Contests??

I have no way of predicting what other people are doing when viewing and let my images fall where they may when entering contests.

You have to vote for your own image to get it seen! (that's not really true). But when I am voting sometimes I intentionally go to the first images posted and give those some votes.

edited: 7/4/2014

To be honest, Katie, as much as I say contests should be fun and not to put too much thought into them... I was wondering the same thing recently when going through my activity feed looking solely at new contests. I was wondering if it mattered when you entered your images. Sooner or later? I've been putting mine in right before the contest ends lately, but it doesn't seem to be helping much. So to answer your question, I'd have to go with "I don't know."

You don't HAVE to vote for your own image to be seen, despite what Craig Carter says. However, i do think, but have no empiric data, that you probably are going to have a better chance of being seen either at the end of the photos or at the beginning especially when there are several hundred to even two thousand entries.

It is too bad that the administrator of the contest cannot limit the total number of entries. If there are less than 100 total entries I will look at them - more than that and I go for the leaderboard and select from there

David is right! You don't have to vote on your own image to be seen. I have entered contests and have seen views for the image go up. But I wouldn't get to emotionally attached to the FAA contests. I actually enjoy looking through some of the images. But there are just too many to wade through for the most part. I pretty much enter them for more exposure. I actually won a contest once!

I enjoy looking at all of the images, but I enjoyed looking at art long before I joined FAA. When it comes to voting, I vote for the image that remains in my memory after looking at so many images. I then try to make my own images as colorful or noticeable.

Hi Katie! I've entered & hosted scads of contests. When hosting, I, of course, look at every image. If I'm also voting, I like to start on the last pages to give those who entered first some attention. That's only fair. A lot of folks just start with the last piece entered & go in only a few pages to vote. It can get tiresome/tedious if there are a lot of entries. So, it's probably best to enter last as far as people seeing your work. Not always, true, but usually. I also look at the pages of images/thumbnails [faster!] to pick ones to vote on. Goes a lot quicker than scrolling through each image. I don't think I've ever done that.
As a participant in a contest, I do vote on my own entries, but LOTS of others, too. If I am slow or late to vote, I will, alas, check out the leaderboard to place my votes rather than going through all the pages, unless it's a small contest. The, I'll look at them all. Hope that helps. Btw, some members never vote, they just enter to get their work seen. Plus, there are still those participating in voter solicitation as well. You can usually tell when that's happening. Good luck!
Best,
Brooks

Its the only thing on FAA that new artists are equal and their art is fair game without having sales. On the other hand, I don't think clients waste their time going into look at contests like so many say or their would be tons of comments from each contest. I wouldn't think someone who comes here wanting to buy a picture of lets say urban landscapes goes into contests instead of using the search in hopes of finding a specific piece. Waste of time

i think people look through them at a glance and choose a favorite. but only when they want to buy things. to vote, most will vote for themselves.

---Mike Savad

Jim,

I believe the administrator can limit the amount of entries. The administrator can control what is entered too. Any contest that has more than 100 entries is too hard to pay attention to as far as voting goes.

One thing I've also noticed is that the image is not crisp and clean on the voting page. I find that pretty distracting.

Here's why I think you should cast a vote for yourself: Leaderboard. Lol, I know, that's not news! However, if I go through all of the images and vote for the ones I really want to win, and they don't show up on the leaderboard because the artists have not voted for themselves, then I have wasted my vote. The votes I cast are for those I really want to win!! It can't win if it doesn't get seen! So, please vote for yourself.

On the other hand, it might be good to just get rid of the leaderboard. Wouldn't it be fun to see the winners at the end without knowing "who's in first," etc.?

To answer your question, Katie, I usually go to the end and move backwards to vote. Those images probably have less of a chance to be seen, since most people probably start at the beginning.

Right now, the limit on contest entries is 2500! Those entering first, unfortunately, get the ax when it reaches that number. So, that may be another reason to wait until submission time is nearing its end. I found that out the hard way in several contests. First of all, 2500 is way too many. How can anyone, except the host, be expected to check all those out. It helps if the host doesn't allow too many images up front. Those allowing more than 3-5 [some do 10!] are not helping things. I think 1 or 2 is just fine.

