How to monetize zenphoto

erika_conn

I don't consider myself greedy but why waste all that real estate without trying to make some money?
I'm attempting to sell my images but more could be made. Right?

For example, Google Adsense or any other affiliate, for that matter.

I'm using Galleriffic. http://fotosbyerika.com

acrylian

I do not understand what is the point of this post actually? You can do all that, it's your site.

Blue Dragonfly

That's the mentality these days! It's like saying, "What's the point of a newspaper without all those advertisements?" - well, some people actually like the NEWS, just like some people go to photo websites for... Wait for it... Wait for it... Photos! :-)

I hope book publishers don't start getting the same ideas - the moment I find an ad page in the middle of a good book, I'm going to burn down the publishing company's office...

acrylian

Well, usually you have buy the book before you read it...;-) Generally nothing wrong with wanting to make money but there are so many sites that seem to exist for ads and not for content.

erika_conn

OK, easy does it. I want to know the mechanics of placing Adsense (for instance) on my site. Does anyone out there know how to do it? I'm not a techie. Where do I place the code?

Blue Dragonfly

True - but if libraries start arguing that they need the ad space in books to justify their "freeness" like everything online seems to be, then I'm going to cry tears of blood :-)

I suppose making an AdSense plugin may be more useful than simply hacking the theme files directly. I built a plugin to display random quotes on my site, so it shouldn't be that hard (I don't really "know" PHP, I'm a .NET programmer, but I'm learning fast!).

acrylian

@erika_conn: Why didn't you just ask how to do it? Actually it is not that difficult to add that add code to a theme. Even if it was a plugin you would have to do this.

@blue Dragonfly: Should indeed not be that hard. Maybe look at the google maps plugin as a template, in case you want to do one.

Blue Dragonfly

I think it would be an easy one to make, just a few functions to print out the adsense code and add any javascript to the top of the page. But, I have an ethical obligation not to do any work which promotes marketing/advertising, website scraping or cloning, or anything used to bypass CAPTCHA. Unfortunately, about 90% of the work on sites like Rent-A-Coder (where I do a lot of work) fall under this category, but I'm fortunate enough to be able to be picky :-)

acrylian

Of course, I can understand most points, although I find generally nothing wrong with marketing/advertising itself. What I personally "hate" are those over SEOed sites that are actually for "machines", not for human visitors...:-)

(btw, coming from design I have some obligations against such "marketplace" portals like Rent-A-Coder. The prices peaple often want to pay are ridiculous...)

Blue Dragonfly

I agree on those, acrylian - the sites that exist for page rank and accidental clicks by unwary or confused visitors, and with RAC max bid amounts! Often I'll read through a job description and think, "Hmm, that might be interesting, I could probably knock that out in a week or so", only to see "Max bid accepted: $20". I suppose it's ok for new people to get a start and earn a reputation with a bunch of good ratings on jobs they've whored themselves out on (been there!), but it sure is tricky to find interesting jobs that pay well enough. Still, I get lucky every once in a while, and most of my work now comes from repeat business from existing clients.

acrylian

I suppose it is okay for newcomers to get a little less, but some people do not imagine that a thing that looks like 5 minutes done might take more. Well, I guess our forum is not really the right place for discussions about those portals...;-)

erika_conn

Ah, guys, can we get back to what I needed help on? Ah, never mind. I guess you don't know.

I do not apologize for trying to monetize my website. I sell a good product but in addition, I'd like to have some peripheral income. Last time I looked, that was neither illegal nor immoral.

acrylian

Well, we drifted a little. No need to apologize for your plan to monetarize. But adding google adds or similar is really not that hard, it is explained on Google's Adworks site. Of course you will have to modify your theme and therefore need to know a litte about how that works and web techniques in general. This is nothing we can do for you.

erika_conn

OK, that's fair.

I have a question, though. Why are other users, besides Blue Dragonfly, not joining the conversation? On the WordPress forum, you always get input from other users as well as moderators. But you are a developer. That's an important job and I'm sure your time would be needed on other projects.

Anyway, away I go to Google Adworks. I will report back.

acrylian

Well, we are a much smaller community than Wordpress. And why others do not join no one can answer expect those who do not themselves.

Since this is a actually support forum for the sytem Zenphoto and stuff like adding ads or using affiliates is not really Zenphoto specific. Of course you can discuss about stuff like this in general.

However, it is a personal decision what to do how with your site. This is of course independent from the system itself you are using, be it Wordpress, Zenphoto or whatever there is. It is all about the content or service you want to sell.

pluto459

WOW, as I search for easy way to add google adsense code every post on here is the same nonsense.

Yes, we all know how to add the code, but for the non coders it would be so much easier if you could just say open the ___ file and add code above ____ and then for image page add code here.

Every answer on how to add adsense or ads is the same reply --- just add the code. If they knew where to add they wouldnt be on here asking.

I am working on this now and will add detail info when I am done modding the theme.

sbillard

And how would we

just say open the ___ file and add code above ____ and then for image page add code here

That would depend on what code is already there. Given the number of themes both that we supply and that others have done, the permutations would be more confusing than a non-coder could follow.

We do provide a paid support link to find someone to do if for you. Surely you do not expect that everything is just the way you want and for free, too.

acrylian

Also, "where" to add the code depends "where" you want to display the ads? What theme page? The sidebar? Does the theme have a sidebar at all? Before some (which?) text, after text? And as my collegue said, all this depends also on which theme used...

Unknown

The problem is that you are nerds. And you claim that this is a simple gallery to use. That is a blatant lie. Its simple if you find it ok to use out of the box. But that comes for a minor part of the users.

