Non-Pro Smugmug Users - Ever make a sale from Smugmug?

Just curious. I guess I never know unless I do it and/or ask. Without marketing and promoting yourself, have any non-pro photographers generated sales from the SmugMug site?

I'm thinking about upgrading my site from Power to Portfolio... for watermarking protection of my public images and ability to set price just in case something might sell. (I just created a public gallery of images and I'm in the process of populating galleries with photos).

I mean... I know my photos aren't likely of generating a sale... but who knows, right?

No I've never but I don't give them the option to either. My clients contact me directly for print fulfillment. The price difference between Pro and Power was just too great for me especially now. That and being in Canada with no local lab means a no go for me.

I'm not sure if their prices had gone up, but between Power and Pro is Porfolio = $150/year. I know people might consider that a lot... but heck, it's my only hobby/vice.

I was on SmugMug for over a year and never sold a thing. I have, and continue to sell on every other medium I have tried. From the outside looking in, my impression of smugmug was that it was run by a bunch of inexperienced people who know a lot about appearing "cool" but who have no marketing sense whatsoever.

"no marketing sense whatsoever" pertaining to what, marketing of their business or your photos?

They're still in business despite a lot of competition in this market segment, including free sites, so they're apparently doing something right with regards to marketing their business.

It isn't their responsibility to market the images they host. That is up to the photographer.

Picture North Carolina wrote in post #16593356
I was on SmugMug for over a year and never sold a thing. I have, and continue to sell on every other medium I have tried. From the outside looking in, my impression of smugmug was that it was run by a bunch of inexperienced people who know a lot about appearing "cool" but who have no marketing sense whatsoever.

pat.kane wrote in post #16594407
"no marketing sense whatsoever" pertaining to what, marketing of their business or your photos?

They're still in business despite a lot of competition in this market segment, including free sites, so they're apparently doing something right with regards to marketing their business.

It isn't their responsibility to market the images they host. That is up to the photographer.

Have to agree with Pat. Marketing is your responsibility not theirs. They are a photo host not a marketing machine.

Had the full package for a year, and when they raised the price, I had the grandfathered "special". Never a sale. My fault entirely, because doesn't do marketing, the photographer does. Anyway, I cancelled my account before the next renewal. I now have stuff on FineArtAmerica which is a much cheaper place, and they have a following of sorts. I've had a sale or two there, and I still need to market myself. FAA for the price is very inexpensive, but you have to live within their conditions. There are other sites that are similar (Redbubble, etc).

I used Smugmug for a couple of years but my sales never took off using that type of business model. I would advise against it in fact if you want to really make any type of profit form your hobby.

1. I would go with a site that's created using a small sampling or your best images separated into categories along with contact/pricing info.

2. Have business cards made out with the pertinent information the customer needs to arrange time to see/buy the images.

3. Practice your people and sale skills and be prepared to hustle your @ss off to make sales before during and after the shoot. Never let the customer feel overwhelmed in what they are seeing in the images presented such as only the best 10 - 25 captures and 2 to 3 pricing plans in most cases. Obviously the number of images presented and price plans are subject to the type of shoot. A wedding/public event/senior sessions will all vary in images and pricing plans offered which is to be expected and defined beforehand in easy to understand terms by the customer.

The more streamlined and easy to understand options you make to the client along with the personal contact, which btw I can't emphasize enough will generate far more sales than a Smumug site alone.