Author Topic: What's holding you back from joining Symbiostock? (Read 77205 times)

easybuyphotos.com · « **Reply #275 on:** August 08, 2013, 08:51 »

If we never try anything new non of us would be on any stock agencies or microstock sites, I think SY is worth a try, it's a very low cost to get involved and then it's only your time getting content uploaded. Microstock has improved my photography skills by making me achieve higher quality images, Symbiostock is starting to teach me computer coding skills and the mechanics of site development which I can take into any area of blogging etc.

I have also had a chance to look at keywords and descriptions again as I upload to my easybuyphoto site and realize how inadequate they were from some years ago and how I can improve the chances of sales by editing again.

pyrst · « **Reply #276 on:** August 08, 2013, 10:02 »

Hey i am realising that i am not visiting this forum often enough as i miss big chunks of info... Like this one... Symbio is new to me, and have spent an hour now trying to read through posts and understanding what it is about. I would love to be part of something that promotes free trafe stock photography!

I do miss some basic overview of what it is and how it works, but will hopefully find when i continue reading.
Something i wonder is whether i can hook up my existing site or if i need to set up one from scratch to be more customised to symbio? I have a wordpress site already promoting my client work, but maybe it would be possible to add this through plug ins?

Kerioak~Christine · « **Reply #277 on:** August 08, 2013, 10:12 »

As it works at the moment you need a clean install of Wordpress to then install Symbiostock some of us, including me, have used sub-domains. If you follow the link to Amanda's tutorial site in the signature in my post that should help you learn what is needed and how to set it up.

Basic overview - we can sell direct to clients and network with each other so clients can find the images they need, no royalty fees paid to agencies, we are our own bosses and decide what happens with our own sites including how much effort we are going to put into bring customers in Probably easiest to look at some of our sites - check out categories and searches to see what it can do (or what can be done with it) then come back with specific questions?

cascoly · « **Reply #278 on:** August 08, 2013, 13:47 »

Quote from: Dave on August 08, 2013, 00:42

The biggest problem with having your OWN site is promotion and getting your images higher than any other images that the end user searches for.

I also think that the high earning stock sites END users just go to their favourites site/s and do a search internally on that site, not doing a google search at all.

I think our energies can be better spent shooting, editing and uploading to stock photography sites that are well established and YES they sting us over the commission they take but they ALSO promote our images for us in much better ways that we can.

true for people who know what stock is, and who buy in bulk. there's another whole population of people who have no idea what stock is, and/or only need occasional images, so sym is an alternative source rather than direct competitor to the ttraditional agencies

as far as gaining recognition, from the first week, my sym site was indexed more quickly by google than either of my more established sites

pyrst · « **Reply #279 on:** August 18, 2013, 07:24 »

OK guys, am sticking out my neck here, so PLZ do not chop off my head!! While my daughter has been at kiddies theatre i have been sitting in the cafeteria, trying to get started with symbiostock. I followed amandas tution, as suggested, and i got point 1, the hosting part. Although i already have another host for my own website, i dont mind using the recommended site, and i understand that i can have my own photostock site registered in just a few minutes, very exciting indeed.'

BUT then i go to step 2: downloading symbiostock, and really sorry, but i am lost here... Donloading from the link from step 2, does it mean that i will download a template that i can then use? Or will i download some kind of program to which i then later hook up a template which i buy separately?

I also found a link to someone offering to set up my symbiostock site for 200 dollars/500 pics. As i am already stuck on step 2 this sounds like a really good deal for me. But who is the person offering, there is no name or presentation supplied. And what about the look on my site - again: is it one look for all, or do i chose a wordpress template that i supply to the mystery guy who then uploads it all for me?

