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Author Topic: "The WALL" - What is it Truly?  (Read 25796 times)

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tab62

« on: September 10, 2013, 14:12 »
0
I've often heard about the so-called 'Wall' but felt it only applied to the super pro's with huge portfolios but now realize that it might even apply to a rookie like me as well.

By definition 'The Wall' is when you add more images to your existing portfolio your income stays the same.  Thus no matter what you do the income just will not go up anymore.

What do you folks on MSG feel are the root causes for this 'Wall' occurring? Here are a few thoughts that I have-

1. RPD dropping due to subscriptions
2. New images talking a back seat to exclusive or taking too long to get out to buyers


Now the fun part - How can one over come 'The Wall'?  Again my thoughts-

1. Develop a Niche that is in demand
2. Produce higher quality photos

simply to continue to pump out images (Volume) will not work against the wall in my opinion.

Interested in reading your thoughts on 'The Wall'...


T


« Reply #1 on: September 10, 2013, 14:20 »
+5
there is no wall unless you covered all possible subjects which is kind of hard I believe ;D

disagreeing means an immediate minus, OK let's get this party started ;D
« Last Edit: September 10, 2013, 15:22 by luissantos84 »

« Reply #2 on: September 10, 2013, 14:30 »
+5
I think it is a lot of things combined from agencies and the contributors themselves. Some of us joined when agencies were growing rapidly and royalties/prices were increasing. That climate doesn't necessarily exist anymore.

« Reply #3 on: September 10, 2013, 15:11 »
+10
there is no wall unless you covered all possible subjects which is kind of hard I believe ;D

Oh, it's there.  While you're off busy covering Y and Z, having already done W and X, some other person is just doing W and X, and yours get shuffled out of sight.

« Reply #4 on: September 10, 2013, 15:18 »
+1
there is no wall unless you covered all possible subjects which is kind of hard I believe ;D

Oh, it's there.  While you're off busy covering Y and Z, having already done W and X, some other person is just doing W and X, and yours get shuffled out of sight.

sure but that doesn't mean that dude is making all money, you will still collect something

« Reply #5 on: September 10, 2013, 15:18 »
+5
And how do you call it when you add more photos and your income drops?  :D

« Reply #6 on: September 10, 2013, 15:28 »
0
And how do you call it when you add more photos and your income drops?  :D

there are quite a few variables beside "the wall"

- new content not as good as competition
- lower commercial value
- competing with your own content
- less buyers on that particular time which made that work bury faster
- less investment in marketing from agencies on that content
- world crisis

« Reply #7 on: September 10, 2013, 15:51 »
+6
removed 2 posts .. stopping a little spat before it begins.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #8 on: September 10, 2013, 16:41 »
+32
And how do you call it when you add more photos and your income drops?  :D
iStock.

ACS

« Reply #9 on: September 10, 2013, 18:13 »
+4
Diversification is the key.

The more you supply in the same subject the more you decrease your sales per image ratio.

A portfolio with 5 apples, 5 oranges and 5 bananas will probably beat the portfolio with 15 apples.

« Reply #10 on: September 10, 2013, 18:59 »
-1
;
« Last Edit: May 12, 2014, 10:48 by Audi 5000 »

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #11 on: September 10, 2013, 19:06 »
+1
And how do you call it when you add more photos and your income drops?  :D
iStock.
I'm surprised you're still exclusive, are you just torturing yourself? 
Apparently so.
I'm only submitting 'markers' there nowadays and focussing on Alamy.
ATM, I see no reason to leave exclusivity, let them pay me <20% and earn peanuts elsewhere. If I drop a level at the end of the year, I'll just stop uploading there altogether while I consider options (probably Alamy only).
I'm still not in a place where I'd consider letting commercial companies use my pics for which I'd get 25c. I nearly had a fit yesterday when I sold an XS- and got 50c.
I may be forced to change my stance on that, but not yet. At this stage, I'd rather just quit.
Down the line, who knows?
« Last Edit: September 10, 2013, 19:09 by ShadySue »

Leo Blanchette

« Reply #12 on: September 10, 2013, 19:16 »
+4


Interested in reading your thoughts on 'The Wall'...



