Author Topic: Istockphoto Best Match Tweak 5/27/11 (Read 28518 times)

PaulieWalnuts · « **on:** May 27, 2011, 06:14 »

Looks like there was a substantial tweak today. Vetta/Agency are less dominant at the top of the search results. A lot of non-V/A files are mixed in that seem to have either high view/download ratio or high downloads.

Maybe the forcefed Vetta/Agency experiment didn't boost sales. Or they're listening to buyers complaining about the heavy V/A search results and pricing.

Either way, looks like an improvement to me and hopefully to buyers too.

ShadySue · « **Reply #1 on:** May 27, 2011, 06:57 »

Wow, a big change indeed.
For A/V I've been keeping my eye on 'horse', not because I've got a vested interest, but because there was for a very long time only one file in the top 200 which wasn't V or A.
Now the top file by best match (in my geographic bias) is an independent, not even P+.
(Now to check the searches I do have a vested interest in).

ayzek · « **Reply #2 on:** May 27, 2011, 09:23 »

Really big change.
Let's hope it has not been done by mistake.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #3 on:** May 27, 2011, 09:44 »

Huge change - take a look at the searches I've been keeping tabs on (using Sean's greasemonkey script to sort a page of 200 results). I think the issue will be how long they leave it this way - I'm assuming there will be screams of complaints from Vetta/Agency heavies. It will take a while for buyers to realize that they now have a more reasonable mix of results. And of course turning collections on and off would still be better than any mix.

nataq · « **Reply #4 on:** May 27, 2011, 10:11 »

Wow, but since they announced they aren´t going to make huge changes anymore, I bet this was done by mistake.

Unfortunately it doesn´t look too different from "sort by downloads" now, so I guess new files will hardly sell if it stays like this.

helix7 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 27, 2011, 10:24 »

Between this and the current "sale" (aka the price reduction experiment), I'd say it's pretty clear that HQ is having some 2nd thoughts about their strategy.

traveler1116 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 27, 2011, 10:26 »

Best Match should look similar to the search by downloads with weighting on searched for keywords. New files are not the best matched files until buyers decide that, the problem was that new fiels (Vetta and Agency) went straight to the top. They didn't represent the best match at all.

nataq · « **Reply #7 on:** May 27, 2011, 10:31 »

Quote from: traveler1116 on May 27, 2011, 10:26

Best Match should look similar to the search by downloads with weighting on searched for keywords. New files are not the best matched files until buyers decide that, the problem was that new fiels (Vetta and Agency) went straight to the top. They didn't represent the best match at all.

Not if the buyer doesn´t see the image. I for one will wait how things develop before I upload some more new content. I have lost too many images with changes like that. But I really do appreciate the change - can´t have all at once I guess.

lagereek · « **Reply #8 on:** May 27, 2011, 11:10 »

If this best match, is NOT a mistake? I will be an extremely rich man. Buy you all a beer.

ShadySue · « **Reply #9 on:** May 27, 2011, 11:13 »

Having a really lousy day today. One sale just after midnight, iStock time and nothing since.
Mind you, I had only 2 XSm sales on Monday.

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #10 on:** May 27, 2011, 11:34 »

It's lousy for me, too, but Fridays sometimes are.

lagereek · « **Reply #11 on:** May 27, 2011, 11:37 »

Sue! Im sorry to hear that but something is cooking thats for sure I had in the region of 50- P+ sales yesterday.

Karimala · « **Reply #12 on:** May 27, 2011, 11:40 »

What I'm noticing is my low-sales images are selling today...and more specifically they are images I deliberately chose not to add to P+. Heh. Go figure. But I'm not complaining...glad to see these shots selling!

Sadstock · « **Reply #13 on:** May 27, 2011, 12:56 »

Quote from: ShadySue on May 27, 2011, 11:13

Having a really lousy day today. One sale just after midnight, iStock time and nothing since.
Mind you, I had only 2 XSm sales on Monday.

-------------------
Monday in the US is memorial day, the unoffical start of summer, so many folks in the U.S. are on vacation.

My standard search is back to a normal distribution like it was a year ago, so in theory my sales should pick up.

jsmithzz · « **Reply #14 on:** May 27, 2011, 13:04 »

I'm not going to start breaking out the champagne just yet. Just a matter of time before Kelly and crew thrown a wrench into something else.

ShadySue · « **Reply #15 on:** May 27, 2011, 13:06 »

Quote from: Sadstock on May 27, 2011, 12:56

Quote from: ShadySue on May 27, 2011, 11:13
Having a really lousy day today. One sale just after midnight, iStock time and nothing since.
Mind you, I had only 2 XSm sales on Monday.
-------------------
Monday in the US is memorial day, the unoffical start of summer, so many folks in the U.S. are on vacation.

UK Bank Holiday on Monday, and likewise a lot of people take today off, but most offices are open today, at least in Scotland.
Stupidly, I was comparing with the comparable Friday last year: that way lies madness.

Sadstock · « **Reply #16 on:** May 27, 2011, 13:13 »

Quote from: nataq on May 27, 2011, 10:11

Wow, but since they announced they aren´t going to make huge changes anymore, I bet this was done by mistake.

