Is it worth me having a Smugmug account?

This will be the third year of renewal for me. So far, I've accumulated less than $40 in sales.

I have a domain for my business that my e-mail goes through and a friend that works at a web design firm that's designing a website for me for my domain. Should I bother renewing? I have a WHCC account if I need to make prints.

True, Smugmug made it very easy for people to purchase photos from the site and have them shipped directly, for all three people that purchased photos.

It just seems like an unecessary expense that I could afford to drop right now.

It's always good to have an online presence if you're running a business. Unless you have another option why not?

drumsfield wrote in post #11770068
It's always good to have an online presence if you're running a business. Unless you have another option why not?

I have a friend that works at a web design firm building a website for my domain.

Smugmug will at some point be relegated just used to sell photos. I've made $40 in the past two years.

Online print sales is dying to an extent... Now, if you offer print sales along with your services then it's a different story! Last year, the company I work for made around $1,4k - $1,7k off Zenfolio print sales. We definitely don't market our prints efficiently or even at all so the return isn't as high.

If you're using smugmug as a photo repository/portfolio then I'd say cancel your account and move over to wordpress or even virb.com

I do like how zenfolio is beginning to change towards the business side. They allow you to set requirements for users to register in order to view photos. They keep tabs on contact information which is important for email marketing as well. That in itself coupled with mailchimp's free service is totally worth it.

Village_Idiot wrote in post #11769989
This will be the third year of renewal for me. So far, I've accumulated less than $40 in sales.

I wouldn't keep it. I'd go with Flickr Pro and Paypal. If you personally interact with the prospective buyers you increase your chance of sales. At least that's my experience.

I have a website at Smugmug and I'm having a friend build one for me. I wouldn't use Flick for a business. I'll use paypal if absolutely necessary, but I have other ways of taking cards.

Remember there are thousands and thousands of photo sites out there. What are you doing to drive potential business to your site is a good question to also ask. Just having a lone site, doesn't alway reap rewards.

A lot of websites cost $120 to $240 a year just for the web server space. So Smugmug's pro service is a great value since you also get the templates, service, and photo side. Online back up services also cost big money and you can at least have all your jpegs kept safe which counts for something. I found that keywording each and every photo slowly helps to get your images out there.

I switched to PhotoCart - it's a one time purchase and done with it - you pay for web hosting after that and nothing else. Having a third party do it is great for a time period but there becomes a point you need to do it on your own - bottom line is important obviously. If you're not making enough I'd say it's also a reason to do it on your own, why keep paying for a service that does not pay for itself? Make the investment early and pay it off as it goes.

I use smugmug/zenfolio pro accounts as another backup. $100 per yr and unlimited storage so all my processed shots end up there.

travsirocz wrote in post #11771580
A lot of websites cost $120 to $240 a month just for the web server space. So Smugmug's pro service is a great value since you also get the templates, service, and photo side. Online back up services also cost big money and you can at least have all your jpegs kept safe which counts for something. I found that keywording each and every photo slowly helps to get your images out there.

I'm paying $30 every three months for hosting. That's no where near $120 a month.

And I do my own backups. I'm not a fan of trusting cloud backup services.

Digital Railroad anyone?

Village_Idiot wrote in post #11776191
I'm paying $30 every three months for hosting. That's no where near $120 a month.

And I do my own backups. I'm not a fan of trusting cloud backup services.

Digital Railroad anyone?

I meant $120 a year. oopps I edited my post above to reflect this.

It sounds like it's not worth your hassle if all you've done in three years is $40 a year, drop the expense.

travsirocz wrote in post #11776363
I meant $120 a year. oopps I edited my post above to reflect this.

$155 for 3 years with "unlimited" storage, hostgator.com!

Even the other server I use is only $60/year, getting ripped off big time if you're paying $120/year unless you get a LOT for that package.

I would say no. If you can host your own stuff, then drop it. My wedding photographer uses smugmug and as a client who is a wedding photographer.. I HATED it! still do.