Photo Promotions: What are yours?

[bob williams]

So far I've been very happy with the Zenfolio site, but it's just that people seem to have a hard time wanting to buy photos.... or perhaps just I don't have the right ones up?

Jordan, My guess would be a liitle of both plus the effort it requires to truley market your work to the right customer base. When I look on the "pros" pages of zenfolio, they almost always have a specific genre they are catering too. For example, If they do weddings, then thier entire webpage is set up to promote and sell wedding packages. What I find very interesting is the fine-art photographers; When they puplish thier work, it usually includes frame/matting, gallery layouts etc on the both the thumbnails andlarge views. When you think about it, when you buy fine art photos, younormally buy he whole package frame and all, so it only makes sense to display and market as such.


I may be wrong, But I think the shot gun approach only works for well established photogs who have already made a name for themselves or those who have the means to really get thier hit rate up beyond the 20,000 range or more.


Speaking of hit rate: I have had my site for two years but only have 587 hits on it---that includes what you guys have looked at, my family, friends etc. I have registered with the major search engines, but the only shotsof mineI find on general searches are normally those I have posted here on TDP. Thats good, except that when you click on the thumbnail, it takes you to TDP and not my website. Advertising is another way to get your hit rate up, but it's expensive. I think one of those little sideline adds on face book cost you around a dollar per click.


Hit rate continued: Since search engines don't see pictures, they have to look for text---This is where I am seriously lazy. The more "appropriate" text you can attach to a photo or website, the more likely people are going to be able to find your site when doing general searches. This text includes photo titles, discriptions, keywords and concise write-ups on your webpage welcome screen, site discriptions, about pages etc. The more "keywords" you can use in those welcome screens and discriptions the better. I know that lazyness in this area is one of my biggest weaknesses.


Now---The real story for me and as I said before, My stuff just isn't that good. When I look at the pro sites, I clearly understand why my stuff isn't selling. Now, I do have a few shots that I am very proud of, but when I compared my "collection" to the collections of the pros, there is simplyno comparison.


New Subject: Collections.Virtually of us on this site have a few really great shots, but whenwe look atour "collections" as a whole, they are filled with mediocre shots, family shots, pet shots, and shots of what we like, but not necessarily"Just thesellable shots". Now, assuming a potential buyer can actually find your website,what is it that theysee for the first time---what is on your page that will keep them looking? A slide show with a mixed batch of photos, or a single "outstanding shot". How about a catchy write-up or no write-up at all.What is it that makes a potential customer keep looking. If its wildlife they are looking for, then they probably want to see a solid collection of outstanding wildlife shots. If its portraits, then they probably want to see how good you can make them look; and if its weddings, then they are probably looking for something truely memorable, something that makes the bride look stunning and that can bea prized family <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 9pt;"]heirloom for generations.


<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 9pt;"]So ultimately, we have to ask ourselves "what is the purpose of our website" and focus our efforts to those ends. Someone asked me that very question a couple of years ago when I asked the forum members for a little comment and critique. To this day I still can't answer it with any certainty.


<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 9pt;"]So now that I have divuldgedsome of my theories on why my website isn't selling, is there anyone on the forum that actually makes "minumum wage" or even enough to offset he cost of gear selling pics online---If so, please give us some tips.


<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 9pt;"]Thanks,


<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 9pt;"]Bob


<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 9pt;"]


<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black; font-size: 9pt;"]

[ddt0725]

Now---The real story for me and as I said before, My stuff just isn't that good.

You have got to be kidding, right!? When I look at your site, I see a pro site with pro photography! I have idolized your site since you were first starting it up and it just keeps getting better!

It is funny though how you mentioned that the pros have one specific genre ...I was just talking about a week ago to someone in a PM about having that same opinion. I think you are dead on with that theory! Which I findto be my problem also.

One of the problems I'v encountered when searching for your site on google, Bob is there are alarge number of photographers out there with the name Bob (or Robert) Williams! I guess that is a prettty tough one to fix though!

When I get a chance, I want to figure out how I can put portraits on my site to display but make it so people cannot buy them. Not that anyone would want to but I just want to be able to display them as part of my portfolio. I have some pretty decent ones that I have taken of my granddaughter but I would first have to get my daughter to sign a release!

but whenwe look atour "collections" as a whole, they are filled with mediocre shots, family shots, pet shots, and shots of what we like, but not necessarily"Just thesellable shots".

Hey, I'm hoping my pet shots will be very sellable!

[bob williams]

It is funny though how you mentioned that the pros have one specific genre ...I was just talking about a week ago to someone in a PM about having that same opinion. I think you are dead on with that theory! Which I findto be my problem also.

Yeah, My creditors or more specifically thier creditors--tell me the same thing. But that brings up a solid point: Do people search for specific photographers or do they search for photo subject matter? I am not sure?

When I get a chance, I want to figure out how I can put portraits on my site to display but make it so people cannot buy them.

Go to your "edit view" select your gallery, then look on the right hand side and edit"printordering" select "do not allowprint ordering"---that should do it, let me know how it works.

Hey, I'm hoping my pet shots will be very sellable!

I forgot where I read it at but I recall hearing that "pet photographs" sell better than exotic wildlife. When you think about it, you see alot more dog and cat pics on calendars and greeting cards, than you see lions, tigers and bears---- After I heard that, It just makes sense, so don't give up on those puppy pics.