You believed them? :-)

PaulieWalnuts · « **Reply #17 on:** May 27, 2011, 16:11 »

Quote from: ayzek on May 27, 2011, 09:23

Really big change.
Let's hope it has not been done by mistake.

I don't think this is a mistake. They're experimenting to see which best match mix makes the most money.

Seems like this was a pretty drastic change to dilute Vetta/Agency. Who knows why but maybe sales stalled from buyers spending elsewhere. If buyers start getting "comeback to us" emails like "we've improved our search to balance pricing" that would confirm they took a hit from forcing Vetta/Agency.

I couldn't blame them for trying. Does anybody really know where this is all going or what buyers are willing to spend? I doubt it. What if they forced Vetta/Agency and sales quadrupled while download volume continued to grow? You won't know where the limit is until you cross over it. Looks like they may have just found the limit.

lisafx · « **Reply #18 on:** May 27, 2011, 16:24 »

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on May 27, 2011, 11:34

It's lousy for me, too, but Fridays sometimes are.

Terrible here as well. With a best match change away from V/A I would expect to benefit, but today's downloads aren't showing it.

With the US holiday weekend, though, it's not a good time to get an accurate sense of what the new best match is doing to sales.

SNP · « **Reply #19 on:** May 27, 2011, 16:46 »

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on May 27, 2011, 11:34

It's lousy for me, too, but Fridays sometimes are.

it's not a great shift for me either. a number of other more prolific contributors I know were buzzing today about sales being down too, so personally I'm hoping this is not the latest best match. having said that, it's just one day and we all know these tweaks will keep happening.

franckreporter · « **Reply #20 on:** May 27, 2011, 16:53 »

I'm not a top seller top, I only have 32 images in VEtta collection, but with the best match shake now is really a disaster ....

much worse than that of March 27, 2011 ... (last shake best match)

yesterday was for me almost BDE and I had not noticed strange changes in the ordering of best match

this morning everything seems to be revolutionized and give priority to old images with thousands of downloads, while new images are located in the bottom of the search ...

I hope that someone at 'HQ can act on this choice, because the sort as it is now sucks and looks the same sorting for download ....

today less than 70% compared to last Friday

SNP · « **Reply #21 on:** May 27, 2011, 16:56 »

^ as someone said earlier, it's also going to slow down over the summer and this weekend is a US holiday weekend.

lisafx · « **Reply #22 on:** May 27, 2011, 16:59 »

Quote from: SNP on May 27, 2011, 16:56

it's also going to slow down over the summer

^^That thought scares the He11 out of me. Sales have been so bad the last couple of months, a summer slowdown would just about grind them to a halt.

helix7 · « **Reply #23 on:** May 27, 2011, 17:28 »

Quote from: lisafx on May 27, 2011, 16:59

That thought scares the He11 out of me. Sales have been so bad the last couple of months, a summer slowdown would just about grind them to a halt.

Same here. May is my worst month at istock since 2007. I can't imagine how bad the summer will be.

Actually I can. It'll be back to my 2006 earnings levels.

Hint: I started in microstock in 2007.

SNP · « **Reply #24 on:** May 27, 2011, 17:34 »

March/April & May were all pretty good months here. but I am seeing some bad days here and there with the latest best match tweaks.

last summer wasn't too bad, so I'm hoping this summer will be similar. but summer is a slow period so likely we'll all see some slowdown.

Slovenian · « **Reply #25 on:** May 27, 2011, 17:36 »

Quote from: helix7 on May 27, 2011, 17:28

Quote from: lisafx on May 27, 2011, 16:59
That thought scares the He11 out of me. Sales have been so bad the last couple of months, a summer slowdown would just about grind them to a halt.

Same here. May is my worst month at istock since 2007. I can't imagine how bad the summer will be.

Actually I can. It'll be back to my 2006 earnings levels.

Hint: I started in microstock in 2007.

How can it possibly be worse than your very first year?

Did u stopped uploading completely at the end of 2007 or what? This can't be some alternative style of sarcasm...

dbvirago · « **Reply #26 on:** May 27, 2011, 17:41 »

But don't post about it there. A new thread with 4 posts.

Answered by Lobo and locked.
"Sorry. Daily best match discussion aren't happening. Have a nice Friday."

franckreporter · « **Reply #27 on:** May 27, 2011, 17:50 »

in the german forum someone speak about the best match shake !

Slovenian · « **Reply #28 on:** May 27, 2011, 17:55 »

Quote from: franckreporter on May 27, 2011, 17:50

in the german forum someone speak about the best match shake !

Time to run it through google translate:)

lisafx · « **Reply #29 on:** May 27, 2011, 19:30 »

Quote from: helix7 on May 27, 2011, 17:28

May is my worst month at istock since 2007. I can't imagine how bad the summer will be.

Actually I can. It'll be back to my 2006 earnings levels.

Hint: I started in microstock in 2007.

