Comments on: Pinterest is Still Not for Photographers: Round 2 http://blog.photoshelter.com/2012/02/pinterest-is-still-not-for-photographers-round-2/ Daily discussion of photography business issues & photography websites. Marketing and sales tips for smart photographers, plus a dose of inspiration from the PhotoShelter team. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 03:34:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Dev http://blog.photoshelter.com/2012/02/pinterest-is-still-not-for-photographers-round-2/#comment-902735 Dev Tue, 04 Jun 2013 12:58:59 +0000 http://blog.photoshelter.com/?p=19585#comment-902735 Hi Allen I have heard that having lots of traffic ups your Google ranking... wouldn't it therefore be beneficial to having lots of followers etc? It would increase the chances of someone coming across your website when they seek the services you offer. Especially in a smaller market, or a location specific market. Therefore I believe it is beneficial. What are your views on this? Do you agree? Thanks for the cool article Hi Allen
I have heard that having lots of traffic ups your Google ranking… wouldn’t it therefore be beneficial to having lots of followers etc? It would increase the chances of someone coming across your website when they seek the services you offer. Especially in a smaller market, or a location specific market. Therefore I believe it is beneficial. What are your views on this? Do you agree? Thanks for the cool article

]]> By: Pinterest is Still Not for Photographers: Round 2 | Jeff Sullivan PhotographyJeff Sullivan Photography http://blog.photoshelter.com/2012/02/pinterest-is-still-not-for-photographers-round-2/#comment-763318 Pinterest is Still Not for Photographers: Round 2 | Jeff Sullivan PhotographyJeff Sullivan Photography Fri, 15 Feb 2013 07:13:44 +0000 http://blog.photoshelter.com/?p=19585#comment-763318 [...] For the full article (with a link to part 1):http://blog.photoshelter.com/2012/02/pinterest-is-still-not-for-photographers-round-2/ [...] [...] For the full article (with a link to part 1):http://blog.photoshelter.com/2012/02/pinterest-is-still-not-for-photographers-round-2/ [...]

]]> By: Travis Johansen - Minneapolis Wedding Photographer http://blog.photoshelter.com/2012/02/pinterest-is-still-not-for-photographers-round-2/#comment-655999 Travis Johansen - Minneapolis Wedding Photographer Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:50:22 +0000 http://blog.photoshelter.com/?p=19585#comment-655999 I find it interesting when authors/speakers downplay the effects of social media saying (on one hand) you can gain lots of fans but it won't do much for monetary gains... Then on the other hand, they say that social media only works if you have tons of fans - so since you aren't the person with 20,000 Pinterest followers, you're wasting your time. My perspective is that it's all about building value for your followers. If what you do is valuable, which could be a blog/newsletter/facebook page/twitter/instagram/pinterest board/etc, and if you are able to grow organically, you will be positioning yourself for gain. Whether be direct or indirect, when an art director starts noticing your watermark on images popping up "seemingly all the time", you are way more likely to get a call. Some people call it "creating your own luck". :) I find it interesting when authors/speakers downplay the effects of social media saying (on one hand) you can gain lots of fans but it won’t do much for monetary gains… Then on the other hand, they say that social media only works if you have tons of fans – so since you aren’t the person with 20,000 Pinterest followers, you’re wasting your time.

My perspective is that it’s all about building value for your followers. If what you do is valuable, which could be a blog/newsletter/facebook page/twitter/instagram/pinterest board/etc, and if you are able to grow organically, you will be positioning yourself for gain. Whether be direct or indirect, when an art director starts noticing your watermark on images popping up “seemingly all the time”, you are way more likely to get a call.

Some people call it “creating your own luck”.

:)

]]> By: Esther Beaton http://blog.photoshelter.com/2012/02/pinterest-is-still-not-for-photographers-round-2/#comment-155934 Esther Beaton Thu, 28 Jun 2012 02:56:32 +0000 http://blog.photoshelter.com/?p=19585#comment-155934 Photoshelter is lucky to have your marketing genius onboard, Allen. Photoshelter is lucky to have your marketing genius onboard, Allen.

]]> By: Brian Tremblay http://blog.photoshelter.com/2012/02/pinterest-is-still-not-for-photographers-round-2/#comment-130873 Brian Tremblay Wed, 30 May 2012 16:47:27 +0000 http://blog.photoshelter.com/?p=19585#comment-130873 Interestingly enough, since you write for the Photo Shelter blog, the latest e_book "What Do Buyers Want" states on page 12, under the section "Finding Talent Through Social Media" 24.8% of buyers surveyed said yes, they have found photographer talent on social media sites. 31% said they found them on Pinterest - 2nd from Facebook at the top with 56%. What do you say to that? Brian Interestingly enough, since you write for the Photo Shelter blog, the latest e_book “What Do Buyers Want” states on page 12, under the section “Finding Talent Through Social Media” 24.8% of buyers surveyed said yes, they have found photographer talent on social media sites.

