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Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: nobody on November 21, 2018, 18:14

Title: November Sales
Post by: nobody on November 21, 2018, 18:14
I thought I would start the topic for November sales. Sadly, due to poor sales on Shutter my November looks to be worse that what I made even compared to 2014/2015 years. I am sure there will be newbie's claiming BME but I wonder how the veteran's are doing?

Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Not Today on November 22, 2018, 01:38
Not a great month so far, sales down 50% overall.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Pauws99 on November 22, 2018, 01:43
Sales this month have fallen through the floor for me
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: derek on November 22, 2018, 02:48
Same here mate! fallen through the floor!!  with the exception of Fotolia!...its the same everywhere right across the board almost!
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Pauws99 on November 22, 2018, 02:55
Same here mate! fallen through the floor!!  with the exception of Fotolia!...its the same everywhere right across the board almost!
Everywhere else is fairly average for me. I think Adobe may well be giving SS some serious competition at last.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: derek on November 22, 2018, 04:42
Same here mate! fallen through the floor!!  with the exception of Fotolia!...its the same everywhere right across the board almost!
Everywhere else is fairly average for me. I think Adobe may well be giving SS some serious competition at last.

I sincerely hope so! its about time somebody else makes a mark and impose some serious competition.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: jonbull on November 22, 2018, 07:55
super focolai video sales and big sales made it the best already month and near ss , something never happened..

ss looks bad so far compared to october...tons of subs...yesterday 55 sales only sub!! never happened...practically 80% of month are sub...very few sod and a bunch of single..

canta despite theft files is selling good...dreamstime seems to breathe again..thee rest dead included alamay.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: christiano on November 22, 2018, 08:45
same for me, very bad month... a video sold around $ 50 will save the month ...
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: jonbull on November 22, 2018, 09:21
it's n surprise ..now you can find any files you want free ...is not a surprise sales are decreasing.....only released images still have a   good market cause those free sites front have   model release and so buyer can be scared o use those files, but for example holiday images like christmas or new year, go to unsplash...and search...there are images of very good to great quality, stocksy style, for free..that's it
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: nobody on November 22, 2018, 09:39
Here's a blast from the past--- folks were making a killing in November! Sad how things have changed  :-\

https://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/november-sales/ (https://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/november-sales/)
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Tommy on November 22, 2018, 09:42
Pretty poor so far, about 40% down on October.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: derek on November 22, 2018, 14:38
Something is without doubt wrong with SS!!  just spoke ta a partner in a factory, freaking 350.000 files and they are down 60% so far in November!!....its almost surreal, bizzare how things have changed just during the last year.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: FiledIMAGE on November 22, 2018, 14:48
Yep massively down for me too. 2 years ago my best month ever
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Shelma1 on November 22, 2018, 15:03
Suhcky-doodle-do.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: pancaketom on November 22, 2018, 15:30
for starters the month is barely more than 2/3 done. also how can things be the same and down 60%? It seems about the same as Oct for me except a few more big sales at Alamy, but the obese female has not sung yet so I don't really know. So, a lot less than during the good years (2011 - 2015) but things haven't fallen off any new cliffs.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Pauws99 on November 22, 2018, 16:27
for starters the month is barely more than 2/3 done. also how can things be the same and down 60%? It seems about the same as Oct for me except a few more big sales at Alamy, but the obese female has not sung yet so I don't really know. So, a lot less than during the good years (2011 - 2015) but things haven't fallen off any new cliffs.
Well for me its a projection based on sales so far so yes there's hope but it has gone down dramatically for me  whether its a trend or just one very bad month for me time will tell. I doubt very much that sales across the board have tanked more like the latest algorithm changes have hit some hard.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Minsc on November 22, 2018, 17:24
November has always been kind to me and this one is no different.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Chichikov on November 23, 2018, 02:37
Not so good everywhere.

Adobe just a little down.
But Shutterstock is a real disaster: 50% of my usual monthly average, and 25% of my 2015, 2016 and 2017 Novembers average…
Probably it will be the lowest November of these 5-6 last years…

But all can happen during the last week, the worst… and the best.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: derek on November 23, 2018, 02:43
When distributors, aggregators and " factories" are way, way down!  thats when its time to start worrying! since they are cared for and looked after!
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Pauws99 on November 23, 2018, 03:40
When distributors, aggregators and " factories" are way, way down!  thats when its time to start worrying! since they are cared for and looked after!
Well apparently not anymore....less sales for them potentially bigger slice of the cake for us little guys ;-).
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: PZF on November 23, 2018, 07:18
Same here mate! fallen through the floor!!  with the exception of Fotolia!...its the same everywhere right across the board almost!
Everywhere else is fairly average for me. I think Adobe may well be giving SS some serious competition at last.

I sincerely hope so! its about time somebody else makes a mark and impose some serious competition.

It depends. If they end up competing on price then we are lost.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Brasilnut on November 23, 2018, 07:29
2 sales this morning on Alamy for $120 and $22 may just about salvage my month.

In any case, it seems that the last week of every month is when there's usually proportionally the most sales (in my case)...
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: jonbull on November 23, 2018, 09:20
shuttersubs....tens of tens of tens of sub only...never happened, maybe ss is favoring ss with packages or special offer.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: derek on November 23, 2018, 09:30
When distributors, aggregators and " factories" are way, way down!  thats when its time to start worrying! since they are cared for and looked after!
Well apparently not anymore....less sales for them potentially bigger slice of the cake for us little guys ;-).

Yes but in this case I recon its a general drought!  I think next QR we are in for a nasty surprise!
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: jonbull on November 23, 2018, 09:44
ss is earning money..simply put there are more and more files and more nd more desperate contributors especially coming from russia and ukraine who upload zillions of files and the cake is simply spread...zero entry barrier and low cost make this possible.  micro apart one rare case i'd  say 100 200 big contributor will be just an hobby for all the rest. 
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: kelomang on November 23, 2018, 09:50
ss is earning money..simply put there are more and more files and more nd more desperate contributors especially coming from russia and ukraine who upload zillions of files and the cake is simply spread...zero entry barrier and low cost make this possible.  micro apart one rare case i'd  say 100 200 big contributor will be just an hobby for all the rest.

Don't forget India...  ::) Have you been to SS forum lately? Not too long ago it was crowded with new threads by new Indian contributors asking how to get sales.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Uncle Pete on November 23, 2018, 09:59
Suhcky-doodle-do.

 ;D And a Happy Thanksgiving to you.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: jonbull on November 23, 2018, 10:28
ss is earning money..simply put there are more and more files and more nd more desperate contributors especially coming from russia and ukraine who upload zillions of files and the cake is simply spread...zero entry barrier and low cost make this possible.  micro apart one rare case i'd  say 100 200 big contributor will be just an hobby for all the rest.

Don't forget India...  ::) Have you been to SS forum lately? Not too long ago it was crowded with new threads by new Indian contributors asking how to get sales.

i know that when i look th new images added in ss and fotolia 7 out of 10 come from russia or ukraine....as i said...most have apartment inherited by parents after soietic collapse...with 600 700 dollars they can easily live a life that in western county would cost 1800 2000 dollar...sure not luxury but better than go work in offie for 500 8 hours day for 5 days a week...thusand of model available for penny...cheap studio to rent and now cheap superb chinese study light...that's it...while in western world micro stock seems like a dead horse..in many country is still a valid opportunity.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: derek on November 23, 2018, 12:54
Its true!  SS  is collecting all the garbage under the sun! pics that normally would be thrown away are accepted all over the place.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Uncle Pete on November 23, 2018, 13:11
I thought I would start the topic for November sales. Sadly, due to poor sales on Shutter my November looks to be worse that what I made even compared to 2014/2015 years. I am sure there will be newbie's claiming BME but I wonder how the veteran's are doing?

Thought you might be interested in October 2014 poll numbers:

Shutterstock    94.7
iStock    36.5
Fotolia    20.7
Dreamstime    13.6 
Pond5    12.6
123RF    10 
Alamy    8.3
DepositPhotos    6.9
Bigstockphoto    6.9
Envato    4.2
Canstockphoto    3.7
Veer    3.6 

IS Exclusive 141.2

Some up, most down,
Adobe double up from FT

If I'm reading right, SS, IS, DT all down $500 a month for the poll?
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: everest on November 23, 2018, 15:11
ss is earning money..simply put there are more and more files and more nd more desperate contributors especially coming from russia and ukraine who upload zillions of files and the cake is simply spread...zero entry barrier and low cost make this possible.  micro apart one rare case i'd  say 100 200 big contributor will be just an hobby for all the rest.

Good for Russian and Ukraine contributors, if they work hard they deserve to be succesful at this game. Not like others that are always moaning about how hard life is because of others: ucranians,russians,the search engine, obscure agendas,bla bla bla.
Get your act together or pack you bags and go if you don't know how to swim in this sea.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Pauws99 on November 23, 2018, 16:05
Same here mate! fallen through the floor!!  with the exception of Fotolia!...its the same everywhere right across the board almost!
Everywhere else is fairly average for me. I think Adobe may well be giving SS some serious competition at last.

I sincerely hope so! its about time somebody else makes a mark and impose some serious competition.

