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Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: tank_bmb on July 14, 2008, 11:53

Title: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: tank_bmb on July 14, 2008, 11:53
Having a horrible month on IstockPhoto so far.  I normally go with the ebb and flow of stock earnings, but in this case I am on pace to have my lowest earnings in 2 years on that site!    Making it even stranger, I had my 2nd BME on ISP last month.

SS is doing rather well, but not enough to make up for it.

Also, the traffic based on Alexa seems to have crashed for ISP beginning in mid-June.

Anyone noticing the same thing?
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down
Post by: bittersweet on July 14, 2008, 12:08
Not really.

I'm down about 6% from June so far. Considering it is only the 14th, and the first half of the month contained a major US holiday, I'm not concerned.
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: sharpshot on July 14, 2008, 12:50
...Also, the traffic based on Alexa seems to have crashed for ISP beginning in mid-June...

Could be something to do with designers taking their summer holidays.  Spring and autumn seem to be the peaks for microstock downloads with falls during the summer and winter.
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: Stu99 on July 14, 2008, 12:55
About a 30% drop compared to this time last month, so yes, I have noticed a slow down. This seems to be a trend for me at IS over the last few months, however, my other main sites are all doing well and showing growth. Such is the ebb and flow in microstock :-)
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: lumina on July 14, 2008, 12:59
According to Alexa, traffic in istockphoto is now less than 50% of one month ago. I think istockphoto clients are professional designer in bigger proportion than others microstock sites.
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: Read_My_Rights on July 14, 2008, 13:14
It's the first time and low popularity DLs that keep me at an even keel. Too many XSmall though. The popular files (Designer best starting materials) are taking a beating. 2 high earning days ($17) this month prevent the worst. VERY variable $/DL days eg. 8DL for $17 are followed by 8 DLs for 5.70. Summer sux for growing earnings.
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: faber on July 14, 2008, 13:16
-> tankbmb

Similar experience here, I already posted this in the "ref5esh" thread. Ebb and flow + limited portfolio size (I have similar numbers, 500 UL/3300DL) + holiday season. And being non-exclusive doesn't help either (not surprising, no complaint).

We should be glad that the other sites compensate this drop (at least some of it).
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: Stu99 on July 14, 2008, 13:34
I should mention that my drop in earnings this month is based on a drop in average earnings per sale. Too many small sales in comparison to previous months.
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: Whiz on July 14, 2008, 13:38
Having a horrible month on IstockPhoto so far.  I normally go with the ebb and flow of stock earnings, but in this case I am on pace to have my lowest earnings in 2 years on that site!    Making it even stranger, I had my 2nd BME on ISP last month.

SS is doing rather well, but not enough to make up for it.

Also, the traffic based on Alexa seems to have crashed for ISP beginning in mid-June.

Anyone noticing the same thing?




(http://jrtmedia.com/graph.jpg)


Feel better?  :)
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: abimages on July 14, 2008, 13:47
My usual top 3 IS SS and DT are neck and neck on earnings so far this month. Whilst FT is way ahead of them all! Usually IS is always way out in front. So yes I see a big drop too!
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: lisafx on July 14, 2008, 13:55
Wow, the Alexa graph is really stunning!  I just did a comparison between ISP, SS, DT, and FT. 

I had put the slower sales down the the summer slump, but the other three seem to be pretty even while only ISP shows a really sharp decline over the last month.

My numbers at istock have only dropped by about 15% though, not 50% as the Alexa graph indicates.  It makes me wonder if there is something up at Alexa. 

Could they have changed the way istock's traffic is calculated or something?  Hard to believe a 50% drop in a month when my numbers aren't showing it.

Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: louoates on July 14, 2008, 14:01
Whiz....what a trend. Looks like next month you'll be paying Istock.
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: Marburg on July 14, 2008, 14:09
For me, July has been my best month ever.  I'm fairly new so it doesn't take a whole lot to make that happen.
Marburg ;)

Having a horrible month on IstockPhoto so far.  I normally go with the ebb and flow of stock earnings, but in this case I am on pace to have my lowest earnings in 2 years on that site!    Making it even stranger, I had my 2nd BME on ISP last month.

