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Author Topic: Google has sunk the entire stock market  (Read 21319 times)

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ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #25 on: May 27, 2015, 12:12 »
+2
And, BTW, Google has no interest in licensing. I was a sighted guide at an RNIB technology conference in September. One of the sessions was by Google. I was in a sort of 'ante-room' during the sessions, and I heard them describing all sorts of accessibility features, but I couldn't actually see what they were demonstrating. One section was about DTP, and I heard the speaker say, '...then you just do a google image search for an image and when you've found the one you want (aside: some of the delegates were partially sighted, so that wasn't as odd as it might seem) insert it like this ..." Not one word about checking copyright. That was just it. Find an image on Google and use it.


« Reply #26 on: May 27, 2015, 12:33 »
+2
And, BTW, Google has no interest in licensing. I was a sighted guide at an RNIB technology conference in September. One of the sessions was by Google. I was in a sort of 'ante-room' during the sessions, and I heard them describing all sorts of accessibility features, but I couldn't actually see what they were demonstrating. One section was about DTP, and I heard the speaker say, '...then you just do a google image search for an image and when you've found the one you want (aside: some of the delegates were partially sighted, so that wasn't as odd as it might seem) insert it like this ..." Not one word about checking copyright. That was just it. Find an image on Google and use it.
That'll be fine then! I'll see them in court. :)
Seriously I've thought for a long time now that most sales are going to professional / business buyers who want "safe", licensable content.
No proof of course, but the uses I find point that way.
So that would mean buyers searching on sites where they know the content is safe and licensable. . .
 

« Reply #27 on: May 27, 2015, 15:05 »
+1
   I think there is a flaw in your theory. Most serious microstock buyers don't use Google to search for an image to buy. They use their favorite agency. In fact, most of the big advertising agencies have contracts with Shutterstock, iStock, Dreamstime, etc. The search results for an image within the agency, doesn't involve Google.

That's what I've always thought.  I don't imagine many serious buyers use google to find an image.

The only people who use google to find images are not looking to buy them.

Semmick Photo

« Reply #28 on: May 27, 2015, 15:14 »
0
I ve sold 33 images on SS today. The stock world didn't come to an end then?

« Reply #29 on: May 27, 2015, 15:33 »
0
I ve sold 33 images on SS today. The stock world didn't come to an end then?

I just went to see how many I have sold today, and I get an Unable to Connect error page.  ???

Semmick Photo

« Reply #30 on: May 27, 2015, 15:35 »
0
I ve sold 33 images on SS today. The stock world didn't come to an end then?


I just went to see how many I have sold today, and I get an Unable to Connect error page.  ???


It's not just you! http://submit.shutterstock.com looks down from here.

I just opened a thread about it

WeatherENG


« Reply #32 on: May 28, 2015, 03:20 »
-2
This is my last comment to ShadySue and others who got it totally wrong. When i said "entire stock market" I have not referred only to photography, there r various artists selling video clips, audio clips, vectors, AE & motion templates, CG and so on ...not all these artists sell through subscription program (or any other program),many of them opt out. I personally sell my clips and CG directly at a rate of 60 %, the other 40 % coming from subscription programs.

That's why I said that many of us depend on Google/search engines, even agencies. I have friends who have created all sorts of demos (clips, Ae templates ,CG's) and uploaded them to youtube for a greater visual impact and to attract direct clients.
I don't believe in the phrase " serious microstock buyers " for me r just buyers and they are all over the world.
« Last Edit: May 28, 2015, 06:14 by Suliman Razvan »

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #33 on: May 28, 2015, 03:30 »
+1
Quote
"I don't believe in the phrase 'serious microstock buyers' "

Right, your call, but this is a microstock group; the clue's in the name and site description: "MicrostockGroup is an independent forum for professional microstock photographers, illustrators and videographers. Discuss agency news, reviews, earnings ..." and your title made reference to the 'entire stock market'.
I accept that small, independent sellers may have been seriously impacted by the changes, but that's not what you seemed to be saying in your OP ("As you noticed sales have dropped dramatically in the past few weeks (almost on all agencies)". If you post on this group, unless you specifically state otherwise, it's going to be assumed that you're talking about microstock agencies.
With a different thread title, a clearer OP and posting on the 'selling direct' forum, you may have attracted more understanding of the point you wanted to make.
You night even have engendered support and advice from those in the same situation.


« Last Edit: May 28, 2015, 03:59 by ShadySue »

« Reply #34 on: May 28, 2015, 05:46 »
+2
If start a new thread, then the topic is up for discussion. That's what forums are for surely?
Not everyone is going to agree with you.
Particularly if you didn't make your point 100% clear to start with.

