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Author Topic: New SS Premier platform.  (Read 24498 times)

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ruxpriencdiam

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« on: March 17, 2015, 12:20 »
0
Forget all about the rest and check out this one.

http://www.shutterstock.com/blog/what-premier-select-means-for-shutterstock-contributors

Lots of questions yet to be answered.

March 16, 2015

Already having been rolled out and being tested by certain individuals?

Anyone know the whos, whats, wheres, whens?

Looks like an exclusive group so far, and after that they will choose who gets in?

Where can we go look at this collection and the select few artists that have been chosen?


Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #1 on: March 17, 2015, 12:28 »
0
« Last Edit: March 17, 2015, 12:32 by Shelma1 »

« Reply #2 on: March 17, 2015, 12:42 »
+2
I cannot access the first link in Shelma1's post, but I can see the info at the second without logging in.

For the first link I get a message:

"You're trying to log in with a standard Shutterstock account, but using this site requires a Premier account. Please contact your account administrator to upgrade your account or call (866) 419-2365 for assistance."

What I don't understand is how being in this collection makes a difference to the contributor. In the blog post it says:

"Premier Select will not change the exposure of your content currently available to our Premier customers."

So would it mean that the Select content will get a boost in the search results over the content from the rest of the standard collection?

objowl

« Reply #3 on: March 17, 2015, 12:57 »
+1
Premier appears to be where SOD's come from, I imagine premier select will be to attract photographers who like the idea of SOD's but don't like subs and can't get in offset.  Stratification, is that not what got istock into difficulties?

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #4 on: March 17, 2015, 12:59 »
+2
It's a carefully worded sentence. I'm not sure it means all our work is exposed to people with Premier accounts: "your content currently available to our Premier customers." To me that means some, all or none of our content is currently shown to Premier customers. Maybe Premier Select will be a separate thing, or a box you check to eliminate non-Select results when you search?

I interpret this as the Offset option for current contributors.

« Reply #5 on: March 17, 2015, 13:52 »
+2
Sounds to me like a curated collection that will show up first in the search for enterprise customers.  Everyone else's work will still show up, just after the good stuff.

« Reply #6 on: March 17, 2015, 14:05 »
+5
Thanks for the info shared so far but wish there was a way to find out more about Premiere, so, if an SS admin or someone who's already been invited to the premiere collection could answer, I'd appreciate it. I followed the links I could but am still confused.

Here's my situation:

SS has been a good outlet for some of my commercial travel images, my bread and butter, but since I have a lot of RM and high value RF travel images, I have a very small portion of this work on SS, so no chance in being invited in with my small port so far. Much of my stock photography is licensed directly to publishers via old-fashioned queries and some via my personal site, so I don't put those images on the micros for fear it would hurt my earnings on direct licensing.  The travel photos I have put on SS account for upwards of 90% of my SOD and EL earnings, however, so I'm really tempted by the Premiere concept. Getting SODs for $50-120 means they are being licensed for $150-360, which is in keeping with what I earn for direct licenses on the work I license directly to publishers and while the percentage is smaller, SS has a much larger audience, so it is really tempting.

For those of you on Premiere,  I have a couple of questions.
How did you get on there - was there an application process or were you just notified?
Are your premiere images separate from the main collection or can those premiere images, still get downloaded hundreds of times for peanuts as part of the main collection?

IMHO I don't think the stratification is what did iStock in. Even as an indie with a tiny port, my E+ images in the old days were downloaded way more often and earned me more than anything else on iStock and when they put all our indie work into Main my income there tanked.

Anyway, appreciate any info. Thanks.




« Reply #7 on: March 17, 2015, 14:11 »
+2
Same here, I don't upload my best work to SS as I care it's value. Now good question how they pick up people to this game...

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #8 on: March 17, 2015, 14:30 »
0
According to their blog post, it's based on lifetime earnings.

Rinderart

« Reply #9 on: March 17, 2015, 15:06 »
0
According to their blog post, it's based on lifetime earnings.

correct.legacy accounts. That are curated, Not just reviewed.
« Last Edit: March 17, 2015, 15:08 by Rinderart »

« Reply #10 on: March 17, 2015, 15:11 »
+3
It would be interesting to know how much you need to have earnt to qualify.

« Reply #11 on: March 17, 2015, 15:12 »
+2
Meanwhile SS is down.

objowl

« Reply #12 on: March 17, 2015, 15:18 »
+1
It would be interesting to know how much you need to have earnt to qualify.