Sorry if these are basic retard questions, but i know that this is the forum for the bighearted, kind people who understands and only answers if they want to help and ignores and moves on if irritated by my ignorance!! Now i need to find my daughter, as i am starting to wonder if the clown abducted her...

cathyslife · « **Reply #280 on:** August 18, 2013, 07:33 »

Quote from: pyrst on August 18, 2013, 07:24

OK guys, am sticking out my neck here, so PLZ do not chop off my head!! While my daughter has been at kiddies theatre i have been sitting in the cafeteria, trying to get started with symbiostock. I followed amandas tution, as suggested, and i got point 1, the hosting part. Although i already have another host for my own website, i dont mind using the recommended site, and i understand that i can have my own photostock site registered in just a few minutes, very exciting indeed.'

BUT then i go to step 2: downloading symbiostock, and really sorry, but i am lost here... Donloading from the link from step 2, does it mean that i will download a template that i can then use? Or will i download some kind of program to which i then later hook up a template which i buy separately?

I also found a link to someone offering to set up my symbiostock site for 200 dollars/500 pics. As i am already stuck on step 2 this sounds like a really good deal for me. But who is the person offering, there is no name or presentation supplied. And what about the look on my site - again: is it one look for all, or do i chose a wordpress template that i supply to the mystery guy who then uploads it all for me?

Sorry if these are basic retard questions, but i know that this is the forum for the bighearted, kind people who understands and only answers if they want to help and ignores and moves on if irritated by my ignorance!! Now i need to find my daughter, as i am starting to wonder if the clown abducted her...

When you download the SY file, that IS the wordpress template. From there, you might also want to download Amandas Clean Theme child theme, as it adds additional cool styling. From there, you can customize the css in the child theme to make it your own. Or you can pay the mystery person to do it all. Then, you will probably just supply logos and information and password to your account. And your high resolution images to this mystery person.

fritz · « **Reply #281 on:** August 18, 2013, 07:43 »

Well, What's holding me back from joining Symbiostock?
Too complicated to be loved, need a lot of effort and time to build a simple site. When you'll make the hole process to be completed in 30 minutes I'll join.

Kerioak~Christine · « **Reply #282 on:** August 18, 2013, 07:53 »

What makes you think it is complicated? Yes there are lots of threads but a lot of them are sorting out problems with hosts that have not already been tried and tested. Nothing good is achieved without a bit of effort - but then again, if you don't have enough confidence in your images to make the effort and try licencing via your own site . . . . . . . . .

fritz · « **Reply #283 on:** August 18, 2013, 08:06 »

Quote from: Kerioak~Christine on August 18, 2013, 07:53

What makes you think it is complicated? Yes there are lots of threads but a lot of them are sorting out problems with hosts that have not already been tried and tested. Nothing good is achieved without a bit of effort - but then again, if you don't have enough confidence in your images to make the effort and try licencing via your own site . . . . . . . . .

Yes, I do have confidence! Numbers of 60k+ sold licenses are telling me that licencing via own site is good idea but again ........

sc · « **Reply #284 on:** August 18, 2013, 08:36 »

I am probably one of the least technologically gifted people here and I set up my site without too much trouble. Yes there is a learning curve, but you can pick it up pretty quickly. 30 minutes - not gonna happen, but a basic site can be site can be set up fairly easily.
On my site I use the Symbiostock theme with the basic child theme, I don't mess the with css or php code at all.
I keep the plugins to a minimum and and have very few issues - all of which have been taken care of with Leo's updates.
And when you do get stuck someone is always in this forum to answer your questions - Most issues you'll encounter have been experienced by someone and there is an answer.

Redneck · « **Reply #285 on:** August 18, 2013, 08:46 »

Quote from: pyrst on August 18, 2013, 07:24

OK guys, am sticking out my neck here, so PLZ do not chop off my head!! While my daughter has been at kiddies theatre i have been sitting in the cafeteria, trying to get started with symbiostock. I followed amandas tution, as suggested, and i got point 1, the hosting part. Although i already have another host for my own website, i dont mind using the recommended site, and i understand that i can have my own photostock site registered in just a few minutes, very exciting indeed.'