« Reply #35 on: May 28, 2015, 09:41 »
+3
I think this guide tell you everything (the importance of Google/search engines) :

" SEO on Shutterstock: How to Help Customers Find Your Images on Google

Having people discover your images through Shutterstock is great, but potential customers often start their search in a search engine rather than on our site. By following these tips, you can ensure that your images have the best potential for being found via online search engines. "

See the Guide ShadySue and discover the importance of google/search engine rather than waiting for " serious microstock buyers" :) 
« Last Edit: May 28, 2015, 09:47 by Suliman Razvan »

« Reply #36 on: May 28, 2015, 09:48 »
0
There are many changes that google made to its Penguin algorithm (search engine)...But I can give you two examples which effects ALL agencies:
1: all sites with "duplicate content" = Google's penalty (i think this is a huge problem for all agencies, since all agencies have duplicate content)
2. all sites which r not "mobile friendly" = Google's penalty (this type of problem can be solved with a new look, but it takes time "months" to regain the position you lost it in google)

Duplicate content has been penalized for years ... it's kind of ... their way of keeping up with re-bloggers.

Also, mobile ready sites have always been given priority ... on mobile devices ... I don't know if you know this or not but, Google developed the android operating system, and Chrome ... having a site data that displays well on all devices and browsers is just ... a given.

« Reply #37 on: May 28, 2015, 09:56 »
0
There are many changes that google made to its Penguin algorithm (search engine)...But I can give you two examples which effects ALL agencies:
1: all sites with "duplicate content" = Google's penalty (i think this is a huge problem for all agencies, since all agencies have duplicate content)
2. all sites which r not "mobile friendly" = Google's penalty (this type of problem can be solved with a new look, but it takes time "months" to regain the position you lost it in google)

Duplicate content has been penalized for years ... it's kind of ... their way of keeping up with re-bloggers.

Also, mobile ready sites have always been given priority ... on mobile devices ... I don't know if you know this or not but, Google developed the android operating system, and Chrome ... having a site data that displays well on all devices and browsers is just ... a given.

and I hate to be the * broken record carrying this thing on ... but, wasn't penguin implemented like ... LAST FREAKING YEAR ...

« Reply #38 on: May 28, 2015, 10:00 »
+1
Dallas , i don't know if u have a site of u're own or if u manage one....but i do and it has just one problem : it is not mobile friendly.
Do u want to know when google announced me that I will be penalized ?
18.03.2015 i received that msg from google...not in 2014 or 2013, and I felt on my skin what that means.

« Reply #39 on: May 28, 2015, 10:22 »
+1
Google Algorithm Change History

Each year, Google changes its search algorithm around 500600 times. While most of these changes are minor, Google occasionally rolls out a "major" algorithmic update (such as Google Panda and Google Penguin) that affects search results in significant ways.

For search marketers, knowing the dates of these Google updates can help explain changes in rankings and organic website traffic and ultimately improve search engine optimization. Below, weve listed the major algorithmic changes that have had the biggest impact on search.

https://moz.com/google-algorithm-change

WeatherENG

« Reply #40 on: May 28, 2015, 10:24 »
+3
Looks like there has been a recent update to Penguin as well as the change that strongly favors mobile websites, these recent changes at Google could be the main cause of low sales and clipviews in the last two months that everyone including myself have been complaining about.  I started digging deeper when I was reading comments about low to no sales in all forums, dated recently and not just video but stills as well.

As we can see from the basic Alexa site, a LOT of views come from the Google search engine, sites like the ones we use would stand to take a Google penalty on duplicate content I would thing, my specially is mostly weather, all kinds of weather and then I have a ton of on-campus events plus a little bit of everything else and I've uploaded batches and batches of content with the same titles descriptions and keywords, sure others have as well.  This might be ok with the site's internal search engine but not to Google.    This might be what we are up against.

I think we all need to learn SEO real quick and set up as much external promotion as possible but be carefully not to make it spammy or Google will ignore that as well, it's a lot to learn real fast that's for sure and I am one of them who until recently has no clue about all of this.

My clip views have dropped more than 50% in recent weeks, sales as well and on the site I used I practically own all things weather and on campus related, it's not that I have a lot of competition yet everything just came to a stop with the exeption of this week, severe weather sale resumed quite spectacularly for a couple of days but I suspect that one one customer buying multiple clips and it was strictly my severe cold and snow content.

ttp://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/pond5.com [nofollow]

http://www.pond5.com/artist/WeatherENG [nofollow]


« Reply #41 on: May 28, 2015, 10:40 »
0
   I think there is a flaw in your theory. Most serious microstock buyers don't use Google to search for an image to buy. They use their favorite agency. In fact, most of the big advertising agencies have contracts with Shutterstock, iStock, Dreamstime, etc. The search results for an image within the agency, doesn't involve Google.

