p.1 #1 · online ordering - good idea or waste of time?
Since almost everyone attending a wedding have their own digital camera, Im thinking if online ordering is still a good source of additional income or just a waste of time. I tried it in my first few weddings and I gave up because I barely got an order and It took so much time to upload and sort out the photos. My pictures and pricing are not bad at all...
Am I missing something? For those who are still doing it, are you getting a lot and how much is the average orders per wedding? I appreciate your feedback and tips on getting it right.
Thanks
p.1 #3 · online ordering - good idea or waste of time?
Me, too. I may go three weddings without any orders. But then I will have one wedding where they order quite a few prints.
Basically, I make enough to pay for my hosting on Smugmug plus a little extra.
Plus, as letenele mentioned, it's GREAT for getting my name out there. I have lots of views for every single wedding, and the couples appreciate it a lot.
Besides, I switched from printed proofs to online proofs so I save quite a bit by putting all images up there rather than giving them a copy of everything. I market it as a benefit to them- they can share images with family and friends. Their family can order their own prints which will save the B&G money and hassle. I have a lot of the bridal party and friends order prints, too.
p.1 #4 · online ordering - good idea or waste of time?
If you give away a disk, how do you expect to sell prints?
I use online proofing primarily for the bride to pick album photos and to fulfill print credits -- I know there aren't going to be many print sales. The profit from lost print sales has been built into the package price.
p.1 #5 · online ordering - good idea or waste of time?
You'll get a few orders form it and it will pay for itself. It doesn't take long, just drag and drop then go to bed while it loads. It also (some of the hosting companies) acts as an additional backup.
p.1 #7 · online ordering - good idea or waste of time?
Web exposure. Gives you another site to link to your main site, and yet another thing for prospective customers to view and browse. I use instaproofs which is free, they just take a 15% commission on sales, so I built that into the price.
p.1 #8 · online ordering - good idea or waste of time?
asimsoofi wrote:
These cards can also call to action for them to email you to be included on a notification when the proofs are ready for viewing/ordering.
p.1 #9 · online ordering - good idea or waste of time?
I use Smugmug - $150 for a year - in 3 months I have cleared $600 - these are all print orders that I would have otherwise not have gotten!
I give each bride 100 table cards - I order from zazzle.com - LOVE them - they are small, distinctive and come in the coolest boxes of 20 Here are two o fmy latest - I did these in "Pearl" finish - the camera picked up on the bit of texture. These cost me about $23 for each wedding. The brides love them and it's great advertising. Also the set up is quick b/c you can save your designs online - so I just have to change the colors and text and/or add a pic.
p.1 #10 · online ordering - good idea or waste of time?
I get $200-$400 in print orders per wedding, because collages.net markets the photos to the wedding guests. I just upload the photos, enter the guest email addresses, and watch the money come in!
p.1 #11 · online ordering - good idea or waste of time?
Lucky_Dog wrote:
If you give away a disk, how do you expect to sell prints?
First off, I don't "give away" the disk, it is paid for. And website reprints come from out of town guests and family members etc, not the couple. Mothers and grandmothers etc, and brides, LOVE that family members don't have to bother the bride for copies of the wedding photos.
p.1 #13 · online ordering - good idea or waste of time?
ChrisDM wrote:
First off, I don't "give away" the disk, it is paid for. And website reprints come from out of town guests and family members etc, not the couple. Mothers and grandmothers etc, and brides, LOVE that family members don't have to bother the bride for copies of the wedding photos.
Chris M
www.imagineimagery.com
Why do you assume that I'm talking to you? If you read my entire post, you would have noticed that I said the very thing that you countered with.
p.1 #14 · online ordering - good idea or waste of time?
Lucky_Dog wrote:
Why do you assume that I'm talking to you? If you read my entire post, you would have noticed that I said the very thing that you countered with.
I apologize, I assumed this was an open discussion
p.1 #15 · online ordering - good idea or waste of time?
nikongirl wrote:
I use Smugmug - $150 for a year - in 3 months I have cleared $600 - these are all print orders that I would have otherwise not have gotten!
I give each bride 100 table cards - I order from zazzle.com - LOVE them - they are small, distinctive and come in the coolest boxes of 20 Here are two o fmy latest - I did these in "Pearl" finish - the camera picked up on the bit of texture. These cost me about $23 for each wedding. The brides love them and it's great advertising. Also the set up is quick b/c you can save your designs online - so I just have to change the colors and text and/or add a pic.
p.1 #16 · online ordering - good idea or waste of time?
I use instaproofs, which doesn't take much time to upload to. I also get to use a lab of my choice.
I also don't give out the password and link to anyone other than the clients. It is up to them to give the info out to whomever they wish. Some weddings get me a lot of sales, others none at all. Either way, I don't lose any money out of pocket.
p.1 #17 · online ordering - good idea or waste of time?
gillyohan wrote:
I use instaproofs, which doesn't take much time to upload to. I also get to use a lab of my choice.
I also don't give out the password and link to anyone other than the clients. It is up to them to give the info out to whomever they wish. Some weddings get me a lot of sales, others none at all. Either way, I don't lose any money out of pocket.
thanks for instaproofs, looks like a great option. unlimited free upload. other company have a yearly membership and they still get a percentage of your sales.
btw, how do you get your checks/bills from instaproof? is it per order, monthly, quarterly or yearly?
p.1 #18 · online ordering - good idea or waste of time?
ChrisDM wrote:
I apologize, I assumed this was an open discussion
Chris M
www.imagineimagery.com
Of course it’s an open discussion but you quoted me and answered as if I had insulted you. I know that folks generally factor in the potential profit from print sales when they decide to provide a DVD – I certainly do. But the OP poster is asking if online proofing/ordering is just a waste of time. My comments were merely to point out that if you provide a disk with your packages, that it may impact print sales.
p.1 #19 · online ordering - good idea or waste of time?
agila wrote:
thanks for instaproofs, looks like a great option. unlimited free upload. other company have a yearly membership and they still get a percentage of your sales.
btw, how do you get your checks/bills from instaproof? is it per order, monthly, quarterly or yearly?
Twice a month on accounts over $50. They'll send a check, direct deposit, or paypal the money to you.
p.1 #20 · online ordering - good idea or waste of time?
Lucky_Dog wrote:
Of course it’s an open discussion but you quoted me and answered as if I had insulted you. I know that folks generally factor in the potential profit from print sales when they decide to provide a DVD – I certainly do. But the OP poster is asking if online proofing/ordering is just a waste of time. My comments were merely to point out that if you provide a disk with your packages, that it may impact print sales.
See my point?
Yes, I did see your point, and my counterpoint was that print sales are to family members and friends, not to the couple you sell the disc to. You asked, "How do you expect to sell prints if you give away the disk?" And I answered, apparently out of turn...
