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Author Topic: We need buyers... so here is the plan!  (Read 19846 times)

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« Reply #25 on: August 15, 2008, 11:42 »
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I do think we will play a more effective role on the future of the industry in the next 10 years..

The better we are organized and the more we move together we will become the decision maker..

Internet gave artists more freedom in the last 10 years.. And will give us even more freedom in the next 10 years.. so who can foresee this will win the game..

@ john griffin,

if you are sincere, it sounds very good.. I will be watching closely..

I truly hope you are right and artists/photographers start taking a more active role in shaping the direction of the industry.  

Sadly, as is always the case, those of us who choose to post on these and other forums are the vocal minority with the overall majority willing to take what they are given.

As long as people continue to accept short term gains (money) from sites who don't have artists interests at heart, SS, StockXpert, DT, etc... will continue to push and make unfavorable changes.  Those of you who are making decent money will see it continue to dwindle as these sites erode the value of your work and give you less and less for it.


« Reply #26 on: August 15, 2008, 12:21 »
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@EVERYONE -

Okay, lets get organized and plan a coup!  :)

John Griffin has assured us that he can sell our photos if we give him enough good content. You may trust him......you may not. We can't change that fact, but we can do what is in our control...

So here is what I propose....

Ideally, it would be really great if many photographers could take the "leap of faith" and make all the stuff in their portfolio exclusive to cutcuster. But, for obvious reasons, i just don't see that happening. Its too boring, too tedious, too time consuming and what not....

So, lets do what PhotoShelter has done. Let's create new good unique content and make it available only to cutcaster. If cutcaster fails, you can take all your content and just sell it to the the other sites. No major risk. No major loss, just some time lost!

Basically here is what we do... for just 1 month, we concentrate on creating new fresh and unique content. We take that content and give it to cutcaster EXCLUSIVELY. We let John make the sales happen. If he succeeds and sales seem promising...we leave the content there. If not, we take all our content off cutcaster and give it to our regular big 6.

Basically, you will not loose the money your making now. You don't have to remove photos and re-upload them and that whole painful process.

If it succeeds, we have changed the microstock world. If it fails... then without much loss, we go on with our lives.

What say?

This will work if there are two things we do right...

1. If enough people are aware of this and contribute to it... (For this we need more people to know about the issues and contribute! Microstockgroup itself is huge. There are some big names here. Lets try to get them and many more people involved.)

2. If we know how to create good unique content.... (I believe that there are people like iornarrow here, who have small portfolios and still make huge number of sales. I believe that there are many people here who are also photo byers and designers. All these people can tell us what the current microstock industry is missing and what it needs. Maybe John can use some of his resources to prepare an in-depth survey about what we need to shoot and what the industry is missing.)

So, what say, thats my plan, any ideas.... and.... who's with me?

ironarrow

« Reply #27 on: August 15, 2008, 12:57 »
0
I do think we will play a more effective role on the future of the industry in the next 10 years..

The better we are organized and the more we move together we will become the decision maker..

Internet gave artists more freedom in the last 10 years.. And will give us even more freedom in the next 10 years.. so who can foresee this will win the game..

@ john griffin,

if you are sincere, it sounds very good.. I will be watching closely..

I truly hope you are right and artists/photographers start taking a more active role in shaping the direction of the industry.  

Sadly, as is always the case, those of us who choose to post on these and other forums are the vocal minority with the overall majority willing to take what they are given.

As long as people continue to accept short term gains (money) from sites who don't have artists interests at heart, SS, StockXpert, DT, etc... will continue to push and make unfavorable changes.  Those of you who are making decent money will see it continue to dwindle as these sites erode the value of your work and give you less and less for it.


Well my friend.. I don't threaten the "big 6" as me threatening the big 6 would look funny.. It would be like "a stone threatening the mountain.."

But, as one of the stones that form the base of the mountain, I do believe I will try my best to convince all the other stones that form the base to move together and shake the mountain.. When that is done, the mountain is really threatened and is vulnerable..

If we all work together we can make any mountain collapse..

« Reply #28 on: August 15, 2008, 13:05 »
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If we all work together we can make any mountain collapse..

AMEN brudda (or sista)!

« Reply #29 on: August 15, 2008, 13:11 »
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I am quite happy to be a sheep at cutcaster.  My sales have increased at cutcaster, I'm earning more and the team is great to work with.

Yeah, most of the sheep are with you.

If by sheep you mean successful high earning micro stock photographers, I'm happy to be a sheep ..

:-)
« Last Edit: August 15, 2008, 13:57 by Marburg »

« Reply #30 on: August 15, 2008, 13:51 »
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Having being on this old planet for many moons- I know this statement is true.  "the only thing you can count is there will be change".  What is considered the standard for today will be different for tomorrow.When I was young -the way to travel was by train or bus-not airplanes. What is the "big 6" will be different some time in the future. So if you want to make money in microstock you cater to the "big 6" for the present- but at the same time you should be risking some of you time and energy in what you think will be the future "big 6". As to who will  the "big 6" ,I don't know- but remember one big hit makes up for alot of misses.
Smiling Jack   

WarrenPrice

« Reply #31 on: August 15, 2008, 14:47 »
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I am really new here.  This is my first post.  I accidently stumbled in.  I wonder how many other photographer/graphic artsis are unaware of this site?  I bet it is a lot more than are aware of it.

I have read this thread with great interest and have wondered for several days about CutCaster.  It sounds pretty good and the organizing thing sounds good. Standing up for your/our rights is noble. I see some problems, though.  That's a mighty big mountain to shake.  I wonder how many contributers we are talking about?  How many upload just as an ego trip?  There are now so many point and shoot photographers that the supply of "pretty good" images is limitless.  And, they (the majority of microstock contributors) probably have no idea that we are talking on microstockgroup about organizing.  And, of those who do know, how many really care?

I'm all for organizing and becoming a part of the demand for better pay.  I'm not a big player and will do no harm to any microstock agency that I cease from uploading to ... but, I'm ready to try CutCaster.  I just wonder how my protest will register on the richter scale? 

warren
www.warrenpricephotography.com

michealo

« Reply #32 on: August 15, 2008, 15:02 »
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Warren - it's a butterfly flapping its wings

« Reply #33 on: August 15, 2008, 15:24 »
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Ummmmm.  Is this thread being inundated by Cutcaster sales people? :-\

michealo

« Reply #34 on: August 15, 2008, 16:20 »
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yep, sounds like LO resurrected

chumley

« Reply #35 on: August 15, 2008, 17:03 »
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.
« Last Edit: August 23, 2008, 18:03 by chumley »

« Reply #36 on: August 15, 2008, 17:31 »
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There is a long way to go in this Micro game before we know the out come, stay tuned.

I believe that is true. Niche style agencies could blossom and thrive.
Conversely, the mass market for images may have only just begun. If I were starting a micrstock agency would try to get every possible good image and sell them at competetive prices. I would be Wal-Mart. To do this just offer:
-fast easy submission (and John has a good start on this)
-fast cheap reviewing
Cut costs so you sell cheaper without cutting royalties, and get tons of images. Then the buyers will come.

You could do the cheap reviewing by offering auto-reviewing, and take advantage of late entry into the business, turn it to your advantage. It could work like this: If the image has been accepted at other microstock sites, you would auto-accept it. If the submitter includes a link to the image on IS (the pickiest site) you would automatically accept the image. Alternatively, if the image has been accepted by any 2 of the other big 6, you would auto accept.

So you don't need real reviewers, just somebody to verify the links, or a program could do it. You not only cut out the cost of reviewers, you make the acceptance process almost instantaneous.

I agree with Chumley, what we are witnessing is only the beginning.

chumley

« Reply #37 on: August 15, 2008, 17:48 »
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.
« Last Edit: August 23, 2008, 18:03 by chumley »

« Reply #38 on: August 15, 2008, 20:27 »
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@Everyone -I started this topic. I want to assure everyone that this has got nothing to do with Cutcaster. And I don't care if you support CutCater or SnapVillage or Mostphotos. This is about, trying to change the prices in the microstock market.

@michaeldb - Awesome idea about the auto-reviewing. Awesome idea about the using the fact that you are late to your advantage. New way of thinking. John, you should use that idea. It seems pretty smart.

What I am wondering though is that, what are the costs of reviewers? Even if John cuts the cost of reviewers, do he cut down the overall cost substantially? Can he really give us a good percentage.

However, i don't agree with you about going back to the old prices.


 

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