Author Topic: SS off to a rapid start out the blocks in 2012 for anyone else? (Read 26021 times)

Dantheman · « **Reply #50 on:** January 15, 2012, 08:12 »

Quote from: Herg on January 15, 2012, 06:50

This is what I can't understand. When I initially got accepted (before I could disable my account until exclusive obligation with other site ended) I had one sale with 10 images. Something must be a miss.

Funny, i also only started on SS about 3 weeks ago and had 10 sales on the first day. Now it slowed down, only have between 1 and 6 sales a day (with 190 pics). Yesterday was the first day without a sale for me

gbalex · « **Reply #51 on:** January 15, 2012, 10:10 »

Quote from: Herg on January 15, 2012, 06:50

This is what I can't understand. When I initially got accepted (before I could disable my account until exclusive obligation with other site ended) I had one sale with 10 images. Something must be a miss.

Read this thread and it will give you perspective, the people raving about SS do not seem to be hit by the various bugs that cause slow sales. It is hit or miss, some have problems some do not and while SS continues to claim they have fixed all the bugs that is not the case. The people still experiencing problems have been left out in the cold. The fact that your newest images do not show up in your content manager is tell tale sign something is up.

http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=114196

disorderly · « **Reply #52 on:** January 15, 2012, 11:40 »

I'd advise patience. First, we're in the middle of a holiday weekend in the States, so sales are likely to be slower for the moment. Second, it can take time for a new portfolio to get attention, particularly while it's still relatively small. And third, have you given any consideration to redoing your keywords? iStock's controlled vocabulary doesn't reward you for including lots of synonyms in your keywords. Most every other site does, as what users search on has to match what you've provided. I'd go further to recommend that you include both individual words and common phrases to improve the likelihood of a match.

It took me five months before my income on Shutterstock broke into double digits. Granted, you have a lot more experience now than I did then, but there's still value in taking a longer view of sales trends. You're still in the anecdotal stage. Wait until you have more data before you worry.

wut · « **Reply #53 on:** January 15, 2012, 11:52 »

Quote from: disorderly on January 15, 2012, 11:40

I'd go further to recommend that you include both individual words and common phrases to improve the likelihood of a match.

The thing is you can't enter phrases if you edit photos. For instance when you upload you can input young woman, but if you edit the photo, you can't you'll get separate keywords, and what's even worse, all phrases will be separated into individual keywords. I did that once, adding a keyword I forgot, but regretted it, since many search terms didn't work as well afterwards

cathyslife · « **Reply #54 on:** January 15, 2012, 12:12 »

Quote from: disorderly on January 15, 2012, 11:40

I'd advise patience. First, we're in the middle of a holiday weekend in the States, so sales are likely to be slower for the moment. Second, it can take time for a new portfolio to get attention, particularly while it's still relatively small. And third, have you given any consideration to redoing your keywords? iStock's controlled vocabulary doesn't reward you for including lots of synonyms in your keywords. Most every other site does, as what users search on has to match what you've provided. I'd go further to recommend that you include both individual words and common phrases to improve the likelihood of a match.

It took me five months before my income on Shutterstock broke into double digits. Granted, you have a lot more experience now than I did then, but there's still value in taking a longer view of sales trends. You're still in the anecdotal stage. Wait until you have more data before you worry.

I agree. And just because one person's portfolio does well on SS, doesn't mean another's will, even if you have great sales at istock. Every single site is different. What sells well on one, may not sell at all on another. When I first started in 2005, I never saw any sales until my port was over 100 images. Nowadays, that number must be up to 500 or 1000, considering the increase in contributors over the years. It's going to take some time.

klsbear · « **Reply #55 on:** January 15, 2012, 12:22 »

I have a small port. of just over 200 images and I find that weekends tend to be slower for me. Tuesday - Thursday seem to be the most active days for me. Overall it's been steady with subs in January but I haven't seen the OD images I usually see - hoping those come along soon!

wut · « **Reply #56 on:** January 16, 2012, 11:40 »

Wow, today's sales are slower than yesterday's and it was a Sunday. What's even worse is that I added over 30 photos and not a single one has sold :s. Something's way off at SS today

gostwyck · « **Reply #57 on:** January 16, 2012, 12:14 »