All this talk of the wall...

"How can you have any pudding if you dont eat your meat!?"

ruxpriencdiam

    This user is banned.
  • Location. Third stone from the sun
« Reply #13 on: September 10, 2013, 19:25 »
0
Yeah I made a bunch of wall jokes but my freedom of speech was censored and my post removed.

« Reply #14 on: September 10, 2013, 19:31 »
+3
As for the causes, I see 3:

1. covering the same topics you've covered before and stealing your own sales (see ACS' post... he/she is dead-on)
2. increased competition... the explosive growth in contributors and portfolios is almost certainly outpacing the growth in customers and sales... smaller slice of the pie for everyone.
3. reductions in pricing/commissions at the agencies. 

To beat the wall you'd have to compensate for all three causes.

1. diversify
2. increase output
3. not much you can do about pricing/commission changes except remove your port from agencies making changes you disagree with.  Of course, this only makes the wall taller.

I hit the wall about a year ago (my fifth year).  Since then, I've diversified and increased output significantly, and I've been seeing slight growth over year-ago revenue.  We'll see how long I can keep that up.

 

Uncle Pete

« Reply #15 on: September 10, 2013, 20:00 »
+1
Never expected to read "hitting the wall" coming from you.

Three good points. Nothing to add to the why, except repeating the other posts that say how to possibly add income. Try something different. I think all of Microstock has hit the wall. With 25 million images out and about, it's getting difficult to find marketable subjects and content, not well covered already by thousands of people. There are probably many little covered subjects, with good reason. No one wants or needs them.

"Tear down this wall!" President Reagan 1987 (How did he know about Microstock back then?)


As for the causes, I see 3:

1. covering the same topics you've covered before and stealing your own sales (see ACS' post... he/she is dead-on)
2. increased competition... the explosive growth in contributors and portfolios is almost certainly outpacing the growth in customers and sales... smaller slice of the pie for everyone.
3. reductions in pricing/commissions at the agencies. 

To beat the wall you'd have to compensate for all three causes.

1. diversify
2. increase output
3. not much you can do about pricing/commission changes except remove your port from agencies making changes you disagree with.  Of course, this only makes the wall taller.

I hit the wall about a year ago (my fifth year).  Since then, I've diversified and increased output significantly, and I've been seeing slight growth over year-ago revenue.  We'll see how long I can keep that up.

ruxpriencdiam

    This user is banned.
  • Location. Third stone from the sun
« Reply #16 on: September 10, 2013, 20:09 »
+1
Wrong lots still left out there just no one is looking for or shooting as they walk right past it.

And some of it is as plain as the nose on your face.

I discussed this on SS many times over but no one believes it so discussion ended.

Never expected to read "hitting the wall" coming from you.

Three good points. Nothing to add to the why, except repeating the other posts that say how to possibly add income. Try something different. I think all of Microstock has hit the wall. With 25 million images out and about, it's getting difficult to find marketable subjects and content, not well covered already by thousands of people. There are probably many little covered subjects, with good reason. No one wants or needs them.

"Tear down this wall!" President Reagan 1987 (How did he know about Microstock back then?)


As for the causes, I see 3:

1. covering the same topics you've covered before and stealing your own sales (see ACS' post... he/she is dead-on)
2. increased competition... the explosive growth in contributors and portfolios is almost certainly outpacing the growth in customers and sales... smaller slice of the pie for everyone.
3. reductions in pricing/commissions at the agencies. 

To beat the wall you'd have to compensate for all three causes.

1. diversify
2. increase output
3. not much you can do about pricing/commission changes except remove your port from agencies making changes you disagree with.  Of course, this only makes the wall taller.

