Author Topic: Micro site where images can be exclusive and NOT be sold as subs? (Read 9617 times)

cathyslife · « **on:** July 23, 2010, 13:11 »

I know that, for instance, DT allows one to upload exclusive images, but I believe they can also be sold as subs. Is that correct? Is there a site that offers exclusive images with no subs? Thanks.

dirkr · « **Reply #1 on:** July 23, 2010, 13:23 »

Fotolia. They allow you to opt out your exclusive images (and only those) from their subs program.
But I remember reading some comments on the (German) FT forum, that members doing that have experienced dropping sales. Obviously FT takes into account your view/sales ratio for determining search order, so having images not available for subs might impact your position in the search.
As I have no exclusive images with them, I can't give any own experience though.

cathyslife · « **Reply #2 on:** July 23, 2010, 14:54 »

Thanks for the info dirk. I left Fotolia a while ago, don't think I will return. I was just curious if there were any others. What about BigStock? I mock-uploaded a photo to see if there was a checkbox along the way and didn't see one so I don't think they offer exclusive photos.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #3 on:** July 23, 2010, 16:11 »

Does BigStock have a subscription program? I think they are strictly PPD?
My sales commission has varied from fifty cents to three dollars.

cathyslife · « **Reply #4 on:** July 23, 2010, 16:26 »

I don't think BigStock has subs (that would be the Shutterstock division) but I don't think you can specify an image as exclusive. I could be wrong.

madelaide · « **Reply #5 on:** July 23, 2010, 16:32 »

I don't think BigStock has exclusives either.

I have three exclusive images at DT and it would be the fairest thing to be able to opt them out of subs (the fact that I make more than from a non-exclusive doesn't entice me). One of them is a level 5 and it doesn't prevent it from giving me some nice credit sales.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #6 on:** July 23, 2010, 16:53 »

Quote from: cclapper on July 23, 2010, 16:26

I don't think BigStock has subs (that would be the Shutterstock division) but I don't think you can specify an image as exclusive. I could be wrong.

I must have misunderstood?

I thought you were looking to opt out of subs. Otherwise, why are you wanting to make the image exclusive???
Sorry for the confusion. I'm really not as smart as I look.

madelaide · « **Reply #7 on:** July 23, 2010, 17:17 »

Quote from: cclapper on July 23, 2010, 13:11

Is there a site that offers exclusive images with no subs? Thanks.

A very clear question to me.

lefty · « **Reply #8 on:** July 24, 2010, 10:42 »

Quote from: madelaide on July 23, 2010, 16:32

I don't think BigStock has exclusives either.

I have three exclusive images at DT and it would be the fairest thing to be able to opt them out of subs (the fact that I make more than from a non-exclusive doesn't entice me). One of them is a level 5 and it doesn't prevent it from giving me some nice credit sales.

True, but I like and hate DT because one day I get a big non-sub sale for small size and then I am happy.
Then I get same picture download for sub XL for tiny commission and I shake my head.
I think worse still, buyer of large size paying non sub money will not be happy to know another buyer get much much bigger same picture for 1/8th of money .

I am not sure if it is good for DT or for me and you, this big difference.

OM · « **Reply #9 on:** July 24, 2010, 17:26 »

Quote from: dirkr on July 23, 2010, 13:23

Fotolia. They allow you to opt out your exclusive images (and only those) from their subs program.
But I remember reading some comments on the (German) FT forum, that members doing that have experienced dropping sales. Obviously FT takes into account your view/sales ratio for determining search order, so having images not available for subs might impact your position in the search.
As I have no exclusive images with them, I can't give any own experience though.

Correct. I attempted to give up FT subs but lasted 3 weeks. In that short time, I really had the feeling that my sales were dropping and I folded.
On an FT blog there was some info regarding images in subs and how it does affect that image in the search results. Every time an image is viewed in subs, it gathers a point which helps in the search order. Images not in subs get zero points and can quickly become invisible.

