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Poll

How do you wish to network on Symbiostock?

Interested in being a part of an open network.
50 (80.6%)
Interested in being a part of a closed network.
6 (9.7%)
Indifferent.
2 (3.2%)
Going to dabble, but most likely will go solo.
4 (6.5%)

Total Members Voted: 52

Author Topic: Symbiostock Shared Search Results: Pick up to 5 people to network with.  (Read 18332 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Leo Blanchette

« on: March 20, 2013, 15:14 »
+1
How many guinea pigs do we have for the testing release? :D Check out the pole attached with this thread.

Each site will have a starting amount of 5 people you can network your search results with. Since the pole in the opening thread showed people are most interested in the neworking aspect, I've been putting the majority of my work into this.

I will be making a nice opening sticky thread, but here are some initial pointers:

Networking in Symbiostock will have many benefits:

1: Its a very sophisticated backlink system, which should have very good SEO benefits.

As search engines crawl your sites, they depend on links to discover new content. So if your friend's site gets search engine attention, yours will too. As Symbiostock keeps getting developed, we will find more ways to give "suggested" results to customers, but also as a way to give more contextual / semantic value to you and your friend's content through linking.

2: It shares customer traffic. Your not so concerned with keeping a captive audience on your site, but rather your network.


Traditional marketing says "Get your customers attention and keep it". Symbiostock marketing says "If you don't have what they want, refer them to your friend". Your friend does the same thing. So networking is based on trust. Also, you'd want to network with people who have content you'd like to be connected with.

3. Symbiostock networks can be closed or open.

Open network example: You just pick people to network with, have fun, they do the same thing. Customers (bees) migrate a large field of Symbiostock sites (flowers) and find what they want. Each person's site networks with different people.

Closed network example: 5 people all have identical network contacts. They all agree on a certain licensing system. They agree on certain marketing strategies. They cooperate. Exclusive club!

Please expect challenges, issues, and pretty much a lot of "patience" with this system. Its a new concept and will require much tweaking when its officially tested in the open.


EmberMike

« Reply #1 on: March 20, 2013, 16:39 »
0

I'm trying to get up to speed on what Symbiostock is all about, so forgive me if this is already covered somewhere...

Is Networking a required part of the system? Or is it possible to simply run a Symbiostock-based site completely independently of the rest of the users?

Leo Blanchette

« Reply #2 on: March 20, 2013, 16:48 »
0
It has the ability to go independent and leave the network functions untouched :D.

« Reply #3 on: March 20, 2013, 17:23 »
0
I'm interested but not answered as I haven't got a clue how to even start joining in on this yet so will wait until I understand it all more.

Leo Blanchette

« Reply #4 on: March 20, 2013, 17:32 »
+1
A lot of this stuff will make more sense once its installed.

Network browsing (I have myself as a network member, but you get the idea):
http://www.clipartillustration.com/freefiles/network_results.swf

« Reply #5 on: March 20, 2013, 17:49 »
0
Bummer, I am going to Minneapolis for the week and you are going to release this when I am gone aren't you????   

I really like the "open network" idea.  I'm not sure about the 5 in your network - It would be great for people with same size portfolios, but who is going to want to network with my tiny niche site(s)...  But on the other hand - someone who has several niches could link their own sites together.  LOL, this may become a popularity contest.  Symbiostock Survivor!

« Reply #6 on: March 20, 2013, 17:49 »
0
Amazing!

« Reply #7 on: March 20, 2013, 17:50 »
0
A lot of this stuff will make more sense once its installed.

Network browsing (I have myself as a network member, but you get the idea):
http://www.clipartillustration.com/freefiles/network_results.swf

Wow that's great.  Makes it all look so simple.  Thank you.  I will read all the other posts slowly and carefully.

« Reply #8 on: March 20, 2013, 17:55 »
0
Voted "Interested in being a part of an open network". While I think that some sort of uniform licensing is important for a stock images sales network to fly, I find the open network concept of Symbiostock the one feature that sets it apart from places like Photoshelter or Zenfolio.

I am ready to test. Count me in as guinea pig.

« Reply #9 on: March 20, 2013, 18:09 »
0
totally favor open system -- interestingly. the online course i'm taking is social network modeling and we're looking at various open and closed systems - there are some great open source tools out there

mattdixon

« Reply #10 on: March 20, 2013, 18:09 »
0
I'm up for beta testing. Will it pick up keywords from the metadata?

« Reply #11 on: March 20, 2013, 18:16 »
0
Brilliant, looking forward to test that!

« Reply #12 on: March 20, 2013, 18:16 »
0
Voted to be part of open network yet im not really sure how it works but willing to try it...

THP Creative

  • THP Creative

« Reply #13 on: March 20, 2013, 19:19 »
0
Cant wait to get involved Leo.

farbled

« Reply #14 on: March 20, 2013, 20:59 »
0
I'm willing to try it too.

« Reply #15 on: March 20, 2013, 21:36 »
0
Is it possible for people who already have a site to join the network? I have a site with Photoshelter and would be very much interested in the network if it's a possibility.

stocked

« Reply #16 on: March 21, 2013, 00:51 »
0
Would love to be part of this project right from the beginning!