That's what I've always thought.  I don't imagine many serious buyers use google to find an image.

@Sean, you're spot on. It may hurt that overall appearance in the world of search engine results and rankings though and make microstock hits less visible to the broader Google-clicking public.

As for "duplicates", it should be noted though that "Daddy" (googlebot) cannot see (yet) -- thank God! -- and knows very little about all our great photos ;) out there, except for the ALT tags, descriptions etc -- meaning we can still control good ranking by not duplicating those bits of  information. Might destroy the advantage of some of the auto uploading tools though.

At the end of the day, this might be good-news-in-disguise, in fact: for why would one not want to have an edge using one's own gallery over microstock agencies from now on out?!
« Last Edit: May 28, 2015, 10:57 by lex-icon »


« Reply #42 on: May 28, 2015, 12:15 »
+5
google giveth and google taketh away.

especially for the smaller sites I bet google search is pretty important - supposedly the last round of changes pretty much sunk GL.

It would be good to be able to improve SEO for our images, but why we'd want to do that for IS, FT, SS, or any of the big players that take the biggest chunks is beyond me. It would be definitely worth doing it if you have your own site though. Also maybe for P5 or similar.

The biggest problem is that what might help you now might hurt you later. So unless you are willing to go back and change things each time google changes it is probably best to just have accurate and descriptive titles, keywords, etc.

« Reply #43 on: May 28, 2015, 12:48 »
+9
I figure it is my agents/distributors problem to keep up with Google changes and invest in new SEO  when necessary.  This is why I pay them up to 85% of my earnings, no?

« Reply #44 on: May 28, 2015, 13:39 »
0
Dallas , i don't know if u have a site of u're own or if u manage one....but i do and it has just one problem : it is not mobile friendly.
Do u want to know when google announced me that I will be penalized ?
18.03.2015 i received that msg from google...not in 2014 or 2013, and I felt on my skin what that means.

I did get the message ... and I can't say that my sites couldn't use an update but, at least the important one is mobile friendly. ;)

« Reply #45 on: May 28, 2015, 15:54 »
0
some anecdotal experience - my symbiostock site uses yoast SEO plugin that supposedly optimizes for google (altho many of their suggestions are irrelevant or inappropriate for image pages ) and rates pages from red to green.  I spent a lot of time over the last six months editing individual pages to remove duplicate images name, titles,  add external & internal links etc

I had 13,000 pages indexed last aug, for about 8000 images, and it dropped sharply to about 9500 in 1-2 weeks; that has slowly increased back to 11,00 pp indexed now (with 9500 images).  my Cascoly.com website dropped from 12,500 to 6700 pp indexed in aug, then has continued to drop to about 4000 now.

during the same time, with very few changes,  alexa ratings for the co-op symbiostock sites I host went from a 1,500,000 rating to 25,000,000; I've noted similar massive drops for other symbiostock sites, and more sites no longer being rated at all (63 of 140 now have ratings, down from about 150 of 180 last year)
« Last Edit: May 28, 2015, 16:03 by cascoly »

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #46 on: May 28, 2015, 16:09 »
0
How did people get the messages from Google? I have a personal website which is essentially moribund, and one I manage for others, which is 'dormant', and no message from Google on either. No note for my husband's site either.
None of these are selling anything; maybe that's why?
« Last Edit: May 28, 2015, 16:18 by ShadySue »

« Reply #47 on: May 28, 2015, 16:51 »
0
ShadySue for the beginning try google webmaster tools, add a property(website) if u have one...Google will verify if you are the owner of the property and it will give u details about u're property(site layout,indexing status,etc) and also other messages :)))))

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #48 on: May 28, 2015, 17:11 »
+1
ShadySue for the beginning try google webmaster tools, add a property(website) if u have one...Google will verify if you are the owner of the property and it will give u details about u're property(site layout,indexing status,etc) and also other messages :)))))
Oh, thanks; I thought you meant they'd sent you an email or something.
I don't go there, as none of my sites are currently being updated.
« Last Edit: May 28, 2015, 17:18 by ShadySue »

« Reply #49 on: May 28, 2015, 17:24 »
0
In order to access Google Webmaster Tools u need a gmail account. They r linked, so when google send u a msg through Google Webmaster Tools, that message is redirected to your gmail account too.


 

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