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Author Topic: How long til your first download?  (Read 4096 times)

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« on: October 14, 2007, 11:14 »
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Hi all,

I have been on Dreamstime since late April and have 75 images online there. I have yet to get a single download, even though most of these same shots are on Shutterstock and istock.

Most have sold at least once on Shutterstock. iStock is much slower for me, but still not as bad as Dreamstime.

Just want to get a feel for the site. Maybe I need a different mix or is blogging necessary to get noticed there?


Thanks

-joe


« Reply #1 on: October 14, 2007, 11:26 »
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Hey Joe, DT shook up their search system a while back to use both the title and keywords.  I went through my photos and named them less artfully and more deliberately.  Helped a bit.  Your models are attractive and well shot, so you should have sales.

You could try changing titles maybe... i.e. the "excited" photo, could be "smiling asian woman".   If you use your most important keywords in title and description (sure, it's boring), but should help.

« Reply #2 on: October 14, 2007, 12:06 »
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Hey, that is a great tip!
Thanks I'll definitely give it a try.

-joe

Oh, and thanks for the compliment  :)

« Reply #3 on: October 14, 2007, 13:22 »
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I agree as well, my model shots sell extremely well at DT..... It has to be something to do w/ your key-wording ...... just change those titles!
B.

« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2007, 13:27 »
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Joe, I had a look at your DT portfolio, and also your stuff on SS and IS.  It's really surprising that you haven't had any downloads at DT.  Really surprising.  Almost as if there is 'something wrong'.  I think your keywords could be better, but otherwise I am at a loss to understand why your pictures aren't selling there.

Also, your comment that at SS most of your pictures have 'had one download' is also surprising - I'd've expected some of your pics to have had at least 20 sales (red umbrella, for instance).

You are getting a better return at IS, but I also think you should have had more sales there too.

One thought that came to mind is that nearly all of your models are Asian, and that might restrict your market.  However one of our members here, phildate, also has a high percentage of asian models, and he is one of the best selling artists at FT, DT and IS.  Check out his portfolio.  He is based in Singapore.

Note that there is a developing market for anything Chinese or Japanese, and with the Olympics to come next year demand for pictures of Asian girls (in fact anything Asian) should be high.  To most Europeans and Americans, all Asian girls look the same (!), but they will be looking for Chinese - as soon as you describe your picture as 'Indonesian girl' or 'Filipino girl' you'll limit your market once again.  I suggest you remove all references to Indonesia etc and place the emphasis on Asian.

Otherwise it is very difficult to understand why you are not making the sales.

BTW I tried to find out where you are based, but you don't include that information anywhere.  Even on your own website there is no indication even of the Country you live in (!) - there's just a phone number and no other contact details.  I'm guessing you are in Taiwan or Singapore, but those are just guesses.

Asian girls are beautiful.  Demand will increase dramatically as China become a dominant world power, so stay with it and place the emphasis on China/Asian.

BTW I am English but I live in Australia.  My girlfriend is Korean and presently lives in Busan while we await granting of a visa.  I shall visit Korea next week.  I plan to tour China and visit friends in Taiwan and Shanghai but will wait until prices decline again after the Olympics.

Hope these comments help in some way.

« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2007, 15:18 »
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Just a thought is there anything that by mistake can be clicked on DT to keep
the images from been sold [license box]? I know that without deleting you can still make them disapear from the searches.

« Reply #6 on: October 14, 2007, 17:31 »
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I don't think that I have checked any boxes incorrectly...but I will double check.

Hatman,

I am in Southern California, San Diego area, USA. We have an extremely large population of Asians here, particularly Vietnamese in Orange county.
And a large number of them think that they are model material  ;)

I am Caucasian though. My wife is of Chinese decent, but grew up in Indonesia. Thus the trips I take to Indonesia are to visit family, and I try to find some models to shoot while I am there. Helps pass the time.

I have been looking for some exceptional Caucasian and African decent models in the area and I have found that most of the really good ones are already signed with an agency. I can't afford to compensate my models like that...so I am sort of limited at the moment in who I can shoot.
I am trying to get a male/female shoot put together soon that will feature Caucasian models this time.

I will for sure need to take a hard look at my key wording etc.
My main modus operandi is to find the hot sellers on iStock that are of a similar type and come as close to using those key words as possible.
Seems that is a bad tactic after all.

Oh well. Live and learn (at least I hope to still learn).

« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2007, 21:20 »
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BTW, does anyone know if ticking the SR-EL (sell the rights box) would have anything to do with buyers not using the shots for other purposes?

That is, if one a designer has the option to buy the rights to an image, maybe potential buyers will be leery to purchase a more limited use license, thinking it could be pulled from them later.

Update: 10/23/2007

Well, happy to announce that I actually had not one, but two downloads today on DT. Its a start, eh?

On a completely OT subject, we (my family) awoke yesterday at 2:30 am to honking horns and fervent doorbell ringing.
We were being evacuated due to the fires here in Southern Calif. I woke up the kids and grabbed my laptop and my 5D.
Funny, about what you think to take with you in an emergency. I wish I could have taken a few good photos of the conflagration, but law enforcement and the fire dept. were not letting me get close enough to get a decent vantage point  >:(

Oh well, maybe next time  ;).
« Last Edit: October 23, 2007, 13:49 by nosaya »


 

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