31% said they found them on Pinterest – 2nd from Facebook at the top with 56%.

What do you say to that?

Brian

]]> By: Jeff Cruz http://blog.photoshelter.com/2012/02/pinterest-is-still-not-for-photographers-round-2/#comment-124544 Jeff Cruz Tue, 22 May 2012 19:30:44 +0000 http://blog.photoshelter.com/?p=19585#comment-124544 Hi Allen, Great article. It definitely opens up a dialog about the viability of Pinterest in a business model. I sell fine art prints and I have been waiting patiently for a "pin" button add-on for galleries on Photoshelter. I asked if this was going to happen and I got a resounding, "not in the works" answer. Are the statistics you provided in respect to Pinterest vs. Facebook a fair comparison when Photoshelter galleries don't even have a true "pin" button but do have a Facebook "like" button? Of course, if this has changed let me know. It has been a few months since I requested the "pin" button. Thanks, Jeff Hi Allen,

Great article. It definitely opens up a dialog about the viability of Pinterest in a business model. I sell fine art prints and I have been waiting patiently for a “pin” button add-on for galleries on Photoshelter. I asked if this was going to happen and I got a resounding, “not in the works” answer.

Are the statistics you provided in respect to Pinterest vs. Facebook a fair comparison when Photoshelter galleries don’t even have a true “pin” button but do have a Facebook “like” button? Of course, if this has changed let me know. It has been a few months since I requested the “pin” button.

Thanks,
Jeff

]]> By: Tami kauakea Winston http://blog.photoshelter.com/2012/02/pinterest-is-still-not-for-photographers-round-2/#comment-83072 Tami kauakea Winston Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:54:34 +0000 http://blog.photoshelter.com/?p=19585#comment-83072 Allen, You are so smart and articulate. Your contributions to the photography community are enormous. It is a pleasure to be associated with PhotoShelter and to feel back in the loop around photographers rights and interests. I have been a past president of ASMP for the Hawaii chapter, I have been a PACA member, been to NYC many times in the past for events. It seems now I can settle back here on O'ahu and keep my finger on the pulse of the industry. Your company is doing so many great things to promote and protect and educate! wowie...I'm tuned back in! Allen,

You are so smart and articulate. Your contributions to the photography community are enormous. It is a pleasure to be associated with PhotoShelter and to feel back in the loop around photographers rights and interests. I have been a past president of ASMP for the Hawaii chapter, I have been a PACA member, been to NYC many times in the past for events. It seems now I can settle back here on O’ahu and keep my finger on the pulse of the industry. Your company is doing so many great things to promote and protect and educate! wowie…I’m tuned back in!

]]> By: Mandy http://blog.photoshelter.com/2012/02/pinterest-is-still-not-for-photographers-round-2/#comment-81260 Mandy Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:58:52 +0000 http://blog.photoshelter.com/?p=19585#comment-81260 I think Pinterest is an interesting social media platform and one I actually enjoy using. I think it's great at seeing what I like in photographs, I think it's great at getting my images exposed to more eyeballs, I think it's great for inspiration! I think as photographers we may need to think of it more laterally if we want to use it as a marketing tool, instead of traditionally? And yes I am a woman, I am a photographer and I am in said age bracket - but I am definitely not into fluffy things?! I think Pinterest is an interesting social media platform and one I actually enjoy using.
I think it’s great at seeing what I like in photographs, I think it’s great at getting my images exposed to more eyeballs, I think it’s great for inspiration!

I think as photographers we may need to think of it more laterally if we want to use it as a marketing tool, instead of traditionally?

And yes I am a woman, I am a photographer and I am in said age bracket – but I am definitely not into fluffy things?!

