Quote from: klsbear on July 21, 2013, 09:37

LOL - not a genius by far.  It took me about an hour to find that location for the dominant check box when I was trying to turn ON the comments for my blog.  I had the option activated in the Discussion areas but it wasn't visible, and the full edit section doesn't override it either.  I finally found it hidden in the Quick Edit area after searching all options.

Well, I'll be happy to know where it is if/when I get around to adding a blog to my site. To me, that's the appropriate place for comments, and I will welcome them there.

I still say... you're a genius! :-)

When you're ready to add your blog be sure to take note of the option in the upper right to "schedule" posts instead of publishing immediately.  You can change the publish time (this changes the button text from Publish to Schedule) which allows you to write several posts whenever it's convenient and schedule the publish time for a date in the future so you have regular updates without being tied to manual publishing.

When you're ready to add your blog be sure to take note of the option in the upper right to "schedule" posts instead of publishing immediately.  You can change the publish time (this changes the button text from Publish to Schedule) which allows you to write several posts whenever it's convenient and schedule the publish time for a date in the future so you have regular updates without being tied to manual publishing.

Hey, klsbear, that's another fine tip. Thanks. More proof that you really are a genius!

Am I the only one who leaves the comment box switched on for images?  When looking around other people's sites I would quite often like to leave a comment on a picture but there is never an option, I thought they helped with seo?

I don't think it's a bad thing, and the more traffic to your site, the better. I don't have mine switched on because I think buyers are there to buy and I don't think they have the time to comment on images. They either like and buy it,  or move on. Sometimes comments are a double-edged sword...you might get helpful and constructive comments, but it might also invite negative comments. Even though we can moderate the comments, it's not fair to moderate out negative comments so rather than dealing with all that, I just switch them off. Since I have a blog, if someone really has something to say, I just figure they can post something there. Just my thinking, not saying it's right or wrong, because I am fairly new to all of this.

But I would be interested in hearing how they work for you...helpful, not helpful, etc.

Featured images - assign images to Symbiostock Featured Images category that is generated with the theme, then use the featured images widget to put them where you want

Quote from: Kerioak~Christine on July 21, 2013, 11:47

Featured images - assign images to Symbiostock Featured Images category that is generated with the theme, then use the featured images widget to put them where you want

I'm trying to recall if it was dependent on which home page format you're using.  I remember selecting the CTA (Call to Action) home page but for the life of me I can't find where that option was now!

Wow, I've been wondering what CTA meant. Suddenly, thanks to you, I know. Amazing!!!!  (Although I don't know *why* it's called "Call to action". Can anybody enlighten us on that?)

Now I can provide a tip back for you. That option for CTA is in the set-up sidebar on the right side of each page. When you set up a new page, you can indicate if you want a full page, a page with a sidebar (left or right), etc. But you can change existing pages there too, not just set up new ones. I've been playing around with different formats so that location is fresh in my mind.

I'm pretty sure you have to use the CTA template if you want featured images to show at the bottom of the home page.

Unless you have deleted it it will be in the list of categories that you can assign images to when you are editing them to do titles , descriptions SEO, exclusive/non exclusive etc

If it were in the list of categories, I would see it. But it's not. I don't recall deleting any of those. I'll go back to the original settings page and see if somehow it got screwed up there.

Thanks!

Normally if you look at   www.sitename/image-categories/  all the image categories would show up but on your site it is a page not found, maybe because you are setting them out differently to everyone else?

Create a new category if it is not there called  Symbiostock Featured Images   and add 6 images to it (or 12) then add the widget to your page using the CTA template

That was very helpful, Christine. You helped me realize there's a "Category" feature in the post section and also in the SYS Images section. I was working in the posts, not images.

But... so I got the right category for images and selected 6. Still no results on the home page. Aaargh!!

Then I remembered that a week ago I had (at Amanda's recommendation) added the Soliloquy plugin, so I just tried and... BINGO!!  VOILA!!  IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!

I'd still like to figure out the SYS widget approach, but at least now, thanks to Amanda's recommendation, I do have "featured images" on my home page. It was super easy, too.

Thanks for that, Amanda. I had forgotten about Soliloquy until this afternoon. Quick, easy, and free. What's not to like?

Check it out, folks:  http://bestnaturestock.com/

Quote

The 2nd paragraph on my home page explains that "royalty free" does not mean "free for the taking" and that it's not okay to steal or "borrow" images. But many viewers will go directly to the photo pages and never see that paragraph or never click to the EULA page.( I also believe some people assume "royalty free" means "FREE!!", which of course it doesn't.)

Quote

by Steve
I would drop the statement off your home page as well. I'm sure it would annoy me if I was a real buyer (I don't think you see it on Shutterstock plastered all over the page) and I don't think it makes any difference to the non-buyer.

I agree with Steve, that it is best to drop the Royalty Free term. A compromise solution might be to mention RF rather than full wording.

I am getting web traffic when people are searching "Free Vatican photo" , Free Venice photo etc.
I think Getting traffic and clicks is good for SEO and placement. But for sure these clicks and traffic will not turn into $.  Hasn't happened so far.

Quote from: Kerioak~Christine on July 21, 2013, 14:23

Normally if you look at   www.sitename/image-categories/  all the image categories would show up but on your site it is a page not found, maybe because you are setting them out differently to everyone else?

Create a new category if it is not there called  Symbiostock Featured Images   and add 6 images to it (or 12) then add the widget to your page using the CTA template

That was very helpful, Christine. You helped me realize there's a "Category" feature in the post section and also in the SYS Images section. I was working in the posts, not images.

But... so I got the right category for images and selected 6. Still no results on the home page. Aaargh!!

Then I remembered that a week ago I had (at Amanda's recommendation) added the Soliloquy plugin, so I just tried and... BINGO!!  VOILA!!  IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!

I'd still like to figure out the SYS widget approach, but at least now, thanks to Amanda's recommendation, I do have "featured images" on my home page. It was super easy, too.

Thanks for that, Amanda. I had forgotten about Soliloquy until this afternoon. Quick, easy, and free. What's not to like?

Check it out, folks:  http://bestnaturestock.com/

I went to your web site this evening to take a look at your changes.  Unfortunately it never finished loading, it appears to be stuck on trying to load the Featured Images.  I am working on a hotel wireless right now so that may be the problem, but everything other web page loads ok.

Anyway, check it out.

I went to your web site this evening to take a look at your changes.  Unfortunately it never finished loading, it appears to be stuck on trying to load the Featured Images.  I am working on a hotel wireless right now so that may be the problem, but everything other web page loads ok.

Anyway, check it out.

Same here. A blank space after the heading Featured Images then the footer. No pics. And it takes a while for that much to load. I checked on my computer and ipad, both are the same. :-(

there is also the built in image gallery from wordpress.  Displays a static gallery of selected images that are already in you image library.

Here is an example:

http://quailrunphoto.com/galleries/hilo_gallery/

Again, simple to use.  and it is already available to use.  Edit your home page and click on the Add Media icon.

PS:  For testing purposes I created a test page to try different images and sliders on.  It is a non published page so I can play all day without impacting the main site.