Author Topic: are subs hurting you like a little mosquito ? (Read 5036 times)

tan510jomast · « **on:** July 22, 2008, 11:03 »

i am still trying to figure out whether or not to opt out on subs.
do all sites let you do that?
but my main reason here is to ask what everyone thinks of subs?
on one hand, many subs can add to something worthwhile,
but then a few pennies for the dl of a 4MP is not so encouraging.
as my colleague at work laughed when i told him i sold one,
and after i said how much, he laughed, "you make more just panhandling at the station"

sharpshot · « **Reply #1 on:** July 22, 2008, 11:31 »

So far only SS has had a real success with subs and they are by far my highest earning site.

lisafx · « **Reply #2 on:** July 22, 2008, 16:26 »

I don't like the subs, but am having to learn to live with them.

Agree with sharpshot - shutterstock has the volume to make it worthwhile to contribute there. The other sites don't seem to have much subscription volume.

Which actually suits me just fine. The majority of my sales on most sites are still higher paying credit ones.

madelaide · « **Reply #3 on:** July 22, 2008, 16:42 »

Despite the good results people claim with SS, I never joined them because I disagree with the subs model. Microstock images are already too cheap to sell them even cheaper.

I've opted out from subs at StockXpert when they began to be significant. I haven't had a single subs sale in IS yet, so they don't bother me (I have however opted out my best sellers). They have been a bit of a problem in DT, but credit sales still prevail. In 123RF is a bit more prevalent, but recent credit increase is making it still worthwhile. Subs also don't affect me in FT. They're almost all I have in CS and CanStockPhoto (but sales are almost inexistant for me there).

I would opt out from any place with subs, if I could (thanks StockXpert and IS for giving us that option) because, as I said, I don't agree with this model and the loss is insignificant. I would not abandon however sites like DT because of the subs sales, as credit incomes are good, but I have stopped uploading to CS (long ago) and CanStockPhoto (six months ago, I think).

Regards,
Adelaide

Pixart · « **Reply #4 on:** July 22, 2008, 16:48 »

Good analogy: subs=mosquito. Yes, they feel like a nuisance, and they are swarming around everywhere.

One thing about subs is that they are a relatively new endeavour for most of the agencies. They have seen what a good thing SS has going and now other agencies want to replicate it. The trouble is, we all doubt our subs sales are are new buyers like the agencies say, and we are likely losing regular sales.

It also seems that SS is losing a part of their market share and every year I expect to see them taking on individual photo sales. (Right on the SS site, not on that other site).

Prices have risen quite a bit since I started. And the introduction of subs on most of these sites has really been in the past 1.5 years. Perhaps the rules will change once the agencies get a little experience in this side of things. Maybe they are losing money over this deal as well?

tan510jomast · « **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2008, 16:56 »

thanks for your input , ppl. good to know.
pixart, i just felt it was like "ouch!" when i read i had a sale at CS,
so i got all excited since it was the only site other than FT without any sales since i started 4 months ago, while everyone else i joined much later
are giving me sales.
then when i went in to see the sales, i was thinking, "wo! 2.50 ? 1.50?"
like StockXpert, DT, or BigStock, but when i looked , "50 cents", i felt like a mosquito had bit me,
dang! slap that mosquito

still, CS is now ahead by 22 cents of IS now at the botton with28

no, actually it's FT with nada

btw, you can't opt out on subs for CS, can you?
pixart, madeliade, lisafx??
anyone???

madelaide · « **Reply #6 on:** July 22, 2008, 17:00 »

From the big 6, only StockXpert and IS let you opt out. CS/CanStockPhoto/SV don't. FT let you only opt out exclusive images. The others on our list don't have subs, I think.

Regards,
Adelaide

Karimala · « **Reply #7 on:** July 22, 2008, 17:01 »

I'm opted out everywhere the option is available (except IS). Since opting out at StockXpert, I've actually had a strong increase in regular sales and earning. And my two sub sales at IS have earned more than a credit sale.

SV does let you opt out.

tan510jomast · « **Reply #8 on:** July 22, 2008, 17:07 »

thanks madelaide, karimala,
i'm off now to opt out!

madelaide · « **Reply #9 on:** July 22, 2008, 17:09 »

Quote from: Karimala on July 22, 2008, 17:01

SV does let you opt out.

You're right, and I knew that (I've opted out too), but I made a mistake when typing. Having my 13-yo nephew around is driving me nuts!

Regards,
Adelaide

tan510jomast · « **Reply #10 on:** July 22, 2008, 17:29 »

IS only has the option to opt out on Extended Lic.
is that the same thing?

rene · « **Reply #11 on:** July 22, 2008, 17:42 »

Quote from: tan510jomast on July 22, 2008, 17:29

IS only has the option to opt out on Extended Lic.
is that the same thing?

No. Here is the link to subscriptions :
http://www.istockphoto.com/my_uploads_subscription.php?

tan510jomast · « **Reply #12 on:** July 22, 2008, 18:00 »

hey cheers, rene,
found it. i just unchecked the subscription box at the end of each line . cheers!

RacePhoto · « **Reply #13 on:** July 22, 2008, 20:53 »

Quote from: sharpshot on July 22, 2008, 11:31

So far only SS has had a real success with subs and they are by far my highest earning site.

Same for me, SS is my best best Micro. Editorial sales are still my main income.

When it comes to getting 65c or 25c for a photo, what's the big deal? I'd rather sell the same picture six times for a quarter than sell it once for 65c. It's not like this is a high dollar difference once th photo is up RF cheap.

HermanM · « **Reply #14 on:** July 23, 2008, 15:18 »

I hate subs and this past week I saw a spike on subs at DT that really hit me hard... I have opted out wherever I could from them... They really suck.

angel gab · « **Reply #15 on:** July 24, 2008, 13:14 »

To someone who is new ,or desperate, or both, subs are great incentive.
But it can be deceptive too, as it gives you the false impression that they will eventually reach payout .
From the comments we get here and other sites' forums, we know that not true. That's where the money is made from starting your own microstock .

MicrostockGroup Sponsors

Author Topic: are subs hurting you like a little mosquito ? (Read 5036 times)

tan510jomast

sharpshot

lisafx

madelaide

Pixart

tan510jomast

madelaide

Karimala

tan510jomast

madelaide

tan510jomast

rene

tan510jomast

RacePhoto

HermanM

angel gab

Related Topics

Sponsors

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors