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Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: vladimir on November 15, 2017, 10:08

Title: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: vladimir on November 15, 2017, 10:08
Just curious. I have a small port and my sales are a big ZERO on storyblocks. I am with them since this summer
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: Sean Locke Photography on November 15, 2017, 10:17
Been waiting several weeks on some test files.  Still just sitting there in the queue.
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: Artist on November 15, 2017, 10:25
one previous month, nothing in november
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: SpaceStockFootage on November 15, 2017, 10:49
11 sales last month, only 2 sales this month. Overall average of 6 sales per month with a port of 130 videos.
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: Brightontl on November 15, 2017, 15:29
Just curious. I have a small port and my sales are a big ZERO on storyblocks. I am with them since this summer
Are you talking about video or photos?
Video, yse I do sell some.
Not a lot, but sometimes at very high prices.
Photos sales missing in action, nothing, nada, niente, niet, nudu nuddu, rien, zero. Have I made my point?
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: vladimir on November 16, 2017, 03:52
Just curious. I have a small port and my sales are a big ZERO on storyblocks. I am with them since this summer
Are you talking about video or photos?
Video, yse I do sell some.
Not a lot, but sometimes at very high prices.
Photos sales missing in action, nothing, nada, niente, niet, nudu nuddu, rien, zero. Have I made my point?

Yes you made your point and yes I was talking about photos. well I guess maybe they are trying to convince the videoblocks clients to also buy photos from them and it seems its not working  :)
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: vladimir on November 16, 2017, 03:57
Been waiting several weeks on some test files.  Still just sitting there in the queue.

me too, its been a month since some files are in queue, like they frozen everything. well I have a very small port of 150 but still...
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: vladimir on November 16, 2017, 03:59
11 sales last month, only 2 sales this month. Overall average of 6 sales per month with a port of 130 videos.

So do you see any improvement after the rebranding of videoblocks ?
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: SpaceStockFootage on November 16, 2017, 04:09
Well last month was my best month ever, but this month looks like it will end up below average, so a bit too soon to say.
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: alexzappa on November 16, 2017, 10:42
2 sales in October (Photos)
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: fritz on November 16, 2017, 16:34
12 video sales in October! This month 1 sale so far, port size 3k
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: amabu on January 11, 2018, 11:59
So, what´s the story now?

Their photo marketplace went live in September. I had one sale in October, 3 in November and nothing since... (1200 images online)

Anybody having regular photo sales?
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: vladimir on January 11, 2018, 16:24
zero sales since i started the thread :) maybe others have decent sales
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: Brightontl on January 11, 2018, 16:51
I have the feeling that their rebranding has been a disaster.
They had made quite a name for video sales, but then they made the incredibly strange decision to change their name to enter a market totally dead (microstock photo), and I have the feeling that they hurt their video sales very badly.
Of course they made nothing on the photo market
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: steheap on January 11, 2018, 17:52
5 photo sales in December for me

Steve
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: Thomas from France on January 12, 2018, 13:49
First video sales this week,since storyblocks started, my tax form has expired, 30% less,

Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: Noedelhap on January 12, 2018, 14:01
I have the feeling that their rebranding has been a disaster.
They had made quite a name for video sales, but then they made the incredibly strange decision to change their name to enter a market totally dead (microstock photo), and I have the feeling that they hurt their video sales very badly.
Of course they made nothing on the photo market

Same here. I did get video sales but less frequently. No images sales, so I too get the feeling their rebranding hurt video sales.
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: SpaceStockFootage on January 12, 2018, 23:50
11 sales in October
4 sales in November
1 sale in December
4 Sales in January... so far.

Hopefully it's on the way back up!
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: MicroVet on January 13, 2018, 05:59
At the beginning, with a few hundred videos I was selling one or two occasionally. But video sales dried up despite the very low competition on the subject I mostly have a shoot.

Meanwhile I've uploaded my entire photo portfolio (thousands) and I only sell one or two photos every other month.

Even the corpse of Stockxpert which has a fraction of the photos and all of them old, perform almost as well as Storyblocks with video and photos combined. Not good.

Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: Mantis on January 13, 2018, 08:12
5 photo sales in December for me

Steve

Same here. Have had 5 in Jan too and it's only the 13th.  Their pattern of sales is like this though.  I now expect a slow down for three months, then another spike.
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: steheap on January 13, 2018, 10:26
Quote
Same here. Have had 5 in Jan too and it's only the 13th.  Their pattern of sales is like this though.  I now expect a slow down for three months, then another spike.

