Author Topic: new port, no sales... (Read 7271 times)

sfmthd · « **on:** May 18, 2013, 13:26 »

i have a small portfolio of about 250 images that sells pretty well on SS and ok on FT. 400-500 sales per month, ELs and SODs and all that.

i uploaded about a large batch of images to dreamstime, had most approved, but haven't had a single sale (not one!) in about two weeks.

is this normal?

Microstock Posts · « **Reply #1 on:** May 18, 2013, 14:51 »

Quote from: sfmthd on May 18, 2013, 13:26

is this normal?

Yes, it's common for a port that size. Also, images on dt start selling more after a few months online, so you won't really start to know how good (or bad) dt is for you until then.

tab62 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 18, 2013, 19:48 »

didn't you ask the same question about pond5 on a different post? Try to keep to one post on similar topics- you will get better responses...

gillian vann · « **Reply #3 on:** May 19, 2013, 01:13 »

Tom I think it's valid to ask here, as DT is very different to Pond5. DT is different, although is a high earner for some (3rd for me).

someone with far more experience might be able to give you an insight into what type of files sell well there.
the month they had a photo on their home page of a couple kissing that made me go "euwwwww" (photo was fine, but it was just icky posing) - I often think that about most of their home page images. It's a different style from what I shoot. I sell almost zero food on DT, mostly people stuff.

Firewall · « **Reply #4 on:** May 19, 2013, 03:02 »

It takes a while before images sell on DT, it's a low earner for me. I seem to have a portfolio that's not very suitable for DT.

heywoody · « **Reply #5 on:** May 19, 2013, 04:41 »

400 - 500 sales with a 250 port on SS / FT (beyond exceptional) with zero on DT just does not compute

sfmthd · « **Reply #6 on:** May 19, 2013, 10:37 »

Quote from: tab62 on May 18, 2013, 19:48

didn't you ask the same question about pond5 on a different post? Try to keep to one post on similar topics- you will get better responses...

isn't this why there are forums for each site?

sgoodwin4813 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 19, 2013, 10:40 »

DT also is very variable in sales with huge swings from month to month, presumably due to changes in best match placement. Last month I had a BME there, this month is looking to be the worst in about a year at about one-tenth of last month's earnings. I'm sure others who were low last month are now having BMEs. You need a few months at least to gauge sales there.

djpadavona · « **Reply #8 on:** May 20, 2013, 11:35 »

Nobody knows how the best match function works, but I believe DT looks at both acceptance rate, sales to uploads ratio for overall port, and of course prior sales of the image itself.

So if this is true, a new contributor gets a double-whammy against them because they have no prior sales of their overall port or of the individual image. Once sales begin, a positive feedback loop generates longer term success. Sales at DT do fluctuate quite a bit from month-to-month, but they are always #2 or #3 overall for me. In that regard, I consider them a consistent winner and a great agency to work with.

sfmthd · « **Reply #9 on:** May 20, 2013, 12:58 »

Quote from: djpadavona on May 20, 2013, 11:35

Nobody knows how the best match function works, but I believe DT looks at both acceptance rate, sales to uploads ratio for overall port, and of course prior sales of the image itself.

So if this is true, a new contributor gets a double-whammy against them because they have no prior sales of their overall port or of the individual image. Once sales begin, a positive feedback loop generates longer term success. Sales at DT do fluctuate quite a bit from month-to-month, but they are always #2 or #3 overall for me. In that regard, I consider them a consistent winner and a great agency to work with.

interesting, i guess i'll wait and see. i was hoping to do about 1/4 the volume of ss on dt. so far still nothing!

Phadrea · « **Reply #10 on:** May 21, 2013, 01:51 »

Dreamstime are just weird. You get sales in fits and starts and then it goes quiet for a very LONG time.

Red Dove · « **Reply #11 on:** May 21, 2013, 14:01 »

I'd have thought you would have sales by now. In my experience, images don't have to "age" on DT to start selling.

However, as others have said, DT is erratic. April was a BME, this month is tracking at 50% less than that. As long as I grow by quarter I don't pay much attention to DT's ups and downs - same goes for FT.

fotografer · « **Reply #12 on:** May 22, 2013, 03:33 »

I sell pretty well on DT so much so that they have often been my number one in earnings although not so much in the last year. I find that it takes ages for an image to take off but once it does then it stays near the top of the searches.

Metsafile · « **Reply #13 on:** May 22, 2013, 06:12 »

Dreamstime makes me feel uncomfortable with their STOP & GO function and odd rejections.
They are still my 4th best and on the positive side - I've had five 0-level purchases in the past month.

Phadrea · « **Reply #14 on:** May 23, 2013, 02:39 »

The fact that other people than myself experience fits and starts of sales suggests that they control who gets them and when.

fotografer · « **Reply #15 on:** May 23, 2013, 03:46 »

Quote from: Herg on May 23, 2013, 02:39

The fact that other people than myself experience fits and starts of sales suggests that they control who gets them and when.

I get my sales in fits and starts as well but the overall earnings are good. They don't make a secret of the fact that they change their best match formula around regularly to give as many people as possible a chance to get sales. I can have a low day and then the next day earn 6 or 7 times more. This happens often.

Mactrunk · « **Reply #16 on:** May 23, 2013, 04:26 »

I like Dreamstime. There not very steady by month but overall they give a good return. Look at the 3 months average and not at monthly earnings. The 3 months average is always steady or growing. But I have the same. Sometimes I get subscriptions for days and have low earnings but I know that they ALWAYS give me at least 1 week with many credit sales. It's almost as if they are withholding your credit sales for days or weeks and then release them all of a sudden. Sometimes Dreamstime makes a jump like that at the beginning of the week and I even have more earnings there than Shutterstock. But then they stop again and Shutterstock always catches up.

They are my second best earner but if I would have had the same amount of images on Fotolia I think Fotolia would be 2nd place.

sfmthd · « **Reply #17 on:** May 25, 2013, 11:43 »

well, I know my account is working. two sales today for about $5.50. a pittance but good to see some movement!

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Author Topic: new port, no sales... (Read 7271 times)

sfmthd

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sfmthd

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Mactrunk

sfmthd

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