Back in 2020, I decided to transform Corkscrewd.blog by introducing several exciting features. One of the standout additions was the Corkscrewd Photo Store. Built using Sell Media, it allowed me to showcase and sell my best photos. However, in 2021, I discreetly removed the Corkscrewd Photo Store from my site due to several reasons.
One of my primary motives behind this change was to shift the focus of my website beyond automotive photography. I wanted to explore new realms such as news, captivating narratives, and intriguing musings. Regrettably, the store failed to generate any substantial revenue. Since its implementation, I only managed to make a few sales. This fell fell far short of sustaining Corkscrewd as I had envisioned.
To be honest, the lack of attention the store received left me disheartened. Despite my efforts to promote it on Instagram, sales remained abysmally low. However, after careful consideration of both the store and Corkscrewd as a whole, I have decided to bring the Corkscrewd Photo Store back online!
The New Corkscrewd Photo Store
One of the key realizations that led to this decision was the lack of “exclusive” content in the Photo Store. Many of the photos available there were already accessible in the Portfolio Galleries, albeit with watermarks. Unfortunately, individuals with ill intentions could download these watermarked images and remove the watermark. While the gallery photos may have been of slightly lower quality than the Photo Store items, they still maintained a decent resolution.
Therefore, I am enhancing the Corkscrewd Photo Store with more exclusive content. For instance, while most race or event photos will be featured in the Galleries, only the absolute best shots will be added to the Store. This strategy aims to captivate visitors with exclusive photos, increasing the likelihood of them making a purchase.
Additionally, I took the opportunity to reevaluate the pricing model. Previously, I offered different pricing tiers based on photo size and licensing. For example, a full-sized print photo would cost $10 to download, while a smaller 2-Megapixel print was available for just $1. Unfortunately, this pricing structure allowed customers to purchase the $1 print and resize the digital file at will, rendering the $10 license redundant.
To address these issues, I have opted for a simpler pricing scheme for all store items, aligned with the exclusive content approach. While this doesn’t guarantee immediate sales, it presents a more compelling value proposition compared to selling essentially duplicated images without watermarks. As such, the new pricing model for all photos in the store will be $1, with each photo being print-sized.
Exciting changes are on the horizon as I prepare to revamp the Corkscrewd Photo Store in the upcoming weeks! But that’s not all—I am also actively exploring other avenues to further enhance the Corkscrewd.blog experience. Stay tuned for more thrilling updates!
-W