Promoting Symbiostock

[THP Creative]

Some good ideas have already been put out there about ways to support Leo and Symbiostock, and it's nice to hear that Leo sounds pretty confident he can monetize this theme to compensate his time and energies being put into it. But I was thinking it was worth a thread about all the ways that we can and are promoting this for him.

I run www.microstockman.com which quite a number of photographers and designers visit each month to learn about selling their images, so I will be putting out a post regarding Symbiostock soon, as well as adding a few links in different places, such as my Agency listing page.

It's probably not much, but it's a start.

Leo - do you have a press release type thing that you would want me to include in my post?

What about everyone else, any ideas of how to spread the word as well as build links for Symbiostock/Leo?

[Leo Blanchette]

I can't even begin to tell you how much I appreciate that.  Somehow I think you guys could develop a far better writeup than me. But it would definitely help. Even if you just cause it to attract lots more symbiostock users and it increases the Symbiostock user base, when I start releasing the premium stuff the market will already be there for webmasters/downloaders.

Most importantly, you will also help me not get killed by my wife for spending all this time on something that doesn't produce $.  (j/k she's pretty happy about this).

[farbled]

I will happily spread any post about this, and/or do a blog post of my own on my food blog. Once I'm up and running and make a sale I will be donating to Leo for all his hard work on this.

[Kerioak~Christine]

I have mentioned it in the business section of the talk photography forum today,  will post a blog as soon as I am up on running on my photo site and have been posting progress type blogs while setting up from stockimage.kerioak which I think are getting picked up somewhere as I have had some comments left offering to sell me all sorts of things already I don't want to buy  !! Needless to say they have been deleted. I don't use FB and Twit and that pin site as so many people think your photos are there for the taking (including the site owners it seems) so cannot help out there.

Maybe this is a bit of a catch 22 - we cannot advertise much until we have some products to actually show for it and prove to others that Symbiostock works so they will start using and help developing it so we can get more people using it and buying image licences from us - or something like that.

[alberto]

As a person interested in this project, next days I publish in my blog a post about symbiostock. But I would be pleased if it wasn't only a single article. I should like keep the attention about symbyostock, over time.  Then I would, publish some "interview" with some of the artists, giving the chance to explain to everyone why was born symbiostock, who we are, what kind of photos or illustrations we produce etc. So I would have the opportunity to give visibility to the project as well as some of the members. I think that if not only I publish some interview, but also other, everyone wouldhave a greater visibility. Next days I'll contact some of you to know if you would answer some question so I can able to link yours websites not in a page full of links but in a post specifically related to you.
Another way to increase knowledge about symbiostock is via social network, G+ facebook and twitter.
I think that Leo must open an official symbiostock page at least in these three. Must be Leo as the owner of syombiostock, I know that can be a huge commitment, but after all, Leo can authorize some of us to keep update the variuos page. In another thread I think that we can discuss what is worth to have in this social...

[Leo Blanchette]

Thanks Alberto that is some much appreciated insight.

I would not mind if a number of people promoted Symbiostock in whatever ways they think helpful (to themselves and everyone else)...and the more pointed and organized these endeavors the better.

For instance, I do not do facebook - but a few people could administrate a Symbiostock page or two. Or even pages dedicated to networks and groups of sites. The project is quite fortunate that the initial testers and are responsible / motivated people who know their stuff, so I'm certain if everyone spread out efforts over these areas I can continue focusing on development.

For instance today I'm addressing an SEO issue microstockman pointed out, and am laying the foundation for a better search function, and (something everyone will love) a better image processing system that works in constrained environments.

On one of the bigger microstock site forums somebody (I'm sure in good spirit) said regarding Symbiostock's potential "I hope you have a million dollars to promote it!" which implied only bigger agencies have any power to "get out there" because of a financial advantage. But Symbiostock will be able to be self-prolific with efforts such as you've mentioned, besides the SEO focus and networking.

The goal of symbiostock - in a sort intimation of nature - is to be a super-organism made up of many smaller highly motivated organisms (you know, so to speak). If you watch the netflix documentary on fire ants ( https://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Fire_Ants/70253369?locale=en-US ) you'd probably end up quite inspired!

