Author Topic: Don't sights like this just disgust you?They certainly make me want to throw up! (Read 6185 times)

wut · « **on:** July 12, 2012, 06:12 »

Last DLs from CS and the list goes on and on the same way

. I knew returns are pathetic on all non top 4 sites, but looking and my stats I can see they're really degrading on top of that volumes are pathetic. The sight is just the same at all of the non top 4 sites (123RF, DP, PD, BS - those are the ones I have experiences with)...

Why would anyone even want to keep on uploading to those sites? Can't you see we're shooting ourselves in the foot?

stockmarketer · « **Reply #1 on:** July 12, 2012, 06:17 »

I'll admit I don't like the .25 sub sales, but I see a lot of 1.00 and 2.00 sales to offset them. Plus, each morning I wake up to see a nice amount of Distribution Regular sales added to the prior day, in amount s like 3.80, 13.56, etc.

As for volume, for me they're up about 40%, comparing first 11 days of July 2012 to 2011.

wut · « **Reply #2 on:** July 12, 2012, 06:29 »

I did get those nice distribution sales you mentioned, up until a couple of months ago. That was the only thing that kept me from deleting my port altogether. But now, as you can see all I get is 30c distribution subs. And 1-2$ sales are really pathetic, I mean those are L and XL DLs. At top 4 sites you get from 2-4x more (and XL at CS is XXXL at IS, so you really get 3-4x more for a P+ file), not to mention the volume that's a few dozen times higher, at least for me.

I know some of you make a few hundred bucks there, but there's really just a few of you, I'd guess from the top 50 contributors. But what's that compared to high 4 digit if not 5 at the top 4 sites? I think because these small agencies exist, you're pocketing a few hundred at the small agencies instead of a grand or two less at the top 4. That's what I meant by shooting ourselves in the foot. And I can see those comments coming; but they're keeping the big agencies in check. Yeah? With what, by paying us less per DL at super low volumes? Royalty percentage doesn't mean sheat if you get less at the end, I hope some of you will finally get that. That's the biggest trick those small agencies pulled on you and the only reason they exist

ShadySue · « **Reply #3 on:** July 12, 2012, 08:19 »

Quote from: wut on July 12, 2012, 06:12

Why would anyone even want to keep on uploading to those sites? Can't you see we're shooting ourselves in the foot?

You'd have to ask youself why you ever thought that was acceptible in the first place.

wut · « **Reply #4 on:** July 12, 2012, 09:00 »

I was young and stupid

grafix04 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 12, 2012, 09:01 »

With figures like that, I finally see where you're coming from but my figures look nothing like yours. On a page I typically have only two or three subscription sales among a mix of mostly Instant sales, a few distribution regular sales and some normal regular sales. If my page looked like yours, I would be a little put off them too but I have to say they've beein doing nicely for me.

Interesting how different sites perform vastly differently for different people. Maybe you're just going through a rough patch on CS like I'm having an unusually slow few months at SS. OD sales have tanked, I'm hardly getting any Single Sales and I haven't seen the elusive EL for two months. It's all very weird. SS was my top performing site and now CS has surprisingly beat them. My microstock world has turned upside down and it's got me scratching my head.

I figure as the libraries grow, things will become even more volatile and unpredictable and being exclusive at one or two agents would make the ride even more bumpy. Because of this unpredictability, I don't see one microstock agent as better than any other - long term. All of them (surprisingly even SS) have highs and lows. I believe it's useless judging one against the other because at some point in time, they all slump and at the end of the day, they're all, more or less using the same model. What we need is something completely different to any of them. Something that will knock our socks off and make any serious photographer or artist switch players, leaving only the amateurs contributing their junk to the micros and getting paid what they're worth. It's probably wishful thinking, but I'm hopeful.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 12, 2012, 09:34 »

Quote from: grafix04 on July 12, 2012, 09:01

With figures like that, I finally see where you're coming from but my figures look nothing like yours. On a page I typically have only two or three subscription sales among a mix of mostly Instant sales, a few distribution regular sales and some normal regular sales. If my page looked like yours, I would be a little put off them too but I have to say they've beein doing nicely for me.

exactly! ones do well others not, another example is BigStock! my RPD at CanStockPhoto is close to 1$ which is pretty good, actually it is the 1st or 2nd highest (CanStockPhoto and DT), that said I only have around 15/20 sales per month..

if I don´t include PP sales yes I would have iStock has number 1

Karimala · « **Reply #7 on:** July 12, 2012, 09:46 »

I'll accept lower sub royalties, if the company itself is a good one. CanStockPhoto is one of those companies. Duncan has always been fantastic about working with contributors, sales may be slow but they are always steady, and CanStockPhoto has never been known to make us jump through hoops nor have they ever cut royalties (they have been the same since at least 2005, so perhaps it's time for a small raise).

wut · « **Reply #8 on:** July 12, 2012, 09:55 »

Quote from: grafix04 on July 12, 2012, 09:01

With figures like that, I finally see where you're coming from but my figures look nothing like yours. On a page I typically have only two or three subscription sales among a mix of mostly Instant sales, a few distribution regular sales and some normal regular sales. If my page looked like yours, I would be a little put off them too but I have to say they've beein doing nicely for me.

Interesting how different sites perform vastly differently for different people. Maybe you're just going through a rough patch on CS like I'm having an unusually slow few months at SS. OD sales have tanked, I'm hardly getting any Single Sales and I haven't seen the elusive EL for two months. It's all very weird. SS was my top performing site and now CS has surprisingly beat them. My microstock world has turned upside down and it's got me scratching my head.

I figure as the libraries grow, things will become even more volatile and unpredictable and being exclusive at one or two agents would make the ride even more bumpy. Because of this unpredictability, I don't see one microstock agent as better than any other - long term. All of them (surprisingly even SS) have highs and lows. I believe it's useless judging one against the other because at some point in time, they all slump and at the end of the day, they're all, more or less using the same model. What we need is something completely different to any of them. Something that will knock our socks off and make any serious photographer or artist switch players, leaving only the amateurs contributing their junk to the micros and getting paid what they're worth. It's probably wishful thinking, but I'm hopeful.

Yes, I'm hoping for something like that for a while.

I can understand you like them, if you are earning more over there than at SS (that's a first one and that knocked my socks off!

) . That being said, the vast majority of ppl report earnings (% wise) similar to mine, yet still contribute and defend them (not just CS, all of them). I find that shocking. Luis, you're the living example of that. You're earning just 15-20$ with them (that's even less than I do most of the months) and you say you're satisfied with them

On top of that you earn just 10 or 15% with 30 or what agencies that are out of the top 6 (or even 4, I'm not sure really, please correct me). I can't understand such attitude towards these agencies, when the results are so pathetic. And I'm saying this because you replied just before (nothing personal if it was someone else saying the same thing I'd name him) and because you're not someone who's earning a few hundred bucks off of all the agencies combined. 15-20$ would be just fine or even pretty good then

.

To get back to grafix04's post; yes it depends on every individual. I make 80% at IS and SS, 10% at FT and DT and 10% from small agencies and Alamy. That's why I'm thinking so hard about exclusivity as well.

wut · « **Reply #9 on:** July 12, 2012, 10:01 »

Quote from: Karimala on July 12, 2012, 09:46

I'll accept lower sub royalties, if the company itself is a good one. CanStockPhoto is one of those companies. Duncan has always been fantastic about working with contributors, sales may be slow but they are always steady, and CanStockPhoto has never been known to make us jump through hoops nor have they ever cut royalties (they have been the same since at least 2005, so perhaps it's time for a small raise).

Sure. He is a nice guy, but the most important thing, the money, just isn't there. Sure steady, that's exactly it, you make the same with 500 images as you did with 100. At least in my case. Instead of making 20x more like I do at IS or SS. I make more in a couple of rush hours at SS than in a whole month there. And because of that, they have no leverage to make us jump through hoops or cut commissions (I'd have to pay them if they'd cut them

) . So what I wanted to say is, they're not necessarily nice guys, they just don't have business-wise what it takes to not be nice. I hope you caught my drift

m@m · « **Reply #10 on:** July 12, 2012, 10:02 »

Quote from: Karimala on July 12, 2012, 09:46

(they have been the same since at least 2005, so perhaps it's time for a small raise).

You think! More like, way over due for a RAISE!...
Even though Duncan is such a nice person and the agency is so easy to upload too etc, etc...

...same drift Wut!!!

luissantos84 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 12, 2012, 10:14 »

Quote from: wut on July 12, 2012, 09:55

and you say you're satisfied with them

who said that? shall I pull the very low agencies? we need to compare earnings at the different agencies, thats the real fact! (it is what it is)

they were my 10th best agency in 2011, so why should I stop? unless I quit all agencies beside top 6 who give me around 20% of my income

wut · « **Reply #12 on:** July 12, 2012, 10:18 »

Quote from: luissantos84 on July 12, 2012, 10:14

Quote from: wut on July 12, 2012, 09:55
and you say you're satisfied with them

who said that? shall I pull the very low agencies? we need to compare earnings at the different agencies, thats the real fact! (it is what it is)

they were my 10th best agency in 2011, so why should I stop? unless I quit all agencies beside top 6 who give me around 20% of my income

You did

Quote from: luissantos84 on July 12, 2012, 09:34

Quote from: grafix04 on July 12, 2012, 09:01
With figures like that, I finally see where you're coming from but my figures look nothing like yours. On a page I typically have only two or three subscription sales among a mix of mostly Instant sales, a few distribution regular sales and some normal regular sales. If my page looked like yours, I would be a little put off them too but I have to say they've beein doing nicely for me.

exactly! ones do well others not, another example is BigStock! my RPD at CanStockPhoto is close to 1$ which is pretty good, actually it is the 1st or 2nd highest (CanStockPhoto and DT), that said I only have around 15/20 sales per month..

luissantos84 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 12, 2012, 10:20 »

