest" and thus allow anyone to purchase from the site without having to register!
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I dont know of a site that doesnt require a registration for a download. Its a once off, and then all they need to do is login when they come back. I think people expect to sign up these days. And its only a username and email, very quick. I do agree that emailing the password might be a it cumbersome, but if they want the image, they will register.
if the site uses paypal there's no need to register
clickbank just takes you to a payment screen, no need to register to download programs or images
for those who want it, it should be an option
Not a real solution, but is it possible to set up an anonymous guest account? Then set the username and password to default to "guest" and thus allow anyone to purchase from the site without having to register!
actually I've done that before for online games -- anyone can 'login' as a guest & play
not sure how it would work here -- perhaps someone can test it out?
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I dont know of a site that doesnt require a registration for a download. Its a once off, and then all they need to do is login when they come back. I think people expect to sign up these days. And its only a username and email, very quick. I do agree that emailing the password might be a it cumbersome, but if they want the image, they will register.
if the site uses paypal there's no need to register
clickbank just takes you to a payment screen, no need to register to download programs or images
for those who want it, it should be an option
Not a real solution, but is it possible to set up an anonymous guest account? Then set the username and password to default to "guest" and thus allow anyone to purchase from the site without having to register!
actually I've done that before for online games -- anyone can 'login' as a guest & play
not sure how it would work here -- perhaps someone can test it out?
One problem with that approach at present would be that every anonymous user's download links would pile up in one place. They would have to be restricted to email only.
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One problem with that approach at present would be that every anonymous user's download links would pile up in one place. They would have to be restricted to email only.
aren't download links sent from the paypal account?
I've been working on the database stuff & still haven't gotten the paypal functions to work....
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I've gone ahead and tried it. Seems to work fine. I tried logging in using "guest" on 2 different browsers at the same time and that didn't cause an issue either. It's still setup if anyone wants to try. Pretend to buy something from the 3D Illustrations category.
TL, as Cascoly said, links are sent from Paypal I believe.
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I've gone ahead and tried it. Seems to work fine. I tried logging in using "guest" on 2 different browsers at the same time and that didn't cause an issue either. It's still setup if anyone wants to try. Pretend to buy something from the 3D Illustrations category.
TL, as Cascoly said, links are sent from Paypal I believe.
HACKERS! THIS CANNOT BE ALLOWED. (It really works???)
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Spill the beans, Leo :)
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I've gone ahead and tried it. Seems to work fine. I tried logging in using "guest" on 2 different browsers at the same time and that didn't cause an issue either. It's still setup if anyone wants to try. Pretend to buy something from the 3D Illustrations category.
TL, as Cascoly said, links are sent from Paypal I believe.
What about these links, (including test purchases of files which have since been deleted.
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to use the guest idea you need to prevent that user from changing the password
one problem may be that anyone can change the guest password -- asked for a password for the guest, but never did anything with it, so it was always available
I found a plugin -'Remove Dashboard Access' that does jt what it says -- so you can prevent any guests or subscribers from changing their passwords
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If everyone logs in using the same account how do you give each their own download area so they only download the images they have paid for and not everyone elses? We would need download availibility to expire very quickly if everyone uses same details
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@TL Ah.........I had not explored the Customer Area yet ::)
In my case I'm not interested in who, what, where stats. I just want to make it as easy as possible for someone to purchase an image.
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I have no way how to do this, but would clients be okay with receiving an email with a link from which they can download their purchase? The link would expire after, say, 30 days. It would then be up to the clients to keep track of their email. Any thoughts?
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I'm working on setting up our site and I just registered myself for the first time. I got an admin email almost instantly letting me know that someone registered but it's been over half an hour and I still don't have the customer email letting me know I registered.
Rare bug. Please tell me your hosting? Maybe your prob might help me finally solve it.
Also I'm only available minutes at a time whereas I had donated 3 months of 8-14 hour days before.
I had more to say, but I think I'll open a thread.
I just tried setting up a test on my site and have the same problem. I got my e-mail alerting me to a new registrant right away but now 30 minutes later and I'm still waiting to receive my password. I'm on Bluehost.
Edited to add that it's been over an hour now and I'm still waiting - no password. Not good :(