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Microstock Photography Forum - General => Symbiostock => Symbiostock - General => Topic started by: shotupdave on July 21, 2013, 20:22

Title: Social Media
Post by: shotupdave on July 21, 2013, 20:22
is anyone using Facebook or Twitter to generate traffic to your stock site?
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: Sean Locke Photography on July 21, 2013, 20:23
Yep.
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: Redneck on July 21, 2013, 20:43
Absolutely. Both, Facebook and Twitter. Google+ will follow soon.
I believe you can't ignore the social platforms anymore if you'd like to be successful.
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: gillian vann on July 22, 2013, 02:41
not yet, but when if I get into the realm of Mr Locke then sure, I will.
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: Imagenomad on July 22, 2013, 10:42
not yet, but when if I get into the realm of Mr Locke then sure, I will.

On the other hand, perhaps you'll never reach the heights of Mr Locke if you delay it for much longer.
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: cathyslife on July 22, 2013, 11:52
not yet, but when if I get into the realm of Mr Locke then sure, I will.

On the other hand, perhaps you'll never reach the heights of Mr Locke if you delay it for much longer.


True. It is indeed a vicious cycle.
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: quailrunphoto on July 22, 2013, 12:04
is anyone using Facebook or Twitter to generate traffic to your stock site?

I have used both, but neither has generated traffic at this point.  There is alway hope!

Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: jareso on July 22, 2013, 14:16
I never cared about social networking at all before, because I relied/rely on other ways and strategies of reaching conversions, such as content, SEO, paid advertising, etc.

But I decided to experiment little bit also with social networking.
So recently I created my social profiles and now I will see what will happen the next. ;)
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: Leo Blanchette on July 22, 2013, 14:51
Twitter directly helps your SEO. Google uses it as an authority.
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: jsfoto on July 22, 2013, 16:05
Not yet, but i created a twitter account yesterday. I' ll start to use it after the release of the premium symbiostock theme.
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: plrang on July 22, 2013, 16:11
So let's connect https://twitter.com/plrang/symbiostock/members
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: EmberMike on July 22, 2013, 16:14
I view social media as an additional layer in the whole promotion picture. On it's own, Twitter and Facebook can help a little, but in combination with other things, blogging, flickr, pinterest, etc., they are more powerful.

It's hard to tell just yet how much of an impact it all has on getting traffic to my websites, but over time I have built up a decent following and I know my work is getting seen. I have over 400 followers on facebook and twitter each. Probably not a lot by some standards, but it seems like a lot to me. :)

Links to all of my social pages are in the footer of my Symbiostock site (see signature).
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: cathyslife on July 22, 2013, 16:34
So let's connect https://twitter.com/plrang/symbiostock/members (https://twitter.com/plrang/symbiostock/members)

I'm going to have to take a crash course in Twitter. I have an account @cathyslifeSP but I don't have a clue as to how I become a member of the above.  :-\
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: Leo Blanchette on July 22, 2013, 16:43
So let's connect https://twitter.com/plrang/symbiostock/members (https://twitter.com/plrang/symbiostock/members)

I'm going to have to take a crash course in Twitter. I have an account @cathyslifeSP but I don't have a clue as to how I become a member of the above.  :-\

Twitter can actually be fun. Its addictive :D.

The premium theme (which by the way does not necessarily require monetary payment) is going to have a twitter playground built into it. I chose that feature because not only is it fun and networky but also highly practical to this project on quite a few levels.
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: plrang on July 22, 2013, 16:44
When you follow a person there is another option near by 'Add or remove from lists'
And this is just a list I've created for my own purposes, for example to show it to other people
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: Leo Blanchette on July 22, 2013, 16:46
Plrange - open up a Symbio-twitter thread!  ;D ;D ;D

Here's the still waiting to be developed Symbiostock account. I just registered it as a placeholder till I get to using it more.

https://twitter.com/symbiostock (https://twitter.com/symbiostock)

This what I'm talkin bouuut ... having fun! Not feeding the trolls and talking about what a con Symbiostock is, could be, or we wish it was.

That's what I'm Talking About (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UbbFoEAE1I#)
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: alberto on July 22, 2013, 16:52
Maybe is more simple:
search: @plrang in twitter
follow him :-)
in the left side bar you can see some entry (tweet, following, follower list)
Click the list link and the window with its list is now open.
Click in the second, "Symbiostock" or other if interesting you
In the new window now click on subscribe (left side up)


Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: cathyslife on July 22, 2013, 17:05
OK, I'm following everybody that was listed now. Thanks for the tips.  :D
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: quailrunphoto on July 22, 2013, 17:08
Twitter directly helps your SEO. Google uses it as an authority.

