Author Topic: DT and FT - What are they thinking??? (Read 24822 times)

Karimala · « **Reply #50 on:** June 17, 2012, 18:46 »

Quote from: luissantos84 on June 17, 2012, 18:13

Quote from: Karimala on June 17, 2012, 14:53
Wow. I just noticed that Art of Business Cards, Mostphotos and Red Bubble are each earning more than Fotolia for me this month! Even the t-shirt printing company I only started submitting to in mid-April has earned more! That's seriously pathetic.

willing to share that t-shirt printing company?

Not yet.

I will once my portfolio is more established and I have some earnings under my belt to report. First impressions are fantastic.

Mantis · « **Reply #51 on:** June 17, 2012, 18:54 »

Quote from: Karimala on June 17, 2012, 18:46

Quote from: luissantos84 on June 17, 2012, 18:13
Quote from: Karimala on June 17, 2012, 14:53
Wow. I just noticed that Art of Business Cards, Mostphotos and Red Bubble are each earning more than Fotolia for me this month! Even the t-shirt printing company I only started submitting to in mid-April has earned more! That's seriously pathetic.

willing to share that t-shirt printing company?

Not yet. I will once my portfolio is more established and I have some earnings under my belt to report. First impressions are fantastic.

Is it really that competitive that you wont give it up?

bad to the bone · « **Reply #52 on:** June 17, 2012, 19:07 »

DT was allways a book with seven seals to me. Strange selection, strange bestsellers but an interesting price policy.
FT seemed to me as not thinking about business. They started as a follower of IST and want to be buyedout since years. Now they're helpless because there's no one to follow and the Management wasn't buyed out from any investor.
What sucks because they had a good chance and, maybe by accident, a good concept. But FT is dying, faster than any others. Because they wont know what this business is. They hate it and behave also.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #53 on:** June 17, 2012, 19:19 »

I never understand when people start talking about something "good" and then shut up, not only here but in everything

whats the point really??

in the end if we were all that smart Tyler could close this forum

when you have tons of sales and money you will drop the name of it for us? seriously what sense does that make? please keep it to yourself like I do sometimes but I don´t come here and say this or that...

p.s: just found it, not that hard

wut · « **Reply #54 on:** June 18, 2012, 09:54 »

A couple of dozens sales already today, what's going on? If it keeps going like that they'll catch SS soon

Lagereek · « **Reply #55 on:** June 18, 2012, 10:40 »

Yep! DT, is selling alright, no doubt about that and big sales as well.

wut · « **Reply #56 on:** June 18, 2012, 10:44 »

Quote from: Lagereek on June 18, 2012, 10:40

Yep! DT, is selling alright, no doubt about that and big sales as well.

I meant FT, should have put it down. I'm not even sure I've had that many sales so far in June at DT, they're so pathetic I don't even check the stats lately.

click_click · « **Reply #57 on:** June 18, 2012, 11:11 »

Quote from: Karimala on June 17, 2012, 14:53

Wow. I just noticed that Art of Business Cards, Mostphotos and Red Bubble are each earning more than Fotolia for me this month! Even the t-shirt printing company I only started submitting to in mid-April has earned more! That's seriously pathetic.

I think it's a bit more complicated than that.

While DT doesn't perform good for me either it doesn't say much when you compare POD sites to microstock agencies.

Even AOB doesn't say much about your photography skills as long as you are a great designer. I wish I had more time for the AOB but I already figured I'm not that much of a designer - given the sales I have there. So I focus on other (easier to handle) PODs like Zazzle and Cafepress.

These do take a lot of my time but it's still worth it.

stockmarketer · « **Reply #58 on:** June 18, 2012, 11:34 »

Quote from: wut on June 18, 2012, 10:44

Quote from: Lagereek on June 18, 2012, 10:40
Yep! DT, is selling alright, no doubt about that and big sales as well.

I meant FT, should have put it down. I'm not even sure I've had that many sales so far in June at DT, they're so pathetic I don't even check the stats lately.

Same here... FT sales have exploded today... nearly 100 already, while over at DT... 2. Can't believe these sites used to run neck and neck for me.

Karimala · « **Reply #59 on:** June 18, 2012, 12:29 »

Quote from: click_click on June 18, 2012, 11:11

Quote from: Karimala on June 17, 2012, 14:53
Wow. I just noticed that Art of Business Cards, Mostphotos and Red Bubble are each earning more than Fotolia for me this month! Even the t-shirt printing company I only started submitting to in mid-April has earned more! That's seriously pathetic.
I think it's a bit more complicated than that.

While DT doesn't perform good for me either it doesn't say much when you compare POD sites to microstock agencies.

Even AOB doesn't say much about your photography skills as long as you are a great designer. I wish I had more time for the AOB but I already figured I'm not that much of a designer - given the sales I have there. So I focus on other (easier to handle) PODs like Zazzle and Cafepress.

These do take a lot of my time but it's still worth it.