"based on lifetime earnings" does not necessarily mean a certain bar over which you qualify.

marthamarks

« Reply #13 on: March 17, 2015, 15:19 »
0
Meanwhile SS is down.

Yep. Way down for me these last two weeks, after some rather nice sales in the weeks before that.

Confusing!

Rinderart

« Reply #14 on: March 17, 2015, 15:23 »
-3
It would be interesting to know how much you need to have earnt to qualify.

My guess is 50K lifetime, could be a 100K? a 100K sounds like a lot but a 100K in 10 years ain't that much.

Rinderart

« Reply #15 on: March 17, 2015, 15:26 »
+1
Meanwhile SS is down.

Yep. Way down for me these last two weeks, after some rather nice sales in the weeks before that.

Confusing!

Think it means OFFLINE. it is for me.

« Reply #16 on: March 17, 2015, 15:57 »
+6

Lifetime earnings is an odd stat to use to decide who gets invited. It should maybe be something like average of the past 2 years or something.


objowl

« Reply #17 on: March 17, 2015, 16:09 »
+4

Lifetime earnings is an odd stat to use to decide who gets invited. It should maybe be something like average of the past 2 years or something.

"based on lifetime earnings"   could be lifetime earnings divided by years at shutterstock divided by number of image and any other number of variables.

« Reply #18 on: March 17, 2015, 17:07 »
+4
This may be the way SS will "give a raise" to contributors who have reached the top tier with no further incentive til possibly now

THP Creative

  • THP Creative

« Reply #19 on: March 17, 2015, 17:17 »
+7
Little bit nervous about this one. So many unanswered questions, really hope they provide more information very soon.

« Reply #20 on: March 17, 2015, 17:30 »
0
This may be the way SS will "give a raise" to contributors who have reached the top tier with no further incentive til possibly now

I hope you're right.  If the only criteria is lifetime earnings, my guess is that it will be pretty hard to reach even for some of us who have been with them since 2007.  Me, who has an average looking port, and not up there with the likes of Rinder and some of the other high enders. If the premier platform is really to incent contributors they could not pull it off by making the threshold too low. They would have to raise prices to pay us more or otherwise why do it as a net loss strategy.  There is more to this than just lifetime earnings. Also, how they calculate lifetime earnings could be in question as well.  What about someone who reaches $10k in a year? And the lifetime is, say, $50k? That person would be screwed even though they have powerful earnings.  I bet there is an extrapolation algorithm to ensure that these high performing, newer ports get privileges....assuming this becomes another tiered privilege.  And it may also be lifetime earnings per image and thus it's image specific, not port specific. Who knows.

« Last Edit: March 17, 2015, 17:45 by Mantis »

« Reply #21 on: March 17, 2015, 17:40 »
+2
Rinder may be one of the elite

But whoever is they will probably have a gag order put on them, at least through the initial phase, if not permanently.

« Reply #22 on: March 17, 2015, 18:21 »
+1
It's a carefully worded sentence. I'm not sure it means all our work is exposed to people with Premier accounts: "your content currently available to our Premier customers." To me that means some, all or none of our content is currently shown to Premier customers. Maybe Premier Select will be a separate thing, or a box you check to eliminate non-Select results when you search?

I interpret this as the Offset option for current contributors.

Maybe. I've gotten some high SODs on some weird ones that I wouldn't consider to be very good.

ultimagina

« Reply #23 on: March 17, 2015, 18:35 »
-1
Lifetime earnings is not rigth.
SS has enough data to assess the valuable material regardless of its age. Newcomers often have better quality than some old timers.

Rinderart

« Reply #24 on: March 17, 2015, 20:22 »
-1
Lifetime earnings is not rigth.
SS has enough data to assess the valuable material regardless of its age. Newcomers often have better quality than some old timers.

I would somewhat agree, There are some very good folks. But......Experience is a good thing. Old timers may Know what sells better based on that. No one knows what will sell, Old timers may know more about what doesn't do well. And, As a lot of us know My Old and very Old stuff is often at the front. Is that due to search, Or usefulness? I have quite a few Very Old Images in the 5000+Sales  Range.And maybe one of the reasons I don't go for to many...."Trends" Blurs and Filters.

ultimagina

« Reply #25 on: March 17, 2015, 20:37 »
+11
.Experience is a good thing.

I don't deny this.