1 no serious connection with facebook. I could have understood it if this was 2006 or 2007. But not 2012.
Same thing with proper built in way to add adsense or other things to monetize your gallery.

Until these two things are properly added. This software is nothing but simple if you want to do things with it.

So let me ask the developers one question. Is this software for the masses or the nerds?

micheall

damiende,

While I may say your frustration is apparent, you seem to be misplacing it. What you want is a simple "upload and go" gallery, complete with options to plug-in and fine-tune how you wish. As evidenced by your desire for Facebook and AdSense.

The simple problem here though is you want it without effort. There are plenty of people who dedicate hours upon hours of their life to help make Zenphoto a better solution.

I would also venture a guess you probably know little about php or html. If you did, you would see that the Zenphoto system is about as easy a gallery, and a flexible, that you'd ever need.

Is it for the nerds? No, it's for those that like to help themselves. Is it for the masses? Sure, but as you said, without effort on their own part, they have to be content with the options that are given to them.

All you need is effort, either your own or someone who you've hired to do the work for you. Without that, you're left with what people share for free. Don't like it? Put forth a little effort.

Edit:
And per the AdSense bit.. there is no simple answer to where to add the code to your page. Because, quite simply, each gallery has different things active. On top of that, where one person may want it on a page doesn't work for where someone else may want it.

Again, effort.

acrylian

Thanks, micheall, well said!

Unknown

I paid some coder 50 euros to get facebook integration and to help me monetize my site. And you want me to give that info away for free. You want people to spend money on something that should be in the software in the first place.

"All you need is effort, either your own or someone who you've hired to do the work for you. Without that, you're left with what people share for free. Don't like it? Put forth a little effort."

Its not like facebook or adsense are a small part of internet.
I could have understood it if facebook was used by 10000 people. But not when its used by almost everyone thats online. And to tell people that they shall go ahead and pay serious money for something and then expect them to share it for free.. That is pure bullshit. It doesnt help if the software is free if you have to spend 200 euros to get things the way you want them to. Especially when other free software is properly integrated with facebook and easy ways to add adsense.

I mean you guys doesnt even have a proper facebook page for zenphoto. Its evident that you guys are a bunch of nerds that live in your own world.

acrylian

I paid some coder 50 euros to get facebook integration and to help me monetize my site. And you want me to give that info away for free.

Who wants you to give something away for free??? And maybe think how much you pay for using Zenphoto...and that you want to monetize your site...
Btw, there are 3rd party facebook plugins available (by micheall, just to mention....)...

You want people to spend money on something that should be in the software in the first place.

No, what you think should be there. There are loads of things and tools someone might think that should be there. We are an open project. So why don't you contribute what you think is mising? Ah, sorry, that means effort.

If we had added adsense somewhere by default somewhere you probably would be the first to complain it is in that place and then that you need to touch code to place it elsewhere. Well- Again, adding adsense is easy if you know just basics of standard web techniques. If you don't want to touch code stay on predefined services like Facebook.

Its evident that you guys are a bunch of nerds that live in your own world.

We don't need to get down on this niveau, do we?

Unknown

"No, what you think should be there. There are loads of things and tools someone might think that should be there. We are an open project. So why don't you contribute what you think is mising? Ah, sorry, that means effort."

No that means i have to learn about php css and such things.
And yes I have tried setting up the facebook plugin. didnt succed and the other option was to use the theme that it was made for. Not an option dont like the look of it. If people have to mess around with things to much to get it to work. They download coppermine instead or some other software.

acrylian

No that means i have to learn about php css and such things.

Well, yes, and what is the point? If you don't want to do that then you have to use a service that does everything for you, like Facebook, blogspot, flickr or whatever. There is always an alternative and you never can do it right for everyone.

And yes I have tried setting up the facebook plugin. didnt succed and the other option was to use the theme that it was made for. Not an option dont like the look of it.

So did you even ask for help as micheall is quite often here...
Facebook pages look all the same while Zenphoto is for individiual websites (and you don't have to "pay" with all of your data to use it! But I know privacy concerns are oldschool). If you are fine with the look services provide use them. But individuality has always its price and in this case it is some personal effort.

Unknown

You dont want to get my point at all.

I can understand that someone wanting to setup zencart with zenphoto might do some fiddling on their own. Based on how many users that needs that feature.

Facebook on the other hand is used by most likely 99 percent of the zenphoto users. So not to have the option to share pictures or like pictures via facebook buildt in. Is plain silly.

And again. If I pay someone to make a plugin or some other things. Why should I share that for free. Because I am willing to bet that alot of those that downloads this software. Has no programming skills like me. And that means that unless they have a kind friend that can do that. They will have to pay to get things done. Thus they have no sense of giving back to the community.

Thats why I ask are your goal to have as many users possible of this software. Or are you happy with being a small niche.

acrylian

They will have to pay to get things done. Thus they have no sense of giving back to the community.

You miss a point here. If someone really coded something for you it is not your decision anyway to share. The coding work is property of its coder (unless he releases it under a free licence like we do...which is the case if it is derived work of a free software like Zenphoto which basically themes and plugin fall under automatically). That as a short roundup on intellectual property rights...

But why should anyone give the code for free that was paid for? Because that is what open source is about! Contribution! Why do you think do we give our work on Zenphoto away? How do you think some of the tools for Zenphoto available happened at all?

Anway, again if you want to run a personal website you have either to learn a few things or get someone to do it. If you want everything in place to use Zenphoto (and a lot of other CMS out there) are not for you. Placing code like adsense or even a facebook like button on html is not really magic or sophisticated knowledge but basic.

sbillard

I shall close this topic. damiende shows all the signs of being a troll. He is banned as well.