Okay then...BigStock and 123RF, which over the years have always battled for 5th place and have never come close to earning as much as my top 4, have each earned more than Fotolia. At BigStock, my earnings are triple this month what they are at Fotolia. Mostphotos, which has never broken into my top 6, is about equal to Fotolia this month. That's how bad Fotolia is doing. For the first time in six years, it's not even looking like I'm going to reach payout this month!

I'm used to earning at least a payout per week!

My POD stuff is the same as what's on the micros and Alamy...I'm not a designer or fine artist by any stretch of the imagination...so that's why I included them. The point is I've never earned more than $20 dollars at Red Bubble or ABC in any given month, so for them to be earning more than Fotolia this month with significantly smaller portfolios is important info to me. It shows Red Bubble and ABC continuing to pick up some steam while Fotolia simultaneously implodes, and that products are becoming a viable option at a time when microstock is weakening.

oxman · « **Reply #60 on:** June 18, 2012, 13:07 »

Quote from: grafix04 on June 17, 2012, 05:37

Quote from: oxman on June 16, 2012, 12:39
Anything a company puts in front of your mug represents and conveys their corporate brand persona. Period.

Research, strategy and execution determines tactics. Apple may create a "Think Different" image campaign to refocus their brand. Volkswagon created the "Lemon" campaign to draw unique and memorable self-deprecating humor. These are corporate image ads that define a company's brand.

Direct response ads contain a specific call-to-action to buy something or go somewhere to learn more. They are NOT (or should not be) void of a company's corporate branding standards or overall messaging platform. They should (and will) communicate a company's brand personality and implement their branding strategy.

Some ad's purpose in life will lean more or less toward pithy, metaphoric concepts while others try harder to get the purchasing process started. Regardless of the execution and intent, a brand identity is conveyed to the viewer.

Yes that's true however using MS images for 'branding' purposes is hardly effective. Branding is about making an association between a message or an image and a company's brand. Would a company use Yuri's top selling businessman handshake image for branding? I've added the link to his image below but probably everyone in this forum knows what image I'm talking about without even looking at it.

http://www.bigstockphoto.com/image-508163/stock-photo-business-handshake

There's a big difference between advertising and branding. When a company uses an image for branding they use something unique to associate that image with their brand and only their brand. If JP Morgan adds Yuri's image on a billboard, would buyers associate the image with JPM or would they associate it with a million other things? By now they just say "God, not that guy again!" Sure, JPM might use the image somewhere in a brochure, but it's not there for branding their products and services but rather to help illustrate a message they're conveying about their products or services.

We're not idiots. We all know what branding is but Microstock is not used, or should not be used for branding. The local plumber might use an MS image for branding but he probably doesn't know any better.

I have already stated the truth about branding based on my 35 years of real-world experience, owning a successful branding/marketing firm, but you don't believe what I am telling you. Most of your well intended perceptions of branding, advertising and how microstock photos are used are incorrect. And I am sure I will never convince you otherwise.

grafix04 · « **Reply #61 on:** June 20, 2012, 08:24 »

Quote from: oxman on June 18, 2012, 13:07

I have already stated the truth about branding based on my 35 years of real-world experience, owning a successful branding/marketing firm, but you don't believe what I am telling you. Most of your well intended perceptions of branding, advertising and how microstock photos are used are incorrect. And I am sure I will never convince you otherwise.

LOL the truth about branding? Like it's some secret and you've cracked some code after trying to work it out for 35 years? You can wave around the number of years experience you have but it won't change the definition of 'branding' which is:

Quote

The process involved in creating a unique name and image for a product in the consumers' mind, mainly through advertising campaigns with a consistent theme. Branding aims to establish a significant and differentiated presence in the market that attracts and retains loyal customers.

I have no idea what you've been doing for 35 years but if you were using stock photos, it wasn't branding, it was advertising and marketing. There's a big difference and someone working in the industry for 35 years should know the difference. Branding requires exclusivity. Period.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #62 on:** June 22, 2012, 10:05 »

after a few days/weeks with 8 to 10 sales per day, I am with 0 today, very very unusual... and only 7 hours to go

Mantis · « **Reply #63 on:** June 22, 2012, 17:12 »

Quote from: luissantos84 on June 22, 2012, 10:05

after a few days/weeks with 8 to 10 sales per day, I am with 0 today, very very unusual... and only 7 hours to go

Same here. Extremely unusual that I get skunked during a weekday on any site, let alone DT. However, all sites are really slow for me today, VERY SLOW.

borg · « **Reply #64 on:** June 23, 2012, 07:34 »

Quote from: luissantos84 on June 22, 2012, 10:05

after a few days/weeks with 8 to 10 sales per day, I am with 0 today, very very unusual... and only 7 hours to go

Same story, my friend!

If this will continue for more than a month, I'll stop to promote DT!

luissantos84 · « **Reply #65 on:** June 23, 2012, 18:28 »

Quote from: borg on June 23, 2012, 07:34

Quote from: luissantos84 on June 22, 2012, 10:05
after a few days/weeks with 8 to 10 sales per day, I am with 0 today, very very unusual... and only 7 hours to go

Same story, my friend!

