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A best time to post?


lucyhollis

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Lucy, having posted for years here, I don't think one time is significantly better than another for receiving critiques, except perhaps in the middle of the night.

 

But as for the larger question of how to get more critiques on your work, well, that's been extensively discussed, including recently. I hope you don't mind my pasting in here something I posted in another thread yesterday -- if you wait for critiques, they won't come very much, you have to give to receive. Here's the paste --

 

Ways to Developing Commenting Relationships with Others

 

1. Comment on Photos of Those Most Likely to Respond:

-- Check community member pages to see who comments on other people's works a lot. Follow of the trails of where they go, they often lead to others who comment a lot.

 

-- Look at the Top Photos/Comments pages -- those who receive a lot of comments often give them, and attact comments from others who do the same.

 

-- Comment on the categories of photos where you post your own -- mutual interest can attact visitors to your own works.

 

2. Engage in Dialogues

 

-- respond as much as possible to people who comment on your photos by thanking them, addressing their questions

 

-- RETURN THE FAVOR! Comment on one of their pictures.

 

-- Discuss your photo -- tell the background, provide technical details, explain what you are looking for by way of critiques

 

-- Use the Follow Up feature in My Workspace to follow up on comments that respond to your own on other people's pictures

 

3. Watch What You Say and Do

 

-- Be constructive, say what you like as well as what you think should be improved in a photo

 

-- Invite all critiques, good and bad, thank everyone no matter what the substance of their critique

 

-- Try not to to attack, even when you feel attacked

 

-- Post your best pics, think twice about posting something you really don't like

 

4. Make the Commitment

 

-- it takes months to develop consistent relationships, so have patience -- be generous, appeal to the best in people, leave comments on as many as you can, it all adds up, and what goes around does come around.

 

5. Let People Know What You are About

 

-- Advertise your interest in serious critiques on your community member page

 

-- Participate in "Five" -- link to it on my community member page

 

This is basically a voluntary, self-help enterprise for posters. You must give in order to receive. You have access to photographers around the globe. What you make of it is largely up to you.

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Ben sometimes I think I get more responses posting late at night than I do in the middle of the day. That said, I agree that that trying to figure out a perfect time to post is futile. You aren't going to beat the algorithm photo.net uses. At least not on a consistent basis.
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I forgot to add that I have posted images around the 24 hour clock, I work shifts and am often online at most unsociable hours (UK based), and see no net gain to any time over another. Logic would dictate that at busier times you would get more exposure, however, with more online users there are more photos being uploaded and our work is less visible in the critique queue. Catch 22 :D
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I have no empirical evidence for it, but I assume that this is an efficient marketplace for comments and ratings. That is, higher densities of comments and ratings will have a strong correlation with a higher number of critique requests and uploads.
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Hi, thanks for all your ideas. I'm surprised no one else has found a pattern. It just seemed to me, particularily recently, that I could post a photo and not get a single rating, and then repost another time and suddenly have 9 or 10. Just I haven't been keeping track of when I've been posting. But maybe it is simply chance and luck as to what the first few ratings are, due to the Catch 22 problem mentioned.

 

And yes, I did realise about needing to ask in GMT, which I did, due to people in America, Europe, Asia etc. Perhaps this is also why no time is better.

 

Anyway, thanks Ben for the copy of your previous post. Long ago I's worked out that commenting constructively on regular commenters is definitely the way forward for gaining viewers.

 

On a side note, I was interested to see that you, Ben, say 'Post your best pics'. Obviously don't put crap ones up, but I know I've found that I'm most dissappointed when I've put up my most favourite photographs and then not got the comments I expected. I'm not easily put off by such things, but I know a lot of potential submitters who would be. Just not the advice I personally would give- Rather to post something with a new techinique or idea that you are trying out and want to get a reaction too.

 

Thanks again, Lucy

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Lucy, regarding your last point: We are often our own worst critics, after some time posting images here you'll become a better self editor, many times I've posted an image that I really liked only for it to bomb. I know this doesn't really offer any tangible advice, but I just wanted to reassure you that this happens to everyone.
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...your middle of the night, is my middle of the day!

 

Ask yourself if you want American or European interest, and set you alarm clock accordingly.

Alternatively try not to worry about it and post at a time convienient to you, then comment

on loads of other people's work (perhaps those in the "currently logged on" list, and wait for

reciprocity.

 

Regards, Nick.

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Lucy, I agree with you and often post things I am not sure about or which are intended as experiments. But if someone is just starting out here, which I was presuming when I wrote the above, it helps to post your best for awhile if you are looking for people to develop relationships with who don't know your work. I also think if you know something really doesn't work, admit it rather than post it, you'll be disappointed by the responses anyway. But that doesn't mean you only post images that you know work very well. I've been both surprised and disappointed by reactions to work that was a question mark for me, but often learned a lot in both events. And to be honest, I post such things all the time.
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