InfoTrends Study Indicates Integration is Key for Online Photo Services Success

InfoTrends’ latest online photo services end-user study has revealed new developments in the ways consumers are using the Internet for photo activities. As social networking is becoming a more important component of the photo viewing and sharing experience, many online photo services are finding ways to integrate with social networks.

Successful online photo services are finding ways to incorporate social networking into their business strategy, creating a connected experience for the consumer. Photos stored on Shutterfly and Snapfish, for example, can now easily be shared on Facebook, MySpace, and other sites. Snapfish users can now order prints from photos stored on Facebook, and Walgreens now has a Facebook application for photo printing. The company is the only major U.S. retailer to offer this capability, likely because social networks typically store photos as low-resolution files, which limits printing options.

Alan Bullock, an Associate Director at InfoTrends, commented, “Surprisingly, many consumers are unaware that social networks store their photos as low-resolution files. Online photo services that offer connectivity with social networking sites are offering consumers a secure place to store and share their photos without having to upload their photos to multiple sites. Educating consumers on this fact is one way to encourage them to use a traditional online photo service that offers this type of integration. Combining a printing option into the mix would provide a comprehensive resource for social networkers to manage their photo activity.”

InfoTrends’ report, Online Photo Services End-User Research: 2009 , examines online photo service adoption and usage habits of consumers and outlines key business challenges and opportunities that will emerge in the future. This document focuses on the following areas:

Photo uploading
Online photo viewing
Online photo printing
Satisfaction with various aspects of online photo services
Interest in online photo service features and controls

For more information or to purchase this report please visit our online store or contact Robyn Wuori at +1 781 616 2100 ext. 103 or e-mail robyn_wuori@infotrends.com.