But who cares if a beautiful image is 10 years old or 1 year young, or if it is produced by a 65 year old experienced photographer or by a 20 years young talented newcomer?
Customers want the best images. Period. And that's what SS should promote.
« Last Edit: March 17, 2015, 20:45 by ultimagaina »

ultimagina

« Reply #26 on: March 17, 2015, 20:42 »
-1
 :-X
« Last Edit: March 17, 2015, 20:50 by ultimagaina »


ultimagina

« Reply #27 on: March 17, 2015, 20:48 »
-1
 :-X

« Reply #28 on: March 17, 2015, 22:47 »
+2
I am at .38 level and have high lifetime earnings at SS and others.  But Ultimagia has a point.  Some of my oldy but goody stuff is a bit dusty now.  It should be based on several things, not just lifetime Earnings but also quality of current submissions.  Premiere implies quality and thats what should be there.

« Reply #29 on: March 17, 2015, 23:05 »
+2
"We're currently testing a new service for our Premier platform. We wanted to let contributors know and help to provide more information.

First, a bit about Premier. It's been four years since we launched Premier to help us build relationships with larger clients, such as publishers, ad agencies, and Fortune 500 companies. It showcases the collection in a way that works for their needs, and through Premier we offer custom license packages, additional indemnification, and help with researching the collection.

To add more value to the experience of these large customers, we are currently testing a new collection Premier Select. During this test, we are working with a small group of contributors. If customers respond well to this test, we will look to expand to additional contributors based on lifetime earnings, giving you the opportunity to consider participation in this collection.

Many of you regularly see downloads from Premier customers and you will continue to see those payouts. Premier Select will not change the exposure of your content currently available to our Premier customers.

Ultimately, the goals for this initiative are to meet more of our customers' needs, while providing additional, premium licensing opportunities to more contributors. As we test and learn, we will be back in touch with you about how your work can be included in this new collection."

Rinderart

« Reply #30 on: March 18, 2015, 00:01 »
-3
Customers want the best images. Period. And that's what SS should promote.

Couldn't agree more. But....Who decides that? I hope it's sales that decides it. "Best Images" Is pretty subjective. I think sales are the determining Factor. But, were guessing here until we know the criteria. Agree?

I know quite a few that are Unbelievably Talented and amazing that have horrible sales. We'll just have to wait and see. I know I'm certainly not qualified to judge.

Rinderart

« Reply #31 on: March 18, 2015, 00:02 »
-4
"We're currently testing a new service for our Premier platform. We wanted to let contributors know and help to provide more information.

First, a bit about Premier. It's been four years since we launched Premier to help us build relationships with larger clients, such as publishers, ad agencies, and Fortune 500 companies. It showcases the collection in a way that works for their needs, and through Premier we offer custom license packages, additional indemnification, and help with researching the collection.

To add more value to the experience of these large customers, we are currently testing a new collection Premier Select. During this test, we are working with a small group of contributors. If customers respond well to this test, we will look to expand to additional contributors based on lifetime earnings, giving you the opportunity to consider participation in this collection.

Many of you regularly see downloads from Premier customers and you will continue to see those payouts. Premier Select will not change the exposure of your content currently available to our Premier customers.

Ultimately, the goals for this initiative are to meet more of our customers' needs, while providing additional, premium licensing opportunities to more contributors. As we test and learn, we will be back in touch with you about how your work can be included in this new collection."


« Reply #32 on: March 18, 2015, 01:22 »
+1
When ss controls exposure and with this they control the sales, i don't see real motivation for giving to SS best images. Business needs to see the perspective. After cases when images searched intentionally by buyer were not present in results, i see the recent only as a new game wasting time of serious contributors. BTW flooders with law quality images think themselves as serious and priviledged now, so i make the difference between 2 types of contributors.  When somebody decided to show or not your images to the client, then tell that your earnings are not good enough - many other questions come.
Value of life earnings was in place many years ago - i remember discussions (2009?) that if you started, you have to give the volume immediately. So all who created accounts in early years of ss and these accounts were nearly dormant years, then used actively, still are not good.
« Last Edit: March 18, 2015, 01:26 by skyfish »

Semmick Photo

« Reply #33 on: March 18, 2015, 02:25 »
+5
Basically SS is creating a Vetta collection and now favouring contributors.

A combination of IS and DP.

Me


« Reply #34 on: March 18, 2015, 03:50 »
+3
Basically SS is creating a Vetta collection and now favouring contributors.

A combination of IS and DP.

I don't think so, weren't Vetta images exclusive? Hasn't Oringer been on record as saying he would never offer exclusivity?

