MyFotolia Space
Few months ago, I wrote about Fotolia API and I made a promise that I will do something with this excellent feature. Unfortunately my daily job doesn’t like me and my free time is rare just like a snow in the middle of the summer. 
Today I found that I don’t need to do anything with this because Fotolia programmers were worthy and they made something for us. They call it MyFotolia Space. It is a service (based on Fotolia API) made for all contributors who will help you to create your own space for presenting your content in a customized environment. You can select a template, change the banner, select which photos and galleries are displayed on your Myfotolia homepage, and implement Google Analytics to track your visitors… Fotolia has prepared everything so that you can display and advertise your own photo galleries for your relatives and customers. Here is a simple example for you to review: http://my.fotolia.com/mangia/
Why should I use this feature?
Well if you still don’t get it, the point is to promote your own portfolio and to collect potential buyers and send them directly to your images. So, this is an excellent advertising place for all your work. Place your link in forum signatures, present them on forums, chat rooms, etc. (Beware, some of these ideas are sometimes treated like a SPAM).
It is easy to create your own gallery when images are already online. You can change colors and arrange your own photo page. Also, you can upload your own banner.
How does it work?
MyFotolia is very easy to set up:
- Go on my Fotolia Sign up Page
- Just pick a name for your Myfotolia and enter your fotolia login and password info
- Customize your Myfotolia (images, galleries, template, banners, description etc…)
- Promote your Myfotolia by promoting your own fotolia url http://my.fotolia.com/YOU
Unfortunately, I found some bugs and I will inform programmers about them. When you go to My Settings and you want to change something, be careful because default language is a German and before you press “Save my details” you’ll need to change it to your language… If you want German as you default language then ignore this warning.
Also, module for creating galleries doesn’t work and it is impossible to use it.
I’m really think this is one of the best ideas Fotolia has come out with. I am surprized more people aren’t using the major theam of their collection as part of their url. Maybe it’s not needed but in case it is, that’s why I called mine “construction”.
There are still major bugs and directions on how to get around them would help. I am going to put a good effort into this and hope it works well.
Check it out at http://my.fotolia.com/construction/
Yes it’s a very nice feature, but unfortunately Fotolia is not the best selling stock site. I’ve made my page, just to give it a try (http://my.fotolia.com/miklav) but I am not sure it is really worth the effort.
I think it’s worth to note that you can achieve similar results at some other sites, even though they might not have as nice interface as my.fotolia. I mean for example in iStock you can create lightboxes, and can place links to them in your profile, together with some text info. For example look at http://istockphoto.com/miklav
Dreamstime also allows some customisation, although to a lesser degree
I don’t nkow if it woth the small effort, but it enhances my photos. I was wondering how to create a web site to put at light my photos and I just discovered that.
I have just taken an evening and this is the result : http://My.Fotolia.com/marcroche
Currently, Fotolia is fine for me, I will see if my new galery will promote me …