If you switch to EM, will you not have to take your domain name with you, or have more than one. If you have another domain name, then how will older customers find you? etc...... New business cards to pass out, brochures, advertising?
Ive only been here a short while and love the look of smugmug, I on the other hand find the choosing photos a little difficult for some customers.
So we cant have it all! But I do think in time Smug will step up....
With mine I will be with smugmug for at least another year and I will be signing up with EM, the way I will be handling it is I am setting up a home page that will be hosted on godaddy then I can have links on there directing customers to where ever I want.
I really like the custom ability of SM but there are features on EM that I also really like. So I have decided to take the next year to really make up my mind what site I will stay with.
Having only been on SmugMug for less than a year, I have lurked quietly in the forums watching the different promises and "coming soon" threads. As a project manager in technology, its obvious that SmugMug has made the decision to not use any popular project management methodoligies, or they would be able to give us milestone reports on each of the different development activities. However, I do understand that SmugMug is capable of doing things any way they wish, and also understand that they may lose clients based upon their own method of doing things. Apparently, they have accepted that risk, and obviously don't think that too many people will leave, because they know that there are people like me who have a renewal coming up shortly, and are too lazy to start again from scratch with another site.
Am I disappointed in their methods in announcing features with misleading/hazy release dates? Absolutely. Will I leave? Probably not. Will my comments in this thread make any difference. Definitely not, as the other irate client's comments have obviously fallen on deaf ears. Does it make me feel better by posting my opinions? Sure. Will I keep coming here anticipating disappointing updates? Naturally. I personally would just prefer no updates, versus a bunch of misleading teaser comments. Overall, I am very happy with what I get from SmugMug. I just feel that they could be more professional in these forums if they are going to continue to reply to threads.
Please just be honest, and only tell us the truth.
i.e. "Yes, it's coming. However, we anticipate at least 10 months of development to get this accomplished. We will keep you updated as we progress and will ask for you feedback throughout the process!" or "Yes, we are working on it, and is the top issue in our queue at the moment and you can expect to see updates in 3rd quarter of 2011." Although, that would be unfortunate, it would at least be honest and you wouldn't be dangling that carrot for extended periods of time.
Ahhhhh....I've been a smugmug customer for 3+ years and have diverted 90% of my business away from Smug, predominantly because of the lack of packages.
In the beginning, I was very vocal about it...but now I've just become resigned to wait...they'll get to it eventually - it may not even work the way I hope it will - but hey, I'm able to do business anyway.
Oh...and by the way...I too have been a dev manager in software...and I too have made the very points you have. You will come to the conclusion as I have that Smug is in the photo sharing business moving (sometimes slowly) into the professional provisioning business...they are not professional software developers...and, unless they change personnel or contract a professional development company, will not be.
Picture Packages...
OK, I know that I am late to the "game" but I wanted to say, Thank You for the coupons but now I just wanted to put my two cents in...
I have been a SM'ie for a while and I am still hoping to get a PACKAGE option for my clients... It should have the ability for me to specify: such as: PACKAGE #1 ~ 1-8x10, 2-5x7s, 16-wallets, PACKAGE #2 ~ ect....
If there would be a way to customize what products we could add to the package and then we could set the price...
I am usually one that keeps quiet but I wanted to make sure you had some more feedback, just in case you didn't have enough...
Thanks for always thinking of us and for doing such a GREAT job...
Let's remember...
PocketWizards for CLS were summer 09
Windows 7 was not supposed to have as many patches
QuickenMac was 08 sometime, I think
I think Tucker had a car that did 70mpg (probably need to watch the movie again to be sure)
Steve made the movie about the future of portable computing in the early 90s (late 80s maybe)
I am waiting along with everyone else. If SM wants to charge me $500 per year for a pro, pro account, and they staff a pro, pro dev and EMP manager - let them. Until then, I will not expect a $1000 service for 1/10th (approx) the price.
Your flash unit can't upload, store, display, crop, cart, provision, print, ship, and respond to blog postings - yet many of us paid one, two, or three years worth of SM feels for a single unit.
PocketWizards for CLS were summer 09
Windows 7 was not supposed to have as many patches
QuickenMac was 08 sometime, I think
I think Tucker had a car that did 70mpg (probably need to watch the movie again to be sure)
Steve made the movie about the future of portable computing in the early 90s (late 80s maybe)
I am waiting along with everyone else. If SM wants to charge me $500 per year for a pro, pro account, and they staff a pro, pro dev and EMP manager - let them. Until then, I will not expect a $1000 service for 1/10th (approx) the price.
Your flash unit can't upload, store, display, crop, cart, provision, print, ship, and respond to blog postings - yet many of us paid one, two, or three years worth of SM feels for a single unit.
I was just expecting the same or close service that other sites have. Exposuremanager 99.00 had coupons and also has packages and they charge 10% not 15% so what are we paying for great service yes, I also got that with EM.
PocketWizards for CLS were summer 09
Windows 7 was not supposed to have as many patches
QuickenMac was 08 sometime, I think
I think Tucker had a car that did 70mpg (probably need to watch the movie again to be sure)
Steve made the movie about the future of portable computing in the early 90s (late 80s maybe)
I am waiting along with everyone else. If SM wants to charge me $500 per year for a pro, pro account, and they staff a pro, pro dev and EMP manager - let them. Until then, I will not expect a $1000 service for 1/10th (approx) the price.
Your flash unit can't upload, store, display, crop, cart, provision, print, ship, and respond to blog postings - yet many of us paid one, two, or three years worth of SM feels for a single unit.
I promised myself I would not get dragged down into this discussion again...I am fully satisfied with the way I'm using Smugmug and I'm perfectly comfortable with my other providers for the rest of my business...maybe I'll switch when Smug gets to packages...maybe I won't...or maybe I'll keep both going depending on the type of job. I have long ago taken the position of, 'Whatever'.
However...using Smug's price point as an excuse for promising 'Any day now' for over 3 years (I've been a Smuggie for over 3 years) and not delivering is weak...because...
There is a difference between taking 5 years to develop a product and taking 5 years to develop a product while constantly promising the product "soon". The latter smells of poor management controls, bad planning, and unprofessional software development practices. That's why the software geeks out there mention it that way.
In the development world there are three parameters: Speed, Cost, and Quality - the saying goes, you can only have 2 of them. Given how long this particular deliverable has taken, I'd say the price point is pretty good and the quality ought to be immaculate!
There is a difference between taking 5 years to develop a product and taking 5 years to develop a product while constantly promising the product "soon". The latter smells of poor management controls, bad planning, and unprofessional software development practices. That's why the software geeks out there mention it that way.
You're leaving out the nature of the communications coming from the organization - namely that "soon" should only be used for shorter periods (say <= 1 month).
Unfortunately, "soon" has been trundled out even when they clearly know it's going to take longer than a month, and when time drags on, that reflects badly on management and developers.
Just had to copy this email I just got so everyone sees it... Exciting times indeed.
Many thanks to so many wonderful pros who invited us to their homes and
studios this past year. Never in my career have I seen so much
generosity of time while you patiently explained the nuances of your
workflows.
Although we have tens of thousands of pros, many who have been with us
for years, this year was different. Groups of passionate photographers
approached us to say, "You're off to a good start but it's not enough.
To become great, you need packages. Folders & favorites. Event
marketing. Smart galleries. User group meetings. Coupons. Powerful
SEO. A great pro lab. Better branding. Deeper customization. And more."
Packages, folders & favorites, and event marketing are imminent. With
luck they'll be live for WPPI next week, but if not, come by booth #1518
for demos (and for an invite to our party Tuesday night).
When they're live, we'll display the new SmugMug Pro logo on our site
for pages you don't brand as your own.
Now that we have so much feature momentum, you can expect some more big
surprises in the not-too-distant future.
Comments
I really like the custom ability of SM but there are features on EM that I also really like. So I have decided to take the next year to really make up my mind what site I will stay with.
http://www.realphotoman.com/
Work in progress
http://www.realphotoman.net/ Zenfolio 10% off Referral Code: 1KH-5HX-5HU
Ahhhhh....I've been a smugmug customer for 3+ years and have diverted 90% of my business away from Smug, predominantly because of the lack of packages.
In the beginning, I was very vocal about it...but now I've just become resigned to wait...they'll get to it eventually - it may not even work the way I hope it will - but hey, I'm able to do business anyway.
Oh...and by the way...I too have been a dev manager in software...and I too have made the very points you have. You will come to the conclusion as I have that Smug is in the photo sharing business moving (sometimes slowly) into the professional provisioning business...they are not professional software developers...and, unless they change personnel or contract a professional development company, will not be.
Do what you do well...
- Gary.
OK, I know that I am late to the "game" but I wanted to say, Thank You for the coupons but now I just wanted to put my two cents in...
I have been a SM'ie for a while and I am still hoping to get a PACKAGE option for my clients... It should have the ability for me to specify: such as: PACKAGE #1 ~ 1-8x10, 2-5x7s, 16-wallets, PACKAGE #2 ~ ect....