It depends. If they end up competing on price then we are lost.
I don't think Adobe is the type of business that will compete on price. In the long run it doesn't benefit agencies either. Hope I'm right. Also with no competition agencies can also dictate the price they pay contributors...unless you have a more rosy view of human nature that's not good for us either.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: jonbull on November 23, 2018, 19:15
ss is earning money..simply put there are more and more files and more nd more desperate contributors especially coming from russia and ukraine who upload zillions of files and the cake is simply spread...zero entry barrier and low cost make this possible.  micro apart one rare case i'd  say 100 200 big contributor will be just an hobby for all the rest.

Good for Russian and Ukraine contributors, if they work hard they deserve to be succesful at this game. Not like others that are always moaning about how hard life is because of others: ucranians,russians,the search engine, obscure agendas,bla bla bla.
Get your act together or pack you bags and go if you don't know how to swim in this sea.

ahh you don't understand the point....they work hard to earn 500 dollar because they can survive..im working pretty hard...im still working now friday at 2 o clock...the point is we are competing with people who pay zero   for shooting...probably even taxes in out cases and have cost of life 2 3 times less than us...but are paid in dollars and earn like us...is not possible to compete...
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: jonbull on November 23, 2018, 19:18
by the way 145 sub in a row ...never happened something similar...not even some 2.85 to break the monotony...when it rains it pours down...maybe they simply has ne bargain subs plan?
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: derek on November 24, 2018, 02:44
johnbull!  is actually correct on this one!!....$10 bucks a day goes a heck of a long way in these parts of the world and consequently these guys are uploading like crazy, quitting day-jobs everything! just to sit there 24 hours uploading!!....well in our parts of the world we havent got time for that, life is too fast and too expensive for small returns.
Of course SS will favour the people uploading full-time!....its obvious!
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: everest on November 24, 2018, 03:07
This is a consequence of globalization. You knew that when you entered the "collaborative economy" where microstock is an excellent example. You have to compete with the world and that means that you have advantages and disadvantages against people that live in other countries. I life  from stock for over 11 years now in an expensive european country with an average all this years of 5k+, the good years much more. I will be playing till I can and when it is not more doable I will look for something else.

By the way "microstock stars" that come from very expensive countries and cities like Denmark,London,etc have adapted. If that means to go to Ukraine or Southafrica then be it. Now to pretend to live in London photographing beauty or food for microstock is a suicide if you ask me. 

ss is earning money..simply put there are more and more files and more nd more desperate contributors especially coming from russia and ukraine who upload zillions of files and the cake is simply spread...zero entry barrier and low cost make this possible.  micro apart one rare case i'd  say 100 200 big contributor will be just an hobby for all the rest.

Good for Russian and Ukraine contributors, if they work hard they deserve to be succesful at this game. Not like others that are always moaning about how hard life is because of others: ucranians,russians,the search engine, obscure agendas,bla bla bla.
Get your act together or pack you bags and go if you don't know how to swim in this sea.

ahh you don't understand the point....they work hard to earn 500 dollar because they can survive..im working pretty hard...im still working now friday at 2 o clock...the point is we are competing with people who pay zero   for shooting...probably even taxes in out cases and have cost of life 2 3 times less than us...but are paid in dollars and earn like us...is not possible to compete...
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: derek on November 24, 2018, 04:22
Haha! yes in London $10 just about pay for 2 lagers in a Pub!....in countries like Sweden and Norway a coffee is like $7 and a beer in a Pub around $10, one stop on the underground in Stockholm $10!
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Pauws99 on November 24, 2018, 04:25
Haha! yes in London $10 just about pay for 2 lagers in a Pub!....in countries like Sweden and Norway a coffee is like $7 and a beer in a Pub around $10, one stop on the underground in Stockholm $10!
"Craft Beer" is the thing now....$10 would be a bargain!
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: derek on November 24, 2018, 07:16
Haha! yes in London $10 just about pay for 2 lagers in a Pub!....in countries like Sweden and Norway a coffee is like $7 and a beer in a Pub around $10, one stop on the underground in Stockholm $10!
"Craft Beer" is the thing now....$10 would be a bargain!

Craft beer??  whats that??  me I just ask for a pint of bitter or lager and thats it!...you want a pint of Urquel or something in Oslo its about 20 bucks!
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Pauws99 on November 24, 2018, 07:22
Haha! yes in London $10 just about pay for 2 lagers in a Pub!....in countries like Sweden and Norway a coffee is like $7 and a beer in a Pub around $10, one stop on the underground in Stockholm $10!
"Craft Beer" is the thing now....$10 would be a bargain!

Craft beer??  whats that??  me I just ask for a pint of bitter or lager and thats it!...you want a pint of Urquel or something in Oslo its about 20 bucks!
Get with the hipster trends! Fancy beer brewed by "artisans" in small breweries......
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: jonbull on November 24, 2018, 09:17
This is a consequence of globalization. You knew that when you entered the "collaborative economy" where microstock is an excellent example. You have to compete with the world and that means that you have advantages and disadvantages against people that live in other countries. I life  from stock for over 11 years now in an expensive european country with an average all this years of 5k+, the good years much more. I will be playing till I can and when it is not more doable I will look for something else.

By the way "microstock stars" that come from very expensive countries and cities like Denmark,London,etc have adapted. If that means to go to Ukraine or Southafrica then be it. Now to pretend to live in London photographing beauty or food for microstock is a suicide if you ask me. 

ss is earning money..simply put there are more and more files and more nd more desperate contributors especially coming from russia and ukraine who upload zillions of files and the cake is simply spread...zero entry barrier and low cost make this possible.  micro apart one rare case i'd  say 100 200 big contributor will be just an hobby for all the rest.

Good for Russian and Ukraine contributors, if they work hard they deserve to be succesful at this game. Not like others that are always moaning about how hard life is because of others: ucranians,russians,the search engine, obscure agendas,bla bla bla.
Get your act together or pack you bags and go if you don't know how to swim in this sea.

ahh you don't understand the point....they work hard to earn 500 dollar because they can survive..im working pretty hard...im still working now friday at 2 o clock...the point is we are competing with people who pay zero   for shooting...probably even taxes in out cases and have cost of life 2 3 times less than us...but are paid in dollars and earn like us...is not possible to compete...

that's what we talked about...nd and an explanation why in ukraine there are zillions of uploader with 10000000 files each...not because they like working harder , simply because normal work in most cases have starry inferir to 300 dollar...tha's why. just to put things in perspective why icrtostock is finished in general apart some rare cases. i will move soon to kiev for long period and russia too. winter in asia.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: jonbull on November 24, 2018, 09:19
This is a consequence of globalization. You knew that when you entered the "collaborative economy" where microstock is an excellent example. You have to compete with the world and that means that you have advantages and disadvantages against people that live in other countries. I life  from stock for over 11 years now in an expensive european country with an average all this years of 5k+, the good years much more. I will be playing till I can and when it is not more doable I will look for something else.

By the way "microstock stars" that come from very expensive countries and cities like Denmark,London,etc have adapted. If that means to go to Ukraine or Southafrica then be it. Now to pretend to live in London photographing beauty or food for microstock is a suicide if you ask me. 

ss is earning money..simply put there are more and more files and more nd more desperate contributors especially coming from russia and ukraine who upload zillions of files and the cake is simply spread...zero entry barrier and low cost make this possible.  micro apart one rare case i'd  say 100 200 big contributor will be just an hobby for all the rest.

Good for Russian and Ukraine contributors, if they work hard they deserve to be succesful at this game. Not like others that are always moaning about how hard life is because of others: ucranians,russians,the search engine, obscure agendas,bla bla bla.
Get your act together or pack you bags and go if you don't know how to swim in this sea.

ahh you don't understand the point....they work hard to earn 500 dollar because they can survive..im working pretty hard...im still working now friday at 2 o clock...the point is we are competing with people who pay zero   for shooting...probably even taxes in out cases and have cost of life 2 3 times less than us...but are paid in dollars and earn like us...is not possible to compete...


sorry what advantages?
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Mantis on November 24, 2018, 09:27
Its true!  SS  is collecting all the garbage under the sun! pics that normally would be thrown away are accepted all over the place.

If I had to choose one factor that is hurting SS the most it's this. 
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: nobody on November 24, 2018, 09:34
I wonder if SS should do what Dreamstime does- any image that doesn't sell in a time period is removed. Of course, if SS just didn't accept the poor image in the first place they wouldn't have to worry about cleaning it up!
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Mantis on November 24, 2018, 09:43
I wonder if SS should do what Dreamstime does- any image that doesn't sell in a time period is removed. Of course, if SS just didn't accept the poor image in the first place they wouldn't have to worry about cleaning it up!

Interestingly, I have not received an email from DT on "unsold images" in probably a year.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Pauws99 on November 24, 2018, 09:55
I wonder if SS should do what Dreamstime does- any image that doesn't sell in a time period is removed. Of course, if SS just didn't accept the poor image in the first place they wouldn't have to worry about cleaning it up!

Interestingly, I have not received an email from DT on "unsold images" in probably a year.
Yep me too I realised the other day ;-)
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Pauws99 on November 24, 2018, 09:57
Its true!  SS  is collecting all the garbage under the sun! pics that normally would be thrown away are accepted all over the place.