If this will continue for more than a month, I'll stop to promote DT!

I was talking about FT actually, DT lol

Lagereek · « **Reply #66 on:** June 24, 2012, 01:30 »

Just goes to show how differant the wheel of fortune is turning! I have just had some of my best days with DT, whatever theyre doing its working here.

Wim · « **Reply #67 on:** June 24, 2012, 03:18 »

0 sales on DT since June 20 (and after payout)

Fantastic!

luissantos84 · « **Reply #68 on:** June 24, 2012, 18:31 »

Quote from: Wim on June 24, 2012, 03:18

0 sales on DT since June 20 (and after payout)

Fantastic!

there is really something going on there, after a BME last month I am having a very bad month

May 12 - 58 ($68.73)
June 12 - 22 ($22.84)

regarding the max number of sales - Aug 11 - 74 (56.74$)

heywoody · « **Reply #69 on:** June 25, 2012, 04:35 »

Have to go back to March 2010 for fewer DLs at DT (only started late 2009)

luissantos84 · « **Reply #70 on:** June 25, 2012, 16:47 »

for the ones that don´t read that often on FT forum take a look at the following link:
http://www.fotolia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=579103

Hi guys,

There have been a lot of posts about sales trends changing for contributors so I did some poking around and got confirmation on something I think most of you will find interesting.

In order to maintain priority placement in the database you do need to consistently upload and submit images. The more you submit the better your chances of visibility. If it's been several months (or years) since your last upload there is a good chance that the sales of your existing images will taper off as they will be pushed back deeper in the search. There is some sort of algorithm that prioritizes contributors that upload more frequently.

What that means is that you cannot expect to passively succeed. You need to constantly work on your images and uploading. The harder you work, the greater your success. I have noticed this in my portfolio here and it's my intent to get off my butt and start shooting more and shooting better.

Good luck and happy shooting!

Mat

Karimala · « **Reply #71 on:** June 25, 2012, 22:23 »

Thanks for the info, Luis. I guess since I haven't uploaded in two years, the sudden off-the-cliff drop in my earnings is Fotolia's way of encouraging me to finally pull the plug.

Lagereek · « **Reply #72 on:** June 26, 2012, 01:34 »

Actually and dont be surprised! but this is very much the way the old film/trad agencies used to work, also, this is very much how the Getty-RM, still works. You supply/upload on a fairly regular basis and you gain exposure.
I dont see anything wrong at all in this. Its a way to create incentive and at the same time competition.
Just hope it works in the digital world, thats all.

wut · « **Reply #73 on:** June 26, 2012, 04:38 »

I'd be more interested in DT's explanation, afaik it's going terribly for most of us, many more than at FT.

stockmarketer · « **Reply #74 on:** June 26, 2012, 05:25 »

Quote from: luissantos84 on June 25, 2012, 16:47

for the ones that don´t read that often on FT forum take a look at the following link:
http://www.fotolia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=579103

Hi guys,

There have been a lot of posts about sales trends changing for contributors so I did some poking around and got confirmation on something I think most of you will find interesting.

In order to maintain priority placement in the database you do need to consistently upload and submit images. The more you submit the better your chances of visibility. If it's been several months (or years) since your last upload there is a good chance that the sales of your existing images will taper off as they will be pushed back deeper in the search. There is some sort of algorithm that prioritizes contributors that upload more frequently.

What that means is that you cannot expect to passively succeed. You need to constantly work on your images and uploading. The harder you work, the greater your success. I have noticed this in my portfolio here and it's my intent to get off my butt and start shooting more and shooting better.

Good luck and happy shooting!

Mat

Thanks for digging this up and posting it here, Luis... but I have two reactions to his findings...

1. Duh. I've always considered it to be common sense that you have to keep uploading to maintain a decent exposure level, not just at FT but everywhere.

2. This common sense approach to uploading doesn't explain the sudden cliff we all fell off a few months ago at FT, unless FT just rolled out this "constant uploading" algo recently. I suspect there's something else that would account for many of us (especially Emeralds) getting knocked down all at once. In fact, I have been steadily uploading like clockwork for pretty much four years, and my earnings charts for FT (and DT) look like a steady climb up a mountain, then all of a sudden falling into a valley a few months ago. At all the other sites, my trendlines look like pretty consistent upward arrows... but FT and DT had been my #2 and #4 earners, so they're holding me pretty flat overall. Very frustrating, since it's not from a lack of uploading, I assure you.

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Author Topic: DT and FT - What are they thinking??? (Read 24822 times)

Karimala

Mantis

bad to the bone

luissantos84

wut

Lagereek

wut

click_click

stockmarketer

Karimala

oxman

grafix04

luissantos84

Mantis

borg

luissantos84

Lagereek

Wim

luissantos84

heywoody

luissantos84

Karimala

Lagereek

wut

stockmarketer

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