Semmick Photo

« Reply #35 on: March 18, 2015, 03:59 »
+6
They are creating a special collection, not sure if the pricing and royalties are different. But they are now creating a separate collection within the library. Whatever you call it.

And if the pricing structure is the same, it would be an  insult to contributors.

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #36 on: March 18, 2015, 04:36 »
+1
The pricing structure is not the same. It's much higher...at least i know it is for ad agencies. That's why we get the occasional big SODs.


Justanotherphotographer

« Reply #37 on: March 18, 2015, 04:38 »
0
Sounds like it could be good. And also good to see they are paying attention to all the calls for them to award top end contributors more. Lets wait and see how it turns out.

« Reply #38 on: March 18, 2015, 04:40 »
+1
Shelma, do you want to tell me that people getting big SoDs are in this collection? Great!  ;D Waiting for full transfer of my gallery to SoDs branch only  :P To be serious, I thought all of us get that high prices in SoDs...

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #39 on: March 18, 2015, 05:39 »
+2
By "we" I meant all of us. When I searched at my last advertising gig the search results looked the same to me, but the prices for ad agencies are higher. I have no idea how Premier Select will work...I just googled it.

stock-will-eat-itself

« Reply #40 on: March 18, 2015, 05:51 »
+4
I certainly hope they bring in a Vetta / Premier collection at SS. It did extremely well for me when iStock first brought it in at the $75 range. My earnings more than doubled with Vetta, it also motivated me to produce much more polished images.

Vetta is also what made Getty nervous, the iS collection began to look a lot less micro and much more Macro quality. Then they panicked and raised the prices and brought in Agency and poor quality Macro from Getty and stuffed up the whole collection.

If they keep their nerve and curate properly and allow the right images in it could transform SS. Vetta was a great success in its early days.


ultimagina

« Reply #41 on: March 18, 2015, 06:03 »
+1
Customers want the best images. Period. And that's what SS should promote.

Couldn't agree more. But....Who decides that? I hope it's sales that decides it. "Best Images" Is pretty subjective. I think sales are the determining Factor. But, were guessing here until we know the criteria. Agree?

I know quite a few that are Unbelievably Talented and amazing that have horrible sales. We'll just have to wait and see. I know I'm certainly not qualified to judge.
Instead of sales/photo, SS could promote the most dynamic photos, the ones that are trending fast, the ones that the customer want today. I'm sure they can easily identify which photos are viral, even if those photos have not yet accumulated enough downloads to beat a 10 years old scan that stopped selling 2 years ago.

« Reply #42 on: March 18, 2015, 06:16 »
+3
Vetta was a great success in its early days.

Early Vetta was also somewhat spoiled by the collection being flooded with a lot of hammy artsiness which was never going to do well commercially - often produced by the very people who were supposed to be gatekeeping that collection. They were flooding the collection with their own pictures.

It was iStock's black nail varnish moment. Like  a mid life crisis. iStock was right to explore a sort of indy left field. But it should have been much more about lifestyle (they should have been embracing the hipster-indy aesthetic instead of becoming goths).

:)

« Reply #43 on: March 18, 2015, 06:38 »
+2
Is it possible the contributors selected for Premier might not know they're in it?

My lifetime earnings are high, but I don't believe I've seen anything from SS. 

Is no one on this forum in Premier?  To me that suggests we might not even know.

stock-will-eat-itself

« Reply #44 on: March 18, 2015, 06:49 »
+6
Lot of searches I do on SS for clients throw out lots of dated awful images. Likewise there are also lots of excellent images, its time consuming to find anything on trend. There is a need for curation, but it needs to be done properly.

Micro stockers fall into the trap of producing a certain dated look because they are not really connected to the buyers, they scan the collection see whats on the front page a duplicate or keep pumping out the same tired concepts.

The micro libraries have a Cash and Carry mentality where everything is dumped onto the shop floor, not good for buyers or suppliers.

Premier could be a good motivation tool to push the talent they already have with their contributors.

Justanotherphotographer

« Reply #45 on: March 18, 2015, 06:50 »
+1
I imagine that those in the initial test don't know, or we would have heard about it.

« Reply #46 on: March 18, 2015, 07:12 »
-2
I certainly hope they bring in a Vetta / Premier collection at SS. It did extremely well for me when iStock first brought it in at the $75 range. My earnings more than doubled with Vetta, it also motivated me to produce much
That would go against nearly all of their marketing.  If you've looked recently it's all about one collection, every image the same price, no favoritism in the search, no signature required, etc..  They aren't going to make a higher priced collection in Shutterstock anytime soon, it would be very inconsistent with their marketing. 


Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #47 on: March 18, 2015, 08:14 »
+2
I certainly hope they bring in a Vetta / Premier collection at SS. It did extremely well for me when iStock first brought it in at the $75 range. My earnings more than doubled with Vetta, it also motivated me to produce much
That would go against nearly all of their marketing.  If you've looked recently it's all about one collection, every image the same price, no favoritism in the search, no signature required, etc..  They aren't going to make a higher priced collection in Shutterstock anytime soon, it would be very inconsistent with their marketing.

They already have a higher-priced Shutterstock collection for large enterprisesaccording to the blog post, they have for four years.

« Reply #48 on: March 18, 2015, 08:17 »
+3
I certainly hope they bring in a Vetta / Premier collection at SS. It did extremely well for me when iStock first brought it in at the $75 range. My earnings more than doubled with Vetta, it also motivated me to produce much
That would go against nearly all of their marketing.  If you've looked recently it's all about one collection, every image the same price, no favoritism in the search, no signature required, etc..  They aren't going to make a higher priced collection in Shutterstock anytime soon, it would be very inconsistent with their marketing.

At this point we don't know if they will be asking for image exclusivity, but they probably won't.  So, if they allow us to keep those images that get into Premier in the cheap seat collection too, the differentiator must be in the license.  Without any form of marketing hook like "exclusive" or "only found on SS" there would be nothing to offer certain clients other than a more robust license that meets the unique needs of big organizations/clients.  In my humble opinion it's one or the other or both.

« Reply #49 on: March 18, 2015, 08:19 »
+3
I certainly hope they bring in a Vetta / Premier collection at SS. It did extremely well for me when iStock first brought it in at the $75 range. My earnings more than doubled with Vetta, it also motivated me to produce much
That would go against nearly all of their marketing.  If you've looked recently it's all about one collection, every image the same price, no favoritism in the search, no signature required, etc..  They aren't going to make a higher priced collection in Shutterstock anytime soon, it would be very inconsistent with their marketing.

They already have a higher-priced Shutterstock collection for large enterprisesaccording to the blog post, they have for four years.
It's not a higher priced collection.  They are talking about enterprise customers who pay more for the same images because they get indemnification, multi seat licenses, ability to transfer images to clients, etc...   From what they've said it looks like the new collection will be placed in front of those buyers which will result in more sales from enterprise customers not a higher priced collection, just more sales from buyers who pay more for more rights.
« Last Edit: March 18, 2015, 08:23 by tickstock »

« Reply #50 on: March 18, 2015, 08:21 »
+1
I certainly hope they bring in a Vetta / Premier collection at SS. It did extremely well for me when iStock first brought it in at the $75 range. My earnings more than doubled with Vetta, it also motivated me to produce much
That would go against nearly all of their marketing.  If you've looked recently it's all about one collection, every image the same price, no favoritism in the search, no signature required, etc..  They aren't going to make a higher priced collection in Shutterstock anytime soon, it would be very inconsistent with their marketing.

At this point we don't know if they will be asking for image exclusivity, but they probably won't.  So, if they allow us to keep those images that get into Premier in the cheap seat collection too, the differentiator must be in the license.  Without any form of marketing hook like "exclusive" or "only found on SS" there would be nothing to offer certain clients other than a more robust license that meets the unique needs of big organizations/clients.  In my humble opinion it's one or the other or both.
Correct.
« Last Edit: March 18, 2015, 08:23 by tickstock »

« Reply #51 on: March 18, 2015, 08:23 »
+1
I certainly hope they bring in a Vetta / Premier collection at SS. It did extremely well for me when iStock first brought it in at the $75 range. My earnings more than doubled with Vetta, it also motivated me to produce much
That would go against nearly all of their marketing.  If you've looked recently it's all about one collection, every image the same price, no favoritism in the search, no signature required, etc..  They aren't going to make a higher priced collection in Shutterstock anytime soon, it would be very inconsistent with their marketing.

They already have a higher-priced Shutterstock collection for large enterprisesaccording to the blog post, they have for four years.


Shelma, our posts hit at the same time.  Your statement supports the value proposition of "licensing" being the value-added customer need since those images in Premier also remain in the general collection.  What's interesting is the process of selecting images. If it is licensing as the value proposition, why not put in all images and let the customer decide? My answer to this is they are going to promote Premier select as something like "popular images, high selling images or something like that, and this claim and division between general and premier select is defined by lifetime earnings (however that in and of itself is defined).