If I had to choose one factor that is hurting SS the most it's this.
I agree and I suspect the sheer number of images is putting their IT under strain....my belief is they've fallen for the hype that "intellegent" search engines mean the rubbish will be hidden so deep no one need worry. I'd love to hear more from buyers about their experience.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: derek on November 24, 2018, 10:12
Its true!  SS  is collecting all the garbage under the sun! pics that normally would be thrown away are accepted all over the place.

If I had to choose one factor that is hurting SS the most it's this.
I agree and I suspect the sheer number of images is putting their IT under strain....my belief is they've fallen for the hype that "intellegent" search engines mean the rubbish will be hidden so deep no one need worry. I'd love to hear more from buyers about their experience.

Exactly!  but you know there are many kind of buyers you got the ordinary guy who just wants a webbie knows nothing about composition, photography etc and this kind of buyer dont care but then you have the creative buyer type ad-agency, art and creative AD and so forth, designers who demands quality and I can only speak of the ones I know personally, work with and have recommended an agency. They do not go to SS anymore, too time consuming they say, too much irrelevant material to pass. They also bookmark a picture for future ref's go back and because of the constan search-change they cant find it!...oh well...
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: memakephoto on November 24, 2018, 11:48
The hard truth is anyone can take a technically sound photo. A decent DSLR on full auto takes care of the exposure and focus for you and if you shoot in good light noise won't be an issue. TADA a photo SS will accept.

Hence the flood of snap shots coming into the SS collection. Unfortunately there has been a rash of free image sites crop up in recent years. Unsplash, pixabay, pxhere etc. etc. etc. all providing comparable quality images for free.

"Why download an image for free when you can get the same quality...FOR MONEY!" as a marketing strategy, doesn't work.

Those free sites won't go away and will only get bigger so the only way SS and the like can compete is to close the flood gate and curate a collection of high quality images you can't get for free. That and the liability insurance of having model and property releases.

SS is obsessed with having the largest collection in the universe though which has the side effect of making finding a good pic harder for buyers and if good enough is good enough and they don't care so much about releases, the free sites win.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: ShadySue on November 24, 2018, 13:21
They also bookmark a picture for future ref's go back and because of the constan search-change they cant find it!...oh well...
So they bookmark a single picture, and when they try to get it again, the URI for that picture has changed:?
Run a mile from SS in that case. If that's really so, they have totally lost the plot.
(Though to be honest, I can't see how the 'constant search change' would mean a single bookmarked pic couldn't be found. That would have to be a deliberate URI change.)
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: tätarätä on November 24, 2018, 13:35
I guess its more about deleting an image.
If the image is deleted it can't be found and some work of an AD may be destroyed.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: derek on November 24, 2018, 13:41
They also bookmark a picture for future ref's go back and because of the constan search-change they cant find it!...oh well...
So they bookmark a single picture, and when they try to get it again, the URI for that picture has changed:?
Run a mile from SS in that case. If that's really so, they have totally lost the plot.
(Though to be honest, I can't see how the 'constant search change' would mean a single bookmarked pic couldn't be found. That would have to be a deliberate URI change.)

Yep! Just to give you an example! I know an AD at greys Advertising co who constantly buy hundreds perhaps even thousands of fill out shots for annuals, company profiles etc, etc and he always bookmark shots for future use, they all do!  and when he goes back to page this or that the pics are gone of course, why?? well simply because they changed the algorithm which they always do!
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: ShadySue on November 24, 2018, 14:32
I thought 'they' always said that the (only?) advantage of low-cost subs was that lots of pics would be purchased on spec., maybe several for one layout, but not used.
To be honest, if big companies/buyers are that stingy, they deserve to 'lose' files.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Uncle Pete on November 24, 2018, 22:04
I wonder if SS should do what Dreamstime does- any image that doesn't sell in a time period is removed. Of course, if SS just didn't accept the poor image in the first place they wouldn't have to worry about cleaning it up!

How's DT doing? Hmm, they went from 13.6 four years ago, people here earning an average of $680 a month to now, averaging $230 a month. Some great plan?  ::)

I won't neglect that SS has dropped $500 a month for the average person here as well.

Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Mantis on November 25, 2018, 09:32
I wonder if SS should do what Dreamstime does- any image that doesn't sell in a time period is removed. Of course, if SS just didn't accept the poor image in the first place they wouldn't have to worry about cleaning it up!

How's DT doing? Hmm, they went from 13.6 four years ago, people here earning an average of $680 a month to now, averaging $230 a month. Some great plan?  ::)

I won't neglect that SS has dropped $500 a month for the average person here as well.

I've gone from around $180 a month to $20 a month on DT and from $800 a month on SS to, well, this month will be $400, last month $500, so a drop based on a sudden change. 
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Not Today on November 25, 2018, 11:08
The hard truth is anyone can take a technically sound photo. A decent DSLR on full auto takes care of the exposure and focus for you and if you shoot in good light noise won't be an issue. TADA a photo SS will accept.

Hence the flood of snap shots coming into the SS collection. Unfortunately there has been a rash of free image sites crop up in recent years. Unsplash, pixabay, pxhere etc. etc. etc. all providing comparable quality images for free.

"Why download an image for free when you can get the same quality...FOR MONEY!" as a marketing strategy, doesn't work.

Those free sites won't go away and will only get bigger so the only way SS and the like can compete is to close the flood gate and curate a collection of high quality images you can't get for free. That and the liability insurance of having model and property releases.

SS is obsessed with having the largest collection in the universe though which has the side effect of making finding a good pic harder for buyers and if good enough is good enough and they don't care so much about releases, the free sites win.

Any suggestions on how to take down Unsplash, pixabay, pxhere and the likes to force them to close for good? They're clearly driving the prices down, and eating from our sales.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: ShadySue on November 25, 2018, 11:42
Any suggestions on how to take down Unsplash, pixabay, pxhere and the likes to force them to close for good? They're clearly driving the prices down, and eating from our sales.
Not unless you can prove they're doing anything illegal, like giving away stolen files.
Otherwise, it's just what the trad agency members wished they could do with iS, then SS et al, when they started.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: derek on November 25, 2018, 12:15
I wonder if SS should do what Dreamstime does- any image that doesn't sell in a time period is removed. Of course, if SS just didn't accept the poor image in the first place they wouldn't have to worry about cleaning it up!

How's DT doing? Hmm, they went from 13.6 four years ago, people here earning an average of $680 a month to now, averaging $230 a month. Some great plan?  ::)

I won't neglect that SS has dropped $500 a month for the average person here as well.

I've gone from around $180 a month to $20 a month on DT and from $800 a month on SS to, well, this month will be $400, last month $500, so a drop based on a sudden change.


Haha! get this for a laugh!!  this is a right rollercoaster!   I have gone from 2500/month to 1800 down to 800 and nowadays 600!! oh yeah bar Sept which was around 800. this is true!!!  I am down 4 times the amount I originally was earning!.........no wonder people are losing faith in SS.

As far as DT??  dead, dead, just dead!

Now you woul think Adobe would try and capitalize on this BUT they dont they are immitating SS in every move, takes a couple of weeks and they they do exactly what SS is doing!
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: derek on November 26, 2018, 05:51
I think we can safelty assume agencies like SS and Adobe will NEVER go back to its shall we call good days, hey days if you know what I mean. Right now there are two agencies being launched next month.
They are governed by people with huge experience and its 50/50 split with contributors. These are agencies who will gear themselves towards the creative buyers, designers, ad-agency people etc, etc and not to be mistaken for pic off the peg outfits.

Keep your eyes open it might be something who knows?
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: everest on November 26, 2018, 07:16
Unfortunately I think the time for new agencies is long over. Be it 50 or 80% to contributors. Even Stocksy with all their traction,expertise,good will and excellent content is barely making a dent in the global market share, taken by the 3 big players. In the digital world one year late in the game might be a tough barrier to overcome but 10 years late is like the distance between the Milky Way and Andromeda, impossible to overcome with current knowledge.

This is unfortunate but unless something unpredictable and very disrupting happens I don't give any of the new agencies a serious chance to change the actual panorama of the industry.

I think we can safelty assume agencies like SS and Adobe will NEVER go back to its shall we call good days, hey days if you know what I mean. Right now there are two agencies being launched next month.
They are governed by people with huge experience and its 50/50 split with contributors. These are agencies who will gear themselves towards the creative buyers, designers, ad-agency people etc, etc and not to be mistaken for pic off the peg outfits.

Keep your eyes open it might be something who knows?
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Pauws99 on November 26, 2018, 07:25
Unfortunately I think the time for new agencies is long over. Be it 50 or 80% to contributors. Even Stocksy with all their traction,expertise,good will and excellent content is barely making a dent in the global market share, taken by the 3 big players. In the digital world one year late in the game might be a tough barrier to overcome but 10 years late is like the distance between the Milky Way and Andromeda, impossible to overcome with current knowledge.

This is unfortunate but unless something unpredictable and very disrupting happens I don't give any of the new agencies a serious chance to change the actual panorama of the industry.

I think we can safelty assume agencies like SS and Adobe will NEVER go back to its shall we call good days, hey days if you know what I mean. Right now there are two agencies being launched next month.
They are governed by people with huge experience and its 50/50 split with contributors. These are agencies who will gear themselves towards the creative buyers, designers, ad-agency people etc, etc and not to be mistaken for pic off the peg outfits.

