Monday, October 6, 2008

Using Stock Photos: Royalty-Free vs. Rights Managed

If you have searched for photos to use on your website, you have likely encountered the terms royalty-free and rights managed. So what is the difference between these types of photos?

Rights-Managed Images: Images you purchase for a specific purpose at a specific price (think renting the photo or paying to borrow the image). The price of the picture is usually determined by how you want to use the picture (on the web, in print, etc.). The plus side to using a rights managed photo is that you will most likely NOT see anyone else using the same photo (or model) promoting another product. The downside is of course the price; rights managed photos can cost you double (even triple) of what royalty-free runs.

Royalty-Free Images: Images purchased outright, either as single images or on disc volumes in bulk, and can be used any way you want, with certain restrictions. Pricing for royalty-free images is usually decided by the size of file you want to purchase; the larger the file (meaning, the better the quality of the image), the higher the price. The good news with royalty-free images is that if you are using them for the web (on websites, advertisements, etc.), you can use the smaller files, thus saving yourself a lot of money. For printing purposes however, you will need to buy the larger file sizes. And typically royalty-free images can be used however you like.

So which one should YOU use?

If pricing is the major factor, royalty-free is the way to go. You can save even more by purchasing your photos through a subscription-based website (which will cost you $140 and up for access to over 100,000 photos) instead of buying individual images (typically $50 and up per photo). For general web use (website or banner ads), we recommend you choose royalty-free photos over rights managed.

If price is not a factor in your advertising budget, or you are worried about someone with a similar product using the exact same photo as yourself, then rights managed might be the right option for you.

We really only recommend rights managed photos for larger companies who will be doing wide spread advertising - such as television ads - who want to avoid brand confusion.

Copyright 2005 Gerae D. Lindsey

Gerae Lindsey is a freelance web designer specializing in web development for small and home based businesses. Visit her website for more web and graphic design tips at http://www.lindseywebdesign.com

Ford Mustangs sit on the lot of a new car dealership in July 2008. US auto sales took a beating in September as financial turmoil on Wall Street emptied dealer showrooms and major automakers reported sales drops of up to 37 percent Wednesday.(AFP/Getty Images/File/Scott Olson)AP - Hundreds of thousands of new cars and trucks that would have quickly made their way to people's driveways a year ago are now stacking up on dealer lots across the country, with potential buyers worried about whether they'll keep their jobs, be able to pay for gas, or qualify for a car loan.

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Cheap Online Discount Stock Broker Trading

Have you ever considered online trading? Trading through an Online Discount Broker is not a daunting task but it sure has its share of ups and downs. You are not a driven stock trader, agreed but you should consider opening an online account considering the recent developments in the online trading arena. Many online trading firms have reduced their fees as well as their commissions considerably and are offering many low-cost financial services.

The Consumer Reports Money Lab broker Rating

According to the Consumer Reports Money Lab, around 19 online brokers are using a standard web browser such as Internet Explorer and Firefox. The ratings were done on the basis of cost and scope of the services offered by the companies. Eight companies amongst these 19 companies offered stock trades less than $10 while 6 companies reduced the commissions to below $10 if the investors met their account size needs or trading activity. Some of the firms charged flat fees of $ 5.

Growing list of services offered by the company

Many online brokers are introducing new services to their existing portfolio. These include free stock research, free checking, ATM access, and automatic bill paying.

If you are venturing in the online stock trading market for the first time, check out a couple of online trading sites. Compare discount stockbrokers deals available on the various sites to select the cheapest online stock trading deal. Trade online and when you have gained confidence, invest in the bigger stocks.

A prudent move that helps most of the investors is to compare the offers and services of these online brokerage firms. Though the deals look similar on the surface, most of the companies try to individualize their offers and services as much as possible. The commission rates vary from company to company and are often a deciding factor for the investor.

Online stock trading can be a thrilling experience if you learn to play it well and within your self defined limits. Start with small investments and slowly and steadily as you mature as a player, can try your luck at no holds barred online trading game.

Just come up in the stock market, don't jump into stock trading but research for the best available online brokerage services company and a company offering cheap online discount stock broker trading

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