Quote from: wut on January 16, 2012, 11:40

Wow, today's sales are slower than yesterday's and it was a Sunday. What's even worse is that I added over 30 photos and not a single one has sold :s. Something's way off at SS today

It is MLK holiday in the US although sales don't seem too far off normal for me.

wut · « **Reply #58 on:** January 16, 2012, 12:31 »

Quote from: gostwyck on January 16, 2012, 12:14

Quote from: wut on January 16, 2012, 11:40
Wow, today's sales are slower than yesterday's and it was a Sunday. What's even worse is that I added over 30 photos and not a single one has sold :s. Something's way off at SS today

It is MLK holiday in the US although sales don't seem too far off normal for me.

That can't be the reason, since their normal working hours began only a few hours ago (they usually really kick off right about this time of the day). Europe really isn't strong today, Asia was completely dead for me and I've had just a couple of sales from Africa. I'm having bad luck elsewhere too, DT went offline half an hour ago, then I managed to log in to see 3 new sales and then it went down again (I wonder if I lost a few DLs, since the buyer bought 3 from the same series)

wut · « **Reply #59 on:** January 16, 2012, 12:33 »

Lol, I just got a few DLs from the states. Looks like the holiday isn't affecting the sales over there, but everywhere else

. So strange...

stockmarketer · « **Reply #60 on:** January 16, 2012, 14:53 »

This will almost certainly end up a BDE at SS for me. Half way through the day I'm at 130+ downloads including 5 ELs.

wut · « **Reply #61 on:** January 16, 2012, 14:56 »

Quote from: stockmarketer on January 16, 2012, 14:53

This will almost certainly end up a BDE at SS for me. Half way through the day I'm at 100+ downloads including 5 ELs.

I guess I have you to thank (for my misfortune)

daveh900 · « **Reply #62 on:** January 16, 2012, 16:29 »

Quote from: stockmarketer on January 16, 2012, 14:53

This will almost certainly end up a BDE at SS for me. Half way through the day I'm at 130+ downloads including 5 ELs.

I thought I was having a good day with 40 downloads and zero ELs.

Phadrea · « **Reply #63 on:** January 17, 2012, 04:37 »

Well, 3 days 8 downloads and $2.00 so far. This is way below what I expected. 8 downloads would bring me so much more $ at IS. In fact, 1 download would net me more than $2.00. I really hope this is going to get better. $:-\$

lagereek · « **Reply #64 on:** January 17, 2012, 05:22 »

Sales are strong! but they are always strong, in spite of January, normally being a bummer.

stockmarketer · « **Reply #65 on:** January 17, 2012, 08:24 »

January a bummer? January is typically one of my best three months, along with March and September. This January is no exception. Yesterday was spectacular and this morning I woke up to 70+ downloads and 2 more ELs.

Phadrea · « **Reply #66 on:** January 17, 2012, 09:28 »

I don't know what planet you are on because for me it's absolutely dire. I never thought that SS would be worse than Istock. Terrible. Depressing

wut · « **Reply #67 on:** January 17, 2012, 09:51 »

Quote from: Herg on January 17, 2012, 09:28

I don't know what planet you are on because for me it's absolutely dire. I never thought that SS would be worse than Istock. Terrible. Depressing

Depends solely on you, your content. Not something you have no influence on, like best match, broken site/search, being unfavoured by the best match etc

Phadrea · « **Reply #68 on:** January 17, 2012, 10:36 »

Like someone said earlier, there are "secrets" to getting more downloads that only a few know. I am just so underwhelmed at SS so far. I was also told that you get a huge boost in downloads on your first week of joining. Don't believe the hype ! $:-\$

wut · « **Reply #69 on:** January 17, 2012, 10:41 »

Quote from: Herg on January 17, 2012, 10:36

Like someone said earlier, there are "secrets" to getting more downloads that only a few know. I am just so underwhelmed at SS so far. I was also told that you get a huge boost in downloads on your first week of joining. Don't believe the hype ! $:-\$

Nope, not anymore, everyone used to get a big boost for new uploads, but until June or so, it's more like on the other sites, photos need to settle a bit, before they start selling

Phadrea · « **Reply #70 on:** January 17, 2012, 10:48 »