I hit the wall about a year ago (my fifth year).  Since then, I've diversified and increased output significantly, and I've been seeing slight growth over year-ago revenue.  We'll see how long I can keep that up.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #17 on: September 10, 2013, 20:15 »
+1
Wrong lots still left out there just no one is looking for or shooting as they walk right past it.
And some of it is as plain as the nose on your face.
I discussed this on SS many times over but no one believes it so discussion ended.
Just shoot it yourself. Do you really need rivals?

ruxpriencdiam

    This user is banned.
  • Location. Third stone from the sun
« Reply #18 on: September 10, 2013, 20:18 »
+2
Wrong lots still left out there just no one is looking for or shooting as they walk right past it.
And some of it is as plain as the nose on your face.
I discussed this on SS many times over but no one believes it so discussion ended.
Just shoot it yourself. Do you really need rivals?
Nope.

And I do shoot it myself and will shoot more as everyone else says that it has all been done when it hasn't.

All you have to do is a search as I have been told many times so that's what I do.

tab62

« Reply #19 on: September 10, 2013, 20:18 »
0
What concerns me is that my RPD is dropping like a rock in the water! Last month I was at .50 cents (my overall average has been in the high 60's)- yet my sales slightly increased...

gillian vann

  • *Gillian*
« Reply #20 on: September 10, 2013, 22:33 »
0
I nearly had a fit yesterday when I sold an XS- and got 50c.


I have  a fit every day at FT when some XL sells for peanuts. I've stopped uploading there.

« Reply #21 on: September 10, 2013, 22:50 »
+2
No one has mentioned that files have a life span. Clothing and props become dated. Ideas become stale, and images become overused. You hit a wall when photos aging out equals new images added. Plus the other factors. The wall is a mathematical certainty. It's a state of equilibrium between all negative factors and the ability to produce new images. Every image creator has their own personal wall. The only way to get past it is increasing the rate of uploading. Just keeping a constant uploading rate does not prevent a wall as a state of equilibrium will be reached at some point.
ETA
One more reason for aging out is the artificial one when the best match knocks down older files, even though they are selling well. This is the one that affects long time contributors with large amounts of older files.  Correcting this creates a wall for new contributors which is the best match dilemma.
« Last Edit: September 11, 2013, 07:06 by landbysea »

« Reply #22 on: September 11, 2013, 00:39 »
0
Yeah I made a bunch of wall jokes but my freedom of speech was censored and my post removed.

You post just got caught in the cross fire of the little spat... sorry. 

Uncle Pete

« Reply #23 on: September 11, 2013, 11:03 »
+2
Yes we have, it's been entertaining, but the part I wrote said marketable, which is important. Just shooting something that isn't covered, doesn't mean someone will want it. Searching for obscure keywords, when the buyers will use common terms, doesn't make the image a seller, it just makes it harder to find.

Finding something in demand that isn't well covered would be what your goal and anyone else should be.

For all the reasons that things are going down, I personally see the market as flooded with good quality images and more choices for someone to download, something that meets their specific needs. When there were only a few million images (how does that sound funny?) Less options, so buyers would buy the same images over and over.

Overall sales are up, individual earnings are down.


Now there are 25 million images on SS and slightly less on IS. Slice up that pie and that's why people make less. That's the foundation for The Wall.


Wrong lots still left out there just no one is looking for or shooting as they walk right past it.

And some of it is as plain as the nose on your face.

I discussed this on SS many times over but no one believes it so discussion ended.


« Reply #24 on: September 11, 2013, 11:12 »
0
What concerns me is that my RPD is dropping like a rock in the water! Last month I was at .50 cents (my overall average has been in the high 60's)- yet my sales slightly increased...

You have to stack the deck to get a better RPD.  ;D

Ron

« Reply #25 on: September 11, 2013, 11:33 »
0
I nearly had a fit yesterday when I sold an XS- and got 50c.