I wonder if that is why more of my images have showed up on the google search?  Interesting.
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: jsfoto on July 22, 2013, 17:09
So let's connect https://twitter.com/plrang/symbiostock/members

Done ... actually I'm not very familiar with Twitter ... I'm curious howI will like it.
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: Leo Blanchette on July 22, 2013, 17:16
If someone retweets you (or not) in most cases twitter = instant google indexing.
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: quailrunphoto on July 22, 2013, 22:35
So let's connect https://twitter.com/plrang/symbiostock/members

Subscribed and following members.

Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: Imagenomad on July 23, 2013, 02:08
Added a new account last night - @Stockphotology - and already following those of you who I can find.

Plrang - can you add me to your list please?

Ta.

Russell
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: zeamonkey on July 23, 2013, 03:47
I've added a social sharing widget to my site, but when sharing photos from the Symbio site, only thumbnails are shared, not full photos.

Is this a problem in Symbio or the widget?
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: Kerioak~Christine on July 23, 2013, 03:54
Does it generate customers or is it a link to other stock submitters?

My experiences of FB and Twitter so far is that they are primarily inane and time wasters - am I wrong?
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: zeamonkey on July 23, 2013, 04:02
Thats a big question. Jump on Creative Live now and watch the Social Media Bootcamp. Will give you some insight on how to generate traffic and links using the social media platform.
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: cathyslife on July 23, 2013, 05:27
Does it generate customers or is it a link to other stock submitters?

My experiences of FB and Twitter so far is that they are primarily inane and time wasters - am I wrong?


Thats pretty much what i think of it. I am sure it helps in keeping your name in front of people, but i dont think what you get back pays for the time it takes to do it. I hope someone can show me real $ figures of how it actually converted into sales. I guess if you get one good client who keeps coming back to buy, it will have been worth it. Maybe?
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: zeamonkey on July 23, 2013, 06:11
Every photo you pin on pintrest from your symbio site, provides a backlink to your stock photo site. Pintrest has lots of designers on there, so if you dont think this has any value, dont do it.
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: jsfoto on July 23, 2013, 06:11
I just twittered my first Tweet  :)

I'm happy to tell: My own stock photo agency is online: http://www.flashstockphoto.com (http://www.flashstockphoto.com)  flashstockphoto is part of the #symbiostock network. Join us!

Is this the way to do it? Or could it be improved?

Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: plrang on July 23, 2013, 06:53
As @alberto just said (http://www.microstockgroup.com/20100/20100/msg332205/#msg332205)

@Imagenomad you're on the list now

I added a link to the list in my sig, for fun and @flashstockphoto, you has been introduced to my 538 followers ;)

Until Symbiostock will not gain some critical mass we should use all available tools, with care, no spam etc.

ALL means ALL TOOLS and not ALL THE TIME ;)
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: cathyslife on July 23, 2013, 06:57
Every photo you pin on pintrest from your symbio site, provides a backlink to your stock photo site. Pintrest has lots of designers on there, so if you dont think this has any value, dont do it.


So far, i have only heard speculation. I have not seen anyone that i know provide concrete proof that it all translates into dollars. I think of it as just another way of advertising, a necessary expense and cost of doing business, but not one i am likely to recover.


The jury is still out for me on whether it all has any value. I might try building special watermarked images for pinterest, but i am not interested in seeing hundreds of people using my images for free. This was a big deal at DT...and the reason i left there. Didnt i just see a thread about how sales at DT are way down? I guess letting people use free images on pinterest and all that backlinking did not translate into sales.


But then we could argue this for hours. I have no interest in doing that.  :)
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: Kerioak~Christine on July 23, 2013, 07:02
Every photo you pin on pintrest from your symbio site, provides a backlink to your stock photo site. Pintrest has lots of designers on there, so if you dont think this has any value, dont do it.

I have added a  "block pinterest" plugin  :)   I spend time getting my images removed from Pinterest rather than adding them

We use pinterest, twitter facebook for another business I run, I find people copy the pictures but do not purchase the product and let my partner deal with that side of things as I get too irritated by it and she has banned me from the site  :)

I am cynical about these social media - I tried FB some time ago for my photo business, got lots of "friends" but no business.   

I am open to being proved wrong and will probably try again but I find them difficult to find a use for.   I did start watching that Social Media Bootcamp  but found it boring (a bit me me me)  and switched to the food photography one.  I don't want to argue about it, just be convinced it is worth doing
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: plrang on July 23, 2013, 07:09
What's the problem with the watermarked image on Pinterest, except it generates traffic? I really would like to know

http://pinterest.com/pin/175640454190089187/ (http://pinterest.com/pin/175640454190089187/)
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: zeamonkey on July 23, 2013, 07:13
Its all comes down to SEO and how Google rank our images in searches, influenced by twitter, pintrest, G+ and other social outlets. If people wanna pin my watermarked photos with the link to my stock site and telling google to rank it higher in the process, they are very welcome. Each to their own. ;)
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: Kerioak~Christine on July 23, 2013, 07:25
Most of my images on pinterest are not watermarked but lifted from elsewhere.