LOL! ^^You got me with that one.

lagereek · « **Reply #30 on:** May 28, 2011, 00:04 »

So far the sale and the best match tweak has been extremley good to me. If you look at the present best match, youll find its exactly the same as it was prior to the change a few moths back.
Well, I cant see any differance anyway.

franckreporter · « **Reply #31 on:** May 28, 2011, 00:40 »

Quote from: lagereek on May 28, 2011, 00:04

So far the sale and the best match tweak has been extremley good to me. If you look at the present best match, youll find its exactly the same as it was prior to the change a few moths back.
Well, I cant see any differance anyway.

Hi Lagereek, I'm not very much agree ....

the present order is far from that of March 27 and that of five months ago ...

perhaps before, there were less images V / A of now but this way is truly devastating for those with new material with a few downloads ....

as I said it are emphasis material with many old dwn, and the excellence of istock (V / A) is thrown in the middle somewhere

lagereek · « **Reply #32 on:** May 28, 2011, 01:23 »

Quote from: franckreporter on May 28, 2011, 00:40

Quote from: lagereek on May 28, 2011, 00:04
So far the sale and the best match tweak has been extremley good to me. If you look at the present best match, youll find its exactly the same as it was prior to the change a few moths back.
Well, I cant see any differance anyway.

Hi Lagereek, I'm not very much agree ....

the present order is far from that of March 27 and that of five months ago ...

perhaps before, there were less images V / A of now but this way is truly devastating for those with new material with a few downloads ....

as I said it are emphasis material with many old dwn, and the excellence of istock (V / A) is thrown in the middle somewhere

Well you might be right, maybe im thinking of the best match, the way it was prior to 5 months back. In one major search, with 15000 results, in one of my own categories, I find exactly the same 6 images on page 1, as were there 5 months ago. Hardly coincidence is it?
In any case, I think the best match now is, shall we say a bit more fair and show more variety then before.

Ofcourse, now all hell will probably break lose on the IS forum with Vetta/agency contributors screaming like mad, feeling out of joint.

Slovenian · « **Reply #33 on:** May 28, 2011, 03:43 »

I just hope they tweak it that way, that the fresh material will come in front and even better if the emphasis was on the last 12 months

. Surely most buyers want to get fresh stuff, otherwise they can just search it by DLs

ShadySue · « **Reply #34 on:** May 28, 2011, 03:50 »

Quote from: Slovenian on May 28, 2011, 03:43

I just hope they tweak it that way, that the fresh material will come in front and even better if the emphasis was on the last 12 months . Surely most buyers want to get fresh stuff, otherwise they can just search it by DLs

If they want fresh stuff, they can sort by age.

Slovenian · « **Reply #35 on:** May 28, 2011, 04:04 »

Quote from: ShadySue on May 28, 2011, 03:50

Quote from: Slovenian on May 28, 2011, 03:43
I just hope they tweak it that way, that the fresh material will come in front and even better if the emphasis was on the last 12 months . Surely most buyers want to get fresh stuff, otherwise they can just search it by DLs
If they want fresh stuff, they can sort by age.

Nice one

. So I'll stick to the material posted within the last 12 months. My sales would probably at least quadruple (yes, I uploaded over 95% within the last year)

franckreporter · « **Reply #36 on:** May 28, 2011, 05:01 »

Quote from: ShadySue on May 28, 2011, 03:50

Quote from: Slovenian on May 28, 2011, 03:43
I just hope they tweak it that way, that the fresh material will come in front and even better if the emphasis was on the last 12 months . Surely most buyers want to get fresh stuff, otherwise they can just search it by DLs
If they want fresh stuff, they can sort by age.

fresh stuff but with some download for certify that are very good images....if you sort only for date you find everythings

loop · « **Reply #37 on:** May 28, 2011, 05:09 »

Agree. Best sellers, even if from 2003 or 2004, are best sellers for a reason, and it's good to have them again well weigthed and positioned in the best match.

Slovenian · « **Reply #38 on:** May 28, 2011, 05:16 »

Quote from: franckreporter on May 28, 2011, 05:01

Quote from: ShadySue on May 28, 2011, 03:50
Quote from: Slovenian on May 28, 2011, 03:43
I just hope they tweak it that way, that the fresh material will come in front and even better if the emphasis was on the last 12 months . Surely most buyers want to get fresh stuff, otherwise they can just search it by DLs
If they want fresh stuff, they can sort by age.

fresh stuff but with some download for certify that are very good images....if you sort only for date you find everythings

But if don't get any exposure, they can hardly get sales

lagereek · « **Reply #39 on:** May 28, 2011, 06:12 »

Quote from: loop on May 28, 2011, 05:09

Agree. Best sellers, even if from 2003 or 2004, are best sellers for a reason, and it's good to have them again well weigthed and positioned in the best match.

Couldnt agree more!

best

gostwyck · « **Reply #40 on:** May 28, 2011, 07:16 »

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on May 27, 2011, 06:14

Looks like there was a substantial tweak today. Vetta/Agency are less dominant at the top of the search results. A lot of non-V/A files are mixed in that seem to have either high view/download ratio or high downloads.