I have  a fit every day at FT when some XL sells for peanuts. I've stopped uploading there.
You keep saying that, but SS sells XL at the same 25 cents.

ruxpriencdiam

    This user is banned.
  • Location. Third stone from the sun
« Reply #26 on: September 11, 2013, 12:53 »
+1
SHUTTERSTOCK STATS:
29,167,816 royalty-free stock images

And what I am talking of is marketable.

Yes we have, it's been entertaining, but the part I wrote said marketable, which is important. Just shooting something that isn't covered, doesn't mean someone will want it. Searching for obscure keywords, when the buyers will use common terms, doesn't make the image a seller, it just makes it harder to find.

Finding something in demand that isn't well covered would be what your goal and anyone else should be.

For all the reasons that things are going down, I personally see the market as flooded with good quality images and more choices for someone to download, something that meets their specific needs. When there were only a few million images (how does that sound funny?) Less options, so buyers would buy the same images over and over.

Overall sales are up, individual earnings are down.


Now there are 25 million images on SS and slightly less on IS. Slice up that pie and that's why people make less. That's the foundation for The Wall.


Wrong lots still left out there just no one is looking for or shooting as they walk right past it.

And some of it is as plain as the nose on your face.

I discussed this on SS many times over but no one believes it so discussion ended.


« Reply #27 on: September 11, 2013, 14:02 »
+3
Diversification is the key.

The more you supply in the same subject the more you decrease your sales per image ratio.

A portfolio with 5 apples, 5 oranges and 5 bananas will probably beat the portfolio with 15 apples.

Diversification may be the best way to increase sales ... but not necessarily to simply maintain them.

Take a niche subject like 'widget pins' for example. You happen to know that there exists a reasonable market for pictures of wiget pins as you own say 10 out of the 100-odd images that exist on stock libraries ... so you might have 10% of that market (or possibly more if some of yours are the best-sellers). Over time other contributors will continue to upload more pictures (and probably better pictures) of widget pins so, unless you keep uploading more widget pin images, your share of that market is likely to decrease. Personally I have a deliberate policy of trying to maintain 'my share' of niche markets by endeavouring to maintain a certain percentage of my own images within the top 100 best-sellers in that subject. You also tend to get better at shooting the same subject over and over and with minor variations each time.

'Hitting the wall' is almost a mathematical certainty for virtually all contributors after 5-6 years. I've explained the reasons why in detail a few times before. Essentially the growth of your portfolio each year, in percentage terms, will inevitably slow whilst the age of your portfolio and the higher number of competing images continues to increase. At some point the reducing revenue from the slow death of your older images will equal the increase in revenue from new images. When that happens ... you've 'hit the wall'.

The only ways you can avoid hitting the wall is to;

a) significantly increase your output of new images each year

b) ... or significantly increase the quality of your new images each year

c) ... or both.

lisafx

« Reply #28 on: September 11, 2013, 14:13 »
+4

To beat the wall you'd have to compensate for all three causes.

1. diversify
2. increase output
3. not much you can do about pricing/commission changes except remove your port from agencies making changes you disagree with.  Of course, this only makes the wall taller.

I hit the wall about a year ago (my fifth year).  Since then, I've diversified and increased output significantly, and I've been seeing slight growth over year-ago revenue.  We'll see how long I can keep that up.


The only ways you can avoid hitting the wall is to;

a) significantly increase your output of new images each year

b) ... or significantly increase the quality of your new images each year

c) ... or both.

All very intelligent responses.  Glad your increased output helped.  I did the increased output and improved quality thing for a couple of years, and it definitely pushed the wall back a bit. 

But you haven't really hit "the wall" until you get to the point (and we all have one) where it isn't possible to keep increasing output and quality. At some point, you have maxed out your level of energy, originality, and talent. 

If you are lucky, that happens at a point that you are well enough established to get by on what you are earning and can even afford to lose some. 

« Reply #29 on: September 11, 2013, 17:06 »
0
I nearly had a fit yesterday when I sold an XS- and got 50c.


I have  a fit every day at FT when some XL sells for peanuts. I've stopped uploading there.

