MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => Bigstock.com => Topic started by: LSD72 on October 29, 2010, 09:37

Title: Is it still alive???
Post by: LSD72 on October 29, 2010, 09:37
I went back and checked my sales at Bigstock since the SS buyout. I have had a total of 4 sales there since then. WTH?

Where is this marketing push from SS that The Admins have been claiming was coming since January? I dont see it. I upload the same stuff there that I do with SS. I think it was Warren Price that mentioned it took him 2 years to reach payout. A Payout of $50.

I just need $19 more to make payout then they are on the chopping block for me.. so maybe 1 1/2 years from now I can get my $50? Just disappointing.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: luissantos84 on October 29, 2010, 09:38
I went back and checked my sales at Bigstock since the SS buyout. I have had a total of 4 sales there since then. WTH?

Where is this marketing push from SS that The Admins have been claiming was coming since January? I dont see it. I upload the same stuff there that I do with SS. I think it was Warren Price that mentioned it took him 2 years to reach payout. A Payout of $50.

I just need $19 more to make payout then they are on the chopping block for me.. so maybe 1 1/2 years from now I can get my $50? Just disappointing.

DEAD!
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: m@m on October 29, 2010, 09:57
I'm $0.50 away from a payout and not one sale this month to be able to cash in ???...maybe they should be call BIG DEAD instead of Big Stock :P
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: oboy on October 29, 2010, 10:01
I reach about 2-3 payouts per year there. Sales for October are a little bit up compared to September, but nothing to brag about. And then I have about 2-3 month per year where there is a spike in sales.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: WarrenPrice on October 29, 2010, 10:29
I went back and checked my sales at Bigstock since the SS buyout. I have had a total of 4 sales there since then. WTH?

Where is this marketing push from SS that The Admins have been claiming was coming since January? I dont see it. I upload the same stuff there that I do with SS. I think it was Warren Price that mentioned it took him 2 years to reach payout. A Payout of $50.

I just need $19 more to make payout then they are on the chopping block for me.. so maybe 1 1/2 years from now I can get my $50? Just disappointing.

Yep!  It took two years to reach the $50 payout.  That was very frustrating since it was increased from $30 after I started.  I guess ALL the sites reserve the right to change the rules anytime they feel like it.   >:(

BUT ... I'm really on a roll now; $17.50 since that June 22 payout.   ::) :o ;D
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: lienkie on October 29, 2010, 10:32
BIG DEAD indeed
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: luissantos84 on October 29, 2010, 10:48
I went back and checked my sales at Bigstock since the SS buyout. I have had a total of 4 sales there since then. WTH?

Where is this marketing push from SS that The Admins have been claiming was coming since January? I dont see it. I upload the same stuff there that I do with SS. I think it was Warren Price that mentioned it took him 2 years to reach payout. A Payout of $50.

I just need $19 more to make payout then they are on the chopping block for me.. so maybe 1 1/2 years from now I can get my $50? Just disappointing.


Yep!  It took two years to reach the $50 payout.  That was very frustrating since it was increased from $30 after I started.  I guess ALL the sites reserve the right to change the rules anytime they feel like it.   >:(

BUT ... I'm really on a roll now; $17.50 since that June 22 payout.   ::) :o ;D

My total is on 85$, in BigStock since April 09
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: Blufish on October 29, 2010, 11:12
I tried uploading 3 times yesterday. Everytime I finished, I would get an error. Lovely.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: fotografer on October 29, 2010, 11:26
I've never done  well there but it doesn't seem to be getting any worse than normal.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: helix7 on October 29, 2010, 11:55
Having a BME there. Not sure why I'm having luck when it sounds like no one else is.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: RT on October 29, 2010, 11:56
I've never done  well there but it doesn't seem to be getting any worse than normal.

+1
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: microstockphoto.co.uk on October 29, 2010, 12:04
sales are stable, but very low unfortunately
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: PixelsAway on October 29, 2010, 13:27
Sales are quite stable, a payout every month.
However, all my middle tier sites (BigStock, 123RF, CanStockPhoto) are doing worse this month
than in September. Veer is within low earners for me.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: cathyslife on October 29, 2010, 14:54
Having a BME there. Not sure why I'm having luck when it sounds like no one else is.