If there would be a way to customize what products we could add to the package and then we could set the price...
I am usually one that keeps quiet but I wanted to make sure you had some more feedback, just in case you didn't have enough...
Thanks for always thinking of us and for doing such a GREAT job...
Thanks again ~
Jack Taylor
Scottsdale, AZ
PocketWizards for CLS were summer 09
Windows 7 was not supposed to have as many patches
QuickenMac was 08 sometime, I think
I think Tucker had a car that did 70mpg (probably need to watch the movie again to be sure)
Steve made the movie about the future of portable computing in the early 90s (late 80s maybe)
I am waiting along with everyone else. If SM wants to charge me $500 per year for a pro, pro account, and they staff a pro, pro dev and EMP manager - let them. Until then, I will not expect a $1000 service for 1/10th (approx) the price.
Your flash unit can't upload, store, display, crop, cart, provision, print, ship, and respond to blog postings - yet many of us paid one, two, or three years worth of SM feels for a single unit.
I was just expecting the same or close service that other sites have. Exposuremanager 99.00 had coupons and also has packages and they charge 10% not 15% so what are we paying for great service yes, I also got that with EM.
http://www.realphotoman.com/
Work in progress
http://www.realphotoman.net/ Zenfolio 10% off Referral Code: 1KH-5HX-5HU
Thanks!
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
I promised myself I would not get dragged down into this discussion again...I am fully satisfied with the way I'm using Smugmug and I'm perfectly comfortable with my other providers for the rest of my business...maybe I'll switch when Smug gets to packages...maybe I won't...or maybe I'll keep both going depending on the type of job. I have long ago taken the position of, 'Whatever'.
However...using Smug's price point as an excuse for promising 'Any day now' for over 3 years (I've been a Smuggie for over 3 years) and not delivering is weak...because...
There is a difference between taking 5 years to develop a product and taking 5 years to develop a product while constantly promising the product "soon". The latter smells of poor management controls, bad planning, and unprofessional software development practices. That's why the software geeks out there mention it that way.
In the development world there are three parameters: Speed, Cost, and Quality - the saying goes, you can only have 2 of them. Given how long this particular deliverable has taken, I'd say the price point is pretty good and the quality ought to be immaculate!
- Gary.
Unfortunately, "soon" has been trundled out even when they clearly know it's going to take longer than a month, and when time drags on, that reflects badly on management and developers.
So, in this situation, one would have cause to 'shoot the messenger.' <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/mwink.gif" border="0" alt="" >
"Don't worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition."
-- Abraham Lincoln
This one is above...
http://dgrin.com/showpost.php?p=1278123&postcount=220
Mike
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
Did you mean January 2010, or 2011? Trying to be patient. Can we expect something before the end of February, 2010?
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
So I should hope! In any case, I'm expecting an excellent implementation once it comes out. I've come to expect nothing less from SmugMug.
Save $5 on a new Smugmug Membership
Host your website for just $3.45/mo with JustHost - Rated best web host of 2010
See my profile for a gear list & more
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
Many thanks to so many wonderful pros who invited us to their homes and
studios this past year. Never in my career have I seen so much
generosity of time while you patiently explained the nuances of your
workflows.
Although we have tens of thousands of pros, many who have been with us
for years, this year was different. Groups of passionate photographers
approached us to say, "You're off to a good start but it's not enough.
To become great, you need packages. Folders & favorites. Event
marketing. Smart galleries. User group meetings. Coupons. Powerful
SEO. A great pro lab. Better branding. Deeper customization. And more."
So we doubled our engineering team, rolled out SmugMug User Groups (
http://www.smugmug.com/smugs/info/ ), and shipped a dozen new features.
You can track the details on our release notes blog (
http://blogs.smugmug.com/release-notes/ ).
Packages, folders & favorites, and event marketing are imminent. With
luck they'll be live for WPPI next week, but if not, come by booth #1518
for demos (and for an invite to our party Tuesday night).
When they're live, we'll display the new SmugMug Pro logo on our site
for pages you don't brand as your own.
Now that we have so much feature momentum, you can expect some more big
surprises in the not-too-distant future.
Thanks again,
Chris MacAskill
Co-founder
(@baldy on Twitter)
_______________________________________________
Pro-announce mailing list
Pro-announce@smugmug.com
https://mail.smugmug.net/mailman/listinfo/pro-announce
Save $5 on a new Smugmug Membership
Host your website for just $3.45/mo with JustHost - Rated best web host of 2010
See my profile for a gear list & more
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=161052
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter