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10/21/2014 12:20:14 AM · #1 |
Thoughts, comments, concerns? (Yes I am still lurking here) :D
https://fineartamerica.com/registrationartiststep1.php
Message edited by author 2014-10-21 00:20:37. |
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10/21/2014 12:44:02 AM · #2 |
| I been around for a while. I registered but never used it |
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10/21/2014 02:00:44 AM · #3 |
I joined at the beginning of the year and added some photos but have not had a single sale. I have heard of others having greater success on the site though.
//fineartamerica.com/profiles/paul-steven.html |
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10/21/2014 08:24:35 AM · #4 |
So far, I have no complaints. I have been with the site for over a year and have made two sales (one 24 x 18 luster print with frame and another a 24 x 14 metal print). The pluses about the site is that your potential customer's have a choice of prints, metal prints, canvas, or acrylic to choose from. The site does provide you with the tools to market your work (iframe widgets, links such as Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Stumbled Upon, Pininterest) BUT like with any networking/social media site you have to market yourself - and that means getting your name and work outside of the FAA circles which of course takes time.
With each artwork you get a 500 word count Key Words box. The more you maximize and utilize the Key Word feature the better able search engines are able to find your work.
You can upload up to 25 pictures before you need to buy membership to upload more to sell (and I have seen some artists with upwards of 1200+ in their portfolios). The plus about membership is that you get an artistwebsite that is yours - meaning you can provide a direct link to your work or gallery that only showcases your work.
If you realize that the contests run on the site by members are mostly just a way to get your art seen, a popularity contests with friend voting allowed then you will not get terribly upset. Some contests call for no friend voting and some are juried so it removes the friend vote factor. Basically, participating in contests is nothing more than a way for one to get there work seen maybe get a comment/fav, and maybe even a follower or two. Sometimes the prize offered is a post of your work (with a link back to your site) on the contest runner's social media sites which can increase the amount of people who see it.
I have not been terribly active on the forum side of FAA, but when I have, I have seen a strong community aspect of support and information sharing.
Message edited by author 2014-10-21 08:28:14. |
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10/21/2014 08:27:09 AM · #5 |
double post.
Message edited by author 2014-10-21 08:27:56. |
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10/21/2014 11:00:35 AM · #6 |
| I've used it for a couple years now and I generally get a sale where I make $50-$90 every other month or so. Worth it for me. |
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10/21/2014 11:56:00 AM · #7 |
| I joined in June, 2013. I have had 19 sales (just counted) ranging from the sale of a single card (twice, different buyers and images)to the sale of a 36 wide stretched canvas. I would say I get about a sale a month and have averaged maybe $35-$40 per sale over the year and a half. |
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10/21/2014 12:02:53 PM · #8 |
| I started about a year ago, with the membership. Let the membership drop about 2 months ago. Still got a sale after. I have only sold a couple things. I think you have to promote yourself a bit to get sales. I just haven't found it worth the money. But I will keep my photos up, just in case. I know others who have done quite well with it. So it probably just depends. I just make much more money with the stock sites I contribute to so there isn't even a comparison. I make more off my lowest earning stock site than I do FAA. But stock is much harder, your photos have to meet certain standards. While with FAA you can upload anything. Not saying that is a bad thing, because you can have more artistic stuff that would never pass through stock. |
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10/21/2014 12:02:58 PM · #9 |
| Thank you everyone for the replies! You all have been very informative and I appreciate it very much! |
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10/21/2014 01:04:40 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by CNovack:
You can upload up to 25 pictures before you need to buy membership to upload more to sell ... |
That seems like a pretty good no-risk deal -- if your "best" 25 don't sell then it probably isn't worth paying to upload more ...
FWIW when you sell prints "here" through DPC Prints you also get a link to your own gallery/collection (though it's not customized), with the advantage that if anyone clicks on that link and then browses the whole site and buys someone else's picture(s) you will still get paid a referral comission. |
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10/21/2014 03:01:58 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by CNovack:
You can upload up to 25 pictures before you need to buy membership to upload more to sell ... |
That seems like a pretty good no-risk deal -- if your "best" 25 don't sell then it probably isn't worth paying to upload more ...
FWIW when you sell prints "here" through DPC Prints you also get a link to your own gallery/collection (though it's not customized), with the advantage that if anyone clicks on that link and then browses the whole site and buys someone else's picture(s) you will still get paid a referral comission. |
Both very valid points Paul. But I want to stress that you still have to market yourself outside of the websites (be it DPC, FAA, or any other website) both locally and on social media. That is something I am now starting to do more of and realize it takes time to build a brand. So if you upload your best work, but do nothing to promote it, chances are very few or no sales or few people will find you will be the end result.
Not so subtle hint;-) Something that should be on DPC's to do list is to give members the tools/links to market themselves akin to what FAA does (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc buttons that would link a potential customer back to an artist portfolio) Yes, one could just upload the photo/art directly to said social media but it would not be a clickable link back to the artist website.
***Just wanted to add, like DPC, FAA also lets you set your own profit price unlike Zazzle and some other sites which undercuts the profit an artist can make AND some sites will run specials that automatically discounts on all artists work without notifying the artist so that the artist then earns less for any sale made. Many years ago I had an account with Zazzle where they gave a very small cut of the profits to artists (20%). When they made it even smaller I closed my account. I called their customer service (which was a nightmare to get through to) and had them close it - never did get the money that I was owed from two sales made. I don't know if their business model has changed (and it might have) but it is always good to research before you upload any work with a place.
Message edited by author 2014-10-21 15:11:20. |
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10/21/2014 03:50:59 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by CNovack:
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by CNovack:
You can upload up to 25 pictures before you need to buy membership to upload more to sell ... |
That seems like a pretty good no-risk deal -- if your "best" 25 don't sell then it probably isn't worth paying to upload more ...
FWIW when you sell prints "here" through DPC Prints you also get a link to your own gallery/collection (though it's not customized), with the advantage that if anyone clicks on that link and then browses the whole site and buys someone else's picture(s) you will still get paid a referral comission. |
Both very valid points Paul. But I want to stress that you still have to market yourself outside of the websites (be it DPC, FAA, or any other website) both locally and on social media. That is something I am now starting to do more of and realize it takes time to build a brand. So if you upload your best work, but do nothing to promote it, chances are very few or no sales or few people will find you will be the end result. |
Absolutely! My account is a perfect example. I am terrible at marketing ... I can design the materials, but can't seem to write the letters or make the calls or post the notices which will attract potential buyers. At least I (usually) remember to link to my gallery when I post in the forums ... :-)
Originally posted by CNovack:
Not so subtle hint;-) Something that should be on DPC's to do list is to give members the tools/links to market themselves akin to what FAA does (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc buttons that would link a potential customer back to an artist portfolio) Yes, one could just upload the photo/art directly to said social media but it would not be a clickable link back to the artist website. |
Maybe you can re-post this separately (start a thread) in the appropriate suggestions forum ... pretty please :-) |
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