MicrostockGroup
Microstock Photography Forum - General => Symbiostock => Symbiostock - Suggestions => Topic started by: farbled on March 19, 2013, 08:58
-
I don't know if this was asked previously, but it would be nice to block Google's new image search from including the actual downloadable files and just display the thumbs. I've been reading other threads that it is an issue.
-
I've heard some talk about that. Its easy to do, even through an external wordpress plugin. I've been been optimizing for image search though!
-
Just as a word of advice, that's not something I'd ever suggest doing on an image selling site. For a new unknown site a lot of your traffic will come from Google. Shutting down a big part of that is not a great idea.
The issue with Google images is when a customer uploads a large unwatermarked version of your image to their site in a place Google can index it. This is typically against the terms (or should be) and the image buyers need to be educated.
In the case of a site where you are trying to sell your images and your previews are watermarked with your brand, you definitely want those showing up in Google. Your competitors are showing up.
Some designers do use Google image search when they get frustrated with spammy results on their usual stock sites. It shows a wide variety from sites (like yours) that they may not have bought from before. And I've seen first hand how much of my own traffic is coming in through these searches.
I don't think you want to be invisible in Google images when you are selling images, but that's just my opinion :)
-
The only thing I know about is that they modified image search to keep searchers on google, and not wandering into your site to view the image. But it didn't affect my sales, although my traffic was cut in half.
-
Just as a word of advice, that's not something I'd ever suggest doing on an image selling site. For a new unknown site a lot of your traffic will come from Google. Shutting down a big part of that is not a great idea.
The issue with Google images is when a customer uploads a large unwatermarked version of your image to their site in a place Google can index it. This is typically against the terms (or should be) and the image buyers need to be educated.
In the case of a site where you are trying to sell your images and your previews are watermarked with your brand, you definitely want those showing up in Google. Your competitors are showing up.
Some designers do use Google image search when they get frustrated with spammy results on their usual stock sites. It shows a wide variety from sites (like yours) that they may not have bought from before. And I've seen first hand how much of my own traffic is coming in through these searches.
I don't think you want to be invisible in Google images when you are selling images, but that's just my opinion :)
I agree actually. But if you read my OP, there was an issue I saw in a different thread where the downloadable or high res files were appearing in google searches even though they were hidden. Even some stock agencies were showing the files in the new google search. Hence my question about blocking only the hi-res files from google search bots.
-
Oh I see what you mean, sorry about that! There seemed to be a lot of confusion in the original threads with the new Google image search so hopefully it's a tip that can help reassure some people that hiding the previews at least isn't necessary.
Kind of off topic, I've noticed some decreased traffic too since the changes but a higher percent of sales which is encouraging.
-
I agree actually. But if you read my OP, there was an issue I saw in a different thread where the downloadable or high res files were appearing in google searches even though they were hidden. Even some stock agencies were showing the files in the new google search. Hence my question about blocking only the hi-res files from google search bots.
I'd imagine nothing but the thumbnails should be publicly accessible.
-
Hopefully I'm not confused or behind the times -
Watermarked previews: Putting all effort into optimizing for google search. Size, microformats, page location, metadata...you name it.
Non-watermarked: Hidden, behind lock and key...computer zaps you if you try to touch them.
Thumbnails: ... thumbnails.
-
Yep sounds like you got it Leo. About 40% of my traffic on my Ktools store is still Google images from the previews as far as I can tell. (Of course I've never really promoted it, but I'd still think that search traffic would be a big chunk if I did.)
-
Oh I see what you mean, sorry about that! There seemed to be a lot of confusion in the original threads with the new Google image search so hopefully it's a tip that can help reassure some people that hiding the previews at least isn't necessary.
No worries, I wan't very clear. And this is really only a suggestion and I hope that nothing holds up development. I can add a robots.txt file to whatever container holds the actual files if needs be. I really can't wait to try this out! :)