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SELLING ON THE WEB
March 6, 1998
Many photographers think they won't need agents when WEB selling takes off. Some things to think
about...
Your site will need many top quality images, or buyers won't come. Someone has to scan, keyword
and generally produce
and manage the site, as well as
be available at least 9 hours a day to answer phones, take orders and pull images.
Set up automatic on-line delivery to avoid the pull and you pay computer programmers for expensive
software instead of a
stock agent. If you pull, the
images must be shipped, tracked while out, return reminders sent (and occasional legal action) and
refiled when they come
home.
You must get faxed credit references before delivery or risk losing your slides, negotiate prices
(particularly difficult
if the sale is overseas),
bill, call some clients repeatedly to get paid and bring legal action when the above fails.
Option: Only accept credit
card sales and forfeit your
best customers. You spend time saying NO to buyers who believe they have a right to pay little or
nothing to use your
images.
You must market the site to let the good customers know it exists. You will need staff, office
machines, computers (try
to keep them working),
supplies, phone lines, insurance -- and suddenly you are a mini-agent.
©1998 SELLING STOCK
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fax 301-309-0941, e-mail: jim@chd.com.