Keep your eyes open it might be something who knows?
I think the only hope for a new agency is something truly innovative. "were a bit better than SS" isn't going to cut it. Blockchain is looking pretty dead in the water. A genuinely intelligent search capability which understands an individual buyers needs might do it as  anything that saves them time would be a benefit.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: derek on November 26, 2018, 11:18
Paws and Everest!...well you could be right! however after so many years, 20! of working with all sorts of picture-agencies, for the first time in say the last 10 years, This sounds interesting, like a new avenue and train of thoughts really ( not the usual spiel about join us and all that crap) no the people involved are people with tons of photographic and running, knowing the routine of selling pictures and goes back all the way to 98, thats lots of know how!

Anyway the way I see it is that anything is better then having to be at the mercy of places that house 100-200 million pictures where because of all the garbage accepted some 70% should really have gone into the dustbin!
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Uncle Pete on November 26, 2018, 13:41
They also bookmark a picture for future ref's go back and because of the constan search-change they cant find it!...oh well...
So they bookmark a single picture, and when they try to get it again, the URI for that picture has changed:?
Run a mile from SS in that case. If that's really so, they have totally lost the plot.
(Though to be honest, I can't see how the 'constant search change' would mean a single bookmarked pic couldn't be found. That would have to be a deliberate URI change.)

Yep! Just to give you an example! I know an AD at greys Advertising co who constantly buy hundreds perhaps even thousands of fill out shots for annuals, company profiles etc, etc and he always bookmark shots for future use, they all do!  and when he goes back to page this or that the pics are gone of course, why?? well simply because they changed the algorithm which they always do!

The location or ID of an image doesn't change if the search changes. If you mean the person goes to page six of the search for something, or bookmarks that, that's really a dimwit move. New files come in, old files move, more popular move up. Only a total idiot would bookmark a page of a search for future use! Of course the search changes, it changes in minutes, hours and days, all the time.

Tell the truth, you made this AD persons experience up, right?
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Dumc on November 26, 2018, 13:46
Thanks to higher than usual video, EL and SOD sales, I managed to pull second best month (so far). Othwerwies, number of sales average, number of ODDs also on the lower side. I'm expecting december to be disastreous.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Dumc on November 26, 2018, 13:47
They also bookmark a picture for future ref's go back and because of the constan search-change they cant find it!...oh well...
So they bookmark a single picture, and when they try to get it again, the URI for that picture has changed:?
Run a mile from SS in that case. If that's really so, they have totally lost the plot.
(Though to be honest, I can't see how the 'constant search change' would mean a single bookmarked pic couldn't be found. That would have to be a deliberate URI change.)

Yep! Just to give you an example! I know an AD at greys Advertising co who constantly buy hundreds perhaps even thousands of fill out shots for annuals, company profiles etc, etc and he always bookmark shots for future use, they all do!  and when he goes back to page this or that the pics are gone of course, why?? well simply because they changed the algorithm which they always do!

The location or ID of an image doesn't change if the search changes. If you mean the person goes to page six of the search for something, or bookmarks that, that's really a dimwit move. New files come in, old files move, more popular move up. Only a total idiot would bookmark a page of a search for future use! Of course the search changes, it changes in minutes, hours and days, all the time.

Tell the truth, you made this AD persons experience up, right?

Don't even read what this dude is writing, he's so full of lies, even he probably cannot differentiate between truth and lies from what he's saying.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Pauws99 on November 26, 2018, 13:53
They also bookmark a picture for future ref's go back and because of the constan search-change they cant find it!...oh well...
So they bookmark a single picture, and when they try to get it again, the URI for that picture has changed:?
Run a mile from SS in that case. If that's really so, they have totally lost the plot.
(Though to be honest, I can't see how the 'constant search change' would mean a single bookmarked pic couldn't be found. That would have to be a deliberate URI change.)

Yep! Just to give you an example! I know an AD at greys Advertising co who constantly buy hundreds perhaps even thousands of fill out shots for annuals, company profiles etc, etc and he always bookmark shots for future use, they all do!  and when he goes back to page this or that the pics are gone of course, why?? well simply because they changed the algorithm which they always do!

The location or ID of an image doesn't change if the search changes. If you mean the person goes to page six of the search for something, or bookmarks that, that's really a dimwit move. New files come in, old files move, more popular move up. Only a total idiot would bookmark a page of a search for future use! Of course the search changes, it changes in minutes, hours and days, all the time.

Tell the truth, you made this AD persons experience up, right?

Don't even read what this dude is writing, he's so full of lies, even he probably cannot differentiate between truth and lies from what he's saying.
and miss all that entertainment?
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: derek on November 26, 2018, 14:17
They also bookmark a picture for future ref's go back and because of the constan search-change they cant find it!...oh well...
So they bookmark a single picture, and when they try to get it again, the URI for that picture has changed:?
Run a mile from SS in that case. If that's really so, they have totally lost the plot.
(Though to be honest, I can't see how the 'constant search change' would mean a single bookmarked pic couldn't be found. That would have to be a deliberate URI change.)

Yep! Just to give you an example! I know an AD at greys Advertising co who constantly buy hundreds perhaps even thousands of fill out shots for annuals, company profiles etc, etc and he always bookmark shots for future use, they all do!  and when he goes back to page this or that the pics are gone of course, why?? well simply because they changed the algorithm which they always do!

The location or ID of an image doesn't change if the search changes. If you mean the person goes to page six of the search for something, or bookmarks that, that's really a dimwit move. New files come in, old files move, more popular move up. Only a total idiot would bookmark a page of a search for future use! Of course the search changes, it changes in minutes, hours and days, all the time.

Tell the truth, you made this AD persons experience up, right?

Yes of course I did! ::)
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: derek on November 26, 2018, 14:24
Blimey fellas! hoho!  no one forces you to join anything!  stay stuck here then!!  it was just some info you will find out soon enough anyway. Just an idea people, no big deal! :) :)
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Uncle Pete on November 26, 2018, 14:49
They also bookmark a picture for future ref's go back and because of the constan search-change they cant find it!...oh well...
So they bookmark a single picture, and when they try to get it again, the URI for that picture has changed:?
Run a mile from SS in that case. If that's really so, they have totally lost the plot.
(Though to be honest, I can't see how the 'constant search change' would mean a single bookmarked pic couldn't be found. That would have to be a deliberate URI change.)

Yep! Just to give you an example! I know an AD at greys Advertising co who constantly buy hundreds perhaps even thousands of fill out shots for annuals, company profiles etc, etc and he always bookmark shots for future use, they all do!  and when he goes back to page this or that the pics are gone of course, why?? well simply because they changed the algorithm which they always do!

The location or ID of an image doesn't change if the search changes. If you mean the person goes to page six of the search for something, or bookmarks that, that's really a dimwit move. New files come in, old files move, more popular move up. Only a total idiot would bookmark a page of a search for future use! Of course the search changes, it changes in minutes, hours and days, all the time.

Tell the truth, you made this AD persons experience up, right?

Yes of course I did! ::)

Seems appropriate  ;)

Or maybe if he's real you should warn him, his job is at risk because he's incompetent and shouldn't be in such a position if he can't understand how the Internet works. What logical person would bookmark a search result for anything? I mean if it was an article on Google, the search page could be different in an hour. You have to bookmark the actual location or that or in the case of a photo, the actual photo, not a search?
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: derek on November 26, 2018, 14:55
They also bookmark a picture for future ref's go back and because of the constan search-change they cant find it!...oh well...
So they bookmark a single picture, and when they try to get it again, the URI for that picture has changed:?
Run a mile from SS in that case. If that's really so, they have totally lost the plot.
(Though to be honest, I can't see how the 'constant search change' would mean a single bookmarked pic couldn't be found. That would have to be a deliberate URI change.)

Yep! Just to give you an example! I know an AD at greys Advertising co who constantly buy hundreds perhaps even thousands of fill out shots for annuals, company profiles etc, etc and he always bookmark shots for future use, they all do!  and when he goes back to page this or that the pics are gone of course, why?? well simply because they changed the algorithm which they always do!

The location or ID of an image doesn't change if the search changes. If you mean the person goes to page six of the search for something, or bookmarks that, that's really a dimwit move. New files come in, old files move, more popular move up. Only a total idiot would bookmark a page of a search for future use! Of course the search changes, it changes in minutes, hours and days, all the time.

Tell the truth, you made this AD persons experience up, right?

Don't even read what this dude is writing, he's so full of lies, even he probably cannot differentiate between truth and lies from what he's saying.

This goes against your five core habbits!!...or?.......
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: derek on November 26, 2018, 15:04
They also bookmark a picture for future ref's go back and because of the constan search-change they cant find it!...oh well...
So they bookmark a single picture, and when they try to get it again, the URI for that picture has changed:?
Run a mile from SS in that case. If that's really so, they have totally lost the plot.
(Though to be honest, I can't see how the 'constant search change' would mean a single bookmarked pic couldn't be found. That would have to be a deliberate URI change.)

