You’re ready to start your photo sale business, but where should you begin? In today’s online marketplace climate, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. For many budding professionals in the world of online photography sales, a microstock site is the first stop. While these can be useful tools for some, there are a number of tradeoffs it pays to consider before making any decisions. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but some paths are better for the vast majority of new merchants than others.

Choosing a Photo Sale and Marketing System

Before you can choose the system which is best suited to your needs, it’s important to first have a clear understanding of what those needs are and how to meet them in an efficient manner. Some things, like expensive websites built by professionals, are quite flexible. Others, like reliable payment processing and secure file hosting, are non-negotiable.

Since the primary goal of any photo sale venture is to make a profit, how you collect payment is vital. Your customers must feel confident that their sensitive financial information is protected, which makes trusted and recognized names like Google Wallet and PayPal ideal choices. These systems are easy to manage, and also easy to seamlessly integrate into a larger and more streamlined sales system. High-quality eCommerce platforms combine the power of PayPal and Google Wallet with secure file hosting, automated content delivery and marketplace listing systems which help you reach more customers. Because systems like PayLoadz.com are built to be integrated into any sales hub you choose, it’s also easy to skip the expensive professional website. You can make a photo sale through free blog sites, inexpensive template sites or even social media profiles.

Choosing the right platform also gives you access to one of the best and most valuable marketing tools in the online sphere: affiliate networks.

How Affiliate Networks Help You Make a Photo Sale

You can’t sell your work to buyers who aren’t aware of your brand. No matter how high the quality of your photos, you’ll struggle for visibility if you’re not actively working to boost the signal beyond your own extended social network. This is where an affiliate system built in to your eCommerce platform can be invaluable. Instead of gambling with a small and precious marketing budget, you’re able to pay for promotion only when it works. By connecting you with affiliates who essentially work for a small commission, affiliate networks take the risk out of advertising. Your affiliates only get paid when they make a sale, so they have a vested interest in getting your name out among their followers.

Launch your photo sale business with the help of a full-service eCommerce platform, and watch your dreams of becoming an online sales success come true!