I enter contests out of boredom. It's a real pain to look at over 50 images in a contest. Contests mean??? Nothing as far as I can tell. I do like to see what my fellow artists submit based on the theme just in case I want to explore an idea.

I try to look through them all. It can be difficult if there are loads of entrants.. but it is usually worthwhile. This is where I discover the talent on FAA! when hosting a contest I always keep the number of entries allowed very low...usually just 1 or 2

If it were true that buyers buy things from just looking at contests then their must be artists that sold on FAA without bringing buyers here. So yes this means you sold work just by entering contests without promoting yourself here in any other way.
Can anyone attest to this?

i have sold work that has been entered in contests, it's not right away, but i didn't push those images either. i've sold too many of them for it be just a coincidence.

i promote myself as well, no one should rely on just one. out of 30 entries or so each week, i will usually sell 1.

---Mike Savad

Again I would like to hear from anyone that has not done any promotion but sold because of being in the contests.

"Again I would like to hear from anyone that has not done any promotion but sold because of being in the contests."

How would one verify?

by knowing they never promoted themselves here and entered certain of their pics in contests that then sold.

it would be impossible to verify, because just putting it online - someone can still stumble across it. i can still tell you that i enter enough of them, that i do get sales - and didn't promote that particular piece.

you'll never get a solid answer mostly because few use the forums, less are in this thread, and not that many people sell (or sell all the time). getting that stat would be nearly impossible.


---Mike Savad

I understand what your saying, but the question is still out there just in case someone see's this tread and chimes in.

It is a great question actually and would be interesting to know the answer to even if very hard to verify

It would also give the contests a boost in my opinion

It's been suggested in the forums before that a sale will happen after a contest, but I don't recall anyone other than Mike saying that! Since his works sells anyway, we need some other verification. I'd love to see more realistic contests here besides the mega ones, which are held supposedly for promotion and exposure. I don't enter them any longer. I appreciate the intent behind them, but they are no fun to vote in due to the enormous number of images to go through. I don't have that kind of time, really. Who does? Thank you to the hosts who limit entries and keep the maximum to a manageable number!

if we had stats for the whole site we could see the whole chain of where they were and what they did. it would make this question a lot easier. in any case, people should still use them for the off chance of getting a sale. you never know who's looking over the shoulder of a member looking at a contest. the goal isn't winning, and voting - not needed.


however there is a catch, the contest can't be vague. if it's like - enter any image with over 5000 views - no. post things that already sold, no.

it's for direct things like - industrial, or picnic basket. something you would look for in a search, something specific. its also unlikely that people will go through 10,000 entries. not that it stops me from entering those.


---Mike Savad

here

sold just bc of entering a contest, without promo, before twitter, before homepage, without forum posting, etc ...


it IS possible

Excellent point, Mike! If potential buyers happen to stumble across a contest while searching, and the subject of the contest is specifically what they are looking for ("picnic baskets"), that makes more sense in terms of garnering a sale from a contest! The vague contests should be discouraged (anything goes, 100 views, etc.)... well, in a perfect world, anyway.

Thank you, Stanislav -- just saw your post. Was it a specific contest, or was it vague in terms of subject matter?

I thought I read somewhere that winners in contests get a bump in presence here on FAA. Kinda like being featured in a group, which I thought was part of the numerous ways to go up the rankings.

Is this true?

it was a contest about tools (for the love of tools) some weeks / months ago, i didnt had many votes too. to me its clear that potential buyers will go through all images (in a themed contest), not just those at the leaderboard, to find their very own piece of art. its an investment, and if you are going to spend money, you better know for what - read: go through all images. thats also reason about my personal voting philosophy that i made already clear in that other contest thread ;) being seen, being placed, getting likes whatever isnt equal to selling, but it can help. contests are a good way for self promotion, especially in the beginning of your online adventures.