« Reply #52 on: March 18, 2015, 08:25 »
+2
I certainly hope they bring in a Vetta / Premier collection at SS. It did extremely well for me when iStock first brought it in at the $75 range. My earnings more than doubled with Vetta, it also motivated me to produce much
That would go against nearly all of their marketing.  If you've looked recently it's all about one collection, every image the same price, no favoritism in the search, no signature required, etc..  They aren't going to make a higher priced collection in Shutterstock anytime soon, it would be very inconsistent with their marketing.

They already have a higher-priced Shutterstock collection for large enterprisesaccording to the blog post, they have for four years.

That's not how I understand the blog post.

My understanding:

Shutterstock Premier (existing since four years) is not a separate collection, but a separate service they provide to selected customers.
They use the same collection (or maybe a part of the total collection, that isn't clear to me) but add on additional services like "custom license packages, additional indemnification, and help with researching the collection". And those additional services are the reason for the (significantly) higher prices.
And they do pay us our share, that's where the SODs (or part of them) come from.

The last part ("help with researching the collection") already sounds a bit like curation.

And now they are testing "Premier Select".
There's no details on what exactly that is, but to me this sounds like a separate collection (unlike the existing Shutterstock Premier).
So maybe it's "only" taking the idea of presenting a curated collection to big customers a big further.

The open questions are is this really separate (or are the same images available via a normal Shutterstock customer account), how are images / contributors chosen, how is the pricing, how is the commission structure etc.

Nothing regarding these questions is really available.

« Reply #53 on: March 18, 2015, 08:25 »
+3
I certainly hope they bring in a Vetta / Premier collection at SS. It did extremely well for me when iStock first brought it in at the $75 range. My earnings more than doubled with Vetta, it also motivated me to produce much
That would go against nearly all of their marketing.  If you've looked recently it's all about one collection, every image the same price, no favoritism in the search, no signature required, etc..  They aren't going to make a higher priced collection in Shutterstock anytime soon, it would be very inconsistent with their marketing.

They already have a higher-priced Shutterstock collection for large enterprisesaccording to the blog post, they have for four years.
It's not a higher priced collection.  They are talking about enterprise customers who pay more for the same images because they get indemnification, multi seat licenses, ability to transfer images to clients, etc...   From what they've said it looks like the new collection will be placed in front of those buyers which will result in more sales from enterprise customers not a higher priced collection, just more sales from buyers who pay more for more rights.

Correct.  ;)

« Reply #54 on: March 18, 2015, 08:29 »
+4
The open questions are is this really separate (or are the same images available via a normal Shutterstock customer account), how are images / contributors chosen, how is the pricing, how is the commission structure etc.

Nothing regarding these questions is really available.
If I had to guess I would say that those images will be available to everyone as well, the pricing will be the same, and royalties will be the same.  You'll get a boost in search for enterprise customers.

« Reply #55 on: March 18, 2015, 08:31 »
+2
The open questions are is this really separate (or are the same images available via a normal Shutterstock customer account), how are images / contributors chosen, how is the pricing, how is the commission structure etc.

Nothing regarding these questions is really available.
If I had to guess I would say that those images will be available to everyone as well, the pricing will be the same, and royalties will be the same.  You'll get a boost in search for enterprise customers.

That would be my guess as well.

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #56 on: March 18, 2015, 08:48 »
+5
I guess I was responding to TickStock's assertion that it goes against "nearly all of their marketing. If you've looked recently it's all about one collection, every image the same price, no favoritism in the search, no signature required, etc.."

That marketing is only what the general public sees. I'm guessing their marketing to large enterprises is quite different. In that case there *is* a signature required, there is some favoritism (Offset, Premier), there are additional services and products offered (free comp images, "custom license packages, additional indemnification, and help with researching the collection"). Help with researching the collection, in my experience, means a phone call with a human being who searches through images and sends over a bunch to the art director or art buyer for consideration. That's curation and favoritism in a way.

Premier Select might not end up being a completely separate higher-priced collection, but I don't know for sure. Maybe they'll discover large enterprise customers prefer images that aren't available to the general public, because they want some small assurance that the image they're licensing isn't appearing everywhere. I'm sure they'd test to see if the loss of regular Shutterstock sales would be offset (HA!) by additional Select sales.

I'm don't think SS has a hard and fast rule against a separate Shutterstock collection. They already have Offset. Why not Premier Select as well? Who knows?


