Picture this: Blipfoto links up with Channel 4

Nathalie ThomasAN ONLINE photo-sharing site that has attracted acult following is poised to announce a tie-up with Channel4.Blipfoto is in talks with several "big brands", including C4, overpotential partnerships as it embarks on the next stage ofexpansion.They are likely to include competitions and other methodsof encouraging current and potential users of the site to createcontent, according to founder Joe Tree.Last year, the firm wasinvolved in several projects, including with the National Theatre ofScotland and the Edinburgh festivals, which helped to spread itsbrand.Since it was set up in 2006, Blipfoto has seen its popularityboom among photography and social networking enthusiasts simplythrough word of mouth.It now has 160,000 unique visitors a month andenjoyed its busiest month to date in March.The partnerships will beone part of a more formal marketing campaign.Blipfoto users uploadone photo a day, taken on that day and add text to describe theimage and the story behind it.The online photo journal has proved sopopular that Blipfoto enthusiasts regularly meet up and there haseven been a marriage between two users in America who met throughthe site.Last year, the firm secured GBP200,000 of investment from astring of backers, including the well known American venturecapitalist Ken Morse.It is currently looking into a second round ofinvestment as Tree seeks to take the fledgling company to the nextstage of development."We have already been approached by investorswho are interested in supporting a second round of investment," hesaid. "We have got big, big aspirations for growth."The companygenerates revenues through subscriptions, although you don't have tobe a member to use the site's more basic functions.Tree saidBlipfoto has always made a strong commitment not to pursueadvertising, which has proved popular among its artisticfollowers."People see Blipfoto as quite a contemplative space. It'ssomewhere were you go to get away from the busy noise of theinternet," he said."We wanted a revenue model which was simple,transparent and benefited everyone."