Perhaps they have a cap on contributor earnings so when you sell a few, you are downgraded in the search for a period. I'm sure I've read that somewhere.... (-:
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: sarah2 on January 23, 2018, 13:26
Hmmm... New Third Party Sales scheme promoted today via email. No idea who these 3rd parties might be... Not holding my breath.
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: StockbyNumbers on January 23, 2018, 14:39
Averaged about an HD video sale a month last year up until mid-October. Nothing since then.
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: StockbyNumbers on January 23, 2018, 14:43
Sorry for the double post, but another thought is that marketplace sales might be falling as they purchase more content from contributors for their subscription platforms...
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: SuperPhoto on January 23, 2018, 15:36
Yes, I was thinking that too.

Long-term it makes it very profitable for them for the subscription model - and then I think only people would purchase if they just wanted a 'really' unique shot they couldn't get elsewhere... (I do admit - I have used some of the stock photography from them - and then saw the "additional" clips - until I realized they were paid, and was thinking 'aw crap, why are the 'good' clips only in the paid marketplace'?)

But... if I really needed it for an important presentation/video/etc - I probably would decide to purchase it...
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: Asthebelltolls on January 23, 2018, 15:40
Have you checked this site out? It describes the 16 best agencies to submit to with clips. Agencies new to me and worth investigating.

https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/best-stock-video-sites-that-will-make-your-clients-happy/ (https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/best-stock-video-sites-that-will-make-your-clients-happy/)
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: Yay Images Billionaire on January 23, 2018, 22:01
Have you checked this site out? It describes the 16 best agencies to submit to with clips. Agencies new to me and worth investigating.

https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/best-stock-video-sites-that-will-make-your-clients-happy/ (https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/best-stock-video-sites-that-will-make-your-clients-happy/)

"16 Best Stock Video Sites That’ll Make Your Clients Happy " - It's a list of the best agencies to buy from not to submit to. Good options nonetheless.

Does SS automatically send to RocketStock?
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: Justanotherphotographer on January 24, 2018, 02:00
Seems like they could just be using us to see what sells then licensing that content for the subs side of the site, leaving our portfolios to fester.

Very clever, it means they don't have to take a risk on buying stuff for the site that won't sell. We've already let them know by giving them our content. The comission they have to pay out few times is very cheap for that level of market research.
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: sarah2 on January 24, 2018, 05:09
Nobody else concerned about them setting up deals with Third Party (photo) Sellers - details unknown?
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: kenwood on February 03, 2018, 09:27
I have about 800 footages there for about a year.  Average 0.5 sales a month.  Personally I don't like their site - way too many bugs.
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: Sean Locke Photography on April 02, 2018, 09:57
Any photo sales at all?  I've got 350 images up there, and nary a peep.  Should I keep wasting my time?
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: fotoroad on April 02, 2018, 13:01
Any photo sales at all?  I've got 350 images up there, and nary a peep.  Should I keep wasting my time?
I sold last video in October 2016 and no photo at all. Dead for me :( 
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: Stock Wife on April 02, 2018, 15:56
Any photo sales at all?  I've got 350 images up there, and nary a peep.  Should I keep wasting my time?

We had a photo sale in February. I uploaded 100-200 images there just to see what would happen, then found this thread and figured I'd never sell anything. But one came in. So now I am uploading more because I won't get many sales with such a small percentage of my portfolio online. I'm not going out my way to upload there, just sending new batches there when I upload to other places. The sale was for $3.99 minus a 15 cent cc transaction fee netting me $3.84. 

Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: Wishing well on April 16, 2018, 22:07
Wow... 200+ images... I only have like 20+ on SS and already made over $270.
My ambitious goal is to get to 200.  :D  Looks like the most stock web sites are too small to bother.
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: SpaceStockFootage on April 17, 2018, 08:36
Wow... 200+ images... I only have like 20+ on SS and already made over $270.
My ambitious goal is to get to 200.  :D  Looks like the most stock web sites are too small to bother.

How many have you got, and how much have you sold, on Storyblocks though?
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: tomn on April 17, 2018, 10:54
I have about 1000 images and videos there since October 2017 and have exactly 2 sales.
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: Tommy on April 17, 2018, 11:07
700 photos on there, 1 sale. Good times.
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: Brightontl on April 19, 2018, 15:57
I have received an email from Storyblock today, I suppose most of you have received it too.
They acknowledge that sales have been really bad and say that they are trying to get things going again.
It is nice, and unusual these day for an agency to admit that sales are bad. I must that they always had a nice communication.
I have the feeling that their re branding from Videoblock to Storyblock has been a total disaster, not surprising.
They had managed to get a decent position on the extremely difficult video market and they lost their name for the sake of running behind a media that is way overcrowded (photo)..
I never liked the membership business model and sadly Pond 5 is going heavily that way too
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: increasingdifficulty on April 19, 2018, 16:08
I have the feeling that their re branding from Videoblock to Storyblock has been a total disaster, not surprising.
They had managed to get a decent position on the extremely difficult video market and they lost their name for the sake of running behind a media that is way overcrowded (photo)..