« Reply #17 on: March 21, 2013, 01:25 »
0
I'm very interested too...
jean

« Reply #18 on: March 21, 2013, 03:46 »
0
Is it possible for people who already have a site to join the network? I have a site with Photoshelter and would be very much interested in the network if it's a possibility.

same here

« Reply #19 on: March 21, 2013, 10:49 »
+3
I'm still a bit confused about what will need to happen for me to participate, but I said "open network" for the poll choice.

I don't think anyone will buy any or more of my images because I make it hard for them to search other people's images. I think that something like this - a collection of artist sites - has a chance of working well only if buyers can easily browse a broad selection. As long as it's clear that it's different artists, price differences shouldn't be too confusing - although there might need to be a way for the searcher to select by price or licence type at some point in the future.

« Reply #20 on: March 21, 2013, 11:59 »
0
I'm still a bit confused about what will need to happen for me to participate, but I said "open network" for the poll choice.

I don't think anyone will buy any or more of my images because I make it hard for them to search other people's images. I think that something like this - a collection of artist sites - has a chance of working well only if buyers can easily browse a broad selection. As long as it's clear that it's different artists, price differences shouldn't be too confusing - although there might need to be a way for the searcher to select by price or licence type at some point in the future.

I couldn't agree more.

Leo Blanchette

« Reply #21 on: March 21, 2013, 13:40 »
0
I'm still a bit confused about what will need to happen for me to participate, but I said "open network" for the poll choice.

I don't think anyone will buy any or more of my images because I make it hard for them to search other people's images. I think that something like this - a collection of artist sites - has a chance of working well only if buyers can easily browse a broad selection. As long as it's clear that it's different artists, price differences shouldn't be too confusing - although there might need to be a way for the searcher to select by price or licence type at some point in the future.


People are used to the drive through and big-box-one-stop-shop mentality. This system is experimental and from the outset attempts to change a few things. But here are some pointers for you -

1. Convenience takes second to getting artists independent right now.
2. Majority of everyone's traffic will come from search engines anyway.
3. You can download a plugin to have your images available on http://www.picturengine.com/ - which is exactly what your looking for - a central search area (yet another reason to have a closed network - you might have your network associates also doing this).

And then a few others...

4. The system will evolve as its tested  in the real world. Solutions will come as needed.
5. Symbiostock site will eventually have a central search engine, but I have no intent of trying to do that myself. Personally I hope I've sold this system by then :D.

And most importantly -

Its your site, your independence, and you can do what you want.

RacePhoto

« Reply #22 on: March 22, 2013, 16:33 »
0
It has the ability to go independent and leave the network functions untouched :D.

Looks nice, I watched the demo. We will select which five we are linked to? But those five will be linked to others, not back to us? Or is even link a two way link? Then everyone I want to link to has lost one of their links because I want to connect with them. Is that the idea?

Or maybe it's unlimited incoming links and only five direct. So Mr. X-Sync the amazing Micro Guru has 50 people who will be linked to him, but he's only linked out to his five?

So for instance I'd select photo people, and not vector and graphics, so I'm linked to related materials. The vector people will probably stay with their own, but somewhere ten members from me, 10 sites away, we'll all finally cross link?

How far away does the search reach? Just neighbors (5) or neighbors of neighbors (25) or everyone?

I guess the question is, how do the five linked sites interact and how do the neighbors of each of those, interact?

Lets see, I link to three of me and two of Todd, that's my five?  :o

Leo Blanchette

« Reply #23 on: March 22, 2013, 17:14 »
+1
Wow, I must be tired. Your question made my head spin.

Let me try to answer your questions in sequence:

1. Two way links only happen if your friend also adds you to network. You can search his/her site and verify they've added you when you see your search results included.

2. 5 network contacts is the limit for included results right now, until I see how everything plays out. When you add a network member, you include their results. When they add you, they include yours.

3. How far away does the search reach? 1 site right now. Literally, your friend's site is as far as it goes. Your friend will have you, and 4 others (or possibly share a few network contacts with you) and thus you have the way the network extends itself.

Its worth mentioning again, this is a lilly-pad-jumping system, not a typical search. In fact, thinking of it as high-end "browsing" might help your expectations a bit.

And of course, once again, expect lots of bugs in the network search. I haven't gotten everything perfectly self-validating yet.

In the near future I will have it prompt your friends "So and so has added you, would you like to add them?", and you'll be able to see network conversations, new images...news... but for now its basics. It might evolve into a small social network type system with time.

« Reply #24 on: March 22, 2013, 21:45 »
+2
symbiostock sounds very much like the answer to the question I asked on MSG months ago..

"a central search for all artist sites" may be revolutionary.. using wordpress is a BIG plus as well..

there is a huge potential here.. so huge, that if succeeds, it will be a battle won against "unfair" agencies..

thanks for your hard work and dedication Leo.. (although I can not really be considered a developer) I know how frustrating it can be to work with wordpress themes and make them function the way you want..

when it's all done, I believe your efforts should be rewarded as well..


 

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