PhotoShelter has done an important survey of buyer attitudes and preferences when it comes to your website. They have very kindly offered to share the results with everyone. You can get them here (yes, you have to enter your email address, but it is worth whatever marketing they may do).
One small think to keep in mind as you read the report is that PhotoShelter asked buyers who were generally more stock buyers than assignment buyers. Overall, I think their data matches up very much with what I have learned in my own surveys of assignment buyers, but the two notable exceptions are that a page full of thumbnails is not very well liked for assignment buyers, and you shouldn’t (generally) put your assignment prices on your site.
Perhaps assignment buyers don’t wanna see a page of thumbnails Leslie, but stock researchers certainly do, as the survey makes clear. In fact, that’s about all they do want to see – not the digital masturbation so favoured by assignment photogs. There’re two breeds of cat in this zoo.
John, you need to slow down when you read, I think. I was simply pointing out the difference between the two groups and the results. Most of my readers are assignment photogs.
Oh, and I think you *seriously* need to take a deep breath about the “digital masturbation” stuff. Come on…what are you doing maligning the work of your compatriots like that?! That is really uncalled for.
-L
Thanks for this, it’s an interesting read. I agree with alot not sure about some though as I’ve had contradicting advice from what clients prefer. I suppose it depends on your market
Funnily enough, their main beef was about ease of use and simple to read layout. Their PDF is awful to read! ie-page 12 Buyer comments!
I read it. I’m pretty sure they were trying to sell me something. Still not sure.
Anyway, I agree it was more about stock buyers but wish they would have noted that.
Shane, of course they are selling something. Why else would they bother expending the resources to do the survey? 🙂
But I don’t think that corrupts the survey or its results.
-Leslie
True…but I can’t help wonder if it’s a coincidence that the product they are offering falls in line with what the survey suggests. I prefer independent surveys 🙂