Yep! Just to give you an example! I know an AD at greys Advertising co who constantly buy hundreds perhaps even thousands of fill out shots for annuals, company profiles etc, etc and he always bookmark shots for future use, they all do!  and when he goes back to page this or that the pics are gone of course, why?? well simply because they changed the algorithm which they always do!

The location or ID of an image doesn't change if the search changes. If you mean the person goes to page six of the search for something, or bookmarks that, that's really a dimwit move. New files come in, old files move, more popular move up. Only a total idiot would bookmark a page of a search for future use! Of course the search changes, it changes in minutes, hours and days, all the time.

Tell the truth, you made this AD persons experience up, right?

Yes of course I did! ::)

Seems appropriate  ;)

Or maybe if he's real you should warn him, his job is at risk because he's incompetent and shouldn't be in such a position if he can't understand how the Internet works. What logical person would bookmark a search result for anything? I mean if it was an article on Google, the search page could be different in an hour. You have to bookmark the actual location or that or in the case of a photo, the actual photo, not a search?

Dont worry about it Pete, water under the bridge by now!.....it wasnt your statement just that it sparks off the usual glibb and waffle brigade!....anyway have you EVER seen or experienced an Art-Director at work looking for a picture in an agency??  utter stress! they will flick through 3-4 pages and then move on! unless its a major campaign then they drool over it for days, why? because the client spends a heck of a lot of money!
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Minsc on November 26, 2018, 15:09
Whether people like it or not, the market is starting to consolidate. It's similar to social networks and search engines of yesteryear trying to compete with each other.

Everyone wants a piece of the pie until 2-3 giants take over the industry. And I believe the 2 giants of the microstock industry will be Shutterstock and Adobe Stock.

Adobe Stock because of its integration with its software and cloud products. Shutterstock because of their resources and business reach. I just don't see iStock or 123RF being able to challenge them in the next 10 years.

There's more competition among contributors than ever on SS and AS and it's not going to get any easier. Some contributors will do well, but most won't. There is no choice but to step up and compete against the best contributors of Microstock if you want success in this industry.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: derek on November 26, 2018, 15:19
Whether people like it or not, the market is starting to consolidate. It's similar to social networks and search engines of yesteryear trying to compete with each other.

Everyone wants a piece of the pie until 2-3 giants take over the industry. And I believe the 2 giants of the microstock industry will be Shutterstock and Adobe Stock.

Adobe Stock because of its integration with its software and cloud products. Shutterstock because of their resources and business reach. I just don't see iStock or 123RF being able to challenge them in the next 10 years.

There's more competition among contributors than ever on SS and AS and it's not going to get any easier. Some contributors will do well, but most won't. There is no choice but to step up and compete against the best contributors of Microstock if you want success in this industry.

Too true! and a good post!........what you say is spot-on!  and thats the time an intelligent person would move on!
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Microstockphoto on November 27, 2018, 05:32
it is one of the worst months in a while, november normally is a good month for me, but all agencies are FAR below average. i am at 25% of what i used to make
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: YadaYadaYada on November 27, 2018, 06:51
Whether people like it or not, the market is starting to consolidate. It's similar to social networks and search engines of yesteryear trying to compete with each other.

Everyone wants a piece of the pie until 2-3 giants take over the industry. And I believe the 2 giants of the microstock industry will be Shutterstock and Adobe Stock.

Adobe Stock because of its integration with its software and cloud products. Shutterstock because of their resources and business reach. I just don't see iStock or 123RF being able to challenge them in the next 10 years.

There's more competition among contributors than ever on SS and AS and it's not going to get any easier. Some contributors will do well, but most won't. There is no choice but to step up and compete against the best contributors of Microstock if you want success in this industry.

Good post and what we might see sooner then 10 years.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: YadaYadaYada on November 27, 2018, 07:13
I think we can safelty assume agencies like SS and Adobe will NEVER go back to its shall we call good days, hey days if you know what I mean. Right now there are two agencies being launched next month.
They are governed by people with huge experience and its 50/50 split with contributors. These are agencies who will gear themselves towards the creative buyers, designers, ad-agency people etc, etc and not to be mistaken for pic off the peg outfits.

Keep your eyes open it might be something who knows?

Eyes open this I want to see happen if truth.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: derek on November 27, 2018, 07:32
I think we can safelty assume agencies like SS and Adobe will NEVER go back to its shall we call good days, hey days if you know what I mean. Right now there are two agencies being launched next month.
They are governed by people with huge experience and its 50/50 split with contributors. These are agencies who will gear themselves towards the creative buyers, designers, ad-agency people etc, etc and not to be mistaken for pic off the peg outfits.

Keep your eyes open it might be something who knows?

Eyes open this I want to see happen if truth.

So do I mate!  so do I!...well there is bound to be "some"  truth in it, question is will the truth be worth to consider as an option?
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: jonbull on November 27, 2018, 11:06
the problem in micro stock is always the same...new content don't sell...established photo with many popular photos high in search engine still earn a lot despite uploading nothing...while to increase sales with new content is practically impossible....one moth of christmas and new year production with content who  5 years ago would have sold like hotcakes, today produce practically zero sales. when you upload content if they are not sold after 10 minutes they go in th garbage between snapshot i cannot even understand why they are uploaded fist and accepted secondly. personally   i m shooting more and more for rm and i hope been accepted by stocksy this year. i worked a lot this year   and so far i have just a  10% earning gain compared to last year and practically same download.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: derek on November 27, 2018, 13:05
the problem in micro stock is always the same...new content don't sell...established photo with many popular photos high in search engine still earn a lot despite uploading nothing...while to increase sales with new content is practically impossible....one moth of christmas and new year production with content who  5 years ago would have sold like hotcakes, today produce practically zero sales. when you upload content if they are not sold after 10 minutes they go in th garbage between snapshot i cannot even understand why they are uploaded fist and accepted secondly. personally   i m shooting more and more for rm and i hope been accepted by stocksy this year. i worked a lot this year   and so far i have just a  10% earning gain compared to last year and practically same download.

Well spoken!! couldnt have said it better myself!
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Minsc on November 27, 2018, 13:48
the problem in micro stock is always the same...new content don't sell...established photo with many popular photos high in search engine still earn a lot despite uploading nothing...while to increase sales with new content is practically impossible....one moth of christmas and new year production with content who  5 years ago would have sold like hotcakes, today produce practically zero sales. when you upload content if they are not sold after 10 minutes they go in th garbage between snapshot i cannot even understand why they are uploaded fist and accepted secondly. personally   i m shooting more and more for rm and i hope been accepted by stocksy this year. i worked a lot this year   and so far i have just a  10% earning gain compared to last year and practically same download.

New content does sell. Of course, not all new content are created equal, so most new content won't sell. The good quality content with good keywording will find its way to the top. It could take weeks or it could take months, but it will find its way.

Don't expect things to go back to the "good old days". The industry was in infancy back then. Now it's a mature adult. It's much harder to please and it demands more from all contributors.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: jonbull on November 27, 2018, 14:14
the problem in micro stock is always the same...new content don't sell...established photo with many popular photos high in search engine still earn a lot despite uploading nothing...while to increase sales with new content is practically impossible....one moth of christmas and new year production with content who  5 years ago would have sold like hotcakes, today produce practically zero sales. when you upload content if they are not sold after 10 minutes they go in th garbage between snapshot i cannot even understand why they are uploaded fist and accepted secondly. personally   i m shooting more and more for rm and i hope been accepted by stocksy this year. i worked a lot this year   and so far i have just a  10% earning gain compared to last year and practically same download.

New content does sell. Of course, not all new content are created equal, so most new content won't sell. The good quality content with good keywording will find its way to the top. It could take weeks or it could take months, but it will find its way.

Don't expect things to go back to the "good old days". The industry was in infancy back then. Now it's a mature adult. It's much harder to please and it demands more from all contributors.

i agree in part...probably i had uploaded too late for holiday begin november...i had two collection in catalog manager one from 2017 files uploaded and i see that dollar  exceed number of file already... one of 2018 where dollar earned are 20% of number of file downloaded....in my opinion lately new files sell pretty low.. i expects good sales for christmas but again is impossible. you can have best keyword in world best images but if your images go fast in page 3 4 5 they are lost forever. too junk is accepted...really sometimes i saw new images and i'm speechless.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Uncle Pete on November 28, 2018, 07:38

New content does sell. Of course, not all new content are created equal, so most new content won't sell. The good quality content with good keywording will find its way to the top. It could take weeks or it could take months, but it will find its way.

Don't expect things to go back to the "good old days". The industry was in infancy back then. Now it's a mature adult. It's much harder to please and it demands more from all contributors.

New content doesn't sell like it used to, "upload today, sell tomorrow" because there's much more competition, much more established old content, yet new content can sell, like old content. I think some people are looking at old content and past sales?

Maybe we should be looking at new content current sales, vs old content current sales. I know that some of my older files that used to sell more often, don't anymore. I also have a few new files that have moved from, new upload, into passing old files that are top 20 in earnings. That's because some of the old are slowing down, while some of the new are gaining.

But what I'm trying to say is, current sales of old vs current sales of new, instead of looking at past history as a comparison, because the good old days are absolutely gone, done, over and never coming back. History in this business might not be an indication of the future, just a reflection of the past.  :)
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: jonbull on November 28, 2018, 08:11

New content does sell. Of course, not all new content are created equal, so most new content won't sell. The good quality content with good keywording will find its way to the top. It could take weeks or it could take months, but it will find its way.

