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Author Topic: Exclusive vs Not  (Read 11115 times)

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« on: June 12, 2018, 08:36 »
0
Hi All,
Is there a definitive answer on which pays more, iStock exclusive vs multi site approach for vector illustration? Between 2007 and 2011 I uploaded 60+ to iStock and was exclusive. I averaged $200+ with many making $1,500+ over time. The primary advantage was the best match placement. I have been inactive for awhile now, but may start again. I would prefer to just manage one account if the end result is comparable. I understand the "eggs in one basket" risk and don't need feedback on Getty, just curious about the $.

cheers!

I should note, I don't understand the 142.9 Earnings rating on the sidebar.
« Last Edit: June 12, 2018, 09:09 by JackRabbit »


Clair Voyant

« Reply #1 on: June 12, 2018, 13:03 »
+2
How long is a piece of string?

« Reply #2 on: June 12, 2018, 19:24 »
+3
If it still made sense to be exclusive at iStock, I don't think I'd see the mass exodus of long-time exclusives that I've seen (not representative sample, I know).

I don't think the earnings numbers account for different media, so anything you see there for exclusive earnings may be hard to do anything useful with

You also should look at the current prices and royalties for illustrations. Just about everything has changed there since 2011.

AnS

« Reply #3 on: June 13, 2018, 00:33 »
0
I do vector illustrations and have been wondering about this, but decided against it. The basic rate for illustrations is 20% and the maximum you could get as exclusive is 45% (with 110.000 downloads - the 40% with 16.500 downloads looks more achievable), which is a bit more than double. If being exclusive means more favorable search position, that could add to the final earnings sum, not sure how much though.

This year iStock/Getty is my highest earning agency and it makes up for about 40-50% of my total. That means if I would go exclusive with them the end result MIGHT be pretty comparable; but it would also mean that I am more at risk to the changes of only one site and I rather stay with more options.

There is no definitive answer, the choice is yours. :)

« Reply #4 on: June 13, 2018, 00:35 »
+4
I think the only people for who it might have any sense are well established contributors with a personal following. For a new entrant to go Exclusive seems either a huge gamble or just plain daft  ::)

niktol

« Reply #5 on: June 13, 2018, 08:05 »
0
Hi All,
Is there a definitive answer on which pays more, iStock exclusive vs multi site approach for vector illustration? Between 2007 and 2011 I uploaded 60+ to iStock and was exclusive. I averaged $200+ with many making $1,500+ over time. The primary advantage was the best match placement. I have been inactive for awhile now, but may start again. I would prefer to just manage one account if the end result is comparable. I understand the "eggs in one basket" risk and don't need feedback on Getty, just curious about the $.

cheers!

I should note, I don't understand the 142.9 Earnings rating on the sidebar.

Do I understand it correctly that an average illustration uploaded in ~2007 made $200 in total by now? When was the majority of income made? Did you upload anything more recently, perhaps 2-3 years ago?

Don't worry about the 142.9 rating. This supposedly means income weight as a result of a very biased survey.

« Reply #6 on: June 13, 2018, 08:29 »
+1
Quote
Do I understand it correctly that an average illustration uploaded in ~2007 made $200 in total by now? When was the majority of income made? Did you upload anything more recently, perhaps 2-3 years ago?

Don't worry about the 142.9 rating. This supposedly means income weight as a result of a very biased survey
.


I uploaded 63 files. I have made a over $20,000 on iStock which is around $300 per file. I don't have my exact numbers because I lost all the data when they went to ESP. Some made a lot and others very little. I am still getting some downloads, but the bulk came in 2009-2012. I dropped exclusivity in 2016 to see what SS was like. My iStock placement and downloads plummeted as expected. The added SS did not make up the difference so I went back to exclusive. They key is in the search results. Most of the old files have moved far down in the search.

niktol

« Reply #7 on: June 13, 2018, 08:54 »
0
Most of the old files have moved far down in the search.

That's very natural for 10 year-old files. If you upload old files to another stock, that's not very likely to create new interest, because they have been out there anyway. You've got to start uploading new content to see how it works out today, because the first question you should answer IMO is not what's better, exclusive or not, but if returning to stock for you is worthwhile at all.

If let's say, it is decided that you are doing it, then depending on how much time you spend on an average illo, the numbers you are showing are quite reasonable for today's non-exclusive scenery if you play your cards right. That's a big if as you should understand. I've never been exclusive and never will be, so you have to see for yourself if it's any better. Unfortunately, it's hard to predict what it's going to be for you without some serious experimenting over the time of a year or two.

wds

« Reply #8 on: June 13, 2018, 09:16 »
0
Another factor which complicates the decision is collection placement. This applies to photos, not sure about other types of assets. As a non-exclusive, your content gets placed in a lower price collection vs. exclusives and as I understand it will not move between collections if you become exclusive.

« Reply #9 on: June 13, 2018, 09:27 »
+1
Another factor which complicates the decision is collection placement. This applies to photos, not sure about other types of assets. As a non-exclusive, your content gets placed in a lower price collection vs. exclusives and as I understand it will not move between collections if you become exclusive.

Yes, right this is huge and forgot to mention. I uploaded a new file yesterday and plan on uploading a few more to check out the landscape.

