forum.dolgachov.com - форум о фотобанках, стоках и продаже фотографий / microstock forum

forum => International forum for English speakers => General discussion => : Syates November 27, 2007, 12:09:54 AM

: 123rf (international)
: Syates November 27, 2007, 12:09:54 AM
I donated a lot of images in the beginning and sales did pick up. Then I stopped and sales are still pretty well, what is your opinion about sales/ donated images relation at 123rf? SY
: Re: Experience with donating images at 123rf?
: alex123rf November 28, 2007, 06:35:09 AM
Hi Sybille and Dolgachov,

Thanks for creating another useful resource for photographers ;)

Regarding 123RF's Free Image, a lot of the people who use it on a regular basis are very "hush-hush" about it (Perhaps they know something we don't, haha!). But as I have maintained we started by having a little over 1000 images in April and as of just now, the free images is now 9700, we're breaking 10,000 real soon.

While I can't and won't guarantee success, but a question I'd like to ask you and all the forumers here is that, if it doesn't work, why does it continue to grow... Now that's a little food for thought  8)

I look forward to seeing the forums here grow as well, best of luck!!  ;D
: New Feature : Faved Images with Sorting Options
: alex123rf November 28, 2007, 06:40:56 AM
Hi All,

As of yesterday (Nov 27, 2007) we updated our Faved section. New additions include:

1. Number of Views visible below thumbnails.
2. Number of Downloads visible below thumbnails.
3. Images are Sortable using:
    a. Image Views
    b. Downloads
    c. Image number (Freshest uploads first!)

Much thanks!

~alex
: New Feature : Public Lightbox + Mini Slideshow = LightShow
: alex123rf November 28, 2007, 06:46:16 AM
We just incorporated a new tool called a LightShow that should help with sprucing up your blogs / websites and it links straight in with your referral program while showcasing your handpicked images you have with us.

What you do is you:
1. Create a public lightbox, you may include your images from your portfolio or from other contributors as well.
2. Access your public lightbox
3. Copy the code
4. Alter the code (a little)
5. Paste the code into your blogs and websites

It's crazy good (well at least we think it is)  ;D here's the blog entry with nice screenshots as well: http://www.123rf.com/blog/blog.php?idblog=b1000034 (http://www.123rf.com/blog/blog.php?idblog=b1000034)

Do give it a go and any comments are welcome!

~alex
: Re: Experience with donating images at 123rf?
: Syates November 28, 2007, 01:27:33 PM
Hi Alex,

Glad you joined and started to post here, feel free to visit also the other boards! I think I didn't put it clearly what I wanted to say was: I still see the positive effects of donating after having stopped for some time. Perhaps because I got faved a lot by designers, or because I still appeared in the "donator" list for some time. So yes, I like the effect it has on my sales  ;D SY
: Re: Experience with donating images at 123rf?
: Clivia November 28, 2007, 11:16:11 PM
I do see a little increase in downloads when I donate an image. I like that you can limit the time for an image to be free.
: Re: Experience with donating images at 123rf?
: Patrick1958 November 29, 2007, 12:03:56 AM
I donated in the beginning... first month, more than 1000 free downloads on the fourthy or so i donated... my earnings on regular non free downloads... big, very big drop, biggest fiasco for me.

Patrick.
: Re: New Feature : Faved Images with Sorting Options
: khz November 29, 2007, 10:21:55 AM
hi Alex, that sounds very nice,
123rf is on the rise for the last months for me, and it seems it will continue to increase sales for us,
so thanks for keeping the heat there :)
regards
bora
: Re: New Feature : Faved Images with Sorting Options
: Syates November 29, 2007, 04:27:38 PM
Great, now we can see how our faves perform and adjust accordingly! And I agree with Bora, sales have jumped up considerably over the last months, SY
: Re: New Feature : Public Lightbox + Mini Slideshow = LightShow
: khz December 03, 2007, 10:45:04 AM
Alex hi,
very nice stuff,
keep up the great work there,
regards
bora
: Proxy FTP Server in Testing Mode
: alex123rf December 06, 2007, 11:43:33 AM
hi guys,

Just to keep you updated, we're now in the testing phase for our FTP Proxy Server located somewhere in the US. This should help some of you who have been experiencing slow FTP connections.

Keep our fingers crossed, if everything goes good, we'll go live with it some time next week.

 8)
: Re: Proxy FTP Server in Testing Mode
: DNF-Style December 06, 2007, 12:37:37 PM
We'll hope with you Alex. Would be great.
: Re: Experience with donating images at 123rf?
: domencolja January 04, 2008, 01:38:40 AM
Started only a week ago on 123RF, my whole portfolio is on and I haven't sold s**t. And I did donate around 20 or 30 images (if I'm correct). For a very short time, but I did. Downloads on the free ones, but no "real" sales.

As I see it, this option is a very intuitive marketing tool for the service provider (in this case 123RF), 'cause it obviously attracts new customers (hopefully not hit-and-run style).

