Author Topic: Less sales, but even less subs (Read 15289 times)

madelaide · « **on:** July 10, 2010, 16:55 »

Sales have dropped for me, but no subs (knock on wood) and a RPD this month of US$2.96. I wished it could always be like that....

donding · « **Reply #1 on:** July 10, 2010, 17:15 »

I've seen a big increase in sub sales. The other sales are usually small or xtra small so they might as well be sub sales too because the pay isn't that much more

ap · « **Reply #2 on:** July 10, 2010, 17:22 »

Quote from: donding on July 10, 2010, 17:15

I've seen a big increase in sub sales. The other sales are usually small or xtra small so they might as well be sub sales too because the pay isn't that much more

+1

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #3 on:** July 10, 2010, 17:44 »

^^ +2

luissantos84 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 10, 2010, 17:54 »

lisafx · « **Reply #5 on:** July 10, 2010, 17:59 »

+1. No, -1. Wait...what am I agreeing to again??

My average this month at DT is $1.53, so pretty much as usual. I am seeing a lot of subs, unfortunately, but the credit prices for the higher level images are still balancing them out.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #6 on:** July 10, 2010, 18:28 »

Quote from: lisafx on July 10, 2010, 17:59

+1. No, -1. Wait...what am I agreeing to again??

My average this month at DT is $1.53, so pretty much as usual. I am seeing a lot of subs, unfortunately, but the credit prices for the higher level images are still balancing them out.

When several of my images suddenly jumped to Level 3, I was thrilled. Way to go Dreamstime. I haven't sold one of those image since. I sell lots of Maximum Size subscriptions but nearly all credit sales are Small and Extra Small.

Since the beginning of the year, my RPD has been:
Jan 2010 = 52 cents
Feb 2010 = 83 cents
Mar 2010 = 50 cents
Apr 2010 = 54 cents
May 2010 = 66 cents
Jun 2010 = 65 cents

The Thrill is gone! Someone needs to consider changing something at Dreamstime. I'm afraid, however, pride and embarrassment may make admission of failure too difficult. And, how do you go back to the elated subscribers and jerk that goldmine out from under them?

It's a mess. I'm certainly not smart enough to figure it out. Maybe Think Stock will pick up the slack!

ap · « **Reply #7 on:** July 10, 2010, 19:33 »

if it makes you feel better, my rpd dropped from $2.18 when i started this time last year to .33 for this month. even i'm a little shocked.

PowerDroid · « **Reply #8 on:** July 10, 2010, 20:45 »

I saw a nice jump in RPD in Jan, and it's been up and down since. Sales have been pretty flat since Jan, but then I can say that for most of the agencies. Overall, I'm OK with how Dreamstime has been doing for me.

CCK · « **Reply #9 on:** July 11, 2010, 00:26 »

My RPD for May was $1.72, down to $0.79 for june and is standing at $0.57 for July. Fortunately its still early days, a lot can happen before the end of July.

FD · « **Reply #10 on:** July 11, 2010, 07:03 »

Income on DT going down with more photos. RPD going down by the avalanche of subs at max size. Although the recent joiners and people with small ports seem to cheer "BME" every month, many long-term stockers experience a drop.

Is this just a reflection of the bubble of microstock¹ bursting further, or is it specific for DT? Whatever, this is not a time to blame or even dump DT. They still have a reasonable acceptance policy and they are in the top 4.

So why not keep supporting DT? Do you think DP, Fresh, Zoonar, Veer offer any viable alternative? Stick with trusted and proven values.

No this was not a product placement.

________________________
¹ The bubble in microstock is not an agency phenomenon but a contributor phenomenon. All larger agencies report higher profits and higher volumes. Contributors are confronted with an ever increasing supply of new contributors and they will have to yield market share to those. As Ellen Boughn stated in an interview recently, image supply will become a lower-wage countries business, just like what happened with the production of sneakers.

gostwyck · « **Reply #11 on:** July 11, 2010, 08:08 »

So far this month DT have contributed just 8% of my earnings, an all-time low, with an RPD of $1.08. Exactly 50% of my sales this month are via subscriptions.

PowerDroid · « **Reply #12 on:** July 11, 2010, 11:16 »

Quote from: FD-regular on July 11, 2010, 07:03

As Ellen Boughn stated in an interview recently, image supply will become a lower-wage countries business, just like what happened with the production of sneakers.

Yes, this is an inevitable reality we're all being faced with.

Copycats in lower-wage countries -- and, of course, in EVERY country -- will see what sells well and duplicate those endlessly. Today, microstock images are already a COMMODITY, where lower price wins and only those who supply in high volume will profit. This scenario will become more and more widespread.

But is there another way to survive and even thrive? YES. Don't produce COMMODITY images, those with no creativity involved and those that can be easily duplicated by copycats. Put your brain to work... create imagery that provides a unique perspective, says something about emerging business trends or new issues facing workers, families, the environment, etc. There will ALWAYS be new subjects to cover, and there will ALWAYS be buyers for these images. The first to market with good images that address these needs will profit with early sales, then the copycats will follow.