]]> By: David Taylor http://blog.photoshelter.com/2012/02/pinterest-is-still-not-for-photographers-round-2/#comment-77638 David Taylor Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:50:22 +0000 http://blog.photoshelter.com/?p=19585#comment-77638 Just to play (a bit) of devils advocate here... Allen, I'm in nearly full agreement. But we should remember that a services demographics can change as it becomes adopted by a higher percentage of the population. It stands to reason, that as more people start using Pinterest, more people will be outside that younger-middle aged female range. Perhaps the percentage will stay the same, but numbers (rather than percentages) are still key. More people being exposed to my images means more people that had never seen them before are getting exposed to them. Even if that generates a few additional print sales, that's extra $ in the bank - and it all adds up. Furthermore - as a Photo Tour Guide in Alaska, it's another cheap way of getting some second hand marketing done. As an aside - I don't actually pin my own photos on Pinterest. I think it's a really tacky way of marketing (but that's just me). However, as I completely revamp my Facebook Fan Page (thank you PhotoShelter ebook!!!), I can see conducting contests for print give-aways that ask people to pin their favorite photos (from my site) on Pinterest as a way of generating a larger viewing base. While Pinterest may not be for photographers right now (the 99% of us, sorry Trey, you just got moved to the 1% club there some how), that's not to say it won't be in the future. And it does pay to be active on the ground floor before that surge. Just my 2 cents. :) Just to play (a bit) of devils advocate here…
Allen, I’m in nearly full agreement. But we should remember that a services demographics can change as it becomes adopted by a higher percentage of the population. It stands to reason, that as more people start using Pinterest, more people will be outside that younger-middle aged female range. Perhaps the percentage will stay the same, but numbers (rather than percentages) are still key. More people being exposed to my images means more people that had never seen them before are getting exposed to them. Even if that generates a few additional print sales, that’s extra $ in the bank – and it all adds up.
Furthermore – as a Photo Tour Guide in Alaska, it’s another cheap way of getting some second hand marketing done.

As an aside – I don’t actually pin my own photos on Pinterest. I think it’s a really tacky way of marketing (but that’s just me). However, as I completely revamp my Facebook Fan Page (thank you PhotoShelter ebook!!!), I can see conducting contests for print give-aways that ask people to pin their favorite photos (from my site) on Pinterest as a way of generating a larger viewing base.

While Pinterest may not be for photographers right now (the 99% of us, sorry Trey, you just got moved to the 1% club there some how), that’s not to say it won’t be in the future. And it does pay to be active on the ground floor before that surge.

Just my 2 cents. :)

]]> By: Mike Jackson http://blog.photoshelter.com/2012/02/pinterest-is-still-not-for-photographers-round-2/#comment-77632 Mike Jackson Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:42:04 +0000 http://blog.photoshelter.com/?p=19585#comment-77632 The tech support people at Photoshelter gave me links to these blogs. I was looking for information about Pinterest and similar sites in regards to Photoshelter's safeguards for our images on the site. Your blog is talking about whether to expect returns by joining Pinterest and whether the time is worth the effort. The information helps. But, here are a few nuts and bolts questions? 1. Is it possible for someone to pin images from a Photoshelter hosted site? 2. If so, how large is the largest image they can pin? 3. If so, will it contain the watermark as seen on the page? And, if someone does pin an image from my site (assuming they don't get access to the large version) is that really a bad thing? In most cases, doesn't Pinterest link back to my site if they took the image from there? If my web address and copyright information is embedded in the photo, and the photo shows up all over the place after I copyright it, isn't this a win for me? Right now, I added the code in the page headings to attempt to stop pinning, but if I read everything correctly, there are also codes and scripts that can be added to make it easier to pin images. This is all way to new to me. I'd like to hear more about how you'd suggest we protect ourselves initially and then any insights on how it might be useful. Your original two blogs indicate it might not be worth the time and energy to try to use it as a proactive sales tool, but maybe the pinners can do some of the work for us? Even if I never sold a print from someone posting it, am I damaged if my heavily watermarked web images show up around the world? The tech support people at Photoshelter gave me links to these blogs. I was looking for information about Pinterest and similar sites in regards to Photoshelter’s safeguards for our images on the site. Your blog is talking about whether to expect returns by joining Pinterest and whether the time is worth the effort. The information helps.

But, here are a few nuts and bolts questions?
1. Is it possible for someone to pin images from a Photoshelter hosted site?
2. If so, how large is the largest image they can pin?
3. If so, will it contain the watermark as seen on the page?

And, if someone does pin an image from my site (assuming they don’t get access to the large version) is that really a bad thing? In most cases, doesn’t Pinterest link back to my site if they took the image from there? If my web address and copyright information is embedded in the photo, and the photo shows up all over the place after I copyright it, isn’t this a win for me?

Right now, I added the code in the page headings to attempt to stop pinning, but if I read everything correctly, there are also codes and scripts that can be added to make it easier to pin images.

This is all way to new to me. I’d like to hear more about how you’d suggest we protect ourselves initially and then any insights on how it might be useful. Your original two blogs indicate it might not be worth the time and energy to try to use it as a proactive sales tool, but maybe the pinners can do some of the work for us? Even if I never sold a print from someone posting it, am I damaged if my heavily watermarked web images show up around the world?

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