BUT then i go to step 2: downloading symbiostock, and really sorry, but i am lost here... Donloading from the link from step 2, does it mean that i will download a template that i can then use? Or will i download some kind of program to which i then later hook up a template which i buy separately?

I also found a link to someone offering to set up my symbiostock site for 200 dollars/500 pics. As i am already stuck on step 2 this sounds like a really good deal for me. But who is the person offering, there is no name or presentation supplied. And what about the look on my site - again: is it one look for all, or do i chose a wordpress template that i supply to the mystery guy who then uploads it all for me?

Sorry if these are basic retard questions, but i know that this is the forum for the bighearted, kind people who understands and only answers if they want to help and ignores and moves on if irritated by my ignorance!! Now i need to find my daughter, as i am starting to wonder if the clown abducted her...

The "mystery guy" is Leo, the creator of Symbiostock. Look him up and send him a message if you'd like to take his offer ($200 for set up).
Otherwise, you can ask any question in this forum whenever you get stuck. The SYS people are very helpful.

Ron · « **Reply #286 on:** August 18, 2013, 09:24 »

There is not ONE SINGLE option out there that is out of the box ready in 30 minutes !!

Kerioak~Christine · « **Reply #287 on:** August 18, 2013, 09:37 »

Leo released the first draft of Symbiostock in late March when there were initially around ten of us who played with it and helped find the bugs and made requests for Leo to tweak so we were having new versions nearly every day to try out.

Gradually (if you can call three-four months gradual) the Symbiostock theme became the stable item it is at present, and is still free and I think there are 89 sites as of today. It will be constantly growing and evolving as guys such as Leo, Ajt and Plrang (apologies to any coders I have missed) provide updates and plug-ins, some paid and some free.

We have all had to learn this from scratch so anyone joining now is only a few months behind those that started at the beginning AND you have the benefit of a stable version, Amanda's tutorial (see link in my signature) and another tutorial within the help page of Symbiostock and lots of us willing to help with your teething problems in setting up a site.

I realise this post does not answer any particular questions but I am trying to stress how new this really is and how much it has progressed and grown in such a short time

pyrst · « **Reply #288 on:** August 18, 2013, 14:57 »

I think you are all absolutely amazing and i will def give it a go! Considering the hours i put down on sites that gives very little return in terms of pay per hour, this is def worth a go. Thank you all for your patience!

marthamarks · « **Reply #289 on:** August 18, 2013, 15:15 »

Well said, Redneck. Modern day slavery it is. Fortunately, we "slaves" have an out. It's called Symbiostock, and I predict that many more will join us as the system gains exposure and credibility.

cascoly · « **Reply #290 on:** August 18, 2013, 15:30 »

Quote from: pyrst on August 18, 2013, 07:24

OK guys, am sticking out my neck here, so PLZ do not chop off my head!! While my daughter has been at kiddies theatre i have been sitting in the cafeteria, trying to get started with symbiostock. I followed amandas tution, as suggested, and i got point 1, the hosting part. Although i already have another host for my own website, i dont mind using the recommended site, and i understand that i can have my own photostock site registered in just a few minutes, very exciting indeed.'

BUT then i go to step 2: downloading symbiostock, and really sorry, but i am lost here... Donloading from the link from step 2, does it mean that i will download a template that i can then use? Or will i download some kind of program to which i then later hook up a template which i buy separately?

......

