Join Usa National Parks And More

You do a great job with this group, Roger, hope you find some new members. Thanks for sharing it here.


Frank J Casella
Groups Moderator

Thank you for letting us know about this group. I volunteer with Cuyahoga Valley National Park, mostly as a writer and web author, but this should motivate me to get out into the park more with my camera, too.

Excellent theme for a group. I often shoot in state parks near my home. I just joined - and submitted two photographs that I captured Monday evening at the large Delaware Seashore State Park surrounding the Indian River Inlet and Bay.

Here's my favorite of the two...



Coincidentally, today I sold a framed print of "Fire Control Tower #7" that I photographed at Delaware's Cape Henlopen State Park.

---------------
~ Bill
~ US Pictures .com

"Likes" don't promote anymore and have no weight because too many were "working" the system. Just do a search in the forum discussions, Abbie or JC will confirm this. What counts is how many times an image has sold which gives placement in the FAA search. FAA doesn't advertise except for an infrequent ad on TV and that is more for recruitment. Most viewers come here because of searching Google.com or your own marketing efforts outside of FAA.

You are giving your group members or at least newbys false expectations and encouraging them to take time to do something that is not of any value. Just thinking it might have value is too vague of a reason to encourage people to spend their time and effort on something that does not bear any fruit. Some artists with this kind of encouragement will spend tremendous amounts of time "liking" others work hoping it will effect their sales only to find out a year or so later it has no effect.

Why not do something that will actually market your work like a Facebook page with your groups images that would go a lot further in promoting your groups images. Obviously if "likes" had value there would be information available confirming this and the effect of ranking would be in discussions but just the opposite is found.

There is a comment made on one of the threads right now by JC, incredulous that people are still "liking" (inferred). FAA needs to make an effort to inform group admn from the start that "likes" do not promote and is not in the algorithm or at least to any effect. Of course it is fine to "like" someones work if you want to let someone know you value their work.

I only "like" work that I like. Never thought about where it puts you (or me for a like back) in the rankings...so I am glad to hear that simple likes do nothing. I hear facebook just came out with the DISLIKE button. I cant wait to use it! Regarding my social media, I see some people with tens of thousands of followers. I think its the same issue. I only follow people that are interesting to me. I do not follow someone because I liked a photo or painting they posted. I follow people on twitter because - 1) I identify with their profile description and like what or how they said it 2) I appreciate how and what they tweet about and 3) I appreciate and like some of the people that follow them.

Suzanne, as a new faa person, I appreciate your post. I am a member of this group - seems good...but im a new member and still trying to figure it out. Some very nice images up there. Not much discussion though. I am looking for discussion and personality.

So I admit, my ideas of the use of social media, groups, blogs, etc do not fit in with the apparent "model" marketing requirements and conventional wisdom and must-do's for FAA members. Does this mean, in time, I wont be successful selling my work? Maybe. But thats ok.