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Author Topic: best to upload to 20 microstock sites or only the best ones ?  (Read 15451 times)

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« Reply #25 on: September 25, 2013, 04:36 »
0
Because you are competing with yourself, based on price and supporting the parasites that drive down prices, and pay you almost nothing. This dilutes the sales and makes the best agencies weaker. That, and I feel that for the returns, it's a waste of time and energy. Take the best earners, if your personal high point is ten, then fine, you like working long hours for $100 a year? Better might be, four, that's a nice diverse group, with a proven track record. {opinion}

But if you want numbers, add the five top agencies on the right and then the next 16 (all the rest that have numbers) and see how much the  bottom 16 earn, added together.

Lets see bottom 16 = 57. Hey look, SS does that by themselves? Top five = 146 is almost triple.  HOLY COW!

So why did you want to work and upload to the top 21 sites?

That and with less sites, you might have better control over who's selling what and where things are being partnered from.

Personally? Top Two and Alamy because of what Alamy handles in the way of Editorial. But some people are on 50 sites and quite happy.


Hey guys,
what is the downside of uploading to 20 sites instead of just uploading to the top tiers?

If your future is anything like my present at Shutterstock, then you may want to prepare for it. I'm just saying.

My future is I keep getting more money and more downloads every year from SS. What's wrong with that?


ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #26 on: September 25, 2013, 05:03 »
+2
My future is I keep getting more money and more downloads every year from SS. What's wrong with that?
Nope, that's your present.
"Present performance is no guarantee of future growth" as many people have found for a while on iS, and the same is starting to be reported now from some SS contributors.
When some people started to report falling-off sales at iS, they were greeted by a lot of, "I'm selling fine - you can't be uploading the right stuff/enough stuff/high enough quality stuff" by some of the same people who have either now left exclusivity there or left iS altogether.
Those who don't learn from history (which could be SS, vide the changes to TOS thread, or their contributors) are condemned to repeat it.
« Last Edit: September 25, 2013, 05:47 by ShadySue »

« Reply #27 on: September 25, 2013, 09:25 »
0
I'd start with the Big 4 and the Middle Tier shown to the right of the page, then choose from the Low Earners based on what kind of images you're producing.

« Reply #28 on: September 25, 2013, 10:30 »
0
My future is I keep getting more money and more downloads every year from SS. What's wrong with that?
Nope, that's your present.
"Present performance is no guarantee of future growth" as many people have found for a while on iS, and the same is starting to be reported now from some SS contributors.
When some people started to report falling-off sales at iS, they were greeted by a lot of, "I'm selling fine - you can't be uploading the right stuff/enough stuff/high enough quality stuff" by some of the same people who have either now left exclusivity there or left iS altogether.
Those who don't learn from history (which could be SS, vide the changes to TOS thread, or their contributors) are condemned to repeat it.

Exactly! Things may continue to go well there, but if they don't... What's the saying? Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

« Reply #29 on: September 25, 2013, 11:59 »
+2
Hey guys,
what is the downside of uploading to 20 sites instead of just uploading to the top tiers?

I'd say you should stick with the top and middle tiers unless there's someone new that you think has a good strategy.

The big disadvantage of spreading your work everywhere is that many of the agencies behave very, very badly. It is in our best interests to keep an eye on them to know what they're doing, who they're partnering with and what changes in terms/prices/something else we need to be aware of. It's just too hard to keep a close eye on so many agencies, and given the largely useless returns from the smaller sites, I don't thing they're worth the time to keep an eye on.

You can read through threads at MSG about shenanigans from the agencies - this isn't some sort of paranoia on my part, but having lived with the ugly experiences since fall 2004.

For the small agencies you do choose to contribute to, (1) make sure you can delete your own work (so that when they don't reply to support requests and you want out you can get out), (2) make sure you know who you're dealing with - they have your valuable content and you don't want them shipping it straight to a torrent site, and (3) only go with those who have easy uploading and low payouts - you want to minimize the time you spend given the low likelihood of making anything significant.