IF I was putting images on pinterest I would create a special watermark I think to say it could be used there.  If we put normally watermarked images up I feel we are saying, yes you can use if it has a watermark on it.  Do people go back to the source (and see they have to pay) or just say, I like that I will copy it without licencing which in every other instance we are saying is not permissible
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: cathyslife on July 23, 2013, 07:29
I have had the same experience as you, christine. I also have a no pin plugin on my site.
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: Redneck on July 23, 2013, 08:30
Its all comes down to SEO and how Google rank our images in searches, influenced by twitter, pintrest, G+ and other social outlets. If people wanna pin my watermarked photos with the link to my stock site and telling google to rank it higher in the process, they are very welcome. Each to their own. ;)

Do you see real traffic back to your site coming from Pinterest?


I think the problem with Pinterest is that your image will be copied and uploaded to a Pinterest server. Which means you're completely losing control of your image. And it's actually a copyright violation if you didn't agree to have your image "pinned".
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: zeamonkey on July 23, 2013, 10:01
I have just launched my stock site so impossible to tell at this point. However, the people that pin my images wud never ever have paid for them anyway, so I see it as free advertizing. My photos on pintrest are watermarked, description states its a stock photo and the link to my website is right under the image. Everything counts toward my google ranking and better exposure on google image search.
The more people that gets exposed to my photos and my website, the better. Nobody is making money from my photos on pintrest, so i don't see a problem. Ive seen my photos from flickr all over pintrest for a long time already and those photos still sell well on microstock.
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: Redneck on July 23, 2013, 10:10
I have just launched my stock site so impossible to tell at this point. However, the people that pin my images wud never ever have paid for them anyway, so I see it as free advertizing. My photos on pintrest are watermarked, description states its a stock photo and the link to my website is right under the image. Everything counts toward my google ranking and better exposure on google image search.
The more people that gets exposed to my photos and my website, the better. Nobody is making money from my photos on pintrest, so i don't see a problem. Ive seen my photos from flickr all over pintrest for a long time already and those photos still sell well on microstock.

I just started too, about two weeks ago but I can see people coming from Facebook and Twitter (referrer at site stats). That's why I'm asking if Pinterest is really giving you traffic and exposure.
And like I sad, the problem is that you lose control over your image. On Facebook, Twitter, G+ etc you can anytime delete your image if you change your mind. On Pinterest you can't.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to convince you. Just trying to figure out if benefits weigh out the risks.
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: zeamonkey on July 23, 2013, 10:47
I have just launched my stock site so impossible to tell at this point. However, the people that pin my images wud never ever have paid for them anyway, so I see it as free advertizing. My photos on pintrest are watermarked, description states its a stock photo and the link to my website is right under the image. Everything counts toward my google ranking and better exposure on google image search.
The more people that gets exposed to my photos and my website, the better. Nobody is making money from my photos on pintrest, so i don't see a problem. Ive seen my photos from flickr all over pintrest for a long time already and those photos still sell well on microstock.

I just started too, about two weeks ago but I can see people coming from Facebook and Twitter (referrer at site stats). That's why I'm asking if Pinterest is really giving you traffic and exposure.
And like I sad, the problem is that you lose control over your image. On Facebook, Twitter, G+ etc you can anytime delete your image if you change your mind. On Pinterest you can't.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to convince you. Just trying to figure out if benefits weigh out the risks.
I think it doesnt matter where we post our photos, be it pintrest, facebook, flickr or where ever, they will get shared all over the internet. So rather than someone grabs it directly from my website by a screengrab or otherwise, Id rather control things as much as i can from the beginning, so my links and descriptions follow the images when its being shared. The moment someone use a screengrab, the photo is orphan with no way to identify it or its origin and it doesnt have any benefit for my SEO.

In the end it all comes down to one thing, that images has to be seen to get sales. If nobody sees your images because you are scared to let them gain exposure one way or the other, then they will never sell. If this is the way to do it, time will tell. Everyone should do as they see fit.
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: jsfoto on July 23, 2013, 12:51

    ... @flashstockphoto, you has been introduced to my 538 followers ;) ...


Thanks a lot! My first tweet and you retweeted it ... I start to like twitter  :D
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: shotupdave on July 23, 2013, 13:33

    ... @flashstockphoto, you has been introduced to my 538 followers ;) ...


Thanks a lot! My first tweet and you retweeted it ... I start to like twitter  :D

whats your twitter name?
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: jsfoto on July 23, 2013, 13:41

    ... @flashstockphoto, you has been introduced to my 538 followers ;) ...


