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Author Topic: Fotolia D-Day (Deactivation Day) - May,1  (Read 305635 times)

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« Reply #1500 on: June 11, 2014, 08:04 »
+13
Well I've managed to help make DPC's 'sea turtle underwater' search return very poor results in comparison to Fotolia (which is already poor in comparison to the likes of SS).


« Reply #1501 on: June 11, 2014, 09:16 »
0
The thing is, it's not enough if we (the contributors) support fair agencies by uploading to them. We need to either get the buyers to support them, too...

I agree. And it is possible to drive buyers to the agencies we choose. In that thread from 2 years ago in which I suggested we all get behind Stockfresh and try to push them up the ladder, I mentioned my Flickr promotion strategy. I put most of my recent work in a flickr account (watermarked of course) and in the description I link to the corresponding image page at SF. I also include my referral in the URL so I get referral credit. It is pretty common that when I get a sale at SF, I also have a referral bonus with it because the buyer saw my stuff on Flickr, clicked over to SF, signed up, and bought my image. Often buying other images too.

I agree that it's not enough to simply upload our images. It will take some effort from us to really make a difference, but I truly believe that it can be done. We all just need to be a little more willing to not see immediate gratification. If the expectation is always going to be that uploading should equate to short-term return on the time spent, we're not going to get anywhere.


« Reply #1502 on: June 11, 2014, 09:35 »
-3
...But for the support to really work what you need is for the good agencies to have stronger collection than the bad ones so there is a place for boycotting the bad agencies too...

That's a good point. I still don't think that boycotts work on their own, but in combination with other efforts they certainly play a role in shifting the balance of power in microstock.

Instead of saying that I don't think boycotts work, I should say boycotts alone don't work. Not to make the kind of significant change we hope to see, anyway.

...I have struggled in the past to understand how you can be for supporting good agencies while at the same time being an apologist for graphicstock or vectorstock (far worse and a bigger threat than DPC especially GS). You can't have it both ways. If you support decent agencies while at the same time propping up the bad ones we aren't going to get anywhere.

I don't support Vectorstock. I still have a small portfolio there, but I don't upload there anymore and even when I did, I uploaded modified (stripped down) versions of my vectors. I also tried to work with them on their pricing problems and for a while they were receptive to increasing prices upon request. They stopped honoring their promise to have all of my work priced higher so I stopped uploading.

Graphicstock isn't that bad. I don't like their unlimited downloads thing, I think that's a potentially harmful precedent to set for what people should expect from subscriptions. But I also don't think that makes them the worst thing in the business. How many people will really care if they get unlimited downloads or not? Few people ever use their download quota up anyway.

But I do think people have made some good deals with them. $15,000 isn't bad for a lot of people. Some people won't make that much with places like DT or FT ever. It's surely a heck of a lot more than most people will ever get from DPC.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #1503 on: June 11, 2014, 09:44 »
0
I mentioned my Flickr promotion strategy. I put most of my recent work in a flickr account (watermarked of course) and in the description I link to the corresponding image page at SF. I also include my referral in the URL so I get referral credit. It is pretty common that when I get a sale at SF, I also have a referral bonus with it because the buyer saw my stuff on Flickr, clicked over to SF, signed up, and bought my image. Often buying other images too.

"Dont use Flickr to sell.
If we find you engaging in commercial activity, we will warn you or delete your account. Some examples include selling products, services, or yourself through your photostream or in a group, using your account solely as a product catalog, or linking to commercial sites in your photostream"

https://www.flickr.com/help/guidelines

That said, I've seen photostreams which are, literally, a product catalogue and nothing else.

« Reply #1504 on: June 11, 2014, 10:02 »
0

"Dont use Flickr to sell.
If we find you engaging in commercial activity, we will warn you or delete your account. Some examples include selling products, services, or yourself through your photostream or in a group, using your account solely as a product catalog, or linking to commercial sites in your photostream"

https://www.flickr.com/help/guidelines

That said, I've seen photostreams which are, literally, a product catalogue and nothing else.

I've been doing it for years without an issue. I also don't abuse the service. My account looks like a portfolio. I do include a link in the description, but that's it. I think as long as you aren't being overly promotional with your account they really don't give you a hard time about it.

If anyone does want to try this, though, I do suggest using a URL shortener like bitly. I prefer to have a non-descript link in the description as opposed to an obvious agency link.

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #1505 on: June 11, 2014, 10:09 »
+1
In that thread from 2 years ago in which I suggested we all get behind Stockfresh and try to push them up the ladder, I mentioned my Flickr promotion strategy. I put most of my recent work in a flickr account (watermarked of course) and in the description I link to the corresponding image page at SF. I also include my referral in the URL so I get referral credit. It is pretty common that when I get a sale at SF, I also have a referral bonus with it because the buyer saw my stuff on Flickr, clicked over to SF, signed up, and bought my image. Often buying other images too.

So you suggest everyone break the Flickr TOS in order to promote an agency. They may not have caught on to you yet, but imagine hundreds of us suddenly linking our "photos" to our commercial portfolios at one site. How long do you think it would take them to catch on?

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #1506 on: June 11, 2014, 12:27 »
0
What Flickr do allow is links in your profile. I have links to my iS port, Alamy port and FAA port, but it's not very handy if someone is interested in a particular file, as 1. a lot, maybe more than half, of my Flickr files aren't in any stock site, and 2. Even if they were, I can't indicate, and someone interested can't know, which site they're on.
But I didn't start on Flickr intending it to be a promotional programme.

« Reply #1507 on: June 11, 2014, 12:36 »
+1
So you suggest everyone break the Flickr TOS in order to promote an agency. They may not have caught on to you yet, but imagine hundreds of us suddenly linking our "photos" to our commercial portfolios at one site. How long do you think it would take them to catch on?

If it bothers you to use Flickr in this way, there are other options. Pinterest, Google+, whichever site you prefer for sharing photos.

My point is more about the strategy than which service someone uses.

« Reply #1508 on: June 12, 2014, 02:12 »
+6
Stats, as of a few minutes ago:
Fotolia: 28,928,757 images
DPC: 21,984,779 images
Difference: 6,943,978 images

« Reply #1509 on: June 12, 2014, 03:22 »
+26
Judging by the fact that 4 out of 4 photographers I've alerted to DPC weren't aware of the site or the fact their photos were being sold there, I think the only thing keeping it alive is the hundreds/thousands of photographers who still don't know of its existence. They are the ones making up the majority of the 21,000,000 images. Fotolia has gone through the back door and not even let contributors know what they've created. That all the photographers I've contacted have immediately replied back to me with genuine alarm and shock shows just how underhand and unethical the DPC concept is. Of course the agency and the customers will be happy with this arrangement.
« Last Edit: June 12, 2014, 03:26 by pkphotos »

dpimborough

« Reply #1510 on: June 14, 2014, 07:55 »
+19
What I find slightly strange is the number of photographers and image producers who bemoan the "we can't do anything these guys are too big" etc.

I think it is quite amazing that individual contributors have passed the word and on the whole taken a stand.

Contributors should have more confidence in themselves and the wider community.

After all that's close to 7 million files denied to the DPC scheme  8)

That is 24% of the overall FT listing not in DPC.

An amazing success :D

« Reply #1511 on: June 14, 2014, 07:58 »
+13
What I find slightly strange is the number of photographers and image producers who bemoan the "we can't do anything these guys are too big" etc.

I think it is quite amazing that individual contributors have passed the word and on the whole taken a stand.

Contributors should have more confidence in themselves and the wider community.

After all that's close to 7 million files denied to the DPC scheme  8)

That is 24% of the overall FT listing not in DPC.

An amazing success :D

Completely agree. We must keep pushing. Once buyers start to not find good images the critical mass will grow. I can't wait for the day FT (and DPC) closes its doors.

« Reply #1512 on: June 14, 2014, 17:41 »
+17
7 million images is a big number by any means.
And this doesn't take into consideration images that were removed by some artists from the FT collection altogether.
In reality, the number of images withheld or not uploaded anymore to this outfit will be much higher.

« Reply #1513 on: June 14, 2014, 18:00 »
+2
7 million images is a big number by any means.
And this doesn't take into consideration images that were removed by some artists from the FT collection altogether.
In reality, the number of images withheld or not uploaded anymore to this outfit will be much higher.

Great point.

OM

« Reply #1514 on: June 14, 2014, 19:50 »
+18
What I don't get is why image factories like Africa Studios are in DPC with 500K images. They are at all the other stock sites too, including SS and if my small income from SS is anything to go by, 50% of my monthly earnings come from 'on demands' and non-subs. Surely these image factories will lose their non-sub income at SS as customers discover that paying for 'on demands' is crazy when you can get the same for 1$ at DPC. It takes one helluva lot of subs sales to make up the loss of one 'on demand' whether at SS or even FT.

Actually, I don't get why anyone would willingly stay opted in to DPC !

dpimborough

« Reply #1515 on: June 15, 2014, 07:01 »
0
What I don't get is why image factories like Africa Studios are in DPC with 500K images. They are at all the other stock sites too, including SS and if my small income from SS is anything to go by, 50% of my monthly earnings come from 'on demands' and non-subs. Surely these image factories will lose their non-sub income at SS as customers discover that paying for 'on demands' is crazy when you can get the same for 1$ at DPC. It takes one helluva lot of subs sales to make up the loss of one 'on demand' whether at SS or even FT.

Actually, I don't get why anyone would willingly stay opted in to DPC !

Is anyone able to contact this mysterious outfit?


Beppe Grillo

« Reply #1516 on: June 15, 2014, 07:24 »
0
Please, don't shot me!  8)

I would be curious to known if somebody not having opted-out for DPC has noticed some increase in sales [?]

Rinderart

« Reply #1517 on: June 15, 2014, 10:03 »
0
Not I. site has been dead for over a year anyway.

« Reply #1518 on: June 15, 2014, 11:05 »
-2
Please, don't shot me!  8)

I would be curious to known if somebody not having opted-out for DPC has noticed some increase in sales [?]

Not really. About the same. The problem is there's no way to tell if a sale came from DPC or Fotolia. I know some subs came from Fotolia after the raise, but all the rest could be from either site. You'd think they would make it so you could see what kind of impact it's having if they want you to stay opted in.

« Reply #1519 on: June 15, 2014, 12:56 »
-1
Please, don't shot me!  8)

I would be curious to known if somebody not having opted-out for DPC has noticed some increase in sales [?]

Not really. About the same. The problem is there's no way to tell if a sale came from DPC or Fotolia. I know some subs came from Fotolia after the raise, but all the rest could be from either site. You'd think they would make it so you could see what kind of impact it's having if they want you to stay opted in.

My sales seem to be down a bit but my credit sales are up, so my earnings per sale are up about 50% - which ends up being pretty neutral. It's not a large enough sample to be really meaningful, though.

« Reply #1520 on: June 16, 2014, 08:21 »
+3
1 hour ago, I was on the tablet, and I saw an advertisement on a link on Facebook for DPC for a free trial for the 10 images.

I am a little bit worried about the massive advertisement DPC is making. I really wish Shutterstock would make something about it.

Oh and I don't know if it's the problem of the last months, (I only joined shutterstock in july 2013 and can't see any pattern), but I am definitely seeing a decrease of ODD comparing with the number of subs.

« Reply #1521 on: June 16, 2014, 08:32 »
+1
I am a little bit worried about the massive advertisement DPC is making. I really wish Shutterstock would make something about it.

Like what?

« Reply #1522 on: June 16, 2014, 08:42 »
+1
like image exclusivity,
and massive advertising on Facebook (DPC has 73 000 likes, Shutterstock has 195 000 - isn't worrying?)

I don't know, I am not paid to think about it... They must know better than me what could be done to refrain them...

ethan

« Reply #1523 on: June 16, 2014, 09:18 »
0
like image exclusivity,
and massive advertising on Facebook (DPC has 73 000 likes, Shutterstock has 195 000 - isn't worrying?)

I don't know, I am not paid to think about it... They must know better than me what could be done to refrain them...

Do you think Oringer would pay contributors more for having exclusive images. Say $0.40 bucks a download?

Make it $50.00 and some might be interested :)

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #1524 on: June 16, 2014, 09:52 »
+5
1 hour ago, I was on the tablet, and I saw an advertisement on a link on Facebook for DPC for a free trial for the 10 images.

I am a little bit worried about the massive advertisement DPC is making. I really wish Shutterstock would make something about it.

Oh and I don't know if it's the problem of the last months, (I only joined shutterstock in july 2013 and can't see any pattern), but I am definitely seeing a decrease of ODD comparing with the number of subs.

Contributors who didn't opt out aren't reporting an increase in sales, and now they're trying to get people in by offering them free files. Sounds a bit desperate to me, actually. Like their usual offer isn't working.

If you see an ad, click on it. They pay for every click. Wouldn't it be nice if they spent most of their advertising budget reaching us. ;)


 

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