Maybe the forcefed Vetta/Agency experiment didn't boost sales. Or they're listening to buyers complaining about the heavy V/A search results and pricing.

Either way, looks like an improvement to me and hopefully to buyers too.

The words 'deck-chairs' and 'Titanic' somehow spring to mind. Too little too late.

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #41 on:** May 30, 2011, 14:24 »

Ahh nice, sales are picking up again... I was waiting for the change.

lagereek · « **Reply #42 on:** May 30, 2011, 14:35 »

Yep! the cash is just rolling in! good times!

Slovenian · « **Reply #43 on:** May 30, 2011, 14:37 »

For me too...On SS

Graffoto · « **Reply #44 on:** May 30, 2011, 14:38 »

Quote from: lagereek on May 30, 2011, 14:35

Yep! the cash is just rolling in! good times!

Shhhhh, quiet. They'll hear you and change the algorithm again just to muck it up for you!

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #45 on:** May 30, 2011, 15:53 »

For some reason, I'm still mired in a holiday weekend.

lisafx · « **Reply #46 on:** May 30, 2011, 16:28 »

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on May 30, 2011, 15:53

For some reason, I'm still mired in a holiday weekend.

Right there with you, Balderick.

PaulieWalnuts · « **Reply #47 on:** June 01, 2011, 06:23 »

Looks like they shifted the best match back to the way it was before this latest tweak.

I'm showing Vetta/Agency dominating search again.

The images I keep an eye on are almost in the exact same positions as before.

ShadySue · « **Reply #48 on:** June 01, 2011, 06:46 »

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on June 01, 2011, 06:23

Looks like they shifted the best match back to the way it was before this latest tweak.

I'm showing Vetta/Agency dominating search again.

The images I keep an eye on are almost in the exact same positions as before.

Yup, my checks are showing the same, and funnily I just had a Vetta sale about 10 mins ago.
So they must have been making more with Vetta?Agency at the top after all.
Who would have guessed?
Sh*t for the rest of us though. Best get on with Plan B - apart from the original ingestion, I don't have any other Vetta files.

lagereek · « **Reply #49 on:** June 01, 2011, 06:50 »

Im not surprised, a little bird sang into my ear this would happen. Ofcourse theyre making more money on Vettas/agency files, theyre a lot more expensive for starters, logic isnt it.
Never mind, ther are more then one road to Rome.

Phil · « **Reply #50 on:** June 01, 2011, 06:56 »

mine hasn't changed, best match for me is pretty much the more downloads the further back it is, no or low downloads p1-3, flames start about 8+

ShadySue · « **Reply #51 on:** June 01, 2011, 07:00 »

Quote from: lagereek on June 01, 2011, 06:50

Im not surprised, a little bird sang into my ear this would happen. Ofcourse theyre making more money on Vettas/agency files, theyre a lot more expensive for starters, logic isnt it.

Only if enough buyers choose to buy them.
Maybe the ones who complain on the forums about V/A priority must be a tiny minority.

caspixel · « **Reply #52 on:** June 01, 2011, 09:24 »

An angry directive must have come from higher up to put things back the way they were and go back to pushing the expensive stuff on the buyers.

lagereek · « **Reply #53 on:** June 01, 2011, 09:36 »

Quote from: ShadySue on June 01, 2011, 07:00

Quote from: lagereek on June 01, 2011, 06:50
Im not surprised, a little bird sang into my ear this would happen. Ofcourse theyre making more money on Vettas/agency files, theyre a lot more expensive for starters, logic isnt it.
Only if enough buyers choose to buy them.
Maybe the ones who complain on the forums about V/A priority must be a tiny minority.

Take my word for it, The Vetta/agency outdo the rest, anytime. Why do you think its changed back? for the fun of it. Well, if by some strange reason they dont and they are still changing it back, then were in the hands of a charity organization.

Difydave · « **Reply #54 on:** June 01, 2011, 09:56 »

And there was me looking at it yesterday and thinking some sanity had returned!
I wondered why the DLs had suddenly stopped today.
Curse. Swear. Expletive!
I seriously wonder how much longer exclusivity will be for me if they're going to rig the pack in this way.

lagereek · « **Reply #55 on:** June 01, 2011, 10:06 »

No chance!

In the searches that concerns me, theres one blue flame on the whole first page, my own, apart from that the entire page is Vetta files with hardly any DLs at all, small sizes, really crummy generic stuff shot from outside, real neewbie stuff. No disrespect but any buyer on that search will just move on, especially after seeing all the junk.

I dont mind taking second place after say Bill Rivelli of Image-Bank, but this? I mean, last thing they can do is at least make searches reasonably attractive. Who . is gonna pay Vetta prices for amateur compositions, etc.
Having said that and come to think about it, IS, doesnt seem to house too clever buyers either nowdays.

caspixel · « **Reply #56 on:** June 01, 2011, 10:11 »

Quote

Take my word for it, The Vetta/agency outdo the rest, anytime.

Quote from: lagereek on June 01, 2011, 10:06

Who . is gonna pay Vetta prices for amateur compositions, etc.

LOL. Can you make up your mind? One minute it's "iStock is making bank on Vetta/Agency" the next, it's "who is going to even buy it".

lagereek · « **Reply #57 on:** June 01, 2011, 10:15 »

Quote from: caspixel on June 01, 2011, 10:11

Quote
Take my word for it, The Vetta/agency outdo the rest, anytime.

Quote from: lagereek on June 01, 2011, 10:06
Who . is gonna pay Vetta prices for amateur compositions, etc.

LOL. Can you make up your mind? One minute it's "iStock is making bank on Vetta/Agency" the next, it's "who is going to even buy it".

Yes they are! nothing to do with my mind, they are making fortunes on Vettas in the fields of Lifestyles, etc. Thats where even a neewbie with a Kodak Instamatic can score. My field is a little too intricate for them people. They cant gain access.

Purposely I monitored the DLs, on these images and now 5 days later, the total amount of DLs are 8, and that on a full first page, my own was DLd 12 times. How about that. Good business hey?

?

As I said, dont mind at all to play second fiddle to good commercial stuff, its interesting to the onlooker, the buyer and then they will buy.

SNP · « **Reply #58 on:** June 01, 2011, 10:38 »

I have to say that I hope sales this week reflect the holiday in the US and not the new best match. this week my sales are at 60% of what they are normally and last summer was pretty good so I don't think it's suddenly summer slowdown. I certainly hope this isn't the latest greatest best match trend for me.

lagereek · « **Reply #59 on:** June 01, 2011, 10:46 »

Quote from: SNP on June 01, 2011, 10:38

I have to say that I hope sales this week reflect the holiday in the US and not the new best match. this week my sales are at 60% of what they are normally and last summer was pretty good so I don't think it's suddenly summer slowdown. I certainly hope this isn't the latest greatest best match trend for me.

Cant say the same I have had 5 very good days indeed, dozens of P+. etc. It was a pretty silly move though to do a best match change comparing it to Vetta sales over a holliday weekend. Doesnt give a fair and true picture at all.

ShadySue · « **Reply #60 on:** June 01, 2011, 10:47 »

Seems like whoever wanted to prove the 'push V/A' strategy was best pulled a flanker by testing a more general mix over a US/UK holiday, so of course sales would be down.
You can always find ways to 'rig' an experiment.

SNP · « **Reply #61 on:** June 01, 2011, 11:07 »

Quote from: lagereek on June 01, 2011, 10:46

Quote from: SNP on June 01, 2011, 10:38
I have to say that I hope sales this week reflect the holiday in the US and not the new best match. this week my sales are at 60% of what they are normally and last summer was pretty good so I don't think it's suddenly summer slowdown. I certainly hope this isn't the latest greatest best match trend for me.

Cant say the same I have had 5 very good days indeed, dozens of P+. etc. It was a pretty silly move though to do a best match change comparing it to Vetta sales over a holliday weekend. Doesnt give a fair and true picture at all.

well, I can't compare to your experience as you're independent and I'm exclusive. but I have a good amount of files in E+, some Vetta and a few Agency. my sales have been old files, strange files. none of the usual suspects and hardly any new files. so personally I hope this is not the new best match.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #62 on:** June 01, 2011, 11:24 »

Here's an update on the chart I've been keeping of various search terms and what is "regular" - i.e. not Vetta/Agency - in the first 200 photos searched by best match.

Sales today have been like a weekend...

traveler1116 · « **Reply #63 on:** June 01, 2011, 11:34 »

Quote from: ShadySue on May 28, 2011, 03:50

Quote from: Slovenian on May 28, 2011, 03:43
I just hope they tweak it that way, that the fresh material will come in front and even better if the emphasis was on the last 12 months . Surely most buyers want to get fresh stuff, otherwise they can just search it by DLs
If they want fresh stuff, they can sort by age.

Yep, best match should be based largely on stuff that sells with a slight bump to exclusive, and another slight bump to ex+, agency, and vetta. I don't think regular exclusive or nonexclusive files should be pushed all the way to the back.

Slovenian · « **Reply #64 on:** June 01, 2011, 12:40 »

Quote from: traveler1116 on June 01, 2011, 11:34

Quote from: ShadySue on May 28, 2011, 03:50
Quote from: Slovenian on May 28, 2011, 03:43
I just hope they tweak it that way, that the fresh material will come in front and even better if the emphasis was on the last 12 months . Surely most buyers want to get fresh stuff, otherwise they can just search it by DLs
If they want fresh stuff, they can sort by age.

Yep, best match should be based largely on stuff that sells with a slight bump to exclusive, and another slight bump to ex+, agency, and vetta. I don't think regular exclusive or nonexclusive files should be pushed all the way to the back.

And P+

franckreporter · « **Reply #65 on:** June 01, 2011, 15:15 »

The best match seems to be back as March 26 .... cheers !

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #66 on:** June 01, 2011, 15:18 »

Quote from: ShadySue on June 01, 2011, 06:46

So they must have been making more with Vetta?Agency at the top after all.
Who would have guessed?
Sh*t for the rest of us though. Best get on with Plan B - apart from the original ingestion, I don't have any other Vetta files.

