My new microstock site - comments please!
Discussion
I have created a microstock photography tips website 
I sell websites to other people all day, its my job, so its nice to actually have a website of my own which is connected to a hobby I enjoy. No sniggering, please!
It wasnt easy. For starters, photography is still a relatively new hobby of mine. I have loads to learn, I seem to scrape by on what little I do know, and although I know "a fair bit" about microstock photography in general, Im still ranked amongst the least knowlegable photographers on this forum when it comes to understanding the camera, and I need some help with feedback on the technical side of things.
If I may, could I ask for everyones feedback, praps a little praise and general comments on the new site.
But bear in mind the fact that:
1) Site is FAR from finished.
2) Text is still in ROUGH FORMAT. Still very wordy, I know
3) Spelling... will check this next month when Ive finished editing
4) See point 1 again.
5) pages missing, etc.
I would appreciate feedback on what content is missing, what information is incorrect, what works (text for the testimonials page anyone?) what doesnt, design critique, what is too wordy, what is helpful or intersting (be specific) what isnt, etc. Can I hand over to you lot?
clicky
I sell websites to other people all day, its my job, so its nice to actually have a website of my own which is connected to a hobby I enjoy. No sniggering, please! It wasnt easy. For starters, photography is still a relatively new hobby of mine. I have loads to learn, I seem to scrape by on what little I do know, and although I know "a fair bit" about microstock photography in general, Im still ranked amongst the least knowlegable photographers on this forum when it comes to understanding the camera, and I need some help with feedback on the technical side of things.
If I may, could I ask for everyones feedback, praps a little praise and general comments on the new site.
But bear in mind the fact that:
1) Site is FAR from finished.
2) Text is still in ROUGH FORMAT. Still very wordy, I know
3) Spelling... will check this next month when Ive finished editing
4) See point 1 again.
5) pages missing, etc.
I would appreciate feedback on what content is missing, what information is incorrect, what works (text for the testimonials page anyone?) what doesnt, design critique, what is too wordy, what is helpful or intersting (be specific) what isnt, etc. Can I hand over to you lot?
clicky
Edited by UKBob on Monday 16th October 00:15
Bob,
From my quick look at a couple of sections... (at work)..
Was I looking at a site just with AD's on it.. Four seperate sections dedicated to Ads, not good.
Don't agree with your comment about keywording a JPG in Photoshop - Open the RAW image, Keyword it and then save it as a JPG - job done.
If you've just signed up to Fotolia how can you say that they're highly recommended - I would hang fire on that just to see that your initial sales don't dry up.
I'll have a proper read tonight
From my quick look at a couple of sections... (at work)..
Was I looking at a site just with AD's on it.. Four seperate sections dedicated to Ads, not good.
Don't agree with your comment about keywording a JPG in Photoshop - Open the RAW image, Keyword it and then save it as a JPG - job done.
If you've just signed up to Fotolia how can you say that they're highly recommended - I would hang fire on that just to see that your initial sales don't dry up.
I'll have a proper read tonight
crmcatee said:
Bob,
From my quick look at a couple of sections... (at work)..
Was I looking at a site just with AD's on it.. Four seperate sections dedicated to Ads, not good.
I took advice from a good friend who makes more money from google adsense per month than many people make in a year. yesreally. I'll tell you how much he makes, or I'll give you his website addres. Cant tell ya both or I'd have to kill ya From my quick look at a couple of sections... (at work)..
Was I looking at a site just with AD's on it.. Four seperate sections dedicated to Ads, not good.
The ads are in line with googles rules, adsense is growing and people are going to react less dramatically to google ads as the months and years pass. crmcatee said:
Don't agree with your comment about keywording a JPG in Photoshop - Open the RAW image, Keyword it and then save it as a JPG - job done.
I didnt know you could do that. Is my advice not to keyword jpeg's valid (ie, you really DO loose something each time you resave a jpg, even if you dont change the photo?) crmcatee said:
If you've just signed up to Fotolia how can you say that they're highly recommended - I would hang fire on that just to see that your initial sales don't dry up.