Stanislav, if that's true its good news. Can you be more precise on the contest. Didn't see any contests you were in on FAA about tools.
Thanks

Thank you, Stanislav. Perhaps a buyer was looking for tool images around the time of the contest. So, that's one vote for a themed contest leading to a sale! Mike, I think you are indicating that themed contests could be responsible for some of your sales, also... right?

Glenn, I don't know if it's true about contest wins/placings helping your work get seen? I've gotten scads of wins & features, but haven't noticed a difference. But, what do I know about the inner workings of FAA! In any event, I just keep on entering the ones [contests] that fit me. It's one way, at least, to be active, see other's work, show your own...and hold onto the h-o-p-e that someone will be smitten by a particular piece & buy it.
I know members who NEVER do a thing promotion-wise, just upload the occasional work...and they sell! Hard to figure out the correct formula to make IT happen, if there is one, but I'm workin' on it. I'm convinced it's a 'luck thing', being in the right place at the right time. There are SO many excellent artists & photographers here, it's easy to get lost in the shuffle. I try to be as active as possible, here there & everywhere.

from my own point of view, if i couldn't find anything on the search - because the same people come up, or only stock comes up, i may stroll through a group or a contest to see if i can window shop there. but if it's a - post 10 random things in your folder, it would be a mishmosh. you should enter them all anyway, but i think had the most luck with themed contests.

the ones that sold, i don't think ever got a single vote. i don't think buyers care about seeing the winner page, in fact i think i got many sales either before the votes started, or weeks after.


---Mike Savad

Thanks Brooks.

I ran contests in the past... when I first got involved back in 2010. I've always entered them at random, and I have very rarely seen the best ones (IMHO) finish in the top sequence... but the same folks that go out and solicit votes usually end up at the top. That's not to say their work isn't good... but much of the time it's who can get the most people to just vote for theirs without going through the others.

I was really hoping that either Jeff, JC, or the Abbie would verify what my understanding was. I enter contests strictly for presence and have come in as high as second place once. I never solicit votes. It's strictly to get seen by more people that are looking, whether FAA Artists or the wandering prospect.

I highly doubt that contests relate to very many sales... although I'm sure they have contributed a bit. Contest are usually popularity driven by peers...

Glenn, I would also love to learn more about what contests really do, as far as moving our work into a more visible space. Like you, I don't solicit votes. In fact, I always state the contrary when I'm hosting a contest, 'no vote solicitation of any kind'. But, you can't control it; people do it anyway. And, some groups will help their favorite members as well, with no asking, unless it's 'behind the scenes', like a silent 'solicitation', so I've heard.
I do find that some people like to 'win' at all costs. Why, I'm not sure. It has nothing to do with their work being the best. Maybe, that's the reason for the solicitation. They wouldn't win or place without it. Lol. Sometimes, great pieces win, sometimes, not. For me, it's always a wonderful surprise & honor to do so...and I'm grateful for the support from fellow artists. It's good just to place on the leaderboard, sometimes, too. Am taking a break from hosting duties until I have more time, just a participant of late. Btw, 'congrats' on placing as you have! Good for YOU. Hope to hear something from those you mention above on the topic!

1 image per entrant per contest...Plain and simple....The problem is, too many want it all, and get nothing in return.

And 2 votes per person, mandatory ..1 for oneself and 1 for someone else (probably for someone you're sure will lose)..

@ kevin

http://fineartamerica.com/contests/for-the-love-of-tools.html?tab=overview

Thanks Stanislav,
That's great to hear, and looks like contests that might be very niche oriented would be a good way to go.

Sold 7 times after entering this picture in several FAA competitions (also submitted in a current contest). I don't do any social media advertising.

Cheers,
Philippe

From Rger Swezey15 Hours Ago
1 image per entrant per contest...Plain and simple....The problem is, too many want it all, and get nothing in return.

And 2 votes per person, mandatory ..1 for oneself and 1 for someone else (probably for someone you're sure will lose)..

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Or for someone you know will vote for you

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