Personally, have no problem at selling licencing images for peanuts where volumes are high, after all I still own them.  The problem is when it's infrequent peanuts.  My (far fewer with more images) sales at IS lately have paid less than the PP or even 123.

Back to topic, observation indicates the secret of success is finding something that works commercially and then milking it to death.  I can't take my own advice because I haven't got that killer concept and I really could not be arsed repeating the same thing over and over because then it would be work and the day job pays much better.
« Last Edit: September 11, 2013, 17:11 by heywoody »

Uncle Pete

« Reply #30 on: September 11, 2013, 18:26 »
0
Can you give an example? I think we tried this before on the SS forums and maybe I missed it, but you showed some keyword searches that were extremely specific, but in the broader search, the area was covered.

Come on, show me the left handed widgets that need to be shot or some area that's lacking.

Don't give away any top secrets, just one example of an under covered, marketable subject?

I can shoot green tomatoes because red and yellow are all covered 17,000 times. But how much demand is there for that color variation? I'm interested in one subject or object that isn't well produced already.

And the point isn't anything against you, it is, with 26 million images, going on 27 million, pretty much everything that buyers want, has been shot and covered. And I would agree, if anyone can find something that's not, it would be in their best interest to fill that void.

So show me just one? (and everyone here will bury it!) LOL



SHUTTERSTOCK STATS:
29,167,816 royalty-free stock images

And what I am talking of is marketable.


ruxpriencdiam

    This user is banned.
  • Location. Third stone from the sun
« Reply #31 on: September 11, 2013, 19:12 »
-1
So lets see you have a football team right?

If so there is an idea for you and I am not talking about shooting the NFL players cause that is a no go pretty much everywhere.

But you can shoot something else like the stadium? 

Lambeau Field Stock Photos, Illustrations, and Vector Art
(1-42 of 42 results)

The courthouse.

Brown County Courthouse Stock Photos, Illustrations, and Vector Art
(1-10 of 10 results)

Bay Beach Amusement Park Stock Photos, Illustrations, and Vector Art
(1-26 of 26 results)

Start by looking in your own backyard.

Can you give an example? I think we tried this before on the SS forums and maybe I missed it, but you showed some keyword searches that were extremely specific, but in the broader search, the area was covered.

Come on, show me the left handed widgets that need to be shot or some area that's lacking.

Don't give away any top secrets, just one example of an under covered, marketable subject?

I can shoot green tomatoes because red and yellow are all covered 17,000 times. But how much demand is there for that color variation? I'm interested in one subject or object that isn't well produced already.

And the point isn't anything against you, it is, with 26 million images, going on 27 million, pretty much everything that buyers want, has been shot and covered. And I would agree, if anyone can find something that's not, it would be in their best interest to fill that void.

So show me just one? (and everyone here will bury it!) LOL



SHUTTERSTOCK STATS:
29,167,816 royalty-free stock images

And what I am talking of is marketable.


« Reply #32 on: September 11, 2013, 19:48 »
-1
So lets see you have a football team right?

If so there is an idea for you and I am not talking about shooting the NFL players cause that is a no go pretty much everywhere.

But you can shoot something else like the stadium? 

Lambeau Field Stock Photos, Illustrations, and Vector Art
(1-42 of 42 results)

The courthouse.

Brown County Courthouse Stock Photos, Illustrations, and Vector Art
(1-10 of 10 results)

Bay Beach Amusement Park Stock Photos, Illustrations, and Vector Art
(1-26 of 26 results)

Start by looking in your own backyard.

Can you give an example? I think we tried this before on the SS forums and maybe I missed it, but you showed some keyword searches that were extremely specific, but in the broader search, the area was covered.

Come on, show me the left handed widgets that need to be shot or some area that's lacking.

Don't give away any top secrets, just one example of an under covered, marketable subject?

I can shoot green tomatoes because red and yellow are all covered 17,000 times. But how much demand is there for that color variation? I'm interested in one subject or object that isn't well produced already.