OM · « **Reply #10 on:** July 24, 2010, 17:39 »

Quote from: OM on July 24, 2010, 17:26

Quote from: dirkr on July 23, 2010, 13:23
Fotolia. They allow you to opt out your exclusive images (and only those) from their subs program.
But I remember reading some comments on the (German) FT forum, that members doing that have experienced dropping sales. Obviously FT takes into account your view/sales ratio for determining search order, so having images not available for subs might impact your position in the search.
As I have no exclusive images with them, I can't give any own experience though.

Correct. I attempted to give up FT subs but lasted 3 weeks. In that short time, I really had the feeling that my sales were dropping and I folded.
On an FT blog there was some info regarding images in subs and how it does affect that image in the search results. Every time an image is viewed in subs, it gathers a point which helps in the search order. Images not in subs get zero points and can quickly become invisible.

I'll quote meself! I found the section on FT blog about subs that I posted a few months ago:

"Visibility
By following the rules above, you will achieve a better visibility. But there are further tips to increase your visibility:

1. By allowing the sales in subscription you will improve the ratio sold/views for each one of your contents. When a subscription customer wants to buy your image and you don’t allow the sale in subscription, your content will be marked at 0 sold for 1 view. The ratio sold/view is an important criteria within our search engine. Images that are sold each time they are viewed receive a better visibility in the results page."

http://blog.fotolia.com/uk/guideline/microstocktips.html

FD · « **Reply #11 on:** July 24, 2010, 17:42 »

Quote from: lefty on July 24, 2010, 10:42

True, but I like and hate DT because one day I get a big non-sub sale for small size and then I am happy.
Then I get same picture download for sub XL for tiny commission and I shake my head.
I think worse still, buyer of large size paying non sub money will not be happy to know another buyer get much much bigger same picture for 1/8th of money .

As a modest but daily buyer (more specifically image scouting for the real buyer that is a design company in Chennai working for a daily media group) on DT, I figured this out long ago. I even made a post about it on the MSG. The smallest subs pack on DT makes you profit already after day 4 if you are hunting for the higher level = higher impact images. Those are too expensive by credits. As an added bonus, you'll get them max-size. That's why buyers that can count love DT so much.

After the recent collapse of my earnings at DT I don't care what they do with subs. I want them to keep the current program. This month I made 10x the amount by scouting fees on DT, than as a contributor. You guys really don't see it right? The people surrounding the image industry make much more money of your images than yourself.

Of course, this post will go unnoticed again...

cathyslife · « **Reply #12 on:** July 25, 2010, 06:31 »

Quote from: FD-regular on July 24, 2010, 17:42

As a modest but daily buyer (more specifically image scouting for the real buyer that is a design company in Chennai working for a daily media group) on DT, I figured this out long ago. I even made a post about it on the MSG. The smallest subs pack on DT makes you profit already after day 4 if you are hunting for the higher level = higher impact images. Those are too expensive by credits. As an added bonus, you'll get them max-size. That's why buyers that can count love DT so much.

After the recent collapse of my earnings at DT I don't care what they do with subs. I want them to keep the current program. This month I made 10x the amount by scouting fees on DT, than as a contributor. You guys really don't see it right? The people surrounding the image industry make much more money of your images than yourself.

Of course, this post will go unnoticed again...

Definitely not unnoticed. Just takes time to make a change.

sam100 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 25, 2010, 07:26 »

Quote from: OM on July 24, 2010, 17:39

Quote from: OM on July 24, 2010, 17:26
Quote from: dirkr on July 23, 2010, 13:23
Fotolia. They allow you to opt out your exclusive images (and only those) from their subs program.
But I remember reading some comments on the (German) FT forum, that members doing that have experienced dropping sales. Obviously FT takes into account your view/sales ratio for determining search order, so having images not available for subs might impact your position in the search.
As I have no exclusive images with them, I can't give any own experience though.

Correct. I attempted to give up FT subs but lasted 3 weeks. In that short time, I really had the feeling that my sales were dropping and I folded.
On an FT blog there was some info regarding images in subs and how it does affect that image in the search results. Every time an image is viewed in subs, it gathers a point which helps in the search order. Images not in subs get zero points and can quickly become invisible.

