I was a member at SmugMug's Digital Grin for a time, but never found it to be helpful. My SM page is cumbersome as far as navigation, so I can imagine how bad it must be for folks who visit. I have sold work, but without efficient navigation, I can't see it working for sales. Does anyone know of resources that might provide better insight into setting up SM? I have considered looking into an Etsy account to link back to SM.
What are you looking to do Bill? I've used them for years and have a Portfolio-level account, and I've always been able to get help directly from SM when needed. Although I will admit that I haven't really needed their help much in several years, so their support may have changed, I probably wouldn't have noticed.
BillinTexas wrote:
I was a member at SmugMug's Digital Grin for a time, but never found it to be helpful. My SM page is cumbersome as far as navigation, so I can imagine how bad it must be for folks who visit. I have sold work, but without efficient navigation, I can't see it working for sales. Does anyone know of resources that might provide better insight into setting up SM? I have considered looking into an Etsy account to link back to SM.
I would appreciate any responses. Thanks.
---------------------------------------------
DavidZvi wrote:
What are you looking to do Bill? I've used them for years and have a Portfolio-level account, and I've always been able to get help directly from SM when needed. Although I will admit that I haven't really needed their help much in several years, so their support may have changed, I probably wouldn't have noticed.
I have NO experience with SM but I just viewed a members website on SM, https://www.killerpixs.com/, To me it is fantastic! Now how much work did it take Bill to develop it? You might ask Bill(Gass on MA2A).
BillinTexas wrote:
I was a member at SmugMug's Digital Grin for a time, but never found it to be helpful. My SM page is cumbersome as far as navigation, so I can imagine how bad it must be for folks who visit. I have sold work, but without efficient navigation, I can't see it working for sales. Does anyone know of resources that might provide better insight into setting up SM? I have considered looking into an Etsy account to link back to SM.
I would appreciate any responses. Thanks.
You ok in texas Bill? Rain?
Dan
I tried smugmug on trials for a few months and finally went for it, was a challenge in the beginning but got thru it, support is slow on answering most times for me as I have the cheaper acct. I love it tho and everyone that looks thru it likes it as well, easier to navigate on a phone and that's what everyone uses now a days.
Bill Gass wrote:
I tried smugmug on trials for a few months and finally went for it, was a challenge in the beginning but got thru it, support is slow on answering most times for me as I have the cheaper acct. I love it tho and everyone that looks thru it likes it as well, easier to navigate on a phone and that's what everyone uses now a days.
Uh oh brother...It am still using a "flipper"!!!!!
Dan
I have NO experience with SM but I just viewed a members website on SM, https://www.killerpixs.com/, To me it is fantastic! Now how much work did it take Bill to develop it? You might ask Bill(Gass on MA2A).
Just FYI!
Dan
How much? That depends.
The basic structure is pretty straightforward. Main page, menu with a "HOME", three built-in services/links, and one gallery link (Browse Pictures). There could also be a template available with the basic layout.
From there, it's a basic file structure under browse. If he's using Lightroom, he can set up the structure under Publish Services and click "Publish"; done, the structure is built. You can also add a significant amount of text through Lightroom and/or metadata.
If it's not Lightroom, I'm not sure what other DAMs or editors have similar publishing services. To do it without something like that is time-consuming (can be very), not complex, but extremely repetitive and prone to mistakes.
I went through three site designs on Smumug before closing my studio. I'm still on my first since.
To be clear, I'm not discounting the time and effort he may have taken; most of my site was done before I started using the publish feature, so I know it can. It can be very easy to make mistakes or even realize you've made a mistake until you've repeated it 50 times. And with that many galleries, I imagine mistakes were made, and the structure probably changed a few times until he was satisfied with it.
Caveat: I have a long programming background, so what seems easy to me might not be for others; your mileage may vary.
Bill Gass wrote:
I tried smugmug on trials for a few months and finally went for it, was a challenge in the beginning but got thru it, support is slow on answering most times for me as I have the cheaper acct. I love it tho and everyone that looks thru it likes it as well, easier to navigate on a phone and that's what everyone uses now a days.
I have a Portfolio account, which does provide a faster response. But it also includes business features. I still receive emails from clients asking about prints from time to time, and I've been tempted to list some of my work for sale. The portfolio handles some of that, including letting me select the lab I want. It was handy to be able to select the same lab I used for tables so I knew the prints and albums would look the same.
DavidZvi wrote:
I have a Portfolio account, which does provide a faster response. But it also includes business features. I still receive emails from clients asking about prints from time to time, and I've been tempted to list some of my work for sale. The portfolio handles some of that, including letting me select the lab I want. It was handy to be able to select the same lab I used for tables so I knew the prints and albums would look the same.
What is your site?
I listed it above David..here is Bill's website... https://www.killerpixs.com
Thanks for your workflow...I grew up with cathode ray tubes and crystal radios....
Dan
Danpbphoto wrote:
I listed it above David..here is Bill's website... https://www.killerpixs.com
Thanks for your workflow...I grew up with cathode ray tubes and crystal radios....
Dan
Sorry, above you said "A" member's site, and the rest didn't click in my brain.
BillinTexas wrote:
.....
Does anyone know of resources that might provide better insight into setting up SM? I have considered looking into an Etsy account to link back to SM.
I would appreciate any responses. Thanks.
Bill, if you'd like, I can see several things that might help the organization. Breaking out Aviation from events, places, animals, for starters. PM me if you want some help.
I appreciate the responses. My main concern is navigation. It appears a looker can't navigate easily without going back and forth. Does anyone use "open in a new page," or are you able to create "next" links for the next gallery? Also, I'm not sure if anyone sees my background slideshow, as it doesn't appear when I'm logged off.
I have way too many photos on it at this point, most likely. bmi.billmorris.smugmug.com
BillinTexas wrote:
I appreciate the responses. My main concern is navigation. It appears a looker can't navigate easily without going back and forth. Does anyone use "open in a new page," or are you able to create "next" links for the next gallery? Also, I'm not sure if anyone sees my background slideshow, as it doesn't appear when I'm logged off.
I have way too many photos on it at this point, most likely. bmi.billmorris.smugmug.com
I'm not seeing the slideshow in Chrome or Firefox, so it's more than just a browser issue.
Turn on the text, not only when hovering over all folders. It will create a better connection between where they are and the breadcrumb they can see. I clicked on the picture of the hummingbird because I liked it, but when I got to the next page, I didn't realize I was looking at the "picture of the week" galleries.
And breadcrumbs in between the folders and galleries are odd from a navigation standpoint. Yes, if you look at my site, I'm not there yet either; it's still very much a work in progress, and I keep getting distracted.
Thanks for the response. I have been with SM for a good many years. I prefer it over Flickr Pro. I will look at turning text on all the time. I wish there were drop-downs to activate or other normal navigation tools. This is what I see; this is part of the slideshow background.