Quote from: wut on July 12, 2012, 10:18

Quote from: luissantos84 on July 12, 2012, 10:14
Quote from: wut on July 12, 2012, 09:55
and you say you're satisfied with them

who said that? shall I pull the very low agencies? we need to compare earnings at the different agencies, thats the real fact! (it is what it is)

they were my 10th best agency in 2011, so why should I stop? unless I quit all agencies beside top 6 who give me around 20% of my income

You did

Quote from: luissantos84 on July 12, 2012, 09:34
Quote from: grafix04 on July 12, 2012, 09:01
With figures like that, I finally see where you're coming from but my figures look nothing like yours. On a page I typically have only two or three subscription sales among a mix of mostly Instant sales, a few distribution regular sales and some normal regular sales. If my page looked like yours, I would be a little put off them too but I have to say they've beein doing nicely for me.

exactly! ones do well others not, another example is BigStock! my RPD at CanStockPhoto is close to 1$ which is pretty good, actually it is the 1st or 2nd highest (CanStockPhoto and DT), that said I only have around 15/20 sales per month..

sorry but I was basically talking about RPD

Karimala · « **Reply #14 on:** July 12, 2012, 10:28 »

Quote from: wut on July 12, 2012, 10:01

Quote from: Karimala on July 12, 2012, 09:46
I'll accept lower sub royalties, if the company itself is a good one. CanStockPhoto is one of those companies. Duncan has always been fantastic about working with contributors, sales may be slow but they are always steady, and CanStockPhoto has never been known to make us jump through hoops nor have they ever cut royalties (they have been the same since at least 2005, so perhaps it's time for a small raise).

Sure. He is a nice guy, but the most important thing, the money, just isn't there. Sure steady, that's exactly it, you make the same with 500 images as you did with 100. At least in my case. Instead of making 20x more like I do at IS or SS. I make more in a couple of rush hours at SS than in a whole month there. And because of that, they have no leverage to make us jump through hoops or cut commissions (I'd have to pay them if they'd cut them ) . So what I wanted to say is, they're not necessarily nice guys, they just don't have business-wise what it takes to not be nice. I hope you caught my drift

Yeh...I understand. But for me, after all the headaches with IS and Fotolia, it's nice to have a site where I'm not worrying all the time about what's going to happen next.

cthoman · « **Reply #15 on:** July 12, 2012, 10:52 »

Quote from: wut on July 12, 2012, 06:29

I know some of you make a few hundred bucks there, but there's really just a few of you, I'd guess from the top 50 contributors.

I usually make somewhere between $100-$300 a month there, and I doubt I'm a top 50 contributor. It used to be a little better there, but I haven't uploaded in a while (so that might be my fault). I think they are a pretty good agency (solid mid-tier earner). Are there things I would change? Yeah, definitely. I think their prices are on the low side (especially with the credit sales), but pretty much all the agencies have flaws. I guess we pick and choose the ones we can live with.

I'd say if you hate them that much, then you should probably close your account. Not every agency is for everybody. I know I've left my fair share of ones in the last couple of years.

grafix04 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 12, 2012, 10:53 »

I don't really care about who's the nice guy and who's the bad guy as long as they're making me some money without selling me out or doing anything, or contributing to doing anything illegal - like DT is doing with Pinterest.

Wut, CS outperforming SS knocked my socks off too but it wasn't so much that sales at CS suddenly increased dramatically - they've been slowly but steadily rising over time. SS however suddenly bombed out and my images weren't ranking so highly for no apparent reason. I thought it might be a one-off, but it happened again the following month. Like most people, a few months ago, if I had to choose an agent to sell exclusively, I would have chosen SS (if given the opportunity). But what if I were exclusive and they crashed for me like they did two months ago? I'm not so sure if people are defending the smaller players. Things are so unpredictable lately that it's difficult for them to know which direction to take. Luis is doing well at BS yet they're another micro that has tanked for me a year ago. Fotolia had tanked for me last year but are suddenly making a come back. With all the ebb and flows and sudden crashes, I wouldn't consider exclusivity anywhere. If I were you, I would stick it out with CS because who knows how they'd perform for you in a year's time. By then my sales figures may look like yours and yours like mine.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 12, 2012, 10:59 »

no, BigStock is half CanStockPhoto

but again there are many contributors doing insanely good there..

Mantis · « **Reply #18 on:** July 12, 2012, 11:49 »

For me Bigstock is a $75 a month site and CanStockPhoto is a $15 a month site. Crazy.

Lagereek · « **Reply #19 on:** July 12, 2012, 15:24 »

Oh NO! sights like this makes me feel good, very good indeed! I am glad my competitors are doing this bad so I can rubb my fat belly even more. Oh well, Lord, its hard to be humble when youre perfect in every way. sigh!.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 12, 2012, 15:27 »

Quote from: Lagereek on July 12, 2012, 15:24

Oh well, Lord, its hard to be humble when youre perfect in every way. sigh!.

thats even better than knowing what is Yuri breakfast

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Author Topic: Don't sights like this just disgust you?They certainly make me want to throw up! (Read 6185 times)

wut

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grafix04

luissantos84

Karimala

wut

wut

m@m

luissantos84

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grafix04

luissantos84

Mantis

Lagereek

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