Author Topic: Best Match Update (Read 3684 times)

nataq · « **Reply #25 on:** September 28, 2011, 00:57 »

For the moment I don´t seem too much affected, because I uploaded a lot recently. What I fear though and it almost feels like panic in retrospective to what has happened since the beginning of the year, is that buyers will leave iStock.

Make a search for "beach running" - there are four files from a single contributor that are almost identical in the top 30 results. I´d be very surprised if this is what buyers want.

lagereek · « **Reply #26 on:** September 28, 2011, 01:05 »

How on earth can ANYBODY believe this is the best match, buyers want? this is the best match, Getty wants, why? because it suits the TS search. Buyers dont care as long as they find what theyre looking for, new or old, who cares.

iclick · « **Reply #27 on:** September 28, 2011, 02:33 »

Yes just been playing around with it and have to say that it is disappointing and anything but a "best match", well for my searches anyway

ShadySue · « **Reply #28 on:** September 28, 2011, 05:34 »

Yes, I did wonder about file size, I've heard this theory before, and it would certainly explain these three files' consistent top position. Two of the top-best match renders are way ahead on downloads, but the third is about the same as the top photos in the search for dls, and all of the high-selling photos were off the first page of 200 over the weekend and until yesterday at least.

dhanford · « **Reply #29 on:** September 28, 2011, 05:39 »

Good grief, I hope they change the best match up again. Either that or turn on the 'ON' switch to my port again. This week is dead...

holgs · « **Reply #30 on:** September 28, 2011, 13:29 »

I'm doing ok with this version as well - not great, but the fact that about 1/4 of my online portfolio is less than 3 mths old should help a bit.

The problem with the current best match is that for some searches - "Business" for example you get the same familiar faces - all files with over 1000 DLS - the invincible files.

Other searches, "Croatia" for example which happens to have my highest selling file (just under 500 DLS) has 48 files from the same contributor that were uploaded in the last week, most of which feature tiny sailing boats over an ocean. My file meawhile has dropped to about #1000 in that search. I doubt that this is really the sort of result people are looking for in that search.

The problem is there just doesn't seem to be any balance.

gostwyck · « **Reply #31 on:** September 28, 2011, 14:07 »

Quote from: holgs on September 28, 2011, 13:29

I doubt that this is really the sort of result people are looking for in that search.

The problem is there just doesn't seem to be any balance.

You can say that again. It's not that difficult to do surely? SS have always presented a good selection of the best images to buyers whilst also giving new images a chance to be seen. It always works and no contributor, as far as I'm aware, has ever felt the effect of a tweak on their income. Certainly not the wild swings that we've had for years at IS.

SNP · « **Reply #32 on:** September 29, 2011, 11:09 »

sales are consistent and surging here. I know that's not the case for everyone, but within my contributor friends group, we all seem to be reporting similar surges. in test searches, I'm seeing a good best match right now. including independent files, a mix of exclusive, E+, vectors, video, audio and a peppering of Vetta and Agency. not sure what I would do to improve on that. what are the specific problems people are seeing? I do see some weighting on newer files....

some of the test terms I use are:

business
family
woman
man
holiday
children
businessman
beach

aeonf · « **Reply #33 on:** September 29, 2011, 12:00 »

Surging here as well.

ShadySue · « **Reply #34 on:** September 29, 2011, 17:46 »

Despite Lobo saying it was 'as they wanted it,' it's still yoyoing. In one search, one of my files had the top position for at least five days until yesterday, just now it isn't in the top 200 (but others are, which weren't there yesterday).

loop · « **Reply #35 on:** September 29, 2011, 17:52 »

I think is changin all the tme, but it's no bad for me. Vettas sales have clearly risen dor me , wich is strange, because Vetta is now less visible, more sunken by the best match.

PaulieWalnuts · « **Reply #36 on:** September 29, 2011, 18:11 »

It changed again today.

Oddly, most of my files have moved toward the front of their searches and today has been a slow day.

Didn't lobo just say they were going to leave it alone for a while? A while must mean a couple days in IS time.

ProArtwork · « **Reply #37 on:** September 29, 2011, 20:48 »

Yep, it changed again and so far pretty good in four days.

aethelflaed · « **Reply #38 on:** September 30, 2011, 08:00 »

Looks like the algorithm changed again last night.... now more heavily weighted in favor of images with more downloads.......

holgs · « **Reply #39 on:** September 30, 2011, 08:18 »

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on September 29, 2011, 18:11

It changed again today.

Oddly, most of my files have moved toward the front of their searches and today has been a slow day.

Didn't lobo just say they were going to leave it alone for a while? A while must mean a couple days in IS time.

They must have realised how bad that version was in practice - to me this new version produces a more polished looking result, and still has some newer files in the mix. It will be interesting to see how long this stays and the results it produces.

aethelflaed · « **Reply #40 on:** September 30, 2011, 08:50 »

I agree.... there are now more files that have already proven themselves at the top.... but with newer files interspersed among them.....

Before the change though, for the last few days, I was enjoying some of my most recently submitted files actually getting dowloaded.... it usually takes FOREVER for a new file to catch on.....

Paulo M. F. Pires · « **Reply #41 on:** September 30, 2011, 11:08 »

As "beginner" i've been aware of search changes, and with so "few work" to worry about, its easier to see if changes are better or not:

My "beloved" f16 ( btw is marked as photo+ ) and keywords "army plane" ( same keywords put it on first page on SS and FT by relevance )

- Before Best Match Update: Almost like "Oceanic Flight 815"...
- Some days gone to 1st page, but behind another f-16 that i've there, with 0 downloads, no photo+ <-- And here I agree that isn't fair for nobody...
- Today stills on first page, on the top, and other image "flight over".

So the search itself, "personally", are better. For sales itself: still not working so good as SS or FT.

ProArtwork · « **Reply #42 on:** September 30, 2011, 12:32 »

Quote from: holgs on September 30, 2011, 08:18

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on September 29, 2011, 18:11
It changed again today.

Oddly, most of my files have moved toward the front of their searches and today has been a slow day.

Didn't lobo just say they were going to leave it alone for a while? A while must mean a couple days in IS time.

They must have realised how bad that version was in practice

I think this is the way the new Best Match will be. Constantly changing every other day. Some people will benefit and maybe so will not.

Buzbuzzer · « **Reply #43 on:** September 30, 2011, 14:27 »

Still waiting for 2 things on Istock:

-best match selection sliders (price,rating,download,age), ajustables by each users. No more complains every time best match change..

-Price slider for each photo, ajustable by the owner. No more complains about price changes..