Increasing image views seems to be the hardest part about stock photography. I mean among millions and millions of images how does a photographer get their pictures to be viewed?
I come from a Marketing background. I studied advertisement in school. I have years of experience in promoting and social media. I used to bring in over $6000 sales per week for a company and yet, I find myself struggling to market myself.
Of course I did research on this subject but there is just so much out there, my head started to spin.
I think that I have the title and keyword part down. I fully understand the importance of having a descriptive yet emotional evoking title occupied with strong keywords. However, this alone does not get image views. I edited and edited my images hoping the number of views would increase but after a week it has not moved up AT ALL!! Very frustrating especially for successful Marketing manager. Maybe I do need to work more on those titles...
I was advised to post my rejected photos on Flicker, so if someone sees my photo and likes it they would possibly go to see my profile and click on my link that leads to my stock portfolio.... For some reason this idea seems a bit far fetched. First of, by uploading images on Flicker I am allowing anyone to use my images for Free. I wonder if this technique works for anyone? And again its all about keywords, what are the chances the right buyer will see my image on Flicker among, yet again, millions of photos?
I Pined my photos to pinterest but it's a idea where I am not exactly targeting the right audience and find my image swimming along with trillions of concepts.
Another idea was to showcase something unique so I uploaded this great kite that I saw on Mount Washington, the kite is a pair of running legs. Its different and I couldn't find anything like it. Now my problem is how do I get buyers to see it... that is assuming they could use it for various sports concepts.
I've been doing a lot of research on what buyers search for the most and what stock sells the best, but I find it hard to believe that if I had a clean lifestyle photo uploaded that buyers would be all over it. There are literally millions of the same type of lifestyle photo out there and I guess I am steering away from contributing on that subject.
Well being new I guess I will look out for blogs with marketing tips and hopefully something will click soon. I do believe this is the right market for me and I know I still need a lot of practice to get to where I want to be, for now if anyone has any great tips on marketing to share that would be greatly appreciated. Of course if I stumble upon something that works I will be more then happy to share.
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Deowaskito
iam new with this not know too much, some one says you must upload hundred or thousand item to get costumer attention.
Deowaskito
iam new here dont know too much
Vijim6
No sale yet for me.
Robinstockphotos
I don't know if any of you is a hardcore mixed martial artist too. When the fight is around a water body, they say "What goes under stays under". And it is a fact. Once your opponent pushes you down, you're permanently down. I find this suiting the stock industry too.
Your recent uploads keep appearing on top of "most relevant" searches till they are level 1. Then they drop down. People think you get sales if you keep uploading - not always true. The main thing is you have to have images on the top 5 pages and cover most searched keywords. Also make the images attractive enough to go to level 2 or 3 in 6 months. Buyer types "butterfly", "alien", "freedom", "revenge", "foot", "headless", "love", "creep", you should have it all. At least one of each. That maximizes chances of getting someone to your port.
The Flicker idea is not good! Suppose you have a great photo of the Grand Canyon with $200 potential but gets rejected for chromatic aberration and you upload it for free - you lose plus we guys get a hard time keeping up with "free" stuff.
I think the good way would be to keep customers engaged. I got 3 sales instead of one by a method I used recently. Let DT get the customers. Our task is to keep them stuck in our portfolio. Think! There are many, many ways....
Javierespuny
I think your flick idea is no bad at all
quote: I was advised to post my rejected photos on Flicker, so if someone sees my photo and likes it they would possibly go to see my profile and click on my link that leads to my stock portfolio.... For some reason this idea seems a bit far fetched. First of, by uploading images on Flicker I am allowing anyone to use my images for Free.
but if you show rejected photos... perhaps they're not enough interesting. why not to show them water marked? and even with a link on description or caption to generate traffic to your portfolio in dreamstime.
see who has pictures on the same subject as you and who had set a collection and ask him to publish your photos in it, or make a collection yourself
link your photos everywhere on social
and, as others have said, have a lot of images in your portfolio! your exposure is 0.03! with an average of 1 pic / month nobody will see you.
Suyerry
I see lots of great advice here in the comments already. I agree that keywords and titles play a great part with exposure, along with a large portfolio and unique items. But try to incorporate what you love to do in with it so that you don't become bored with it. Good luck, looking forward to seeing more of your work! :)
Haotian
Thanks for sharing. Sometimes I search a keyword, look at the top selling images ( and their ages), and try to visualize what is yet unrepresented. Takes a lot of practice, with plenty of misses. But it does help.
Lenutaidi
I believe that no matter how large portfolios of...Here are contributors who have 99 or 140 or 120 images in their portfolios and have thousands of downloads.Conclusion: even though you have a small portfolio can have thousands of sales.I agree with Bobbigmac especially section 1 and 3:GREAT IMAGES and shoot directly to a market (a niche) where there is a shortfall in supply.I think this had to do myself and all those who want to produce and sell stock.Look at me:useless I have 391 pictures.I have fewer sales because I could not realize until now that is looking really.Good luck!
Infokus408
For me, i have noticed increased views when i sometimes donate to the free photos section.
Seawatch1
I only have a few images on line so I may not be the person to best answer this. I think that part of the trick is to have images that people like. And here's why. I have mostly beach pictures. If I get "known" for beach pictures more people will return time to time for beach pictures. It's like shopping at at a favorite store where they have a food item you like. If they always have the item you want, you're more likely to return. Same with photos. I agree with not spamming with irrelevant keywords and titles are important. Then you need a selection of "useable" photos and I think people will come back often and buy what you have. Everyone of my 17 photos, except my newest has sold multiple times.
Jackbluee
HARD WORK! Try everything, then you will find your way! Your images are nice, great potential, but your portfolio is the smallest. That is why so hard to find your images, not even 1 out of 100 millions chance.
Teeimagination
Thank you all for the great comments and the extra advice. I think its safe to say the common theme in getting better exposure it better and more photograhps.
Perstock and Photosubstance I like the way you are making me think about photos I take. This will make me narrow down my research better. Thank you!
Egomezta
What I have found that works for DT is to upload as many images as you can to increase your portfolio exposure, have accurate keywords, and to participate in blogs.
Perstock
What do you like to do? What are your interrests?
In my opinion it's best to do what I like most or the things I am good at.
And in your case, search DT on the subjects you are interrested in.
Then, make your images better or fill in the gaps, the subjects not presented on DT.
Upload, upload and upload again.
Of course with relevant keywords.
Perhaps, think of getting exclusive - which will expose your images better.
One example of getting ideas: take a closer look in magazines covering your favorite subjects and you will find a lot of ideas. Take a close look at the bylines and i bet that many of them are microstock :-)
Cheers!
Photosubstance
I think there is only two ways:
1. Have hundreds of medium quality image, 1000, 5000 images onlines will make there is a big chance that somebody buy something.
2. Have unique, difficult for anyone to produce images (ex underwater, aerial, with high en top models, ...) which will make you "famous" in one category.
I`m curious if anyone agrees with my approach.
Bobbigmac
Short version is:
1) Great images (that sell) will improve your conversion rates and bump your entire portfolio in search.
2) Highly relevant keywording (no spamming). Focus on what is literally or conceptually in your images, no fluff.
3) Shoot directly to a market (a niche) where there is a shortfall in supply.
Some additional advice on my blog here: ***.com