Building my online photography presence is not without its challenges. I upload my work to multiple websites to try and gain as much exposure as I can. It is very easy for your work to get lost in the ten of thousands of pictures that are being posted each minute. Facebook claims upwards of 200,000 pictures being uploaded every minute. Those numbers are simply staggering. How will anyone ever see what you are posting? How will anyone discover you photos?
The whole idea behind many of these websites is all about networking. Make as many “friends” in the community as you can otherwise your work will get buried without so much as a single view. Join groups, participate in discussions and share your work within smaller subgroups within the larger groups. Comment and like other photos to build your network and your audience. I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine!
You need to have good work in order to get noticed, however you have to work equally hard at networking or you will never get noticed. It’s a double edged sword and finding the right balance of time is very tricky.
Other factors go in like the timing of your post and the metadata you include with it. I’m talking tagging. Tag everything and anything relevant to your photographs on the odd chance that someone actually does a search for that information through that particular service. Again it’s a tricky game and one that requires a bit of practice to be successful.
If you should happen to be lucky enough to get one of your submissions noticed realize that exposure will not survive the minute. You might get a like, a favorite or a comment and just like that whoever discovered your work is on to the next flavor. Even if you interact back, chances are your flavor is already gone and forgotten.
Flavor of the second, be sure to savor every one you get!