And the point isn't anything against you, it is, with 26 million images, going on 27 million, pretty much everything that buyers want, has been shot and covered. And I would agree, if anyone can find something that's not, it would be in their best interest to fill that void.

So show me just one? (and everyone here will bury it!) LOL



SHUTTERSTOCK STATS:
29,167,816 royalty-free stock images

And what I am talking of is marketable.


... and this contributes to the OP's question and the topic exactly how?

We really do need a system that precludes idiotic numpties from the SS forum from contaminating MSG with their incessant miss-informed drivel.

Ok, I've had a beer __ it's my birthday!

Me


« Reply #33 on: September 11, 2013, 23:53 »
-1
So lets see you have a football team right?

If so there is an idea for you and I am not talking about shooting the NFL players cause that is a no go pretty much everywhere.

But you can shoot something else like the stadium? 

Lambeau Field Stock Photos, Illustrations, and Vector Art
(1-42 of 42 results)

The courthouse.

Brown County Courthouse Stock Photos, Illustrations, and Vector Art
(1-10 of 10 results)

Bay Beach Amusement Park Stock Photos, Illustrations, and Vector Art
(1-26 of 26 results)

Start by looking in your own backyard.

Can you give an example? I think we tried this before on the SS forums and maybe I missed it, but you showed some keyword searches that were extremely specific, but in the broader search, the area was covered.

Come on, show me the left handed widgets that need to be shot or some area that's lacking.

Don't give away any top secrets, just one example of an under covered, marketable subject?

I can shoot green tomatoes because red and yellow are all covered 17,000 times. But how much demand is there for that color variation? I'm interested in one subject or object that isn't well produced already.

And the point isn't anything against you, it is, with 26 million images, going on 27 million, pretty much everything that buyers want, has been shot and covered. And I would agree, if anyone can find something that's not, it would be in their best interest to fill that void.

So show me just one? (and everyone here will bury it!) LOL



SHUTTERSTOCK STATS:
29,167,816 royalty-free stock images

And what I am talking of is marketable.


And how big do you think the market, or demand, is for each of those search terms? It is demand that makes an image marketable, not search results. As already stated, you are using VERY specific search terms so of course the results will be small, but who is going to search using those exact words?

Apart from someone living/working in Bay Beach, who else is going to want images of their amusement park? Surely in the majority of cases, a generic amusement park will meet most requirements unless it is editorial and specifically about Bay Beach? Same goes for Lambeau Field Stadium (which you would probably need a property release for).

Uncle Pete has already tried to explain this and you just don't seem to understand - or choose not to because then that would mean you are wrong.

Go back to SS forum and let the grown ups talk.

« Reply #34 on: September 12, 2013, 08:00 »
0
So lets see you have a football team right?

If so there is an idea for you and I am not talking about shooting the NFL players cause that is a no go pretty much everywhere.

But you can shoot something else like the stadium? 

Lambeau Field Stock Photos, Illustrations, and Vector Art
(1-42 of 42 results)

The courthouse.

Brown County Courthouse Stock Photos, Illustrations, and Vector Art
(1-10 of 10 results)

Bay Beach Amusement Park Stock Photos, Illustrations, and Vector Art
(1-26 of 26 results)

Start by looking in your own backyard.

Can you give an example? I think we tried this before on the SS forums and maybe I missed it, but you showed some keyword searches that were extremely specific, but in the broader search, the area was covered.

Come on, show me the left handed widgets that need to be shot or some area that's lacking.

Don't give away any top secrets, just one example of an under covered, marketable subject?

I can shoot green tomatoes because red and yellow are all covered 17,000 times. But how much demand is there for that color variation? I'm interested in one subject or object that isn't well produced already.

And the point isn't anything against you, it is, with 26 million images, going on 27 million, pretty much everything that buyers want, has been shot and covered. And I would agree, if anyone can find something that's not, it would be in their best interest to fill that void.