[alberto]

Tomorrow.... hmm well, later this afternoon, now here are 1,30 am and I'll wake up at 6,00 I'll read the link.
I think that apple microsoft and other was born in a garage, what care is the idea, and again I think that symbiostock is a great idea. So I trust that with patience and effort this network can reach the success. And yes I know that you must develop the project and following the various social is virtually impossible, but as you stated some fellow can follow more actively the pages. My thoughts about the fact that I think is better if you open the official accounts about symbiostock, is because who before open and use the name after has the full control over the pages. "Diamo a Cesare quel che � di Cesare!". Is a non-sense if I open a twitter account named symbiostock, this account must be your, I can follow you, someone delegate by you can tweet according with what you think is right so you can follow the coding area of the project and so on for the other social.

[Jeffrey]

I already made one blogpost about Symbio last week.

http://byux.com/symbiostock-a-wordpress-theme-that-lets-you-sell-stock-images/

[steheap]

Two blogs from me so far, later one here: http://www.backyardsilver.com/2013/04/backyard-stock-photo-creating-your-own-stock-agency/

I also mentioned it in my monthly newsletter to my 350+ subscribers (don't know if that is a bragging right or a disappointing number!!) and I've certainly been getting some visits to my own site through these methods. I've no way of measuring its success it getting people to the Symbiostock site - although I have been contacted by photographers wanting to find out more.

Steve

[grsphoto]

I also have been promoting Symbiostock.  I think it is important to let people know it is still Beta. No problem with creating a buzz, but let's not over do it's capablities.

As important as SEO is if we live by the google, we may also die by the google.....

We need to send press releases, posts to potential clients... bloggers etc.

Just thoughts while I sip my morning tea

Glenn

[alberto]

My article is almost ready, where can I find the logo (the double s) of symbiostock to download? I would like to insert it in the article...

[Leo Blanchette]

When I get home I can make branding available as dl in meantime look in img folder of theme

[alberto]

Thanks Leo, this is the first article of a series, will be published tomorrow or Tuesday. And if you want next week  I would like to work in a new post with some question to you; the founder of the project.

[mattdixon]

I'll help promote it for sure, its a great idea and has plenty going for it.

I will wait though until the directory site is up with a few of the sites spotlighted and the new theme version with the improved search is ready.

Leo why don't you get the main Symbiostock running on Wordpress and invite some of the community in with limited admin privileges to help write some articles and general promotional bits, templates, tips, reviews etc so you can concentrate on development. Load up a nice theme from Themeforest and let some of us chip in with some blog posts.

Once there is a central site to look at I'm sure a buzz will start building around it.

[Leo Blanchette]

Shoemakers children have no shoes! I once worked at a sign shop with an unimpressive sign because boss was too busy working on everyone else's branding! This really is an open project. If someone wants to help set up main site I can completely focus on sy theme

[Leo Blanchette]

Thanks Leo, this is the first article of a series, will be published tomorrow or Tuesday. And if you want next week  I would like to work in a new post with some question to you; the founder of the project.

Sounds good! Just make them easy questions

FYI - the Wiki is available on the website. If you'd like to be a contributor let me know.

[alberto]

Thanks Leo, this is the first article of a series, will be published tomorrow or Tuesday. And if you want next week  I would like to work in a new post with some question to you; the founder of the project.

Sounds good! Just make them easy questions

FYI - the Wiki is available on the website. If you'd like to be a contributor let me know.

Ok unfortunately something happened in my life and now I'm busy the next two months. So this slow down some project that I had in mind but doesn't stop them.
The first post was published https://www.pixelsonthego.com/blog/
Yes Leo, easy questions, and before to publish the article I send you it by email. This way you can see how it is and suggest any useful changes.
Next days I contact you either for the interview, and for become an author in the wiki project. Unfortunately I can't spend much time to the project but I can gladly help.

[Leo Blanchette]

Awesome - I just read it! Thanks a lot for giving in the time. I hope sooner than later we can get symbiostock to show under "how to sell images direct" google searches...articles like these are extremely helpful.

[alberto]

Yes Leo, but is a step by step process. We must help you, but grsphoto get a point when he said that we need a theme ready out of box. Now is still in beta, with some great sites, in example I saw the link to cartoonpictureshop, but people don't want hear the word beta. We can keep attention, but the most  important thing is your effort in coding. But I'm sure soon we can promote the project writing how we sell images direct with symbiostock. The symbiostock sites I saw are pretty functional, things need only to be refined!

[alberto]

Thanks Leo, a very kind person. For who is interested I published the interview. There are some interesting answers about Symbiostock. Leo, I have not sent you an email with the final draft because i only worked on the style of the text. Any considerations will be made in another dedicated post.
Folks, do you know why symbiostock is a theme and not a plugin? Read... https://www.pixelsonthego.com/2013/symbiostock-creator-leo-blanchette/