« Reply #57 on: March 18, 2015, 08:51 »
+1
I guess I was responding to TickStock's assertion that it goes against "nearly all of their marketing. If you've looked recently it's all about one collection, every image the same price, no favoritism in the search, no signature required, etc.."

That marketing is only what the general public sees. I'm guessing their marketing to large enterprises is quite different. In that case there *is* a signature required, there is some favoritism (Offset, Premier), there are additional services and products offered (free comp images, "custom license packages, additional indemnification, and help with researching the collection"). Help with researching the collection, in my experience, means a phone call with a human being who searches through images and sends over a bunch to the art director or art buyer for consideration. That's curation and favoritism in a way.

Premier Select might not end up being a completely separate higher-priced collection, but I don't know for sure. Maybe they'll discover large enterprise customers prefer images that aren't available to the general public, because they want some small assurance that the image they're licensing isn't appearing everywhere. I'm sure they'd test to see if the loss of regular Shutterstock sales would be offset (HA!) by additional Select sales.

I'm don't think SS has a hard and fast rule against a separate Shutterstock collection. They already have Offset. Why not Premier Select as well? Who knows?
They advertise Premier as having simple one price pricing for all images.  Offset isn't a SS collection, it's a different brand. The signature part of their advertising refers to iStock's signature collection, they are saying they only have one collection not a higher priced and a lower priced one.
The biggest reasons they won't have a separate collection (in a meaningful sense with different royalties or prices) on SS is that it would complicate their pricing and force them to change their enitre advertising approach both of which have been consistent for about a decade.  It would be a fundamental change, I don't see that happening or get that sense from the blog post.
« Last Edit: March 18, 2015, 09:04 by tickstock »

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #58 on: March 18, 2015, 09:03 »
0
Are people unaware that Offset is a Shutterstock sub-brand?

« Reply #59 on: March 18, 2015, 09:05 »
+1
Are people unaware that Offset is a Shutterstock brand?
It's different than a SS collection, you can't go on SS and search that "collection".  They've tried to keep them separate so you see SS as micro and Offset as macro.

Semmick Photo

« Reply #60 on: March 18, 2015, 09:07 »
+4
Are people unaware that Offset is a Shutterstock sub-brand?


There is no mention of SS anywhere on the site

http://www.offset.com/about

Its owned by Jon, thats it.

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #61 on: March 18, 2015, 09:20 »
+8
Ad agencies and art directors know Offset is a Shutterstock sub-brand. One complaint they have is that they love the curated feel of Offset vs. Shutterstock, but Offset doesn't have enough images. So they may search on Offset first, but then they go to Shutterstock. A Premier Select collection pulled from the huge Shutterstock library would, relatively quickly, give them access to many more images that are also curated. (It would be quicker than trying to bring aboard many more award-winning, established pro photographers and illustrators to Offset.) I think that's why SS is testing the Select idea. Educated guess.

I mean, there are many really amazing images on SS. It makes sense to market those to higher-paying customers in a thoughtful way. And it's kind of unfair to shut big contributors, who have helped SS succeed, out of the big enterprise opportunities, which is sort of what Offset does.

« Reply #62 on: March 18, 2015, 09:26 »
+1
A Premier Select collection pulled from the huge Shutterstock library would, relatively quickly, give them access to many more images that are also curated.
I think that's what I've been saying.  It sounds like a curated collection that will get a best match boost for enterprise (premier) customers.

« Reply #63 on: March 18, 2015, 12:44 »
+4
How does this bode for the typical,  not superstar contrib?  Will their sales just decline furthrr?

« Reply #64 on: March 18, 2015, 12:51 »
0
How does this bode for the typical,  not superstar contrib?  Will their sales just decline furthrr?
If some people get a better match for enterprise users they will probably get more SOD sales so others would probably get less.

marthamarks

« Reply #65 on: March 18, 2015, 14:06 »
0
If some people get a better match for enterprise users they will probably get more SOD sales so others would probably get less.

I prefer to think we will all get higher-value sales through enterprise users. Why not? Seems to be happening already to many of us.

« Reply #66 on: March 18, 2015, 14:09 »
0
If some people get a better match for enterprise users they will probably get more SOD sales so others would probably get less.

I prefer to think we will all get higher-value sales through enterprise users. Why not? Seems to be happening already to many of us.
If Shutterstock is pushing premier select images to buyers those images are more likely to be bought, that's the point.


marthamarks

« Reply #67 on: March 18, 2015, 14:12 »
0
If some people get a better match for enterprise users they will probably get more SOD sales so others would probably get less.

