Mostphotos has seen that most of their customers are one time visitors dropping in via search engines such as Google. They are obviously looking for a certain specific image and Mostphotos have luckily hit on their search result. That is excellent and that is why Mostphotos constantly are working on their SEO (search engine optimizations). For instance they have a big translation project going on. It’s about making all the images searchable on multi languages and site translations so Mostphotos can present a very local appearance when buyers visit Mostphotos. This is all part of the SEO projects that Mostphotos has ongoing.
But Mostphotos has seen that it’s hard to keep hold on the customers dropping in via Google. It has been difficult for Mostphotos to turn them to regulars and that is mainly because of the pricing. Most comments they have been getting is “why become a regular at Mostphotos when I can get much cheaper images on other sites”.
That is why Mostphotos decided to add two new features. Mostphotos has during the past month worked on improving the e-commerce and finally they have a system that supports sales of web resolution images and subscriptions.
Mostphotos now offers two ways of buying photos:
- As logged in customer via subscription, credit card or invoice. For returning customers
- As logged out customer (quick buy) via credit card, no registration. For one time customers dropping in via Google.
If Mostphotos look closer at the fact of “Why choose us” they will see that it is mostly because they have images that buyers can't find else where. As a consequence of their democratic approach, Mostphotos has been selling images that wouldn't make the review on most stock-agencies out there. This business model gives Mostphotos therefore an everyday challenge with their automated sorting and rating algorithms. That is the uniqueness of the site.
Subscription commission
Subscription price / amount of sold images * 50% commission
For example if a buyer buys a subscription for 200€ / month.
During his first month he downloads 10 images from 10 different photographers.
The commission to each photographer will then be:
200€ / 10 images * 50% commission
That is 10€ to each photographer.
The commission is in other words an amount that is affected by the number of pictures the purchaser downloads during the subscription month.
The subscription will go on every month and automatically debit the purchasers bank account.
Mostphotos marketing research shows that customers in general uses subscriptions less for every month that goes by. In the beginning they are eager but in a rather short time the availability calms them down. The human psychology works like this.
We have to look at the majority and the typical customer, those who pay 200€/month for a subscription are mostly professionals. They don't even have the time to log in every single day to randomly download images.
Those who download eagerly in a beginning will soon realize that they can't organize all the images that they download (it's not searchable in any way and meta descriptions wont follow). It is much easier to log in to Mostphotos, search and find what you are looking for.
Subscription is not for Mostphotos something that is written in the stones and for ever. But now that their system supports subscriptions, it is a smart move to try it out.
Mostphotos believe it will work and will give them the strength to attract more frequent buyers.
Time will tell how it will go with this.
Option out
The subscription plans are something Mostphotos just put online. No fuzz or marketing has been made yet.
Mostphotos believe that subscription plans are necessary to be able to turn one time customers to regulars. But for those who don't want to be a part of their subscription ventures there is an option out setting.
The setting can be found in the Settings → Site → Subscription plans.
When you opt out, your images will be excluded and will not be available for sale via subscriptions.
If a customer has bought subscription he wont even be able to see your images when he is logged in, because you have excluded them. Mostphotos don't want to confuse the buyers with "you can download this but not that". When the buyer buys a subscription Mostphotos will only show the images available on subscription.
The customers can buy the images via credit card when they are logged out. Just like the way it used to be. Excluding images from the subscription means that your target customers will mainly be one time customers, dropping in via Google.
You will definitely make a higher revenue on Mostphotos if you are a part of the subscriptions. Because that way you will target two type of customers, single buyers and regular customers.
If you have any thoughts or comments you are welcome to drop Mostphotosa line in the Subscription thread
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