No way they could get reliable data about that over a holiday weekend.

loop · « **Reply #67 on:** June 01, 2011, 15:37 »

Actually, during these days I've been selling daily more or less the same quantity of Vetta and Agency I used to sell before. New files sales have decreased, and old sucess files have resurrected, many of them coming back to the dynamics of several downloads a day.

SNP · « **Reply #68 on:** June 08, 2011, 15:33 »

how are everyone's sales today? my sales are almost non-existent. like a Saturday today. not sure what's up. but they're so bad that I figure something weird happened today.

lagereek · « **Reply #69 on:** June 08, 2011, 15:36 »

Hi Stacey!

I would say reasonably good, I can bare it but thats it.

BTW. Is that a pic of you, on IS, I mean?

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #70 on:** June 08, 2011, 15:51 »

Quote from: SNP on June 08, 2011, 15:33

how are everyone's sales today? my sales are almost non-existent. like a Saturday today. not sure what's up. but they're so bad that I figure something weird happened today.

Not so great this week and today, even less so, relatively speaking.

SNP · « **Reply #71 on:** June 08, 2011, 15:54 »

Quote from: lagereek on June 08, 2011, 15:36

Hi Stacey!

I would say reasonably good, I can bare it but thats it.

BTW. Is that a pic of you, on IS, I mean?

mine are anything but reasonably good. yes, the profile shot is a self-portrait I took last year.

SNP · « **Reply #72 on:** June 08, 2011, 15:56 »

Quote from: sjlocke on June 08, 2011, 15:51

Quote from: SNP on June 08, 2011, 15:33
how are everyone's sales today? my sales are almost non-existent. like a Saturday today. not sure what's up. but they're so bad that I figure something weird happened today.

Not so great this week and today, even less so, relatively speaking.

mine were the same last week. then they picked up to normal again, but today--worse day in years. old files. very strange.

loop · « **Reply #73 on:** June 08, 2011, 16:05 »

Yes, today is quite slow.

jamirae · « **Reply #74 on:** June 08, 2011, 16:25 »

very slow week at iStock. Dreamstime and SS are doing well though.

Dreamframer · « **Reply #75 on:** June 08, 2011, 16:30 »

My sales are lost somewhere in a galaxy, far, far away....

travelstock · « **Reply #76 on:** June 08, 2011, 16:37 »

Quote from: SNP on June 08, 2011, 15:56

Quote from: sjlocke on June 08, 2011, 15:51
Quote from: SNP on June 08, 2011, 15:33
how are everyone's sales today? my sales are almost non-existent. like a Saturday today. not sure what's up. but they're so bad that I figure something weird happened today.

Not so great this week and today, even less so, relatively speaking.

mine were the same last week. then they picked up to normal again, but today--worse day in years. old files. very strange.

My sales seem to be following the pattern you're talking about. Yesterday was good, today looks pretty bad, but not at weekend levels...

SNP · « **Reply #77 on:** June 08, 2011, 16:39 »

Quote from: holgs on June 08, 2011, 16:37

Quote from: SNP on June 08, 2011, 15:56
Quote from: sjlocke on June 08, 2011, 15:51
Quote from: SNP on June 08, 2011, 15:33
how are everyone's sales today? my sales are almost non-existent. like a Saturday today. not sure what's up. but they're so bad that I figure something weird happened today.

Not so great this week and today, even less so, relatively speaking.

mine were the same last week. then they picked up to normal again, but today--worse day in years. old files. very strange.

My sales seem to be following the pattern you're talking about. Yesterday was good, today looks pretty bad, but not at weekend levels...

I'm probably exaggerating by saying mine are at Saturday level today--but it feels that way

Risamay · « **Reply #78 on:** June 08, 2011, 17:18 »

Quote from: ShadySue on May 27, 2011, 11:13

Having a really lousy day today. One sale just after midnight, iStock time and nothing since.
Mind you, I had only 2 XSm sales on Monday.

I haven't had a sale since June 3. This is the longest stretch of no sales since I started at iStock.

Wonder if it has anything to do with all the files I dumped into the non-exclusive perk program.

lisafx · « **Reply #79 on:** June 08, 2011, 18:17 »

Sales are pretty slow for me today too. But then they have been for the last couple of weeks.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #80 on:** June 08, 2011, 18:23 »

Quote from: Risamay on June 08, 2011, 17:18

Quote from: ShadySue on May 27, 2011, 11:13
Having a really lousy day today. One sale just after midnight, iStock time and nothing since.
Mind you, I had only 2 XSm sales on Monday.

I haven't had a sale since June 3. This is the longest stretch of no sales since I started at iStock.

Wonder if it has anything to do with all the files I dumped into the non-exclusive perk program.

I dumped nearly 300 files into the P+ program over the weekend. It may be that the negative effects of this show up more as time goes by, but I don't see anything drastic so far.