I'm not having any BMEs, but since SS bought and they did the redesign of the site and did some advertising, I have had one payout and I'm about halfway to another. Nothing earthshattering, but far from dead for me. And I haven't been doing any new uploading for a few months, either.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: Beach Bum on October 29, 2010, 16:04
Since the buyout, my sales have dramatically increased.  This month has been an exception, though.  Sales are way down. 
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: lisafx on October 29, 2010, 16:14
Having a BME there. Not sure why I'm having luck when it sounds like no one else is.

I had a BME there last month.  Not quite on track for another this month, but sales are steady for me.  Not sure why so many are seeing sales drops.  

My long dry season there was at the beginning of this year.  Things picked up when they were bought out. 
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: LSD72 on October 29, 2010, 17:25
Well, I am glad some of you are getting something out of them. For me, I was starting to gain a little momentum before SS bought them. After that it was like my sales fell off a cliff while still selling at SS with the same photos.

In their forums, the Admin said wait for the Marketing Push. Now I see ads for SS, IS, CS... but have yet to even see one single Ad for BS on these website I go to. I just wonder what kinda of push was it supposed to be.

Maybe Dawn will pop up out of nowhere again with some information.

I probably should have put in a poll for a easier look at who is doing good vs. who is not.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: madelaide on October 29, 2010, 18:37
July/August/September were very slow months for me there, but now it's normal.  Slow, but steady, 4th place in the micros as usual (after IS/DT/FT and light-years ahead of 123RF). Actually almost equal to DT this month, but it's more DT's problem that BigStock's success.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: luissantos84 on October 29, 2010, 19:13
July/August/September were very slow months for me there, but now it's normal.  Slow, but steady, 4th place in the micros as usual (after IS/DT/FT and light-years ahead of 123RF). Actually almost equal to DT this month, but it's more DT's problem that BigStock's success.

4th place is something.. too bad BigStock perform this way for me :P... I can say that it is light years from 123RF :P
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: Allsa on October 29, 2010, 21:09
I've had a much better than average month at BigStock. I'm hoping I'll be able to keep up the good momentum for Nov. It's up and down month to month for me there, very unpredictable.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: donding on October 29, 2010, 21:21
I used to have pretty regular sales there before the takeover...but now I get one every now and then. Their review process takes longer than any other site...besides Veer..
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: luissantos84 on October 29, 2010, 22:02
I used to have pretty regular sales there before the takeover...but now I get one every now and then. Their review process takes longer than any other site...besides Veer..

thats a new one at least for me... less than 24h never had more..
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: rubyroo on October 30, 2010, 05:29
I wouldn't say I've seen a drop overall - but I've certainly never seen the much-hoped for increases since Shutterstock took over.  If anything, sales went down for months after the takeover, and have picked up to more normal levels in the last few moths.

It would be great to get an official update of some sort, as the intro to the takeover held such promise.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: donding on October 30, 2010, 17:53
I used to have pretty regular sales there before the takeover...but now I get one every now and then. Their review process takes longer than any other site...besides Veer..

thats a new one at least for me... less than 24h never had more..

Which one Veer or Bigstock? As for Bigstock, they use to be fast but haven't been for me for awhile.

Probably a difference in portfolio's....yours is much more impressive than mine... ;)
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: luissantos84 on October 30, 2010, 19:31
I used to have pretty regular sales there before the takeover...but now I get one every now and then. Their review process takes longer than any other site...besides Veer..

thats a new one at least for me... less than 24h never had more..

Which one Veer or Bigstock? As for Bigstock, they use to be fast but haven't been for me for awhile.