Fully agree. That must have been one of the most idiotic moves ever. Just, why? Oh, why... Why, indeed...  :)

Not only is a name change a terrible idea after being successful - changing it to a terrible name like Storyblocks is even more terrible. I still won't call it Storyblocks. It just sounds silly. In a bad way.
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: jjneff on April 19, 2018, 16:45
Just sold a 4k video and I got $191.00  :D :D
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: Mantis on April 19, 2018, 16:51
I have received an email from Storyblock today, I suppose most of you have received it too.
They acknowledge that sales have been really bad and say that they are trying to get things going again.
It is nice, and unusual these day for an agency to admit that sales are bad. I must that they always had a nice communication.
I have the feeling that their re branding from Videoblock to Storyblock has been a total disaster, not surprising.
They had managed to get a decent position on the extremely difficult video market and they lost their name for the sake of running behind a media that is way overcrowded (photo)..
I never liked the membership business model and sadly Pond 5 is going heavily that way too

I haven't received any email from them. But nice that they admit they are struggling.  However, what does that mean for their strategy? If the model is the cause we could be in for a new "terms & conditions" agreement.
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: Brightontl on April 19, 2018, 17:03
Hi Mantis, this is the content from the mail:
"Spring greetings! We wanted to touch base with you to say thanks again for helping us get the Photo Marketplace off the ground.
We also want to acknowledge that we know sales are currently low, but we are making on-site changes to our user experience that will surface and promote Marketplace content -- all to get more sales to you!
To kick-start this effort, we are having a Spring Sale on Marketplace images! You will receive full price for your content -- we will be covering the temporary price difference.
We believe that this Spring Sale, coupled with Marketplace content surfacing and user experience changes, will kick-start sales back to you.".

As usual, nice communication from them, maybe even a bit naive (I use a French word, as I cannot find an English word that fit, someone certainly will suggest a more appropriate one. I am not native speaker)
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: Mantis on April 19, 2018, 17:36
Hi Mantis, this is the content from the mail:
"Spring greetings! We wanted to touch base with you to say thanks again for helping us get the Photo Marketplace off the ground.
We also want to acknowledge that we know sales are currently low, but we are making on-site changes to our user experience that will surface and promote Marketplace content -- all to get more sales to you!
To kick-start this effort, we are having a Spring Sale on Marketplace images! You will receive full price for your content -- we will be covering the temporary price difference.
We believe that this Spring Sale, coupled with Marketplace content surfacing and user experience changes, will kick-start sales back to you.".

As usual, nice communication from them, maybe even a bit naive (I use a French word, as I cannot find an English word that fit, someone certainly will suggest a more appropriate one. I am not native speaker)

Thank you, sir. It's possible I got it but I have been traveling a ton for work.  Right now I am on a different time zone so maybe I'l have a martini and call it a night...even though it's the afternoon:)
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: pkphotos on April 21, 2018, 15:59
Just sold a 4k video and I got $191.00  :D :D

Excellent and by broadcasting this 1000 more videographers will begin uploading like crazy
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: NeonRobot on April 22, 2018, 01:58
Over 7000 pix. 2$ "earnings". Useless.
Title: Re: Anyone selling something on storyblocks ???
Post by: HalfFull on April 22, 2018, 05:37
I have the feeling that their re branding from Videoblock to Storyblock has been a total disaster, not surprising.
They had managed to get a decent position on the extremely difficult video market and they lost their name for the sake of running behind a media that is way overcrowded (photo)..

Fully agree. That must have been one of the most idiotic moves ever. Just, why? Oh, why... Why, indeed...  :)

Not only is a name change a terrible idea after being successful - changing it to a terrible name like Storyblocks is even more terrible. I still won't call it Storyblocks. It just sounds silly. In a bad way.

The other problem was picking a name that was already in use by another company producing video content for education / learning market .... https://www.storyblocks.org (https://www.storyblocks.org)

This was always going to cause some confusion and a new business name should never be close to that of another company. I did mention this to them at the time but no response.... probably hoped for the best.