Pictures time to purchase.

[Mike414]

Just wondering how long do you guys keep the pictures on your website for people to purchase.....you guys dont keep them for ever right :D

Thanks for the input.


Mike.

[amfoto1]

When it comes to a catalog of fine art images, I think it's a good idea to rotate images regularly... And don't try to show them all. That way your site stays fresh giving people a reason to come back and revisit it, and, if done often enough, can make it show up higher in search result rankings. I don't know... maybe change some out once a month?

Now, if you are talking about galleries of event/sports photos, then, no, I don't change those out. I have some up that have been displayed for three years now. Just sold a few from one of the old galleries, in fact.

I have seen the "now or never" marketing approach used by some event/sports photogs. They post on their site and email customers that they are cleaning up their site and tossing the old images... so better go buy any now or else!

This is a tactic right out of the playbook of mall portrait studios. That's how their $99 special often seems to turn into a $500+ charge on people's credit cards. ("But honey, they're just going to delete those pictures of little Billie drooling all over himself, if we don't buy them. He'll be gone forever! We can afford to buy them all if we skip the mortgage payment this month and eat one meal a day for a few weeks.")

[Tandem]

That is a good question. I get a lot of old gallery sales from word-of-mouth referrals so it is in my best interest to keep sports galleries up longer. Many of the late buyers are out of state relatives or from out of town schools.

[Tigershark]

I have had sales several months after an event, I usually pull them after 4 months but have thought about going to 6 now

[Mike414]

When it comes to a catalog of fine art images, I think it's a good idea to rotate images regularly... And don't try to show them all. That way your site stays fresh giving people a reason to come back and revisit it, and, if done often enough, can make it show up higher in search result rankings. I don't know... maybe change some out once a month?

Now, if you are talking about galleries of event/sports photos, then, no, I don't change those out. I have some up that have been displayed for three years now. Just sold a few from one of the old galleries, in fact.

I have seen the "now or never" marketing approach used by some event/sports photogs. They post on their site and email customers that they are cleaning up their site and tossing the old images... so better go buy any now or else!

This is a tactic right out of the playbook of mall portrait studios. That's how their $99 special often seems to turn into a $500+ charge on people's credit cards. ("But honey, they're just going to delete those pictures of little Billie drooling all over himself, if we don't buy them. He'll be gone forever! We can afford to buy them all if we skip the mortgage payment this month and eat one meal a day for a few weeks.")

Thanks, great info.
something to think about because I was thinking about posting the images for one month and then delete them to keep my smugmug updated with new pictures.....I guess it would be the "or else" strategy" :rolleyes:

Mike.

[Mike R]

I keep HS sports on my website for the entire school year. Last June, I posted a notice saying the shots would be removed Aug 15 to get ready for next year. It led to a few sales and after the deadline I received emails from 4 people who wanted the shots reposted, I did so for 1 week and 3 of the 4 placed an order.
I keep the originals for 1 year.

[Mike414]

I keep HS sports on my website for the entire school year. Last June, I posted a notice saying the shots would be removed Aug 15 to get ready for next year. It led to a few sales and after the deadline I received emails from 4 people who wanted the shots reposted, I did so for 1 week and 3 of the 4 placed an order.
I keep the originals for 1 year.

I like the idea of keeping the pictures on the website for the season.
After the season I can customize the gallerie(s) to "unlisted" (for a month or two) just in case someone wants to purchase any pictures I can just make it public again.....and then delete it.

thanks.

[Mike R]

I like the idea of keeping the pictures on the website for the season.
After the season I can customize the gallerie(s) to "unlisted" (for a month or two) just in case someone wants to purchase any pictures I can just make it public again.....and then delete it.

thanks.
Good idea, after having to reload a gallery last year, It's what I plan on doing this year.