SS is doing rather well, but not enough to make up for it.

Also, the traffic based on Alexa seems to have crashed for ISP beginning in mid-June.

Anyone noticing the same thing?
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: bittersweet on July 14, 2008, 14:28
Could they have changed the way istock's traffic is calculated or something?  Hard to believe a 50% drop in a month when my numbers aren't showing it.

Maybe they figured out a way to exclude the F5 page loads. :D
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: lisafx on July 14, 2008, 14:29
Could they have changed the way istock's traffic is calculated or something?  Hard to believe a 50% drop in a month when my numbers aren't showing it.

Maybe they figured out a way to exclude the F5 page loads. :D

I know you're joking, but you may actually be onto something there...
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: tank_bmb on July 14, 2008, 17:04
Wow, the Alexa graph is really stunning!  I just did a comparison between ISP, SS, DT, and FT. 

I had put the slower sales down the the summer slump, but the other three seem to be pretty even while only ISP shows a really sharp decline over the last month.

My numbers at istock have only dropped by about 15% though, not 50% as the Alexa graph indicates.  It makes me wonder if there is something up at Alexa. 

Could they have changed the way istock's traffic is calculated or something?  Hard to believe a 50% drop in a month when my numbers aren't showing it.



Yeah - I just found it strange as IStock is one of my most consistent earners.  If they perform anywhere near normal for me, I was looking at a BME this month.

Would also add that my gallery is all travel photography if that has anything to do with it.
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: cphoto on July 14, 2008, 17:22
Having a horrible month on IstockPhoto so far.  I normally go with the ebb and flow of stock earnings, but in this case I am on pace to have my lowest earnings in 2 years on that site!    Making it even stranger, I had my 2nd BME on ISP last month.

SS is doing rather well, but not enough to make up for it.

Also, the traffic based on Alexa seems to have crashed for ISP beginning in mid-June.

Anyone noticing the same thing?




([url]http://jrtmedia.com/graph.jpg[/url])


Feel better?  :)


Wait until you see mine, LOL!  I'm like 80% down this month, never seen that:

(http://www.creativeshot.com/new/ScreenHunter_01%20Jul.%2014%2015.16.jpg)

Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: DanP68 on July 14, 2008, 18:34
Could they have changed the way istock's traffic is calculated or something?  Hard to believe a 50% drop in a month when my numbers aren't showing it.

Maybe they figured out a way to exclude the F5 page loads. :D


No.  Just examine the unique visitor graphs on the various analytic sites.  1 unique visitor counts as 1 visit per 24 hours, no matter how many times the F5 key is hit.

I don't think the exclusives are seeing the fall quite like the rest of us.  At the same time that traffic is falling at istock, they are also giving huge best match advantages to exclusives. 

If you want evidence, start a private lightbox and rank by best match.  Further evidence is the personal experiences of people on the boards.  Most independents are saying sales have fallen through the floor, whereas exclusives generally mention no problem with sales trends.
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: loop on July 14, 2008, 19:36
Month is going on par with June, that fell a 15% from May. Second half of July was far better for me than first half in past years, so I hope at the end, July witl be somewhere between May and June.
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: madelaide on July 14, 2008, 20:36
I have been facing a steady slow decline in IS for a few months.  Now in the middle of July, I'm half way from my June dlds, so it seems stable.  Earnings per image have been slightly better, in fact.

Regards,
Adelaide
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: Seren on July 15, 2008, 00:34

([url]http://jrtmedia.com/graph.jpg[/url])


Feel better?  :)


Mine is looking very similar!

I didn't want to believe it when I put the stats into the istockroyalties spreadsheet a few days ago...
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: Freezingpictures on July 15, 2008, 00:36
I must say I am quite dissappointed from IS. While except StockXpert every other agency seem to go up, downloads decrease every month for me at IS since January. This month really is bad.
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: epixx on July 15, 2008, 00:37
Same trend here. If it continues, IS will be 30% lower than July 2007. Halfway through this month, FT is ahead of them. That has never happened to me before.

There are some strange new trends within my portfolio. FT, 123 and FP are soaring, while many of the other are going down. IS isn't the worst one, but StockXpert and DT are really bad. Still, my total sales are 30% up from the same month last year, so I guess I should be all smiles  :)

Oh, and btw., I would take the Alexa stats with a grain of salt. For some reason, at some agencies, like SV, I have lots of views but very few sales. Alexa doesn't see the difference between those just browsing and those buying. Apparently, some agencies attract more browsers than the others.
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: travelstock on July 15, 2008, 00:48
Well I'm * the trend on IS, although I think this is partly due to an EL sale yesterday which has given the stats a boost. Last month was also my BME, but then I have been uploading a lot lately.

I wonder if the traffic can partly be attributed to some upload problems at IS this month, along with the iStockalypse that has apparently pulled out a lot of reviewers etc. Having said that the current dip according to Alexa is lower than Christmas.
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: Pixart on July 15, 2008, 08:36
Fewer sales and sizes are much smaller also.  Is it only bloggers buying photos this summer? 
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: snoozle on July 16, 2008, 15:42
I only have 131 images there, but have found that there definitely seems to be more xsmall images this month, having said that I am on target for bme in downloads and earnings (although I've most probably jinxed myself by saying that)
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: PaulieWalnuts on July 16, 2008, 20:22
[knocks on wood] Everything is normal so far this month. No drops or other odd stuff. 

I wonder how accurate Alexa is. A drop of traffic in half in one month? I can't image that many buyers are on vacation. Or for no apparent reason traffic falls off a cliff.
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: hoi ha on July 16, 2008, 20:26
no apparent reason? err ... perhaps their most recent price rise may be to blame ... thier second in 5 months ...
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: PaulieWalnuts on July 16, 2008, 20:43
So a 5% increase and adding more pricing options for images caused half of the buyers to suddenly drop istock?
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: hoi ha on July 16, 2008, 22:08
I think it's more of a cumulative effect actually ... a kind of "this is the last straw" feeling among buyers. If I could think of another reason that explains the huge drop ... but I can't to be honest - if you look at Alexa, all the sites have something of a summer drop but none of them on the scale of IS ... and the drop does coincide with the last price increase ... could there be another explanation? perhaos yes, but what could it be then?
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: bittersweet on July 17, 2008, 01:09
caspixel? is that you?  ;D
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: cdwheatley on July 17, 2008, 01:21
caspixel? is that you?  ;D
;D
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: Microbius on July 17, 2008, 06:14
Woa, that Alexa graph is scary!!!
Fortunately, I'm sure those buyers will be getting their images elsewhere and I'm not exclusive.
My own earnings with IStock have been level for a few months, not very impressive considering that I am adding images all the time.

Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: Adeptris on July 17, 2008, 06:59
Maybe it is due to the credit crunch and talk of recession, looking at other reported trend like nostalgic toys due to make a comeback this year.

So it could be that buyers are looking for different images to meet the "Comfort Feeling" that people are looking for, if the Inspectors have not picked up on this they they could have rejected the images the buyers want.

Maybe the days of the scary, false, isolated and "Cheesy Smile" is numbered and real images with natural real looking people in natural surroundings that you can "relate to" (comfort zone) will become the order of the day?

David 
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: Karimala on July 17, 2008, 07:54
Every month had been better than the previous month all year long...until June 20th.  BAM!    All of a sudden my sales fell through the floor.  The same exact thing happened last year around the same time when my sales suddenly dropped by 50%.  It took me nearly a year to recover.  It makes me wonder if they have regularly scheduled best match tweaks.
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: tank_bmb on July 17, 2008, 23:43
Seems to be picking back up just a little since I started the post.  Would need an awesome 2nd half of the month to just get back to normal for me. 

Shutterstock seems to still be on fire for me.
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: faber on July 18, 2008, 00:18
Again, same here.

Our $ 59.99 investment was worthwhile!!
-> http://microstockpix.com/supplies/page9/page9.html

MIZ, we thank you!! ;D
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: tank_bmb on July 23, 2008, 21:48
Again, same here.

Our $ 59.99 investment was worthwhile!!
-> [url]http://microstockpix.com/supplies/page9/page9.html[/url]

MIZ, we thank you!! ;D


Works everytime!

On another note, I just saw the blog/thread in the Istock community news indicating that they have been having search issues the past several weeks due to server issues (or lack of).   Wonder if this isnt part of it?
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: grp_photo on July 24, 2008, 03:09
The Alexa graph is really interesting  ;D  it's good they loose their lead competition is important  :)
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: PenelopeB on July 24, 2008, 05:33
Gee... when iStock fixed their search issue problems, things picked up at StockXpert, DT, SS, FT, BS and even at Snap?

Go figure?
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: vonkara on July 24, 2008, 07:14
I don't understand the Alexa graph. It's impossible that IS have 50% to 65% less reach and views without having an other agency receiving a huge improvement. Or at least seeing an improvement with all the others.

I looked even the macros and none are improving that much.

However my sales at IS are OK and still on the move..?
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: michealo on July 24, 2008, 07:22
Alexa is not an accurate measurement of traffic to a site.
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: grp_photo on July 24, 2008, 07:43
Alexa is not an accurate measurement of traffic to a site.
accurate? certainly not but it is a good relative one and the rise of IS beginning five years ago and lasting three years was well documented by Alexa also the climax after Getty bought IS etc. so i don't see any reason why this time it should be completely off the record.
The Alexa stats are for certain better indicators what is going on a site than any single contributor experience. (especially the ones with three-month experience and a port of twenty pictures  ::) )
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: stokfoto on July 24, 2008, 07:48
I didn't notice a dramatic slow down on IS  ok it is a bit slower than usual but for me it has been better than june.
declining trend in web traffic not necessarily means less buyers looking into IS it could also mean less contributers browsing  the site since it summer time in many places.
To me it looks nothing  more than the usual summer slowdown  besides you wouldn't expect them  handing over their leading position in  just a month would you?
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: grp_photo on July 24, 2008, 07:58
I didn't notice a dramatic slow down on IS  ok it is a bit slower than usual but for me it has been better than june.
declining trend in web traffic not necessarily means less buyers looking into IS it could also mean less contributers browsing  the site since it summer time in many places.
To me it looks nothing  more than the usual summer slowdown  besides you wouldn't expect them  handing over their leading position in  just a month would you?
there was never such a slowdown in the past. And for the"less contributors browsing the site" this should effect all sites but shutterstock and fotolia are extremely steady (despite the summer slowdown) actually fotolia is even on the rise!
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: kparis on July 24, 2008, 08:44
i actually was on track for a BME until around july 12th or so with multiple downloads a day (with my portfolio size that is a good thing :))

Since then i have had 2 sales - it literally seems as though someone flipped a switch  :'(

Ah well i'm still on an upload frenzy - hoping things will pick up soonish. When does the "summer slump" tend to finish on ISP?
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: Whiz on July 24, 2008, 09:24
Is it just me, or is iStockphoto's site still kind of sluggish? Sometimes it's just fine, but at other times it's pretty lousy. I know it's not my connection because I'm not having trouble elsewhere.
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: vonkara on July 24, 2008, 09:31
They have some issues whit the search performance and maybe whit the stats also. See the comunity news on the IS main page
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: Phil on July 24, 2008, 09:51
for me

is down about 8-10% so far
ss down about 20%
ft up about 10%
most the others about the same
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: madelaide on July 24, 2008, 19:52
Is it just me, or is iStockphoto's site still kind of sluggish? Sometimes it's just fine, but at other times it's pretty lousy.
It's been always like that for me.  It takes many seconds for an image to open.  No other site is so slow for me.

Regards,
Adelaide
Title: Re: ISP - Horrible month so far + Alexa numbers down, anyone else?
Post by: Perry on July 25, 2008, 01:52
My sales at IS have been down by almost 50% in june and july, I made as much money last summer and I have uploaded lots after that.

This month DT has performed almost as bad too, last time DT was this low was in january 2007.

This doesn't look good...