Sorry if these are basic retard questions, but i know that this is the forum for the bighearted, kind people who understands and only answers if they want to help and ignores and moves on if irritated by my ignorance!! Now i need to find my daughter, as i am starting to wonder if the clown abducted her...

welcome - first, ignorance is fine - and recognizing it is even better...

it sounds like you're not familiar with wordpress, zips files, themes and web hosting, so what we make take as 'basic' terminology will be confusing at first

the basic steps are to set up a wordpress site, then down the symbio theme which is a zip file. within wordpress, you then 'install' the new theme -- it takes the entire zip file and sets it up. wordpress advertises a 5 minute install, and that's really true. the symbio theme is almost as easy. but when you're learning wordpress and webhosting and photo site setup, it's going to take longer.

if you understood that last paragraph, you're doing fine. if not
just make your questions as detailed as you can and you'll find folks who can guide you -- some of themost helpful people here were asking the same questions you are just a few onths ago

cthoman · « **Reply #291 on:** August 20, 2013, 16:25 »

Back to the original theme of what's holding me back... I've been thinking about it more, and it really doesn't make a lot of sense to start a whole new site just to experiment with. It's just a waste of time to commit to something that I'm really not going to commit to. It doesn't make much sense to convert my current site to a Symbio site. It doesn't look like much of a functional upgrade from what I have. And if I was going to put in that effort, I'd probably spend money/time on a custom built site that does everything I want. That seems to be the most logical 2.0 MyStockVectors (or is it 3.0?).

The only thing I really see as missing would be the community and networking. That seems to be the real value. So, I guess my question would be, what about a Symbio plugin for us outsiders? I'm not sure how that would work, but I figured it would be worth bringing up.

shotupdave · « **Reply #292 on:** August 20, 2013, 16:40 »

Quote from: cthoman on August 20, 2013, 16:25

Back to the original theme of what's holding me back... I've been thinking about it more, and it really doesn't make a lot of sense to start a whole new site just to experiment with. It's just a waste of time to commit to something that I'm really not going to commit to. It doesn't make much sense to convert my current site to a Symbio site. It doesn't look like much of a functional upgrade from what I have. And if I was going to put in that effort, I'd probably spend money/time on a custom built site that does everything I want. That seems to be the most logical 2.0 MyStockVectors (or is it 3.0?).

The only thing I really see as missing would be the community and networking. That seems to be the real value. So, I guess my question would be, what about a Symbio plugin for us outsiders? I'm not sure how that would work, but I figured it would be worth bringing up.

One point that you are missing, having other sires to network with will only increase the traffic to your site. The SEO work of others will have a direct impact on your site. As more people joing the network it can any many become just as large as some of the mid tier royalty free companies.

Ron · « **Reply #293 on:** August 20, 2013, 16:44 »

Quote from: cthoman on August 20, 2013, 16:25

The only thing I really see as missing would be the community and networking. That seems to be the real value. So, I guess my question would be, what about a Symbio plugin for us outsiders? I'm not sure how that would work, but I figured it would be worth bringing up.

You need to purchase a 480 dollar subscription at PicturEngine. It would launch in April 2013.

cthoman · « **Reply #294 on:** August 20, 2013, 16:53 »

Quote from: shotupdave on August 20, 2013, 16:40

Quote from: cthoman on August 20, 2013, 16:25
Back to the original theme of what's holding me back... I've been thinking about it more, and it really doesn't make a lot of sense to start a whole new site just to experiment with. It's just a waste of time to commit to something that I'm really not going to commit to. It doesn't make much sense to convert my current site to a Symbio site. It doesn't look like much of a functional upgrade from what I have. And if I was going to put in that effort, I'd probably spend money/time on a custom built site that does everything I want. That seems to be the most logical 2.0 MyStockVectors (or is it 3.0?).

The only thing I really see as missing would be the community and networking. That seems to be the real value. So, I guess my question would be, what about a Symbio plugin for us outsiders? I'm not sure how that would work, but I figured it would be worth bringing up.

One point that you are missing, having other sires to network with will only increase the traffic to your site. The SEO work of others will have a direct impact on your site. As more people joing the network it can any many become just as large as some of the mid tier royalty free companies.

Definitely, that was my main pro point was the networking.

marthamarks · « **Reply #295 on:** August 20, 2013, 17:15 »

Quote from: fritz on August 18, 2013, 07:43

Well, What's holding me back from joining Symbiostock?
Too complicated to be loved, need a lot of effort and time to build a simple site. When you'll make the hole process to be completed in 30 minutes I'll join.

What else in your life has been both personally rewarding, thoroughly worth doing, and able to be completed in 30 minutes. Not much, I bet.

Like everything else in life, you get out of Symbiostock what you put into it.

Anita Potter · « **Reply #296 on:** August 20, 2013, 17:28 »

Quote from: fritz on August 18, 2013, 07:43

Well, What's holding me back from joining Symbiostock?
Too complicated to be loved, need a lot of effort and time to build a simple site. When you'll make the hole process to be completed in 30 minutes I'll join.

30 minutes it isn't. Anything like building a site takes some learning and time. Am I as far with mine as I'd like to be at this moment? No but I'm working on it. SEO is taking longer than I'd like and I have round 400+ more images to upload. That part I can't skip and the rest will have to wait until that's done.

Websites always need tweaking and they're never truly finished.

klsbear · « **Reply #297 on:** August 20, 2013, 18:07 »

Quote from: cthoman on August 20, 2013, 16:25

Back to the original theme of what's holding me back... I've been thinking about it more, and it really doesn't make a lot of sense to start a whole new site just to experiment with. It's just a waste of time to commit to something that I'm really not going to commit to. It doesn't make much sense to convert my current site to a Symbio site. It doesn't look like much of a functional upgrade from what I have. And if I was going to put in that effort, I'd probably spend money/time on a custom built site that does everything I want. That seems to be the most logical 2.0 MyStockVectors (or is it 3.0?).

The only thing I really see as missing would be the community and networking. That seems to be the real value. So, I guess my question would be, what about a Symbio plugin for us outsiders? I'm not sure how that would work, but I figured it would be worth bringing up.

I can see the sense in keeping an existing site that is working well for you. But what is stopping you from creating a Symbiostock site that would function as just a portal to bring more views and hopefully buyers to your existing site? You can set it up without the purchase option and just have each image link to the same image on your current site for purchases. That would give you the advantage of the linked network while retaining your current site functionality and SEO status.

cathyslife · « **Reply #298 on:** August 20, 2013, 18:39 »

cthoman · « **Reply #299 on:** August 20, 2013, 18:50 »

Quote from: klsbear on August 20, 2013, 18:07

Quote from: cthoman on August 20, 2013, 16:25
Back to the original theme of what's holding me back... I've been thinking about it more, and it really doesn't make a lot of sense to start a whole new site just to experiment with. It's just a waste of time to commit to something that I'm really not going to commit to. It doesn't make much sense to convert my current site to a Symbio site. It doesn't look like much of a functional upgrade from what I have. And if I was going to put in that effort, I'd probably spend money/time on a custom built site that does everything I want. That seems to be the most logical 2.0 MyStockVectors (or is it 3.0?).

The only thing I really see as missing would be the community and networking. That seems to be the real value. So, I guess my question would be, what about a Symbio plugin for us outsiders? I'm not sure how that would work, but I figured it would be worth bringing up.

I can see the sense in keeping an existing site that is working well for you. But what is stopping you from creating a Symbiostock site that would function as just a portal to bring more views and hopefully buyers to your existing site? You can set it up without the purchase option and just have each image link to the same image on your current site for purchases. That would give you the advantage of the linked network while retaining your current site functionality and SEO status.

That's a decent idea. It still would be a huge undertaking to link every image. I'm not sure how I feel about creating an entire site full of links either.

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Author Topic: What's holding you back from joining Symbiostock? (Read 77205 times)

easybuyphotos.com

pyrst

Kerioak~Christine

cascoly

pyrst

cathyslife

fritz

Kerioak~Christine

fritz

sc

Redneck

Ron

Kerioak~Christine

pyrst

marthamarks

cascoly

cthoman

shotupdave

Ron

cthoman

marthamarks

Anita Potter

klsbear

cathyslife

cthoman

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