Things have been good today compared to the snail's pace since the last best match lurch - so no barn burner, but not one of those days where I wonder if the world has a day off

SNP · « **Reply #81 on:** June 08, 2011, 18:31 »

obviously the P+ doesn't apply for exclusives. but something is rotten in Denmark because my sales today are absolutely brutal.

lagereek · « **Reply #82 on:** June 08, 2011, 23:23 »

Quote from: SNP on June 08, 2011, 15:54

Quote from: lagereek on June 08, 2011, 15:36
Hi Stacey!

I would say reasonably good, I can bare it but thats it.

BTW. Is that a pic of you, on IS, I mean?

mine are anything but reasonably good. yes, the profile shot is a self-portrait I took last year.

Lovely self-portrait! and toning.

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #83 on:** June 10, 2011, 05:26 »

I just noticed a small best match change. My at once very popular images advanced a little bit on the best match search result. On "penguins" where I have by far the most sold images I now have 4 images amongst the top 200 search results by best match. a week ago I had only 2. It is still very disappointing, but a a slightly little tiny positive change.

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #84 on:** June 10, 2011, 06:23 »

Just to illustrate how bad the best match search is now. I have an image at IS, a polar bear image with has over 2700 Dls. If you search for Polar bear ist comes in the results a little bit behind 800 other images!! There are images in front of that image which have 0 Downloads - Vetta - exclusive and even non exclusive images. Why is it that IS puts highly sellable and proven images so far behind in the search??

SNP · « **Reply #85 on:** June 10, 2011, 10:16 »

though my dl numbers came back up yesterday--the files selling are mostly older files. I agree the best match is still really weird. my test searches show strange results. sales may be sales, but I'm always worried about my new files being automatically disadvantaged if they happen to enter the database during a weird best match tweak.

lagereek · « **Reply #86 on:** June 10, 2011, 11:36 »

Whats weird is that in many searches, the Vettas promoted on first pages looks like either neewbie stuff or just down out middle of the road stuff. One would have thought in order to show variety and keep the buyers interested, they would have at least made sure the selection of Vettas would be among the better ones.

jamirae · « **Reply #87 on:** June 10, 2011, 12:01 »

Quote from: lagereek on June 10, 2011, 11:36

Whats weird is that in many searches, the Vettas promoted on first pages looks like either neewbie stuff or just down out middle of the road stuff. One would have thought in order to show variety and keep the buyers interested, they would have at least made sure the selection of Vettas would be among the better ones.

if it's vetta, it must be good. at least I'm sure that's what the computer sees. I dont think there's a flag in the system for "better vetta" or "middle of the road vetta."

lagereek · « **Reply #88 on:** June 10, 2011, 13:33 »

Quote from: jamirae on June 10, 2011, 12:01

Quote from: lagereek on June 10, 2011, 11:36
Whats weird is that in many searches, the Vettas promoted on first pages looks like either neewbie stuff or just down out middle of the road stuff. One would have thought in order to show variety and keep the buyers interested, they would have at least made sure the selection of Vettas would be among the better ones.

if it's vetta, it must be good. at least I'm sure that's what the computer sees. I dont think there's a flag in the system for "better vetta" or "middle of the road vetta."

You are joking, arent you?? Vetta and it must be good? and who decides that? some inspector who himself is exclusive ? Normally the Vettas are in fact good or shall I say above average. Im also seeing a hell of a lot of generics, with extremely low DLs, looking at the same shot, weeks later and still, no more dls.

Thats my whole point! its not enough with a shot beeing just good or great, its got to be cdommercial, selling-power or else its dustbin material.

jamirae · « **Reply #89 on:** June 10, 2011, 13:39 »

Quote from: lagereek on June 10, 2011, 13:33

Quote from: jamirae on June 10, 2011, 12:01
Quote from: lagereek on June 10, 2011, 11:36
Whats weird is that in many searches, the Vettas promoted on first pages looks like either neewbie stuff or just down out middle of the road stuff. One would have thought in order to show variety and keep the buyers interested, they would have at least made sure the selection of Vettas would be among the better ones.

if it's vetta, it must be good. at least I'm sure that's what the computer sees. I dont think there's a flag in the system for "better vetta" or "middle of the road vetta."

You are joking, arent you?? Vetta and it must be good? and who decides that? some inspector who himself is exclusive ? Normally the Vettas are in fact good or shall I say above average. Im also seeing a hell of a lot of generics, with extremely low DLs, looking at the same shot, weeks later and still, no more dls.

Thats my whole point! its not enough with a shot beeing just good or great, its got to be cdommercial, selling-power or else its dustbin material.

of course I was being a bit sarcastic, but if the Vetta program worked like it was supposed to work with the really, truly great stuff being added to Vetta and only the really good, artistic stuff (as Vetta claims to be) then it shouldn't be a problem. but sadly it is too subjective by the reviewers.

you're exactly right on all the 'generics' that show in Vetta. I totally agree with you.

lagereek · « **Reply #90 on:** June 10, 2011, 15:21 »

Quote from: jamirae on June 10, 2011, 13:39

Quote from: lagereek on June 10, 2011, 13:33
Quote from: jamirae on June 10, 2011, 12:01
Quote from: lagereek on June 10, 2011, 11:36
Whats weird is that in many searches, the Vettas promoted on first pages looks like either neewbie stuff or just down out middle of the road stuff. One would have thought in order to show variety and keep the buyers interested, they would have at least made sure the selection of Vettas would be among the better ones.

if it's vetta, it must be good. at least I'm sure that's what the computer sees. I dont think there's a flag in the system for "better vetta" or "middle of the road vetta."

