I have at last set up and launched my website. www.sunderlandwallart.com . It has been on my agenda for well over a year and at last it's done. It's only been 'up' since last night and I have already has a local tea room interested in 2 of my images and I am arranging a meet with the director. Oh why did I leave it so long? It's still in the early stages, with more images to add, but I want to keep it quite limited and only select a small amount of images.
A great website I enjoyed the images.
Sandy
That's good news DD, how did they find your site?
Getting 'hits' on a regular basis I find very difficult. You've started in the right way by putting your web address on each forum post, so that will generate some interest but that won't last forever.
You can make a mailing list up of all your email contacts and announce its launch there and announce each addition to the site, that keeps people aware of it.
You seem keen to generate sales via the site, do you have the facility to track how many hits you have over time, that can be useful if you need to know what actions work and what actions are a waste of time.
I've had a Clikpic site for some years now and being a lazy git I have really left to its own devices. For the first 2-3 years I spent an inordinate amount of time pushing people towards it and then suddenly I realised that since I didn't sell pictures, what was I doing it for? :doh:
Sad as it may seem I was motivated by getting it visited by someone in every state in the US and eventually after someone in Anchorage Alaska had a look I achieved my pathetic ambition.
Clikpic has some arrangement with Google that tracks hits and identifies them by country and town. Had a look just now and over the past calender month people from as far afield as Sao Paulo Brazil and Crawley West Sussex have popped in for a look.
Oh by the way my web address is at the bottom of this post :legit:
Just been for a snoop around DD (Can I call you DD?).
I like the minimalist styling, every picture seems to have earned it's place so you don't miss something interesting by having to trawl through a folder of also rans.
Quick to load as well. I have the attention span of a teenager when it comes to waiting for something to load.
I will get around to it one day. Graham.
Well done DD. :tup:
Thanks for your support and advice. Will check out your website Abers - u r a talented photographer so will look whislt relaxing with wine this evening.
I emailed local cafe's and Deli's, including the link to my website, asking them if they would display some of my images for me. I'm hoping, after one person being interested, others will follow. I will try the same spreading my wings a little further affield.
I will really work on building a strong collection of images and pluck up courage to get the feelers out for a (dare I say) exhibition!!!!
It looks nice. It loads decently fast. Abers has some good suggestions.
A good start Chris; easy to navigate site. Good luck!
(Keep us informed.)
Just had a look at your site, and its simplicity is its selling point.
Looks as though you've thought through where you want to go with this site, and don't see why it can't work.
The down side to any web site is the constant need for attention. It needs something new added every now and again - as is often said - you only get out of a web site what you put in.
I'm not very good with Google Anylitics - did try once, but as with most things Google - it got deleted and consigned to the 'never to darken my doors' bin.
I do know that Abers site had a visit from Professional Photographer Magazine a short while ago - because I pointed them there :tup: They were after a picture of a face that told a story or 'carried the story in their face' & let's be honest, if you can't find one of these in Abers collection, well you might as well give up. And that was pretty much what they said!
Anyway, back to you site - I hope it all goes well and wish you all the best. I have no doub that we look forward to hearing good things about its progress.
Who remembers the days of a couple of budding photographers called Tim Wallace and Jonathan Ryan who used to ask for feedback for their new sites? ;)
Jumping up an down with glee.....another local cafe, a latino themed one, is wanting to display my images too!
Sounds like it's got off to a very promising start. Good luck with it. :tup:
I can't believe it to be honest! A few emails to local businesses and its a great start.
Well done Chris!
Now, remember, if the café's want you to pay for displaying/selling your images (after all, a gallery wants money for it too), you can counter that, by pointing out, you are offering them a regularly changing series of suitable, quality images to enhance their premises. Free of charge.
This knife should cut both ways.
I agree Reinardina - Im not paying them...they are getting free wall art and if they sell any they get a decent commission.
Quote from: Andrew on March 06, 2014, 08:10:34 PM
Who remembers the days of a couple of budding photographers called Tim Wallace and Jonathan Ryan who used to ask for feedback for their new sites? ;)
Never heard of them! ;)
Quote from: Andrew on March 06, 2014, 08:10:34 PM
I do know that Abers site had a visit from Professional Photographer Magazine a short while ago - because I pointed them there :tup: They were after a picture of a face that told a story or 'carried the story in their face' & let's be honest, if you can't find one of these in Abers collection, well you might as well give up. And that was pretty much what they said!
I've got you to thank for that Andrew, :tup: they were a bit reticent about who tipped them off.
They seemed keen on one picture and the story behind it so I furnished them with both. Whether they use it or not is a matter of time, but it's looking hopeful!
In true magazine style they asked for a hi-res copy of the image, but knowing how they bleat about tight budgets etc. First I asked where I should send the invoice and how much for. We settled on a measly amount which I have in writing.
It's enough for a pie and a pint when we next meet! :beer: :beer:
Thanks very much mate.
DD if you want an agent, Andrew's your man.
Quote from: ABERS on March 06, 2014, 11:03:56 PM
Quote from: Andrew on March 06, 2014, 08:10:34 PM
I do know that Abers site had a visit from Professional Photographer Magazine a short while ago - because I pointed them there :tup: They were after a picture of a face that told a story or 'carried the story in their face' & let's be honest, if you can't find one of these in Abers collection, well you might as well give up. And that was pretty much what they said!
I've got you to thank for that Andrew, :tup: they were a bit reticent about who tipped them off.
They seemed keen on one picture and the story behind it so I furnished them with both. Whether they use it or not is a matter of time, but it's looking hopeful!
In true magazine style they asked for a hi-res copy of the image, but knowing how they bleat about tight budgets etc. First I asked where I should send the invoice and how much for. We settled on a measly amount which I have in writing.
It's enough for a pie and a pint when we next meet! :beer: :beer:
Thanks very much mate.
DD if you want an agent, Andrew's your man.
Alan, you're more than welcome - glad something came out of it for you.
Oddly enough, they put the call out via Twitter for those sorts of shots, and i've noticed they do that quite a bit of late. So maybe Twitter does have a sensible use after all.
Quote from: Andrew on March 07, 2014, 12:50:43 PM
Quote from: ABERS on March 06, 2014, 11:03:56 PM
Quote from: Andrew on March 06, 2014, 08:10:34 PM
I do know that Abers site had a visit from Professional Photographer Magazine a short while ago - because I pointed them there :tup: They were after a picture of a face that told a story or 'carried the story in their face' & let's be honest, if you can't find one of these in Abers collection, well you might as well give up. And that was pretty much what they said!
I've got you to thank for that Andrew, :tup: they were a bit reticent about who tipped them off.
They seemed keen on one picture and the story behind it so I furnished them with both. Whether they use it or not is a matter of time, but it's looking hopeful!
In true magazine style they asked for a hi-res copy of the image, but knowing how they bleat about tight budgets etc. First I asked where I should send the invoice and how much for. We settled on a measly amount which I have in writing.
It's enough for a pie and a pint when we next meet! :beer: :beer:
Thanks very much mate.
DD if you want an agent, Andrew's your man.
Alan, you're more than welcome - glad something came out of it for you.
Oddly enough, they put the call out via Twitter for those sorts of shots, and i've noticed they do that quite a bit of late. So maybe Twitter does have a sensible use after all.
They've come back for the August issue, but in true style they've forgotten the payment agreement which I have now reminded them of. No payment, no picture for their magazine. Picture editors think that amateur photographers are so keen to get their work into print that they are easy prey to making their budget stretch a long way.
Admittedly its nice to see your work in print, but I learned long ago that you will soon become a source of free material if you fall for their flattery, if they want your work enough they will pay.