Probably a difference in portfolio's....yours is much more impressive than mine... ;)

far from impressive...! BigStock always less than one day
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: fotografer on November 17, 2010, 03:14
Not sure what's happening there the last week or so but I am selling 2 - 3 times more than I usually do.:)
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: Koufax73 on November 17, 2010, 03:23
Here in November: zero sales... As I said before: Very Little Stock...
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: sarah2 on November 17, 2010, 03:58
If not dead then fairly close I'd say. I used to get a slow but continuing trickle of sales - now a sale is rare indeed. Portfolio is small and fairly unexceptional - but other sites are generally ticking over nicely.
At this rate my first payout could be in time to contribute to my pension....!
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: borg on November 17, 2010, 04:50
Clinically dead! Probably "big brother" will come to switch off appliances ... :D
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: sharpshot on November 17, 2010, 05:04
The last two months have been great for me, almost back to their peak.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: redo on November 17, 2010, 07:48
stable at 2%.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: helix7 on November 17, 2010, 08:34

I'm on pace for another BME this month, probably by a good amount, too.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: Carl on November 17, 2010, 09:02
Bigstock is definitely a low earner / low priority site for me.  I joined in mid April of this year, I have 257 images in my portfolio, 264 rejected (the highest rejection rate of all the sites that I submit to), I can only submit ten photos at a time, and it's now taking about two weeks to get them inspected.  That means I can now only submit 20 photos per month.  I've had two sales.  I'm thinking it can only get better.  Let's hope I'm right.

It seems strange to me that I submit the photos that are approved by Bigstock and other sites as my initial ten on SS only to have them rejected.  I've submitted my initial 10 photos six times so far.  One submission included only the photos that were approved in previous submissions, and they got rejected.  It seems to be a moving target.  (I've been a video contributor at SS for a few years now.)
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: FD on November 17, 2010, 09:18
My best match was in March 2008 with 1/3 of the photos I have now. Their search engine is totally biased, since most of my sales were from only 3-5 shots from 2005. That stopped but this month I only got sales of images 3 years and older. That's why I stopped uploading June 2010. It doesn't matter. For a credit buyer, DT is a much better choice.

As an illustration how far their search engine is off, look for "engineer". On page one we see of course the most famous hubby of the hemisphere ( ;)) (very appropriate) but also this one (http://www.bigstockphoto.com/image-191261/stock-photo-engineering) with no engineer at all (next (http://www.bigstockphoto.com/image-191263/stock-photo-engineer) or next (http://www.bigstockphoto.com/image-216665/stock-photo-architecture--engineering)), and this evergreen (http://www.bigstockphoto.com/image-2734350/stock-photo-engineer) (on BS) with on cam flash and loads of similars in a lame pose.

That's why I'd never consider buying at BS (BullSh*) and SS made a bad pick.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: lisafx on November 17, 2010, 14:17

As an illustration how far their search engine is off, look for "engineer". On page one we see of course the most famous hubby of the hemisphere ( ;)) (very appropriate) but also this one ([url]http://www.bigstockphoto.com/image-191261/stock-photo-engineering[/url]) with no engineer at all (next ([url]http://www.bigstockphoto.com/image-191263/stock-photo-engineer[/url]) or next ([url]http://www.bigstockphoto.com/image-216665/stock-photo-architecture--engineering[/url])), and this evergreen ([url]http://www.bigstockphoto.com/image-2734350/stock-photo-engineer[/url]) (on BS) with on cam flash and loads of similars in a lame pose.


Glad to see hubby is well represented :)

Checking the keywords of that image with no engineer in sight, it does have the keyword
"engineer" in it, so it looks like the error is in the keywording, rather than the search engine.  Keyword spam is still a huge problem, but one all the sites seem to have to one degree or another....
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: WarrenPrice on November 17, 2010, 14:58
According to what others are saying, I must be doing okay.  Running about $10 a month on 500 images.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: jm on November 17, 2010, 16:33
I'm occasional buyer at BS. It's better for me to spend couple dollars that I made there this way than to wait one year for payout.   :-\
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: madelaide on November 17, 2010, 19:30
Sales seem to be at the normal pace there: slow but steady.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: ibogdan on November 17, 2010, 20:28
10$ with only 500 online images? You're doin' well, my average month is about 5-6$ with nearly 2000 images...
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: RacePhoto on December 01, 2010, 03:08
I went back and checked my sales at Bigstock since the SS buyout. I have had a total of 4 sales there since then. WTH?

Where is this marketing push from SS that The Admins have been claiming was coming since January? I dont see it. I upload the same stuff there that I do with SS. I think it was Warren Price that mentioned it took him 2 years to reach payout. A Payout of $50.