I prefer to think we will all get higher-value sales through enterprise users. Why not? Seems to be happening already to many of us.
If Shutterstock is pushing premier select images to buyers those images are more likely to be bought, that's the point.

True. Could happen that way.

« Reply #68 on: March 18, 2015, 14:14 »
-1
If some people get a better match for enterprise users they will probably get more SOD sales so others would probably get less.

I prefer to think we will all get higher-value sales through enterprise users. Why not? Seems to be happening already to many of us.
If Shutterstock is pushing premier select images to buyers those images are more likely to be bought, that's the point.

True. Could happen that way too.
It wouldn't be much of a benefit to those contributors if it didn't result in more sales.  The good news is that most contributors on this site are at the highest level so they will probably be invited.

« Reply #69 on: March 18, 2015, 15:13 »
+2
How does this bode for the typical,  not superstar contrib?  Will their sales just decline furthrr?
If some people get a better match for enterprise users they will probably get more SOD sales so others would probably get less.

That assumes that the same number of sales just gets re-distributed in a different way.
Which is one possible outcome.
But if these additional services allow Shutterstock to attract new customers or increase spending of existing customers, it may lead to an overall increase in sales.

« Reply #70 on: March 18, 2015, 15:23 »
+1
How does this bode for the typical,  not superstar contrib?  Will their sales just decline furthrr?
If some people get a better match for enterprise users they will probably get more SOD sales so others would probably get less.

That assumes that the same number of sales just gets re-distributed in a different way.
Which is one possible outcome.
But if these additional services allow Shutterstock to attract new customers or increase spending of existing customers, it may lead to an overall increase in sales.
Yeah, that's possible but it would be very hard for contributors to know if overall SODs are up and even if you knew that it would be next to impossible to know how much of that was caused by having the premier select collection.  I'm sure part of the idea is to grow enterprise sales along with rewarding the most important contributors but it would take a lot of data that won't be available to know which things are causing growth.  There are a lot of parts to the enterprise system from all the additional rights, support, offset images, etc...  It also depends how aggressively they promote those images, if SS is helping find the right image a large percentage of the time then they could really push which content they want.
« Last Edit: March 18, 2015, 15:29 by tickstock »

« Reply #71 on: March 18, 2015, 16:30 »
0
If some people get a better match for enterprise users they will probably get more SOD sales so others would probably get less.

I prefer to think we will all get higher-value sales through enterprise users. Why not? Seems to be happening already to many of us.
If Shutterstock is pushing premier select images to buyers those images are more likely to be bought, that's the point.

True. Could happen that way too.
It wouldn't be much of a benefit to those contributors if it didn't result in more sales.  The good news is that most contributors on this site are at the highest level so they will probably be invited.

This is why I suspect that it isn't contributors at the highest level. It will be top earners as defined by SS.I am at the highest level with +$40k in total sales. But what if they define top earners as $75k? Or a sliding scale that extrapolates $$ potential over XX years given current monthly sales? So if $75k is the ceiling and 5 year earnings is the baseline of time, it would be (($75k/5 years)/12 months)=$1250 a month. So this theory would say that anyone making $1250 a month has the potential to make $75K in five years and they are in. Something along those lines.

« Reply #72 on: March 18, 2015, 16:40 »
0
They put it out on a blog post not a private email, I think that probably means it will be for a large group of contributors. 

« Reply #73 on: March 18, 2015, 17:15 »
+2
I guess we are seeing the reason why SS bought WebDam, they have big plans and strategically place themselves in the best position to reach those goals

« Reply #74 on: March 18, 2015, 19:17 »
+10
So far no details have been given, and the details are what will make the difference to us.

One of the great things about SS in the past was that any image could rise or fall on its merits and unlike many sites it wasn't based on how the artist did overall or subject to the whims of random search changes. That is somewhat no longer true. If this means that if you aren't in the club you get almost no big SODs, that will be unfortunate for everyone that doesn't make the club.

Rinderart

« Reply #75 on: March 18, 2015, 19:52 »
+3
So far no details have been given, and the details are what will make the difference to us.

One of the great things about SS in the past was that any image could rise or fall on its merits and unlike many sites it wasn't based on how the artist did overall or subject to the whims of random search changes. That is somewhat no longer true. If this means that if you aren't in the club you get almost no big SODs, that will be unfortunate for everyone that doesn't make the club.

Agree 100%


 

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