A small percent of contributors will understand this and remain at the top tier of producers catching a customer's eye with a unique vision and even flashes of brilliance. However, if you're someone who says, "but there are no such ideas left," then you are a commodity and unless you're generating hundreds of images a day, you would be wise to throw in the towel now.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #13 on:** July 11, 2010, 12:08 »

Quote from: PowerDroid on July 11, 2010, 11:16

Quote from: FD-regular on July 11, 2010, 07:03
As Ellen Boughn stated in an interview recently, image supply will become a lower-wage countries business, just like what happened with the production of sneakers.

Yes, this is an inevitable reality we're all being faced with.

Copycats in lower-wage countries -- and, of course, in EVERY country -- will see what sells well and duplicate those endlessly. Today, microstock images are already a COMMODITY, where lower price wins and only those who supply in high volume will profit. This scenario will become more and more widespread.

But is there another way to survive and even thrive? YES. Don't produce COMMODITY images, those with no creativity involved and those that can be easily duplicated by copycats. Put your brain to work... create imagery that provides a unique perspective, says something about emerging business trends or new issues facing workers, families, the environment, etc. There will ALWAYS be new subjects to cover, and there will ALWAYS be buyers for these images. The first to market with good images that address these needs will profit with early sales, then the copycats will follow.

A small percent of contributors will understand this and remain at the top tier of producers catching a customer's eye with a unique vision and even flashes of brilliance. However, if you're someone who says, "but there are no such ideas left," then you are a commodity and unless you're generating hundreds of images a day, you would be wise to throw in the towel now.

A well thought out, well written post. And, thought provoking. For me, I think you nailed it. Where's that blue heart?

vonkara · « **Reply #14 on:** July 11, 2010, 17:25 »

It's weird, there is no complain on the Dreamstime forums

red · « **Reply #15 on:** July 11, 2010, 18:50 »

Most of the people commenting on the DT forums lately are new contributors. They are excited when they get their first sale or when they finally reach 50 uploads. They are cheerleaders, for a short time. If you go to their portfolios they have few sales. The heavy hitters seldom chime in.

Xalanx · « **Reply #16 on:** July 11, 2010, 19:53 »

Quote from: Vonkara on July 11, 2010, 17:25

It's weird, there is no complain on the Dreamstime forums

No complains of course, there's a frenzy down there.

FD · « **Reply #17 on:** July 11, 2010, 20:02 »

Quote from: cuppacoffee on July 11, 2010, 18:50

Most of the people commenting on the DT forums lately are new contributors. They are excited when they get their first sale or when they finally reach 50 uploads. They are cheerleaders, for a short time. If you go to their portfolios they have few sales. The heavy hitters seldom chime in.

Of course. If you have a comment that goes beyond cheering, you get a (private) comment back from people at high places.

FD · « **Reply #18 on:** July 11, 2010, 20:15 »

Quote from: Xalanx on July 11, 2010, 19:53

No complains of course, there's a frenzy down there.

Somebody is so excited that DT can read EXIF and IPTC. "Sales better than other sites" (member since 2007, 405 uploaded pics, 92 sales).

Right on track!

vonkara · « **Reply #19 on:** July 11, 2010, 21:01 »

Quote from: Xalanx on July 11, 2010, 19:53

Quote from: Vonkara on July 11, 2010, 17:25
It's weird, there is no complain on the Dreamstime forums

No complains of course, there's a frenzy down there.

LOL that's a epic back kiss

madelaide · « **Reply #20 on:** July 11, 2010, 21:25 »

Well, I am not complaining (and got US$3.50 on another sale today), as I am not having those subs sales at the moment, only nice credit sales. If this trend continues, I may get slightly more than last month, but even if just around the same, I am happy for the no subs period (almost 3 weeks now).

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #21 on:** July 11, 2010, 21:35 »

^^ I also had a good sale last week, $2.63. That raised my RPD for July up to $1.06.

PS: I'm not sure if DT has any rules about posting numbers on here?

donding · « **Reply #22 on:** July 11, 2010, 22:09 »

Quote from: WarrenPrice on July 11, 2010, 21:35

PS: I'm not sure if DT has any rules about posting numbers on here?

If that was the case then we'd all been fired by now..

Albert Martin · « **Reply #23 on:** July 12, 2010, 02:00 »

Well... I am sure that THEY are WATCHING this ;-)

fotografer · « **Reply #24 on:** July 12, 2010, 05:18 »

Dreamstime consistently beat IS and SS for me in earnings by quite a large margin. I do extremely well in the searches there which explains it. The only other place I do well in the searches is Fot which is by far my best earner. Position in searches is everything in this game assuming that you can produce images as good as most people. Working out little tricks to get good search placement is as important as producing good images. In IS it's impossible because of all the exclusive images and SS I don't produce enough to keep my image up at the top.

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Author Topic: Less sales, but even less subs (Read 15289 times)

madelaide

donding

ap

WarrenPrice

luissantos84

lisafx

WarrenPrice

ap

PowerDroid

CCK

FD

gostwyck

PowerDroid

WarrenPrice

vonkara

red

Xalanx

FD

FD

vonkara

madelaide

WarrenPrice

donding

Albert Martin

fotografer

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