« Reply #10 on: June 13, 2018, 09:35 »
0

Quote
If let's say, it is decided that you are doing it, then depending on how much time you spend on an average illo, the numbers you are showing are quite reasonable

If you are suggesting that it is still reasonable to average $300 per illustration that is great to hear.

niktol

« Reply #11 on: June 13, 2018, 09:46 »
0

Quote
If let's say, it is decided that you are doing it, then depending on how much time you spend on an average illo, the numbers you are showing are quite reasonable

If you are suggesting that it is still reasonable to average $300 per illustration that is great to hear.

They are good reasonable, not bad reasonable. Just like far from every illustration will make $300 (or more), same is with people. The fact that you used to be able to generate those sales tells me that you know what you're doing.

« Reply #12 on: June 13, 2018, 11:48 »
0
Exclusive

wds

« Reply #13 on: June 13, 2018, 13:37 »
0
Another factor which complicates the decision is collection placement. This applies to photos, not sure about other types of assets. As a non-exclusive, your content gets placed in a lower price collection vs. exclusives and as I understand it will not move between collections if you become exclusive.

Yes, right this is huge and forgot to mention. I uploaded a new file yesterday and plan on uploading a few more to check out the landscape.

Yes it is huge...then the question comes if you are non-ex and are thinking about becoming exclusive do you stop uploading or upload with images forever being in a lower price collection?

« Reply #14 on: June 14, 2018, 04:49 »
0
Did anyone tried this - you upload your images/footage while non-exclusive and then when and if you decide to become
exclusive you delete all yours previous images/footage and reupload them then as exclusive so they change collection
and go from essentials to signature???

Is it even possible???

Thank you.
Stay well.

« Reply #15 on: June 14, 2018, 10:26 »
+2
... if you decide to become
exclusive you delete all yours previous images/footage and reupload them then as exclusive....
You cannot delete images at istock.
Exclusivity at istock only make sense when you get lot of images in Signature + Collection.
If you don't have lots of premium stuff that ist demanded in Signature + Collection forget exclusivity at istock.

« Reply #16 on: June 14, 2018, 10:41 »
0
ok, but how can you get to Signature + collection?
As i understand while you are non-exclusive all of yours images end in essential collection no matter quality of them..only way to get in signature or signature + collection is to be exclusive....

And btw no matter what they put in their eula you can always delete images..only you will need some court room for that  ;)
or a not even decent hacker to fu** up their web port...  ;)
never underestimate the power of "violence"...they practise same crap on us...  ;D ;D ;D ;) ;) ;)

« Reply #17 on: June 14, 2018, 10:48 »
+2
ok, but how can you get to Signature + collection?
Can only talk about photography.
First - you must be an exclusive contributor.
second - shoot highly demanded images - like lifestyle.
third - luck.

« Reply #18 on: June 15, 2018, 00:34 »
+1
don't you mean contributing and getting competely ripped off vs not contributing

derek

    This user is banned.
« Reply #19 on: June 15, 2018, 01:15 »
0
IS exclusives are very careful in letting anybody know how thy are doing. They dont want any intruders! period! I know quite a few personally and they are doing very, very well indeed!

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #20 on: June 15, 2018, 01:40 »
+3
Be aware that not all exclusives are doing well (I'm earning between 1/3 and 1/4 of my previous earnings, but as that also applies to rpd, I haven't submitted anything for almost two years) . Some are, those with very high shooting expenses. However, I don't know how vector/ raster artists are doing, and the different media have tended to differ in terms of returns.

derek

    This user is banned.
« Reply #21 on: June 15, 2018, 02:21 »
0
Be aware that not all exclusives are doing well (I'm earning between 1/3 and 1/4 of my previous earnings, but as that also applies to rpd, I haven't submitted anything for almost two years) . Some are, those with very high shooting expenses. However, I don't know how vector/ raster artists are doing, and the different media have tended to differ in terms of returns.

Sure Sue! I know but considering the right content not so much quantity but the right commercial content many are doing just fine. Frankly I have myself considered that rather then having a spread of images all over the place and considering the way SS and Adobe are acting etc to delete all ports ( not the RM ports) and throw it all into IS. :)

« Reply #22 on: June 15, 2018, 07:42 »
0
I have been exclusive to istock till 2013. I am shooting mostly food. Downloads were decreasing every month since 2011.
My content just doesn't fit to the exclusive collection. It was just to expensive. Customers getting much more of the same or better work for less money at istock.
If you are doing a search at istock exclusive vs non ex and filtering the last 30 days of upload date.
At Food there are 1/11 of the new images exclusive content.
A very hard competition for food photographers being exclusive at istock.
You need a joker to compete, like a medium format camera with 50+ MP, a good food stylist, etc.
At Lifestyle images there are about 1/3 of the new images exclusives.
If you are good at shooting lifestyle you probably can win the exclusive game.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #23 on: June 15, 2018, 15:41 »
+1
Frankly I have myself considered that rather then having a spread of images all over the place and considering the way SS and Adobe are acting etc to delete all ports ( not the RM ports) and throw it all into IS. :)
Yebbut you've been swithering for a couple of years at least, so you're clearly not fully convinced.

derek

    This user is banned.
« Reply #24 on: June 16, 2018, 00:42 »
0
Frankly I have myself considered that rather then having a spread of images all over the place and considering the way SS and Adobe are acting etc to delete all ports ( not the RM ports) and throw it all into IS. :)
Yebbut you've been swithering for a couple of years at least, so you're clearly not fully convinced.

Well Im convinced as far as earnings, yes!  but its also lots of hassle like 6 months wait, deleting all files at all other agencies. Not something done in 5 minutes.


 

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