Do you wish there were a way to keep more of your earnings while building a recognizable brand image every time you sell pictures online? Microstock sites aren’t your only option; in fact, you can build a thriving business of your very own, wholly separate from these mass marketplaces. You don’t need a large startup investment, or access to significant funding. All you need is a basic understanding of independent online sales, and the right tools for the job.

What You Need to Sell Pictures  in Your Own Web Store

No matter what type of digital content you sell, there are a few things you’ll need in order to successfully compete. Because you can’t earn a profit if you can’t get paid, you’ll need reliable payment processing through names your customers trust, like PayPal and Google Wallet. You’ll also need secure hosting for your files, and automated download delivery to ensure your customers never have to wait on their files. What you don’t need, however, is an expensive website custom-built for your business by a professional. You take advantage of free blog sites or inexpensive template sites you build yourself to sell pictures, keeping your startup costs low. The less you spend to get started, the sooner you’ll recoup expenses and reach profitability. Working with a dedicated eCommerce platform helps you do that easily by seamlessly integrating payment processing tools into a system designed specifically to help you sell digital goods. If you can copy and paste simple HTML, you can turn any low-cost site into a sales portal. Systems like PayLoadz.com give you everything you need to get started, including high-quality, no-risk marketing tools to help you reach larger audiences without spending a small fortune.

How Affiliate Marketing Helps You Sell Pictures

In order to sell pictures with any real degree of success, you’ll need to reach far beyond your own extended social network. You’ll need to tap into the global audience potential provided by online sales, which can be expensive and difficult if you’re using prepaid advertising. Banner ads, sponsored social media posts and other types of marketing you pay for up front are inherently risky, because you’re spending money before you ever have a chance to see results. This is where affiliate marketing becomes a powerful and valuable tool.

By connecting you with marketing partners who essentially work on commission, affiliate networks help you build your audience while paying for advertising only when it’s effective. You’re never paying out of pocket for the potential to make a sale, you’re sharing a small portion of the profits only when you actually complete a transaction. These systems are built into the best eCommerce platforms, which give you the freedom to operate your own business and sell pictures without relying on microstock sites.