I Need an Opinion & I Know You've Got 'Em!

I've found several big blogs which I'll be contacting to advertise on and I'm in the process of making my ad for the first one. 

Lately I've been paying really close attention to the ads that GRAB my attention.

They're usually animated and have bright colors.

...after reading some of your thoughts, this is the updated ad...

I've shortened the length of the slide show, slowed it down a smidge and included key words to help people understand what I'm selling.

Any better?

What do you think?

Honestly.

Would this GRAB your attention?

Would it entice you to click through?

Bare in mind this will be in a sea of other ads which are also vying for your attention.

Taste vs Output

Today I want to share something with you that has been on my mind the past few days.
My friend and fellow Etsy shop owner, Laura Baillie, recently shared this video on her Facebook page.
...and I totally *got* it...

Back in October, during my 31 Days to Releasing Your Inner Artist series, I wrote a very to-the-point post about saving all your photographic files. But I think I failed to get the bigger-picture point across, which is exactly what Ira Glass talks about in the following video; that the quality of your work doesn't always match the quality of your taste...but it can and will over time, so long as you stick with your craft and don't give up!

Below is a cliff-notes version of Ira Glass' video on storytelling.
{ You might know Ira Glass from NPR or This American Life radio program...I don't believe he has any relation to George Glass. ;) }
While he's talking specifically about storytelling, his advice can be applied to any creative medium.

Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.
Taken and adapted from the original video Ira Glass on Storytelling, Part 3 of 4 on YouTube.


I would say I'm in this place right now.
It seems like every other fine art photographer is more successful than I; like they have some kind of magical customer catcher.
What I'm realizing through this video is that I'm honestly still in my beginning phases. It takes a very long time and a lot of hard work to build success, especially in today's saturated online markets. And what I got from this video, which is exactly what I hope you get from it, is understanding, hope and motivation for persistence!

If you *get* this and are in that place where Ira is talking about, I highly recommend you watch/listen to the entire four part series.