I was wondering how well those of you who sell prints on your web sites do.

I will be setting up my web site soon, although I will not be offering prints for sale at first. I don't think I'm quite ready for that yet.

Does anyone actually make any money from their print sales?

Thanks,

Jim

Jim,

While I do make it clear that prints are for sale from my web site, I haven't attached a shopping cart or prices to any image. Even so, I still manage to sell 3 or 4 a year from direct contact over the internet. I would not try to make a business plan based on web sales though - people prefer to see them in the flesh (my physical gallery has been open for less than a year and I've sold nearly 350 prints [framed and unframed] directly to people that way.) The print sales from the internet have paid for the internet site rent, but not much more.

Cheers,
Graeme

(www.scenebyhird.com if you're interested)

I like the internet for web sales. I have had my site up since May 1 and have sold quite a bit this way. What I also like about it is that a website attracts buyers or collectors who are quite willing to be patient about delays and such in getting their orders filled (a problem I have right now is that my dry mount press is kaput and I am still awaiting delivery of a new one) - if they like your work they will gladly be patient. In addition, having a website reaches a far wider audience than I could ever possibly imagine (just check out your webstats now and then and you would be surprised at the diversity of nationalities taking a peek). Lastly, it is a great vehicle for constantly updating and improving on your work.

Caveat: the scans have to be near perfect as possible. Good luck and keep it simple.

Very interested in this myself. At my work we were recently offered the opportunity to purchase some website updating software called 'SmartAlec' that lets the website owner keep a resonably sophisticated store updated from their own PC, including "checkout" feature and all that stuff. Sounded ideal for selling prints over the web. However it came at a price (not cheap either).

.....you would be surprised at the diversity of nationalities taking a peek). Lastly, it is a great vehicle for constantly updating and improving on your work. .Ever ship 'em to New Zealand Francesco? ;-D

John, not yet. But soon...

I have sold 0 images from the website and I am trying to figure out others ways of getting my name and work out in front of people. I was thinking of maybe putting a few on ebay with a link back to my site. This is a tough one.

I have sold 0 images from the website and I am trying to figure out others ways of getting my name and work out in front of people. I was thinking of maybe putting a few on ebay with a link back to my site. This is a tough one.

Forget about eBay - people are looking for bargains, not fine art. You'll be lucky to get any number of page views, since there are so many photographs up on eBay right now. I just checked, and there are just under 12,000 photographs in the B&W category.

I did an experiment using a couple images of mine - I used buy-it-now, for a very low amount. I got about 30 views, and I did sell one photograph. But I'll tell you I certainly did not make any money on the deal...and I got very little traffic on my web site...

Has anyone tried running one of those ads in the back of Black & White Magazine (The US Collectors magazine) to drive traffic to your web site?

Jim

I ran ads in B/W mag for about a year and half. It at least always paid for itself but mostly attracted people trying to sell me stuff. It's interesting, I spend advertising dollars then companies use my ad to try to sell to me. I decided the hassle was not worth it after they (B/W) would not send me my complementary copy of the mag with my ad in it.

I have placed an ad in B&W and it drive up the traffic to the site. But so did getting the article published last Falls in Black and White (Alisa's Mag). That brought a much bigger spike to the traffic.

The ad did bring a couple of print sales. Would have I gotten them otherwise? The sales from the site have been in the toilet since the economy went south. But it still pays for itself.

I have had the same problem as Thomas with people trying to sell me stuff from the ad. But you could look at the bright side even the people trying to sell me stuff saw the ad. That's a good thing.

With your experience what is the best way to get your work sold to pay for equiptment and what not?

This is something that has been driving me a bit nuts.