I just need $19 more to make payout then they are on the chopping block for me.. so maybe 1 1/2 years from now I can get my $50? Just disappointing.

Except for only needing $15 to get out, I'd say you summed it up for me too. I was figuring 2012 if I'm lucky. Or I can just give up and walk away. One way or another, I'm not uploading anything new, with their retention rules, so if I reach payout, I can get the money and shut them off.

Mostly I think BS has died and someone needs to turn off the lights when they shut down the server. Sales have dropped and dropped since the takeover, and I was also hoping for improvement not worse sales? I used to get at least one sale a month, not it's down to one every three months. So much for my optimism that SS would make it better because I like SS for their own site, management and sales.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: lisafx on December 01, 2010, 17:05
This is so weird that people are reporting such poor sales with BigStock.  Just did my stats there and my $ are up 33% since same time last year.  They have shown some of the best growth of any site I am on.  Wonder if they have been changing up the search order there and I am just on the best side of it?
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: WarrenPrice on December 01, 2010, 17:29
^^
Me 2.  Just at a much lower magnitude than Lisa.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: LSD72 on December 01, 2010, 17:59
Still at the same level as when I started this thread...lol. No more sales since then either.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: lisafx on December 01, 2010, 18:23
^^
Me 2.  Just at a much lower magnitude than Lisa.

Glad I am not the only one Warren :)
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: Allsa on December 01, 2010, 18:37
This is so weird that people are reporting such poor sales with BigStock.  Just did my stats there and my $ are up 33% since same time last year.  They have shown some of the best growth of any site I am on.  Wonder if they have been changing up the search order there and I am just on the best side of it?

Same here, my Oct '10 earnings were much better than Oct '09.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: sarah2 on December 02, 2010, 05:35
My sales also truly feeble... Used to tick over ok (I've still got quite a small port), but lately zip...nada.... niente....
At current rate of sales will NEVER reach payout in my lifetime....!
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: FD on December 02, 2010, 05:56
At current rate of sales will NEVER reach payout in my lifetime....!
That depends on your lifetime  :P
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: RacePhoto on December 09, 2010, 01:14
This is so weird that people are reporting such poor sales with BigStock.  Just did my stats there and my $ are up 33% since same time last year.  They have shown some of the best growth of any site I am on.  Wonder if they have been changing up the search order there and I am just on the best side of it?

I could blame the photographer and the fact that buyers have good taste and don't buy my stuff anymore. That would be taking personal responsibility and being mature. Why ruin a good whining session with being reasonable? ;)

Probably harder to explain is why I had better sales for two years, before the buyout, instead of questioning why the same portfolio doesn't sell now. I'm not sure why any of it ever sold. :D

I haven't uploaded a new photo in about a year, which could be why the sales are down. Fair enough if they use something like SS where people who upload, get better placement in searches. It would be a simple and fair explanation. I just need to live two more years so I can reach $50 and close my account.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: BaldricksTrousers on December 09, 2010, 01:35
Mine seem to be picking up a bit after a lousy earlier part of the year but the performance is patchy and I'm still 30% short of my BME in Nov 08. With half-a-dozen sales on a good day and none on a bad day my sample isn't large enough to iron out the randomness even looking at it month by month.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: NancyCWalker on December 13, 2010, 15:15
BME was Aug 09. Nov came in 4th, tied with Feb 09 and Jul 09.

They are 3.5% of my downloads and just under 4% of my income. This puts them in my top 4 with SS, IS and DT in that order.
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: ibogdan on December 13, 2010, 17:05
Worse from month to month and I stopped uploading a few weeks ago.
With a portfolio of over 2000 images, I sold a single photo this month!
Not good!
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: Red Dove on December 14, 2010, 09:00
No good for me. Dropped from around 5% to 1% of my earnings this last six months. I still upload 30-50 images once a month, but probably won't bother in 2011
Title: Re: Is it still alive???
Post by: disorderly on December 14, 2010, 09:57
They're doing okay, not great but just okay for me.  Down 17% from 2009 to 2010, which isn't as bad as Dreamstime at -26%.  BigStock is 4.9% of my total for the year, which puts them in 7th behind SS, iS, Ftl, 123, Veer (thanks to the D4¢) & DT.