Don't expect things to go back to the "good old days". The industry was in infancy back then. Now it's a mature adult. It's much harder to please and it demands more from all contributors.

New content doesn't sell like it used to, "upload today, sell tomorrow" because there's much more competition, much more established old content, yet new content can sell, like old content. I think some people are looking at old content and past sales?

Maybe we should be looking at new content current sales, vs old content current sales. I know that some of my older files that used to sell more often, don't anymore. I also have a few new files that have moved from, new upload, into passing old files that are top 20 in earnings. That's because some of the old are slowing down, while some of the new are gaining.

But what I'm trying to say is, current sales of old vs current sales of new, instead of looking at past history as a comparison, because the good old days are absolutely gone, done, over and never coming back. History in this business might not be an indication of the future, just a reflection of the past.  :)

good content don't sell because any mental healthy person won't even bother to look for a good file in the mess of new images, so they straight go to popular....look fotolia most sold images of week..always the same stuff....christmas sells mostly 100 photos establish who are in page 1. with this scheme is impossible to increase sales constantly working hard.  impossible. in ss i always selle 90% of files older than 2 years.it looks like having a small fixed income , is not a case i will end with the same earning of last year and i mean same plus minus 50 dollar, and same number of download, despite much more content added. i even doubt that uploading 50k images would be any difference. even if they were good quality.

till they abolish popular and add a curated or serious best reference files, nothing will change, and i say this knowing that i will lose the constant flow of my popular images
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: fotoroad on November 28, 2018, 14:50
I thought I would start the topic for November sales. Sadly, due to poor sales on Shutter my November looks to be worse that what I made even compared to 2014/2015 years. I am sure there will be newbie's claiming BME but I wonder how the veteran's are doing?

So far best November from 2008 for me and also best month from 2008
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Minsc on November 28, 2018, 15:46

New content does sell. Of course, not all new content are created equal, so most new content won't sell. The good quality content with good keywording will find its way to the top. It could take weeks or it could take months, but it will find its way.

Don't expect things to go back to the "good old days". The industry was in infancy back then. Now it's a mature adult. It's much harder to please and it demands more from all contributors.

New content doesn't sell like it used to, "upload today, sell tomorrow" because there's much more competition, much more established old content, yet new content can sell, like old content. I think some people are looking at old content and past sales?

Maybe we should be looking at new content current sales, vs old content current sales. I know that some of my older files that used to sell more often, don't anymore. I also have a few new files that have moved from, new upload, into passing old files that are top 20 in earnings. That's because some of the old are slowing down, while some of the new are gaining.

But what I'm trying to say is, current sales of old vs current sales of new, instead of looking at past history as a comparison, because the good old days are absolutely gone, done, over and never coming back. History in this business might not be an indication of the future, just a reflection of the past.  :)

good content don't sell because any mental healthy person won't even bother to look for a good file in the mess of new images, so they straight go to popular....look fotolia most sold images of week..always the same stuff....christmas sells mostly 100 photos establish who are in page 1. with this scheme is impossible to increase sales constantly working hard.  impossible. in ss i always selle 90% of files older than 2 years.it looks like having a small fixed income , is not a case i will end with the same earning of last year and i mean same plus minus 50 dollar, and same number of download, despite much more content added. i even doubt that uploading 50k images would be any difference. even if they were good quality.

till they abolish popular and add a curated or serious best reference files, nothing will change, and i say this knowing that i will lose the constant flow of my popular images

I don't see the problem with the Popular category. It's what people buys and it's what relevant. Why should new files that are unproven get precedence over files that sells well?

I was on a website that decided to sort their search by rotating images instead of by quality/popularity. The result was a complete failure. All the long time contributors income decreased dramatically and their search result showed low quality images. The website traffic dropped by half in a year because of low quality images in the search.

The communist approach doesn't work in real life or search engines. If a contributor want to rise above the noise, they must create good content and meticulously keyword heck out of it. Automatic keywording tools don't work, neither does keyword suggestions. If you're not putting the same effort into keywording like you do your work, your work will get lost in the flood of new images.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Artist on November 30, 2018, 10:03
Its dead today.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: jonbull on November 30, 2018, 11:12
from the thanksgiving weekend completely dead, i had hope for christmas holiday photos, lot of work, so far disappointing, proving that uploading is in mot cases useless.
only stock is strong performing but with 15 % the red is oo low, pity cause number o download would make it a great contender to ss...fotolia super till 20 with 190 dollar, ten probably 10 dollar.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Zero Talent on November 30, 2018, 11:28
Thanksgiving week was, as expected a bit slow, but sales bounced back again.
On SS, November is a good month, within normal limits.
But the big change comes from AS. November is my 3rd consecutive BME. AS is now just a few dozens dollars shy from the usual SS performance. That's really, really good and refreshing!

I still have to do the overall math tomorrow, but from what I see so far, November is heading towards one of the best months I had lately.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Zero Talent on November 30, 2018, 11:36



Maybe we should be looking at new content current sales, vs old content current sales.

We can do that, if we also consider the fact that even when the production level is kept constant, the new/old ratio is constantly decreasing. Under these assumptions, new will naturally sell less than old.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Uncle Pete on November 30, 2018, 11:50



Maybe we should be looking at new content current sales, vs old content current sales.

We can do that, if we also consider the fact that even when the production level is kept constant, the new/old ratio is constantly decreasing. Under these assumptions, new will naturally sell less than old.

That too.  ;D I just look at new as all files uploaded in 2018, pretty rough math, and look at the income for 2018 files. Then I can look at income for 2017 files. No I'm not doing files since the beginning of time vs new (2018 for example) and you are right, if a ratio, old will always do better because there are just so many more.

I used to have a SS gallery created for oldest 100 files and one for newest 100 files. Waste of time. The old stuff was so bad, lets say 2007, that new always beat them. I could take the time and do 1,000 vs 1,000 but really, nothing interesting as I don't believe the complaining that New files don't have a chance. I see how they are pushed to the front of the search, where they get an unnatural favorite placement. Some catch on and after a couple years, are just as good as old files.

I'll add that some newer files of mine have recently moved into the top ten, pushing down older best sellers. The old still get the same sales they have, but the new are just getting more sales. So no I don't believe there's any differences for new or old files, other than time, competition and quality. I have to say some of my newer files are better and sell more times a year on average.

New file do have a chance if given time.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Pixart on November 30, 2018, 12:24
I'm not sure what minimum payout on SS,  I've never not made payout but I'm guessing this may be the month!  Jeeze,  I made more with 14 photos on my first half month at SS than I did this last month.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Harvepino on November 30, 2018, 12:41
Not so good everywhere.

Adobe just a little down.
But Shutterstock is a real disaster: 50% of my usual monthly average, and 25% of my 2015, 2016 and 2017 Novembers average…
Probably it will be the lowest November of these 5-6 last years…

But all can happen during the last week, the worst… and the best.
Same here. Almost 100k images in port, 50k added this year, working my ass off. Despite that my SS income is decreasing month after month with Nov being a pure catastrophe  :-\ What is going on?
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Minsc on November 30, 2018, 13:24
By some kind of miracle, November became my BME on SS. I knew it was going to be a good month, but this exceeded expectations.

AS had a good month, but nothing to write about compare to last month.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: jonbull on November 30, 2018, 13:41
Not so good everywhere.

Adobe just a little down.
But Shutterstock is a real disaster: 50% of my usual monthly average, and 25% of my 2015, 2016 and 2017 Novembers average…
Probably it will be the lowest November of these 5-6 last years…

But all can happen during the last week, the worst… and the best.
Same here. Almost 100k images in port, 50k added this year, working my ass off. Despite that my SS income is decreasing month after month with Nov being a pure catastrophe  :-\ What is going on?

100k? oh god. what's going on? people uploading like crazy saturating market thats it...i would like to see all those file
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: jonbull on November 30, 2018, 13:56
Not so good everywhere.

Adobe just a little down.
But Shutterstock is a real disaster: 50% of my usual monthly average, and 25% of my 2015, 2016 and 2017 Novembers average…
Probably it will be the lowest November of these 5-6 last years…

But all can happen during the last week, the worst… and the best.
Same here. Almost 100k images in port, 50k added this year, working my ass off. Despite that my SS income is decreasing month after month with Nov being a pure catastrophe  :-\ What is going on?

new files uploaded in 2018 accounts so far for the 10% of this year income....as i said  there is no way if you don't have a lot of popular files already to earn a lot or increase earning...new files, apart the stories of keyboarding and quality, i upload only good files and spent a lot of times in keyboarding, simply are not selling, so how somebody can improve earning considerably?. my 2017 file sold much better, and they were similar in theme and quality for example. the less people sell the more upload saturating even more a market already oversaturated. the only way to achieve results is through quality agency and creativity.
check most files sold in fotolia.......mostly stuff uploaded more than 2 years ago that are on top of popular image for their important keyword, simply because when they were loaded there were 1% of files that are now in collection...yesterday i checked christmas theme search, really who is that crazy buyer who browse through 100000 of snapshots just to buy an image? they simply search popular files and look 2 3 pages no more
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Harvepino on November 30, 2018, 14:13
Not so good everywhere.

Adobe just a little down.
But Shutterstock is a real disaster: 50% of my usual monthly average, and 25% of my 2015, 2016 and 2017 Novembers average…
Probably it will be the lowest November of these 5-6 last years…

But all can happen during the last week, the worst… and the best.
Same here. Almost 100k images in port, 50k added this year, working my ass off. Despite that my SS income is decreasing month after month with Nov being a pure catastrophe  :-\ What is going on?

100k? oh god. what's going on? people uploading like crazy saturating market thats it...i would like to see all those file

We are a studio working on niche market illustrations that require multiple variations, therefore we have large amounts of images. And I mean meaningful variations, not the same call centre worker in the same pose from 50 angles. I am not going to present my port here, but there are several such areas... like if you create illustrations of flags, words, food ingredients... and yes microstock is oversaturated by these, but the theme we are working on turned out to be very successful few years back when I tested it, so I sticked to it and it worked... until now. I have handful of competitors in my area and I compete with providing better quality and more of the meaningful variations. I think that’s what microstock is about, is it not?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Harvepino on November 30, 2018, 14:41
Not so good everywhere.

Adobe just a little down.
But Shutterstock is a real disaster: 50% of my usual monthly average, and 25% of my 2015, 2016 and 2017 Novembers average…
Probably it will be the lowest November of these 5-6 last years…

But all can happen during the last week, the worst… and the best.
Same here. Almost 100k images in port, 50k added this year, working my ass off. Despite that my SS income is decreasing month after month with Nov being a pure catastrophe  :-\ What is going on?

new files uploaded in 2018 accounts so far for the 10% of this year income....
...yesterday i checked christmas theme search, really who is that crazy buyer who browse through 100000 of snapshots just to buy an image? they simply search popular files and look 2 3 pages no more
Very logical explanation jonbull, I couldn't agree more.
I tried it all, "flooding" a segment with tons of good quality illustrations, so that only mine would sell. No they wouldn't. Older, less quality images remained on the first page. I tried going with few, but extremely high quality and time consuming shots in another segment. Not much more success that regular shots. Then some "test" image where I'm just toying with a feasibility of an idea shoots off and occupies the first page of searches for years. Why? To me it looks like the algorithms can't give any sense of the huge numbers of images anymore and it is starting to be a game of randomness, luck... lottery. Is it so?
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: pancaketom on November 30, 2018, 20:43
It looks like a little above the average for the year - so ok for now I guess. highpoint - Alamy - a few biggish sales and a number of smallish (for Alamy) sales. Low point - 123RF - wow, this site has gone from being a solid mid performer to an also ran. I made more there my first full month with under 200 images. SS, AS, and Canva all down from last month for $ and DL.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Steveball on December 01, 2018, 04:26
SS within 5% of every month of the year in downloads and $ as usual (no cap!). AS continues the slow climb (the only positive), everywhere else practically dead.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: dpimborough on December 01, 2018, 06:22
I'm not sure what minimum payout on SS,  I've never not made payout but I'm guessing this may be the month!  Jeeze,  I made more with 14 photos on my first half month at SS than I did this last month.

The minimum payout on SS is $35
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: obj owl on December 01, 2018, 08:26
SS within 5% of every month of the year in downloads and $ as usual (no cap!). AS continues the slow climb (the only positive), everywhere else practically dead.

or you could count yourself as one of the lucky ones, they gave you a safety net, no drop. It's all about your perspective.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Zero Talent on December 01, 2018, 08:33
SS within 5% of every month of the year in downloads and $ as usual (no cap!). AS continues the slow climb (the only positive), everywhere else practically dead.

or you could count yourself as one of the lucky ones, they gave you a safety net, no drop. It's all about your perspective.
"They gave you"!  :o

So it's not the quality of his work, it's just luck and some external force favoring him.

Lol!

Breaking news, conspirator: it's exactly the opposite! He is good and he knows what sells!
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: obj owl on December 01, 2018, 08:49
SS within 5% of every month of the year in downloads and $ as usual (no cap!). AS continues the slow climb (the only positive), everywhere else practically dead.

or you could count yourself as one of the lucky ones, they gave you a safety net, no drop. It's all about your perspective.
"They gave you"!
So it's not the quality of his work, it's just luck and some external force favoring him.

Lol!

Breaking news conspirator: it's exactly the oposite!

They capped you or gave you a safety net is exactly the same thing, my point being for those who complain about the cap maybe denigrating the thing that stops the drop, just a matter of perspective.  I'm not a believer myself, just looking at it from the opposite direction.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: spike on December 01, 2018, 08:52
"Veteran" (since 2009) here; 10% drop compared to Oct2018, and everything on a consisntent downslope.

What's up with Storyblocks? Since they introduced 50% royalty (but you'll get more sales!!) I get almost no sales at all. While before it was around 10 per month, this month I sold 1 (ONE!) clip. Last month 4. And I would need at least 20 sales just to make the same amount of money as before the "GREAT FOR CONTRIBUTORZ!!!1" news. Thinking about dropping them completely.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: sauletas on December 02, 2018, 03:01
Hello,
i was working on my new house for about one year and have no time to work on my videos. I was uploading only ~60 files monthly from my old archives. This year is first time then my sales go down(~20%) compared to last year.
This November is second worst month and worst month on Shutterstock this year for me. 30% down compared to 2017 year November.
It's second time when Pond5 leave Shutterstock on second place.
Here is my top 4 (60$+) compared with November/average of 2017 year:
1.   Pond5         +2% /+19%
2.   Shutterstock -52% /-49%
3.   Fotolia        +50% /+29%
4.   Storyblocks  -20% /-71%
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: tätarätä on December 02, 2018, 05:38
Downloads at AS and Shutter about 20% down compared to oct. But higher RPD. So November income is not so bad.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Pauws99 on December 02, 2018, 06:35
SS within 5% of every month of the year in downloads and $ as usual (no cap!). AS continues the slow climb (the only positive), everywhere else practically dead.

or you could count yourself as one of the lucky ones, they gave you a safety net, no drop. It's all about your perspective.
"They gave you"!  :o

So it's not the quality of his work, it's just luck and some external force favoring him.

Lol!

Breaking news, conspirator: it's exactly the opposite! He is good and he knows what sells!
Quality of work drives sales up....conspiracies general site incompetence  and other peoples actions drive sales down ;-).
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: steheap on December 02, 2018, 20:33
Well, my record of 18 months with a higher earning than the same month in the previous year was lost this month. At least the pressure is off! But still a pretty reasonable month all told:
(https://i1.wp.com/www.backyardsilver.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/EarningsNov2018.png)

Full details as always at my blog: https://www.backyardsilver.com/2018/12/stock-photography-earnings-in-november-2018/ (https://www.backyardsilver.com/2018/12/stock-photography-earnings-in-november-2018/)

Steve
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: pkphotos on December 02, 2018, 20:49
for starters the month is barely more than 2/3 done. also how can things be the same and down 60%? It seems about the same as Oct for me except a few more big sales at Alamy, but the obese female has not sung yet so I don't really know. So, a lot less than during the good years (2011 - 2015) but things haven't fallen off any new cliffs.

Totally ridiculous to start this topic until the month is done.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: pkphotos on December 02, 2018, 20:51
Well, my record of 18 months with a higher earning than the same month in the previous year was lost this month. At least the pressure is off! But still a pretty reasonable month all told:
(https://i1.wp.com/www.backyardsilver.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/EarningsNov2018.png)

Full details as always at my blog: https://www.backyardsilver.com/2018/12/stock-photography-earnings-in-november-2018/ (https://www.backyardsilver.com/2018/12/stock-photography-earnings-in-november-2018/)



Steve


Good looking stats well done, and congratulations you've just encouraged 1000 more newbies to go for it
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: ShadySue on December 02, 2018, 21:06
Good looking stats well done, and congratulations you've just encouraged 1000 more newbies to go for it
Yebbut 995 of them will very soon give up.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: steheap on December 03, 2018, 11:08
Quote
Good looking stats well done, and congratulations you've just encouraged 1000 more newbies to go for it
Yebbut 995 of them will very soon give up.

Exactly. Nowhere on my blog do I say this is easy....

Steve
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Zero Talent on December 03, 2018, 11:52
SS within 5% of every month of the year in downloads and $ as usual (no cap!). AS continues the slow climb (the only positive), everywhere else practically dead.

or you could count yourself as one of the lucky ones, they gave you a safety net, no drop. It's all about your perspective.
"They gave you"!
So it's not the quality of his work, it's just luck and some external force favoring him.

Lol!

Breaking news conspirator: it's exactly the oposite!

They capped you or gave you a safety net is exactly the same thing, my point being for those who complain about the cap maybe denigrating the thing that stops the drop, just a matter of perspective.  I'm not a believer myself, just looking at it from the opposite direction.

Yeah, each one of us has an inescapable destiny, predefined by The Shutterstock God!
I get it! It's simple, really!
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: obj owl on December 03, 2018, 14:31
SS within 5% of every month of the year in downloads and $ as usual (no cap!). AS continues the slow climb (the only positive), everywhere else practically dead.

or you could count yourself as one of the lucky ones, they gave you a safety net, no drop. It's all about your perspective.
"They gave you"!
So it's not the quality of his work, it's just luck and some external force favoring him.