But to be realistic: I don't have yet enough experience to talk about sale boosts. Don't have nothing to compare it with, so I'll wait and keep you posted (if anyone's interested).
: Posting error at 123rf
: Syates January 04, 2008, 02:55:18 AM
I thought it was gone, but now it seems to be back, every time I want to reply to a topic in the 123rf forum it just gives me a blank page and my browser says "done" in the status bar. Anybody found a work around for this? I am using firefox btw, SY
: Custom Watermarking Tool at 123RF!
: alex123rf January 07, 2008, 06:37:25 AM
Hi All,

I would like to invite you to change your watermark positions - your work would be better portrayed on 123RF!

Here's the blog post: http://www.123rf.com/blog/blog.php?idblog=b1000037

Thank you very much, Happy New Year to everyone!

Alex
for 123rf.com
: Re: Posting error at 123rf
: alex123rf January 07, 2008, 06:38:20 AM
Just click on the FORUM link once more.

It should get rid of the [sign in] [register] links above. That means you're logged in.

Alex.
: Re: Posting error at 123rf
: Syates January 07, 2008, 01:34:07 PM
Thanks, Alex! SY
: Re: Custom Watermarking Tool at 123RF!
: Syates January 07, 2008, 01:35:14 PM
Happy New Year to you also, Alex! I will try it out soon and post feedback. SY
: Re: Custom Watermarking Tool at 123RF!
: DNF-Style January 18, 2008, 12:44:39 PM
Thanks we are using it.
: Re: New Feature : Public Lightbox + Mini Slideshow = LightShow
: DNF-Style January 18, 2008, 12:46:25 PM
well done, good thinking. Won't use it though ;-)
: Problems to log into account
: Syates January 19, 2008, 04:22:54 AM
4 days ago 123rf suddenly didn't recognized anymore my password and I couldn't log in. I wrote a message to support and they solved the problem. As I asked what the reason was they answered that they couldn't tell me, but that it was on their end, not on mine. Now I have the same problem again. Anybody having similar experiences? SY
: Re: Problems to log into account
: domencolja January 20, 2008, 12:59:38 AM
Certainly so. Almost every day the last week (or so) the system randomly plays tricks on password verification. Sometimes it logs in, sometimes it doesn't.
: Re: Experience with donating images at 123rf?
: fotosergio January 21, 2008, 11:17:07 PM
As for me, I've started to donate images in123RF next week after they announced it. I swear - it does work. Sometimes after few free donloads the picture could be sold for ten credits! I like all the new features the 123RF launching time to time. They are strong instruments for stock moneymaking for photographers!
: 123RF and Fractals
: sshaw75 January 22, 2008, 03:30:34 AM
What is your experience with fractals on 123rf?  I went to upload some but the categories only seem to be photo or vector.
: Re: 123RF and Fractals
: Syates January 22, 2008, 03:57:10 AM
Fractals go as photos on most sites that don't have a jpg-illustration category  ;) Vector would be an eps file and yes, fractals do well on 123rf! SY
: Re: 123RF and Fractals
: sshaw75 January 22, 2008, 04:19:33 AM
GUess I better get busy uploading
: Re: Experience with donating images at 123rf?
: domencolja February 01, 2008, 02:16:26 PM
Coming back: I feel a boost in sales after donating images, a small one, but noticable, but it feels so strange to give away images for free. Every time I do that, I get hundreds and hundreds of free downloads and only a few real downloads (those particular days). It helps, though, but feels bad for the ego;/

p.s.: I'd suggest to 123RF to lower the resolution of the web format (this is the one that becomes free to download after donation), so people downloading free images will be pushed to actually pay bigger images more often. The "web format" is 1024px wide and that's imho too much. Donating such an image makes it suitable for a too wide web usage. And since the buyer base is predominantly web graphic designers, we know what this results in: fewer "real" payed downloads.
: Re: Experience with donating images at 123rf?
: nicemonkey February 01, 2008, 02:23:16 PM
I was a bit unsure about donating images for free but thought I would try it. I donated 5 in December but didn't notice any increase in sales (I know it was Christmas!) Then I thought I would try it again in January with 20 images (for 10 days) and have seen an increase of about 25%. I am going to not offer any free images in February to see if my sales drop back to the previous level.
: FTP upload speed is deadly slow. Is it a common problem?
: Sundance February 17, 2008, 11:23:52 AM
Hi!

I've become one of 123RF contributors recently, but I've been with microstocks for more than a year now - so I have my best 1000 pictures to upload. But my upload speed via FTP client is terribly slow (5 kb/sec at best) and there are errors that break connections and make it even worse.

What can be done here? Should i use proxy server (I don't know how to do it) or another port (21 is a default port in my FTP client)?
: Re: FTP upload speed is deadly slow. Is it a common problem?
: Syates February 17, 2008, 01:15:06 PM
NO, 123rf is for me as fast as other agencies to upload to, the best is if you drop Alex a message, perhaps it has something to do with what he mentioned here: http://photographicfreedom.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=281.0 Hope that helps, SY