I'll quote meself! I found the section on FT blog about subs that I posted a few months ago:

"Visibility
By following the rules above, you will achieve a better visibility. But there are further tips to increase your visibility:

1. By allowing the sales in subscription you will improve the ratio sold/views for each one of your contents. When a subscription customer wants to buy your image and you don’t allow the sale in subscription, your content will be marked at 0 sold for 1 view. The ratio sold/view is an important criteria within our search engine. Images that are sold each time they are viewed receive a better visibility in the results page."

http://blog.fotolia.com/uk/guideline/microstocktips.html

This could also lead to misuse of the system. To reduce competition and worsen their ratio sold/view i could hire a third world country guy to click on as many images of top contributors a day except mine.

Patrick.

eggshell · « **Reply #14 on:** July 27, 2010, 04:19 »

Quote

1. By allowing the sales in subscription you will improve the ratio sold/views for each one of your contents. When a subscription customer wants to buy your image and you don’t allow the sale in subscription, your content will be marked at 0 sold for 1 view. The ratio sold/view is an important criteria within our search engine. Images that are sold each time they are viewed receive a better visibility in the results page."

Quote

This could also lead to misuse of the system. To reduce competition and worsen their ratio sold/view i could hire a third world country guy to click on as many images of top contributors a day except mine.

Patrick.

I was wondering about the high number of views ( regularly 25-40 a day , up to 80 ) that I get on my relatively small port ( ~50 images ) . Now that I read this I'm starting to get paranoid

views/sold since a month ago - 875/6 ?!
Do you guys find that normal ?

cathyslife · « **Reply #15 on:** July 27, 2010, 06:28 »

Quote from: eggshell on July 27, 2010, 04:19

views/sold since a month ago - 875/6 ?!
Do you guys find that normal ?

That doesn't sound unreasonable.

I have 500 images of my port on one site right now (just uploaded) and I have 20,550/0. Yes, that's right, twenty thousand+ views with no sales. Something is amiss and I don't see how that number of views can be right. I have my doubts about sales on this site.

OM · « **Reply #16 on:** July 30, 2010, 17:55 »

Quote from: eggshell on July 27, 2010, 04:19

Quote
1. By allowing the sales in subscription you will improve the ratio sold/views for each one of your contents. When a subscription customer wants to buy your image and you don’t allow the sale in subscription, your content will be marked at 0 sold for 1 view. The ratio sold/view is an important criteria within our search engine. Images that are sold each time they are viewed receive a better visibility in the results page."

Quote
This could also lead to misuse of the system. To reduce competition and worsen their ratio sold/view i could hire a third world country guy to click on as many images of top contributors a day except mine.

Patrick.

I was wondering about the high number of views ( regularly 25-40 a day , up to 80 ) that I get on my relatively small port ( ~50 images ) . Now that I read this I'm starting to get paranoid

views/sold since a month ago - 875/6 ?!
Do you guys find that normal ?

I also have a small portfolio of ~150 images. I'm lucky if I get 20 views and a download or two in the first month after submission. 20-40 views/day............ I can always dream.

I'll add that none of my images features people. Maybe that's the reason for such low views.

cathyslife · « **Reply #17 on:** July 31, 2010, 05:58 »

So to bring the conversation back to my original question, it looks like Fotolia is the only site that allows exclusive images with no sub sales. I left them a long time ago because of shenanigans and from what I have read since then, the shenanigans continue and are worse. But I also read that it is a good-selling site.

So if I were to try out the whole exclusive image thing, it looks like I have two options: put them ex on DT, but realize they will be still sold as subs, or put stuff on Fotolia. Food for thought.

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Author Topic: Micro site where images can be exclusive and NOT be sold as subs? (Read 9617 times)

cathyslife

dirkr

cathyslife

WarrenPrice

cathyslife

madelaide

WarrenPrice

madelaide

lefty

OM

OM

FD

cathyslife

sam100

eggshell

cathyslife

OM

cathyslife

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