MY LATEST THOUGHTS

I have been doing a lot of hunting around on the internet for photography sites - my competitors - that sell photographs. There seems to be a disconnect among photographers. First, we are artists. We create art using photography, whether it be journalistic in nature or as art. Second, we are all pretty much business owners. The cost of producing "professional" quality photographs has become much less expensive in recent years allowing more and more people to produce images and put them on the internet. That's good.

I have been doing this photography thing for a long time, since 1973. Over the years I have been fortunate enough to be able to hone my skills due to the technical skills I learned from some excellent teachers over the years. However, without an artistic eye, composing a photograph is just an exercise in technical expertise. Which brings me to the disconnect.

My fellow photographers, the vast majority, seem to think that setting up a site like entering an art gallery is the way to go. Admittedly, my first attempt was similar. However, on the world wide web, not only is content king but so is presentation. And get this (this is important): If it is static (content that does not change) then you are good for one visit. It's my feeling (and that of Jakob Nielsen) that if the visitor doesn't stay long enough to look around then that sale/visitor/viewer is lost. This is called "web loyalty" or visitor retention. What I have found over the years is that an easy navigation style (at this site, you only have to click ONE time to get to any page) and information or products that the visitor wants is the key to the kingdom of the internet.