Quote from: wut on January 17, 2012, 10:41

Quote from: Herg on January 17, 2012, 10:36
Like someone said earlier, there are "secrets" to getting more downloads that only a few know. I am just so underwhelmed at SS so far. I was also told that you get a huge boost in downloads on your first week of joining. Don't believe the hype ! $:-\$

Nope, not anymore, everyone used to get a big boost for new uploads, but until June or so, it's more like on the other sites, photos need to settle a bit, before they start selling

I really hope you are right Wut $:-\$

RacePhoto · « **Reply #71 on:** January 17, 2012, 10:56 »

Quote from: Herg on January 17, 2012, 04:37

Well, 3 days 8 downloads and $2.00 so far. This is way below what I expected. 8 downloads would bring me so much more $ at IS. In fact, 1 download would net me more than $2.00. I really hope this is going to get better. $:-\$

First off, didn't anyone tell you that SS was a subscription site and you would be getting 25c downloads? Come on, you don't have to report every five hours how SS is so terrible, give it a chance. PLEASE!

May I remind you of this from your past...

Quote from: Herg on September 07, 2010, 15:38

This has been a terrible year at Istock. They mess up the website with a horrible new design (hyped up to the hilt before it went live) which decresed a lot of people's sales, they are making it nigh on impossible to get good images that are perfectly well lit approved, sales are poor for most at the moment and now this !!! It's absolutley dire.

You really averaged $2 a download on IS? Then maybe you shouldn't have left, because all it would have taken was figuring out what you just did. It takes 8 downloads on SS to equal that.

Quote from: Herg on December 04, 2011, 03:51

But staying exclusive at IS isn't rewarding. They don't accept images anymore AND they are not selling my images like they used to. Surely going with others would make up the pathetic sales at IS ?

I hope you make up the difference, but I really don't know what you expected from SS?

Quote from: Herg on November 08, 2011, 08:23

Again, rejection on 4th attempt. I absolutely cannot fathom SS at all. Images that were accepted last time have been turned away.

It's a lottery and a waste of time waiting yet another 30 days. One shot with people needs a "proper caption" I have no idea what that means other than describing the image and what they are doing which is what I did. Technically I have submitted many images accepted BUT one reviewer's view is always going to be different making it inconsistent.

As reviewers are all different there are too many variables to know what is going to pass

Just keep this in mind as your sales grow on the new sites you have added...

Quote from: Herg on April 23, 2011, 03:59

Still absolutely dire. Really really awful sales. I am on target to earn the lowest amount in nearly 2 years. I have pretty much written Istock off as they have basically destroyed most of what was good about them.

wut · « **Reply #72 on:** January 17, 2012, 10:59 »

Quote from: Herg on January 17, 2012, 10:48

Quote from: wut on January 17, 2012, 10:41
Quote from: Herg on January 17, 2012, 10:36
Like someone said earlier, there are "secrets" to getting more downloads that only a few know. I am just so underwhelmed at SS so far. I was also told that you get a huge boost in downloads on your first week of joining. Don't believe the hype ! $:-\$

Nope, not anymore, everyone used to get a big boost for new uploads, but until June or so, it's more like on the other sites, photos need to settle a bit, before they start selling

I really hope you are right Wut $:-\$

I'm positive. Just chill, open yourself a cold one

stockmarketer · « **Reply #73 on:** January 17, 2012, 11:01 »

There are a few secrets to doing well at SS, or anywhere else for that matter:

1. Be unique... create a unique style
2. Do marketing research... find underserved niches of topics that are in demand

Don't worry about the new vs old image question. Don't worry about timing your images to be approved at the right time. Don't look for conspiracy theories about who is or isn't getting a bump.

It's as simple as uploading images that people want.

lagereek · « **Reply #74 on:** January 17, 2012, 11:12 »

You guys should know this! buttered scones with whipped cream, a pot of tea, some jam toppled with plenty of Lagavulin and the dls will simply come in thousands.

Im serious, try it out.

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Author Topic: SS off to a rapid start out the blocks in 2012 for anyone else? (Read 26021 times)

Dantheman

gbalex

disorderly

wut

cathyslife

klsbear

wut

gostwyck

wut

wut

stockmarketer

wut

daveh900

Phadrea

lagereek

stockmarketer

Phadrea

wut

Phadrea

wut

Phadrea

RacePhoto

wut

stockmarketer

lagereek

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