Thanks a lot! My first tweet and you retweeted it ... I start to like twitter  :D



whats your twitter name?

It's simply:  flashstockphoto (or does the trained twitter-user say @flashstockphoto ?)
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: cascoly on July 23, 2013, 13:42
views don't matter - views from potential buyers are what we need - and pinterest is just another place where people look for free pix

while I have little interest in playing the twitter game,  at least there's a chance there of attracting real people.   I've joined the symbio area and am now following all who've signed up
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: plrang on July 23, 2013, 15:35
ANYTHING we can do - MATTERS
ALL we won't do MATTERS

If one does not even try ... it's fortunately not my problem;)
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: jsfoto on July 23, 2013, 15:54
.... while I have little interest in playing the twitter game,  at least there's a chance there of attracting real people ....

I totally understand, actually I'm not a big friend of all this social media stuff. But I decided to give twitter a chance for a while and see what the effect will be. Working in the internet, it's probably not wise to refuse the use of these tools.
I just tweeted a 24hour discount of 25% for one of my images and plan to keep doing this for a while (I'm not sure how often I should do it reasonably ... perhaps twice a week?) I'm really curious whether there will be a noticeable effect ...
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: chrisroll on July 23, 2013, 16:31
I've added NextScripts Social Networks Auto-Poster plugin
   
It automatically publishes posts from symbiostock site to my twitter account every time I publish an image

Name account : lifeispix  :D
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: Ron on July 23, 2013, 16:33
I always follow everyone back @semmickphoto

I need to start promoting my images more on twitter
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: chrisroll on July 23, 2013, 16:37
Hi ron,

I follow you now  :D
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: cascoly on July 23, 2013, 16:38
I've added NextScripts Social Networks Auto-Poster plugin
   
It automatically publishes posts from symbiostock site to my twitter account every time I publish an image

Name account : lifeispix  :D

a note of caution -- shutterstock etc have this service for facebook & twitter & it quickly gets annoying to have a constant stream of minor announcements all the time
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: Ron on July 23, 2013, 16:39
Cheers Chris

Just followed everyone back  ;D
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: chrisroll on July 23, 2013, 16:40
Thanks Plrang, I follow you too  ;)
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: picture5469 on July 23, 2013, 16:50
Ive just set up a twitter account @picture5479

Just added everyone i can find on symbiostock
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: EmberMike on July 23, 2013, 16:57
I've added NextScripts Social Networks Auto-Poster plugin
   
It automatically publishes posts from symbiostock site to my twitter account every time I publish an image

Name account : lifeispix  :D

a note of caution -- shutterstock etc have this service for facebook & twitter & it quickly gets annoying to have a constant stream of minor announcements all the time

I agree. I'm not a big fan of the automated stuff. It's too generic. I've heard it said that social media needs to be conversational, and automated posts are not at all conversational. It's the whole "talking at me rather than to me" issue.

I think good social posts are more organic. You don't need to post about every image you upload, and not ever post about an upload should be identical to the previous one.
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: chrisroll on July 23, 2013, 17:04
I think you're right, I will try to limit this sort of post in the future and to make "real non automated" message on my account.

Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: cathyslife on July 23, 2013, 17:37
I've added NextScripts Social Networks Auto-Poster plugin
   
It automatically publishes posts from symbiostock site to my twitter account every time I publish an image

Name account : lifeispix  :D

a note of caution -- shutterstock etc have this service for facebook & twitter & it quickly gets annoying to have a constant stream of minor announcements all the time

I agree. I'm not a big fan of the automated stuff. It's too generic. I've heard it said that social media needs to be conversational, and automated posts are not at all conversational. It's the whole "talking at me rather than to me" issue.

I think good social posts are more organic. You don't need to post about every image you upload, and not ever post about an upload should be identical to the previous one.

I agree about the organic posts. Though after I have all of my port uploaded, automation might work if I am only adding a few new images a week. I will have to see.

I share an office with the woman who handles our social media at work. I was thinking of hiring her to do stuff for me, on a trial basis. If it doesn't bring in any noticeable increase in traffic and buyers, I would not continue. She's a whiz at it and I think that changes it from being a painful, time-consuming chore (for me) into an hour or two a week for her.
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: Leo Blanchette on July 23, 2013, 17:52
I hope everyone has fun with it and slows down a bit.
Title: Re: Social Media
Post by: klsbear on July 28, 2013, 11:17
I've added a twitter account too - @ksstockphotos.com and I'm following those I could find with Symbiostock affiliation.  Twitter name varies a bit from my site url to keep it shorter but that's a second domain that redirects to my site so my Symbio site can be found either way.