So show me just one? (and everyone here will bury it!) LOL



SHUTTERSTOCK STATS:
29,167,816 royalty-free stock images

And what I am talking of is marketable.


... and this contributes to the OP's question and the topic exactly how?

We really do need a system that precludes idiotic numpties from the SS forum from contaminating MSG with their incessant miss-informed drivel.

Ok, I've had a beer __ it's my birthday!

Well Happy BIRTHDAY, Gostwyck. But I have to ask...A BEER? or A FEW BEERS? lol

« Reply #35 on: September 12, 2013, 08:12 »
+1
happy birthday gostwyck!

lisafx

« Reply #36 on: September 12, 2013, 13:13 »
+2
happy birthday gostwyck!

Happy Birthday from me too :)

You share a birthday with my favorite brother-in-law.  He's an opinionated guy with a sharp wit too.  ;D

Uncle Pete

« Reply #37 on: September 15, 2013, 21:43 »
+1
I won't go the direction that things have slid, but how many people want the Brown County Courthouse? BTW over 100 miles from home.

What I was getting at is something that isn't well covered, that buyers want. That's "marketable" in my opinion.

And my contention is that if a subject is good enough for download demand, it's covered. If it's not, jump all over it and don't tell anyone else.  :)

My question is, can you find one marketable, subject, that people will download, that isn't well covered? And I asked for one that you wouldn't shoot, so it won't cost you anything to reveal it. Same for anyone who reads this. I'd like to see one. And then we can carpet bomb it and make it well covered. LOL

My triple cheeseburger was one of these. Never sold once. When I made it, there were none or maybe one. That's generic enough that I presumed that it would get some DLs. I was wrong. I think my bowl of curried lamb has DLs and that was an experiment, terrible red background.


farbled

« Reply #38 on: September 15, 2013, 22:37 »
0
I won't go the direction that things have slid, but how many people want the Brown County Courthouse? BTW over 100 miles from home.

What I was getting at is something that isn't well covered, that buyers want. That's "marketable" in my opinion.

And my contention is that if a subject is good enough for download demand, it's covered. If it's not, jump all over it and don't tell anyone else.  :)

My question is, can you find one marketable, subject, that people will download, that isn't well covered? And I asked for one that you wouldn't shoot, so it won't cost you anything to reveal it. Same for anyone who reads this. I'd like to see one. And then we can carpet bomb it and make it well covered. LOL

My triple cheeseburger was one of these. Never sold once. When I made it, there were none or maybe one. That's generic enough that I presumed that it would get some DLs. I was wrong. I think my bowl of curried lamb has DLs and that was an experiment, terrible red background.

I can, and have found some very common everyday items that few have covered. Even in a huge market shooting food, there are some staples that haven't really been done (or done well). The other thing is looking at getting the right keywords to get those everyday things into popular or tendy niche searches. Some I've found by accident, others take some research.

Regarding your triple cheeseburger, it might only really appeal to one demographic, while your curried lamb has world-wide potential. :) My 2 cents.

« Reply #39 on: September 15, 2013, 22:57 »
0
I'd agree that there are certainly some holes that can be plugged.  Especially if you start using 3 keywords the results start to get pretty thin.  I also regularly visit picniche for ideas.

« Reply #40 on: September 16, 2013, 09:31 »
0
Isnt "the wall" more related to how the agency itself grows or shrinks and loses customers?

You can upload as much as you want, but if they are not expanding their customer base or convincing the ones they have to spend more, there is nothing you can do.

And sites that rely on yearly targets are particularly vulnerable because the artist has absolutely no influence on the marketing of the site itself. Fighting dilution and incoming new competition is a challenge you can handle as an artist, but if the management decided that agency X will now be their favorite and all their advertising money and attention goes there, there is absolutely nothing you can do.

And with smaller sites, I would think they are restricted by the budget they have or simply by reaching a critical mass that is enough to feed the owner and his or her team. they dont need to double and triple their revenue every year, if they reach a certain target range and just stay in that size because this is where they feel comfortable.



 

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