Ive spoken countless microstock photographers, who all tell me the same thing, many of whom take the trouble to break down monthly earnings as a percentage. crmcatee said:
I'll have a proper read tonight
Thanks. Im sure there is more blurb there which isnt accurate, appreciate the feedback PetrolTed said:
[cynic mode]Looks like a site set up to benefit from adsense...[/cynic mode]
It is. But it is also a hobby website, one I wouldnt have created it if I didnt enjoy it. Im going to have to sit on the fence with this one 
egomeister said:
Graham@Reading said:
What he said.
Saw the swathe of ads and immediately lost any kind of desire to read the body text.
Saw the swathe of ads and immediately lost any kind of desire to read the body text.
I couldn't be arsed to read the text because of all of the google adsI state the obvious, but I im not ever hoping to make a great deal of money, but I am curious to see how adsense performs.
Edited by UKBob on Monday 16th October 11:14
Nice Bob. I have only had a quick click about, but it seems nice and clean; although i'm not a webdesigner, so not sure if i'm talking 
.
Echoing what others have said, I think you have overdone the adwords. I don't like the one placed immeadiately to the right of the first paragraph on each page, as I think it spoils the flow of the site. Sorry.
. Echoing what others have said, I think you have overdone the adwords. I don't like the one placed immeadiately to the right of the first paragraph on each page, as I think it spoils the flow of the site. Sorry.
Platinum said:
UKBob said:
I have an idea 
What be that then?
ps I made $4.03 from adsense today, how much did you make over at shutterstock?
pps Do you think a dozen new posts about adsense will drive the anti-stock crew to suicide
Andy M said:
UKBob said:
pps Do you think a dozen new posts about adsense will drive the anti-stock crew to suicide
No Bob, well hunt you down and you'll be swimming with the fishes
I wondered what you were on about for ages. Google Ads? Eh? I see no Google Ads. Then I turned off Firefox AdBlock and all was revealed...
With the new version of Internet Explorer and increasing popularity of Firefox and Ad Blockers, I think Google is going to have to find new marketing methods.
With the new version of Internet Explorer and increasing popularity of Firefox and Ad Blockers, I think Google is going to have to find new marketing methods.
TBH the ads never really bothered me although I would prefer them not to be there.
the models section is in need of work. most, if not all models don't want to do TFCD/prints if they know you are going to sell your images on becase they feel the should have got paid. This is a sore point because they are actually getting paid just in photos rather than money they just don't understand that point. you don't mention anything about a model release which is required unless you tick editorial (which is not a great seller). This is why all my pictures are of ass's because you don;t need a release if you can't see their face. istock and shutterstock have their own releases but they are basically the same info.
BTW another model site is www.photo-models.co.uk
the models section is in need of work. most, if not all models don't want to do TFCD/prints if they know you are going to sell your images on becase they feel the should have got paid. This is a sore point because they are actually getting paid just in photos rather than money they just don't understand that point. you don't mention anything about a model release which is required unless you tick editorial (which is not a great seller). This is why all my pictures are of ass's because you don;t need a release if you can't see their face. istock and shutterstock have their own releases but they are basically the same info.
BTW another model site is www.photo-models.co.uk
I find it's easier to pay models rather than TFP now anyway as if it's TFP they want to have certain images worked on that you might not like and then they get into circulation. They have different expectations of what they will get from the shoot. Generally I'd rather pay and have full creative control.
Have you thought about adding a forum where people can talk stock all they like.
Have you thought about adding a forum where people can talk stock all they like.
poah said:
BTW another model site is www.photo-models.co.uk
nsfw:
www.net-model.com is another, more TFP than you can shake a tripod at!
www.allmodelzone.com
www.themodelsclub.co.uk has a few models
www.glamour1.com
Its poah heaven out there, every day of the week!
edited to fix the link
Edited by UKBob on Tuesday 17th October 16:15
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