Uncle Pete

« Reply #30 on: September 25, 2013, 12:11 »
+2
Oh? So your insurance against a drop at SS is invest your time and effort into 20 other sites that already stink and are destined to fail even worse? Is that it?  :o

Of course there are no promises, that's why people are so disgusted with IS. Levels rescinded, continued falling sales, income, promises, lies and then they changed everything, pulled BS commission changes, added RC levels, started the ThinkStock site and were selling subs for 28c commission, the partners gutted the agency resources and finances, the ability to have enough working capitol. Then dumped it. Not only are commissions down, sales are too. Best thing they did was removed exclusives from ThinkStock and gave those people back some integrity. More income, less sales. The indys can claw at each other and grub for pennies on the subscription grounds.

What history from Microstock are we to learn from and avoid? You're an exclusive at IS Sue.  :)  Is there anything anyone here can honestly do to avoid the same in the future? It's like any other business. When the profits fall, the companies will fail and the thinning of the herd. I wish it would start to happen faster.

I'm bored (and rather insulted) with promises and hope that's being marketed to people by the foundering microstock agencies, when the race to the bottom is gaining momentum. If IS can sink, so can all the rest under them on the right. I don't see SS having any serious competition anymore to harm them. The SS model is working and the rest are trying to find a way to compete and stay alive.

Ride on the ocean liner, not in lifeboats.



My future is I keep getting more money and more downloads every year from SS. What's wrong with that?
Nope, that's your present.
"Present performance is no guarantee of future growth" as many people have found for a while on iS, and the same is starting to be reported now from some SS contributors.
When some people started to report falling-off sales at iS, they were greeted by a lot of, "I'm selling fine - you can't be uploading the right stuff/enough stuff/high enough quality stuff" by some of the same people who have either now left exclusivity there or left iS altogether.
Those who don't learn from history (which could be SS, vide the changes to TOS thread, or their contributors) are condemned to repeat it.

Exactly! Things may continue to go well there, but if they don't... What's the saying? Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

« Reply #31 on: September 25, 2013, 12:52 »
+1
Oh? So your insurance against a drop at SS is invest your time and effort into 20 other sites that already stink and are destined to fail even worse? Is that it?  :o

I don't have an answer that will work for everyone. I'm focused mostly on my own site. I also have two other agencies that I really like and trust. I've tried to work hard for those 3 places to be the definitive places to buy my work. Unfortunately, that only makes up 56% of my total, so I still have to rely on the major agencies for the rest.

I still look out for new agencies, but I'm pretty particular about what I want from them. I've seen my own site grow from nothing, so I think it is possible for other sites to spring from nowhere as well.

That said, there is nothing wrong with just sticking to the big guys. It just scares me when people start talking about the large percentage of their earnings from SS. Especially since mine have been dwindling for a few years.

« Reply #32 on: September 26, 2013, 01:03 »
0
Because you are competing with yourself, based on price and supporting the parasites that drive down prices, and pay you almost nothing. This dilutes the sales and makes the best agencies weaker. That, and I feel that for the returns, it's a waste of time and energy. Take the best earners, if your personal high point is ten, then fine, you like working long hours for $100 a year? Better might be, four, that's a nice diverse group, with a proven track record. {opinion}

But if you want numbers, add the five top agencies on the right and then the next 16 (all the rest that have numbers) and see how much the  bottom 16 earn, added together.

Lets see bottom 16 = 57. Hey look, SS does that by themselves? Top five = 146 is almost triple.  HOLY COW!

So why did you want to work and upload to the top 21 sites?

That and with less sites, you might have better control over who's selling what and where things are being partnered from.

Personally? Top Two and Alamy because of what Alamy handles in the way of Editorial. But some people are on 50 sites and quite happy.


Hey guys,
what is the downside of uploading to 20 sites instead of just uploading to the top tiers?

If your future is anything like my present at Shutterstock, then you may want to prepare for it. I'm just saying.

My future is I keep getting more money and more downloads every year from SS. What's wrong with that?

Watch out for the SSTK shares crash (they can't grow forever... at this rate at some point they will crash)  :-\ just saying...

Uncle Pete

« Reply #33 on: September 26, 2013, 02:42 »
0
I don't have "The Answer" for everyone either. Just what works for me. I am in total agreement with you. What is best for one person or one collection, may not be what someone else sees as their direction or what pays them back for whatever effort the invest.

What's odd is someone who was on 50 or more sites, suddenly drops them and goes exclusive with IS. While a number of people who were exclusive on IS are happily diversifying and expanding outlets.

Nope I don't have an answer for anyone else, just what I feel is best for me.

SS for me just keeps growing and I don't add one photo a month during the Summer. So much for the old feed the beast. I find nothing that makes new or old photos stand out for DLs, by age alone. Older images that I have had since the start are not doing as well as they once did, but I still get DLs. Some four year olds are getting first DL. New images seem to run hot and cold. I blame the buyers for needing or not needing what I have to offer.  ;D

Last of all, I'm high pointing the top two, because I'm lazy and want the best return for my work.

Oh? So your insurance against a drop at SS is invest your time and effort into 20 other sites that already stink and are destined to fail even worse? Is that it?  :o

I don't have an answer that will work for everyone. I'm focused mostly on my own site. I also have two other agencies that I really like and trust. I've tried to work hard for those 3 places to be the definitive places to buy my work. Unfortunately, that only makes up 56% of my total, so I still have to rely on the major agencies for the rest.

I still look out for new agencies, but I'm pretty particular about what I want from them. I've seen my own site grow from nothing, so I think it is possible for other sites to spring from nowhere as well.

That said, there is nothing wrong with just sticking to the big guys. It just scares me when people start talking about the large percentage of their earnings from SS. Especially since mine have been dwindling for a few years.

« Reply #34 on: October 05, 2013, 22:48 »
0
I used to just upload to just istock and shutterstock. I didnt feel like I was getting the kind of traffic I should be getting, mostly because those sites are oversaturated. I've come to realize that spreading your material out is the best way to go.

For instance, I have a specific image that has only had 8 visits on istock and no sales in the past 3 months. However on Stockopus.com [nofollow] that same image has already been sold twice in only 2 months. I know thats not a big deal but it is one of many examples of how uploading to the biggest sites isn't a guarantee.

If you have the time, I'd say upload around and see what sticks.

Cheers,

Click

gillian vann

  • *Gillian*
« Reply #35 on: October 05, 2013, 23:03 »
0
a lot of smaller sites can be good if you find what sells well there. I sell more outback stuff on 123rf than anywhere else.

« Reply #36 on: October 06, 2013, 01:39 »
0
my prime sites are ss & dt and my symbio site -- after that, I only upload to sites that make it easy to submit - that means I eliminate any other site that requires editing individual images

for me, right now, that 2nd list is foto, 123, photodune, pond5, most, alamy   -- none of the others are worth the hassle

your mileage may vary

 
« Last Edit: October 06, 2013, 01:42 by cascoly »

« Reply #37 on: October 06, 2013, 05:56 »
0
It's a matter of being practical.  If you have a large commercial portfolio, smaller sites would provide a return, otherwise stick to the bigger earners that will provide a regular payout.

« Reply #38 on: October 06, 2013, 06:33 »
0
I upload to the sites with best earnings, and also to all low earners that have a easy upload (only a few clicks to get my monthly batch uploaded).

The funny thing is, that agencies go up and down, and to bet on the right agency can be a very difficult task. For example one particular agency has made me about $5 or $10 per month, but for the latest months it has for some reason generated me between $100 and $150 per month. I find it a good thing to be submitting my work there...
I won't be saying here what agency that is, I don't want you all to rush uploading there :)

Now I have three "secret" sites :) http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/do-you-have-%28microstock%29-secrets/


 

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