starter sales suggestions?

Dan-O

Hi folks, my first post (on Digital Grin)!

I've only been on smugmug a short while but am very excited about the possibilities, and will upgrade to a pro account to start selling prints soon. I have one main collection at the moment of regional photographs that I hope to sell online this holiday season.

compassphoto.smugmug.com

Here's my dilemma: I have an enormous learning curve. Do you have any quick and dirty starter suggestions regarding 1)online marketing and/or 2) site setup logistics, to get some momentum going?

I'm happy to discuss on the thread or via PM. Thanks so much!

Sincerely,
Dan

scole

Hi Dan, welcome to Smugmug & Dgrin...

The best suggestion is to read this thread in the Pro Sales Forum:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=45537

It will give you lots of suggestions about improving your "visibility" on the web which will increase the traffic to your website. From a quick browse on your website, you need to add a lot more keywords to your photos and add them to ALL photos.

The other suggestion (as found in the thread above) is to post to forums such as this. I definately can say from experience that hits & visits to my website increase after every post I make to a photo forum. The keywords come into play when someone is just searching on some topic. I have also seen people coming to my website due to a Google search..

Best of luck-

Steve

liflander

marketing your photos
Hi Dan.
Another suggestion is to market your work to regional publications that buy similar photos. Does the Finger Lakes have its own magazine? Search for these publications, get familiar with them, then contact them with a link to your site. Check out the 2009 Photographer's Market for many listings, or search for them online. Also, regional institutions like hotels, restaurants, municipalities, etc., may be interested in your photos. To be honest, I think for your type of images these types of publications and institutions are more likely to buy your work than private individuals. That's just my opinion.

Good luck!
-Mark

Dan-O

liflander wrote:

Hi Dan.
Another suggestion is to market your work to regional publications that buy similar photos. Does the Finger Lakes have its own magazine? Search for these publications, get familiar with them, then contact them with a link to your site. Check out the 2009 Photographer's Market for many listings, or search for them online. Also, regional institutions like hotels, restaurants, municipalities, etc., may be interested in your photos. To be honest, I think for your type of images these types of publications and institutions are more likely to buy your work than private individuals. That's just my opinion.

Good luck!
-Mark

Thanks Steve, I spent a bit of time going through that thread you suggested. Very helpful. Mark, this is an interesting idea I don't really have reservations about who might buy them. I'll take what I can get:D! I'll think of ways to approach both of these ideas. Much appreciated.