Author Topic: Why I love Fotolia! (Read 37155 times)

madelaide · « **Reply #100 on:** February 13, 2011, 14:44 »

Quote from: MatHayward on February 13, 2011, 14:07

Quote from: madelaide on February 13, 2011, 13:55
US$8 for a 50 credit sale is not speculation.

How are you learning what currency the credits are purchased with?

Is there any currency in which a credit is less than US$1? if not, and if the image is indeed at 50 credits, then his commission was no more than 16%.

cthoman · « **Reply #101 on:** February 13, 2011, 15:10 »

It is all so much easier to deal with when you're not affected anymore.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #102 on:** February 13, 2011, 16:11 »

Quote from: cthoman on February 13, 2011, 15:10

It is all so much easier to deal with when you're not affected anymore.

it is your business but I guess if I had your earnings I wouldn´t leave for sure 3k $ per year isn´t that low but I feel and agree with your decision

borg · « **Reply #103 on:** February 13, 2011, 16:41 »

Hi guys!

That was US sale (-30% of tax), usually for bronze level is 11,xx credits for EL sale of 50credits...

But point here is what buyer pays and what we get...
That certainly isn't percentage on my level...
But that is an old story.... $:-\$

cthoman · « **Reply #104 on:** February 13, 2011, 17:06 »

Quote from: luissantos84 on February 13, 2011, 16:11

it is your business but I guess if I had your earnings I wouldn´t leave for sure 3k $ per year isn´t that low but I feel and agree with your decision

Yeah, I'll definitely miss the money, but I've been trying to think of things from a more long term perspective. RPD and royalty percentages have become important to me. Ideally, I'd like to get $5 per sale and around a 50% royalty. Unfortunately, there are only a few sites that satisfy both of those criteria.

Fotolia seemed to be moving further and further away from the ideal that I wanted. Plus, I didn't feel that I could trust them at all. I probably should clean out a few other agencies as well. I'm not sure if it is the best business decision, but neither does continuously feeding these unrewarding businesses. I'm not sure there is a good answer.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #105 on:** February 13, 2011, 17:46 »

I wasn´t waiting any kind of answer thanks!

I was just telling you that I agree with your decision!

best of luck

Pheby · « **Reply #106 on:** February 13, 2011, 19:17 »

Quote from: lagereek on February 13, 2011, 14:02

I didnt know you could have image-only exclusivity at FT???-------- is that right?

Yes, FT has image exclusivity. You can raise the prices of exclusive files according to your cannister level, and you can opt your exclusive files out of subs (which seems to hurt their best match placement though).

Mantis · « **Reply #107 on:** February 16, 2011, 18:55 »

Quote from: MatHayward on September 10, 2010, 17:15

I have to throw in my .02 on the latest Microstock controversy here. It's no secret that a lot of people have felt burned by FT on changes made in the past but in my opinion most, if not all the changes made had been done so with the sole intent of increasing business which ultimately had a benefit to us all.

So many people have asked me on many different occasions why I am exclusive to Fotolia. I received a call from a guy just the other day trying to recruit me to upload to his company. I told him I was exclusive and he said "Oh, I thought you were a Fotolia guy...not I-Stock." That made me chuckle and realize how few people are exclusive to FT like myself. Reading about the I-Stock Changes got me to thinking about why that is so I thought this seemed like as good a time as any to explain my choice.

Right now, as an Exclusive Emerald (equivalent to I-Stock Diamond right?) Photographer I earn a 54% commission on my sales. 54%! Not only is the commission high, but I set my prices at $5 for XS and $40 for XL so I'm getting a higher commission on a higher dollar amount. Every time I sell an XL file I get $21.60 added to my account.

As an Emerald Photographer I also have an Infinite Collection account to sell photos at even higher prices ($20 for XS, $200 for XL) with increased visibility and a 50% commission.

As far as I know, even non-exclusive commission rates have always been dramatically higher than those of I-Stock. I always found it shocking that so many people were so defensive of IS and their 20% commissions...now?

FT has an option for Image Exclusivity which lets contributors raise prices on individual photos. Of course you get the higher commission if you are an exclusive photographer but you can still get the benefit of higher prices on exclusive images even if not. This doesn't benefit me as I'm totally exclusive anyway but I thought I would mention it regardless.

I can upload as many images as I want as often as I want regardless of being exclusive or not. I heard there is some sort of bulk upload option for new photographers as well but I'm not too sure about that. When I dipped my toes in the I-stock water a few years ago I was puzzled and frustrated by the limits. I would never get caught up...ever! Not that I am now but being chronically behind is solely based on my procrastination through FT not on silly limitations they put on me.

FT pays commissions on promotional and free credits as though they were purchased. I heard that I-Stock does not do this? From what I understand they send out a lot of these promo credits to recruit buyers.

FT is the number one micro-stock site in Europe and is picking up speed around the world! I have always believed that FT has had my best interest in mind as their successes equate to my success. I would both love and hate it if all the top micro-stockers were at FT. Love it because the quality of imagery would be so high that the lions share of the buyers would have to be there too. Hate it because the competition would be so fierce I would really have to step up my game. I'm willing to do it if you want to give it a shot come on over!

For what it's worth guys, I'm sorry that you are getting dumped on so rough at IS. Especially those of you that are exclusive. If any of you have any questions about FT I'm happy to answer them. I'm not always a shameless cheerleader, I'll give straight answers to the best of my ability and if I don't know the answer I will try to find it for you.

Good luck all,

Mat Hayward

Unfortunately, your message above is wrought with reciprocal messages. Just about everything you mention above turned out to be the opposite for FT after they followed suit with Istock.

Pheby · « **Reply #108 on:** February 16, 2011, 19:41 »

Quote from: Mantis on February 16, 2011, 18:55

Unfortunately, your message above is wrought with reciprocal messages. Just about everything you mention above turned out to be the opposite for FT after they followed suit with Istock.

No, not really. The only point that has changed for Mat is that his files no longer cost 5 credits for an XS sale (it has been limited to 3 credits). His royalty rate of 54 percent has stayed the same, and FT still is the market leader in Europe. He still has no upload limit (neither has anybody else), and he can still submit to the infinite collection. I'm sure the emeralds (exclusive and not) will be affected by the next royalty cut, but the deal that he as an exclusive emerald has got still looks to me like one not to be found anywhere else.

Mantis · « **Reply #109 on:** February 17, 2011, 09:19 »

Quote from: Pheby on February 16, 2011, 19:41

Quote from: Mantis on February 16, 2011, 18:55
Unfortunately, your message above is wrought with reciprocal messages. Just about everything you mention above turned out to be the opposite for Fotolia after they followed suit with Istock.

No, not really. The only point that has changed for Mat is that his files no longer cost 5 credits for an XS sale (it has been limited to 3 credits). His royalty rate of 54 percent has stayed the same, and Fotolia still is the market leader in Europe. He still has no upload limit (neither has anybody else), and he can still submit to the infinite collection. I'm sure the emeralds (exclusive and not) will be affected by the next royalty cut, but the deal that he as an exclusive emerald has got still looks to me like one not to be found anywhere else.

Yes but applying his message to all contributors isn't the same. Royalties have been cut and the rudeness they have practiced when doing this by sanitizing their forums is right in line with what he is insinuating Fotolia wouldn't do, but they did. Now, did he have any way of knowing this? That's a different issue. Shows how fast businesses can change.

Pheby · « **Reply #110 on:** February 17, 2011, 12:42 »

Quote from: Mantis on February 17, 2011, 09:19

Quote from: Pheby on February 16, 2011, 19:41
Quote from: Mantis on February 16, 2011, 18:55
Unfortunately, your message above is wrought with reciprocal messages. Just about everything you mention above turned out to be the opposite for Fotolia after they followed suit with Istock.

No, not really. The only point that has changed for Mat is that his files no longer cost 5 credits for an XS sale (it has been limited to 3 credits). His royalty rate of 54 percent has stayed the same, and Fotolia still is the market leader in Europe. He still has no upload limit (neither has anybody else), and he can still submit to the infinite collection. I'm sure the emeralds (exclusive and not) will be affected by the next royalty cut, but the deal that he as an exclusive emerald has got still looks to me like one not to be found anywhere else.

Yes but applying his message to all contributors isn't the same. Royalties have been cut and the rudeness they have practiced when doing this by sanitizing their forums is right in line with what he is insinuating Fotolia wouldn't do, but they did. Now, did he have any way of knowing this? That's a different issue. Shows how fast businesses can change.

He didn't apply his message to all contributors (cf. the title of the thread). The conditions changed for the lower-ranked contributors, which he isn't.
As for insinutaing that FT would not cut commissions, I'm not sure. He was only stating his reality at FT and comparing with IS. And as I said, he still has a much better commision deal that most of us.

robertosch · « **Reply #111 on:** February 17, 2011, 16:45 »

Quote from: Nordlys on September 10, 2010, 17:43

I'm also at Fotolia, and quite content about it. Not there as exclusive though. Good sales there every day

Good sales here too, and not exclusive, either. Great site.

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Author Topic: Why I love Fotolia! (Read 37155 times)

madelaide

cthoman

luissantos84

borg

cthoman

luissantos84

Pheby

Mantis

Pheby

Mantis

Pheby

robertosch

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