Lol!

Breaking news conspirator: it's exactly the oposite!

They capped you or gave you a safety net is exactly the same thing, my point being for those who complain about the cap maybe denigrating the thing that stops the drop, just a matter of perspective.  I'm not a believer myself, just looking at it from the opposite direction.

Yeah, each one of us has an inescapable destiny, predefined by The Shutterstock God!
I get it! It's simple, really!

Without being facetious it really is that simple.  We are all subject to the shutterstock search, I don't know how it works, neither do you and it will stay that way no matter how many conspiracy theories it throws up.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Zero Talent on December 03, 2018, 22:05
SS within 5% of every month of the year in downloads and $ as usual (no cap!). AS continues the slow climb (the only positive), everywhere else practically dead.

or you could count yourself as one of the lucky ones, they gave you a safety net, no drop. It's all about your perspective.
"They gave you"!
So it's not the quality of his work, it's just luck and some external force favoring him.

Lol!

Breaking news conspirator: it's exactly the oposite!

They capped you or gave you a safety net is exactly the same thing, my point being for those who complain about the cap maybe denigrating the thing that stops the drop, just a matter of perspective.  I'm not a believer myself, just looking at it from the opposite direction.

Yeah, each one of us has an inescapable destiny, predefined by The Shutterstock God!
I get it! It's simple, really!

Without being facetious it really is that simple.  We are all subject to the shutterstock search, I don't know how it works, neither do you and it will stay that way no matter how many conspiracy theories it throws up.

That's only the difference between believers and agnostics. You forgot the atheists ;)
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Pauws99 on December 04, 2018, 03:25
SS within 5% of every month of the year in downloads and $ as usual (no cap!). AS continues the slow climb (the only positive), everywhere else practically dead.

or you could count yourself as one of the lucky ones, they gave you a safety net, no drop. It's all about your perspective.
"They gave you"!
So it's not the quality of his work, it's just luck and some external force favoring him.

Lol!

Breaking news conspirator: it's exactly the oposite!

They capped you or gave you a safety net is exactly the same thing, my point being for those who complain about the cap maybe denigrating the thing that stops the drop, just a matter of perspective.  I'm not a believer myself, just looking at it from the opposite direction.

Yeah, each one of us has an inescapable destiny, predefined by The Shutterstock God!
I get it! It's simple, really!

Without being facetious it really is that simple.  We are all subject to the shutterstock search, I don't know how it works, neither do you and it will stay that way no matter how many conspiracy theories it throws up.

That's only the difference between believers and agnostics. You forgot the atheists ;)
As an atheist I believe what we sell is a combination of luck and skill there is no God pointing down and saying "Today I will give Joe Bloggs a bad day".
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Zero Talent on December 04, 2018, 11:00
SS within 5% of every month of the year in downloads and $ as usual (no cap!). AS continues the slow climb (the only positive), everywhere else practically dead.

or you could count yourself as one of the lucky ones, they gave you a safety net, no drop. It's all about your perspective.
"They gave you"!
So it's not the quality of his work, it's just luck and some external force favoring him.

Lol!

Breaking news conspirator: it's exactly the oposite!

They capped you or gave you a safety net is exactly the same thing, my point being for those who complain about the cap maybe denigrating the thing that stops the drop, just a matter of perspective.  I'm not a believer myself, just looking at it from the opposite direction.

Yeah, each one of us has an inescapable destiny, predefined by The Shutterstock God!
I get it! It's simple, really!

Without being facetious it really is that simple.  We are all subject to the shutterstock search, I don't know how it works, neither do you and it will stay that way no matter how many conspiracy theories it throws up.

That's only the difference between believers and agnostics. You forgot the atheists ;)
As an atheist I believe what we sell is a combination of luck and skill there is no God pointing down and saying "Today I will give Joe Bloggs a bad day".

As a fellow "atheist", I concur!  :)
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Not Today on December 04, 2018, 15:13
And Grit.  ;D
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: wollwerth on December 06, 2018, 10:01
I've been in stock since 2005. November was excellent, but mostly because of AS, which has been growing tremendously, and also because of video sales. SS was good, but mostly because the last day of the month there were several video and single sales. Pretty much every other site has been dropping. I'm only putting any effort into three sites anymore.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: ole999 on December 06, 2018, 10:32
at Shutterstock everything is drowning in millions of crappy smartphone images from contributors in India.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Video-StockOrg on December 06, 2018, 11:26
And they've become extremely picky with stock footage... rejecting many clips that were in the near past (1 year ago and more) 100% acceptable.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: markstout on December 06, 2018, 11:49
My micro stock income is going down across the boards, all agencies, all months over the last few years despite creating more and better work over the same period of time.

The worst drop in income is at Shutterstock.  Between 2014 and 2015 my November earnings fell to half of what they were the previous year.  Between 2015 and 2016 earnings again fell to half their previous level.  Same between 2016 and 2017.  And once again in 2018 I'm looking at half the previous year's earnings for November.

The problem is Shutterstock is taking on close to 200,000 new images per day.  Most of it is crap, but the good images have no chance of being found in the garbage dump.  I've also noticed Shutterstock is working hard to place articles in the media about how you can become a millionaire selling stock.... probably in an effort to get new contributors to replace the ones that are figuring out it doesn't work.  This only makes the situation worse.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: jonbull on December 07, 2018, 10:31
My micro stock income is going down across the boards, all agencies, all months over the last few years despite creating more and better work over the same period of time.

The worst drop in income is at Shutterstock.  Between 2014 and 2015 my November earnings fell to half of what they were the previous year.  Between 2015 and 2016 earnings again fell to half their previous level.  Same between 2016 and 2017.  And once again in 2018 I'm looking at half the previous year's earnings for November.

The problem is Shutterstock is taking on close to 200,000 new images per day.  Most of it is crap, but the good images have no chance of being found in the garbage dump.  I've also noticed Shutterstock is working hard to place articles in the media about how you can become a millionaire selling stock.... probably in an effort to get new contributors to replace the ones that are figuring out it doesn't work.  This only makes the situation worse.

you said all. i already said this but people said i have problem with keyword...i upload more of 500 images of christmas and newer from mid october to now....in fotolia and is they are selling like hotcakes, in is this day i have nearly doubled my image view...in ss nothing zero, even can stock and 123rf sell something...in ss i still have the same constant daily  sales of 25 30 old files who luckily had good position on image search thanks to the fact in the past images of good quality had chance to sell...today is impossible...nobody is unhealthy mentally to search the new images, 80% of images accepted today are garbage i would be ashamed to have take...any agency has this crap...istock fotolia accept a lot but nothing so low quality like ss. is not a case that ss is the only agency to have just popular and new...any relevant, curator pick or other category.   that' why many photographer still sell a lot despite having stopped to upload or work.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: jonbull on December 07, 2018, 10:34
at Shutterstock everything is drowning in millions of crappy smartphone images from contributors in India.








i agree they are collapsing...and china and other big third world country still haven't discovered.....that's hy is fotolia are growing and ss still same....they don't have a clue what they are doing....and n the sea of garbage they want sell premium stock footage.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Sean Locke Photography on December 31, 2018, 09:33
December is the  worst month is SS I’ve evperienced since Feb 2014, which was the second month I was on the site.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: jjneff on December 31, 2018, 13:46
Nov and Dec. have both been a train wreck for me SS is pitiful, Adobe is at least steady, P5 is decent, VB barley there. Here is too 2019 and better times ahead!
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Sean Locke Photography on December 31, 2018, 14:30
And then I get a $210 video royalty, lol.  Still a terrible month.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on December 31, 2018, 19:47
Glad the video royalty goosed the numbers a bit, but I agree with the overall picture - SS is not doing as well as it did (for me).

The last three months of the year have always been the peak earners for me, and taking a look at Oct - Dec at SS this year, compared to 2013 (the peak Q4 earnings for me at SS), earnings were down 65% and downloads down 72% from 2013

Q4 this year, AS/FT beat SS - a first for me.

Comparing SS Q4 this year to 2017, earnings were down 48% and downloads down 27%

I have to go back to 2011 (when I was still re-uploading my portfolio after switching back to independence after 3 years as an IS exclusive) to see lower Q4 earnings (although downloads this year are still down 22% on 2011 Q4!)

Bottom line is that SS is still a decent earner, but falling behind itself and AS. It's reminiscent of the switchover from IS being the top earner to SS as #1 many years back. The king is dead; long live the king (as it were)
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: pancaketom on December 31, 2018, 20:31
I have to go back to May 2007 for a worse month at SS - that was when I had ~250 images.
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Orchidpoet on December 31, 2018, 21:32
December is the  worst month is SS I’ve evperienced since Feb 2014, which was the second month I was on the site.

SS sold 0 video clip for me in December even though I have made into over 1000 list.

Hope to have better luck in the new year.

Happy New Year!
Title: Re: November Sales
Post by: Steveball on January 01, 2019, 05:48
Lowest downloads and earnings in 10 years except for my 1st year, AS beat SS nearly every month which is the only positive. It's the opposite of what I expected would happen with regular uploads.