You are joking, arent you?? Vetta and it must be good? and who decides that? some inspector who himself is exclusive ? Normally the Vettas are in fact good or shall I say above average. Im also seeing a hell of a lot of generics, with extremely low DLs, looking at the same shot, weeks later and still, no more dls.

Thats my whole point! its not enough with a shot beeing just good or great, its got to be cdommercial, selling-power or else its dustbin material.

of course I was being a bit sarcastic, but if the Vetta program worked like it was supposed to work with the really, truly great stuff being added to Vetta and only the really good, artistic stuff (as Vetta claims to be) then it shouldn't be a problem. but sadly it is too subjective by the reviewers.

you're exactly right on all the 'generics' that show in Vetta. I totally agree with you.

Glad youre agreeing! youre right, if the Vettas worked the way it should to work, it would in fact be a good thing. Yeah its weird really all this generic stuff, beats me?

SNP · « **Reply #91 on:** June 10, 2011, 15:33 »

Quote from: jamirae on June 10, 2011, 12:01

Quote from: lagereek on June 10, 2011, 11:36
Whats weird is that in many searches, the Vettas promoted on first pages looks like either neewbie stuff or just down out middle of the road stuff. One would have thought in order to show variety and keep the buyers interested, they would have at least made sure the selection of Vettas would be among the better ones.

if it's vetta, it must be good. at least I'm sure that's what the computer sees. I dont think there's a flag in the system for "better vetta" or "middle of the road vetta."

I read this as the 'betta vettas'....

made me laugh. it's been a rough day.

Slovenian · « **Reply #92 on:** June 10, 2011, 15:37 »

Good, I'm not the only one wondering how some of the cr@ppy photos were accepted as Vetta. In fact the greater part of the photos in the collection. Of course some really are unique and awesome, but those account for approximately 20%.

franckreporter · « **Reply #93 on:** June 11, 2011, 07:25 »

I have noticed a slight shake Friday morning that has pushed forward in search, new images and editorial (those of the main collection not those of edstock collection)

however not seems so for some new vetta , that are very back in the search

Risamay · « **Reply #94 on:** June 13, 2011, 18:52 »

Quote from: Slovenian on June 10, 2011, 15:37

Good, I'm not the only one wondering how some of the cr@ppy photos were accepted as Vetta. In fact the greater part of the photos in the collection. Of course some really are unique and awesome, but those account for approximately 20%.

I'd have to concur with your view of Vetta. When I had to do a project for the day job recently that involved hours and hours on iStock to source images, it was truly appalling some of what is selling as Vetta.

What's really too bad is that folks like JJ can't take constructive criticism like this to heart and use it to improve the review system and overall quality of such a high-price product. Vetta being his or others' "baby" really holds the collection back from being the best that it could (or should) be. And makes it a real turn off to many contributors and buyers alike. I know that in the beginning, before it even launched, when I tried to question the quality I was thanklessly ripped a new one. And, what a shocker, quality has turned out to be an issue. Clearly. Look at all the random crap they've collected and deemed the best of the artistic best (Vetta).

Give me a break.

loop · « **Reply #95 on:** June 13, 2011, 19:37 »

I absolutely dissent. While not very stockish, photos in the Vetta collection go to excellent to very good, with, yes, some extravaganzas or flawed files now and then. But not much. I have a friend who is a designer in a publishing house and she always tells me that this collection is great for book covers, to the point that she often excludes regular colecctions when searching and, actually, she has used several for her editor's books. I see more flaws at the Agency collection, a number of run of the mill files labelled in blue and coming from "outer space".

lagereek · « **Reply #96 on:** June 14, 2011, 00:36 »

Quote from: loop on June 13, 2011, 19:37

I absolutely dissent. While not very stockish, photos in the Vetta collection go to excellent to very good, with, yes, some extravaganzas or flawed files now and then. But not much. I have a friend who is a designer in a publishing house and she always tells me that this collection is great for book covers, to the point that she often excludes regular colecctions when searching and, actually, she has used several for her editor's books. I see more flaws at the Agency collection, a number of run of the mill files labelled in blue and coming from "outer space".

Yes but thats not the issue, ofcourse there are plenty of good imagery among Vettas but at the moment thay are burried deep down the best match and instead they seam to flaunt newbie and generic Vettas, many of which shouldnt even have past the inspection.

I have kept a close eye on some 20 Vetta files, on page one in a big search, now these files have hardly any dls and for the past 10 days they have together, sold a lousy six times ! makes one wonder why they are there in the first place???
Silly me!! I thought commerce came in first place.

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