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Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: jjneff on February 13, 2020, 11:56

Title: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: jjneff on February 13, 2020, 11:56
Here is the article https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2020/02/13/shutterstock-founder-and-ceo-jon-oringer-to-step-down-in-april/#295a04167e8b (https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2020/02/13/shutterstock-founder-and-ceo-jon-oringer-to-step-down-in-april/#295a04167e8b)
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Uncle Pete on February 13, 2020, 12:47
Here is the article https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2020/02/13/shutterstock-founder-and-ceo-jon-oringer-to-step-down-in-april/#295a04167e8b (https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2020/02/13/shutterstock-founder-and-ceo-jon-oringer-to-step-down-in-april/#295a04167e8b)

Time to enjoy life, he's an advisor now.

Here's the part that scares me: "... streamline operations, expand the marketplace’s margins, and make the core photo product more valuable to customers. "

1) Less staff, less support, no one checking for theft or other cheaters.
2) margins = less commissions paid?
3) more valuable to customers = lower prices.

Feel free to disagree or correct me, but I don't see the new plan as something to make me optimistic about our future earnings.

(https://i.postimg.cc/6p2Q04d2/microstock-which-one-web-500.jpg)

More and more looks like a self portrait.  ;)
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: leaf on February 13, 2020, 13:06
Seems like a smart move for Jon.  Moving onto the part of the job that he enjoy's more and is best at and letting someone else lead the troupes.  That said, I hope this doesn't mean bad news for the contributors.
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: angelawaye on February 13, 2020, 13:46
That exact line bothered me too. Wondering when the "exciting" news email is coming ...
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: jonbull on February 13, 2020, 14:40
Here is the article https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2020/02/13/shutterstock-founder-and-ceo-jon-oringer-to-step-down-in-april/#295a04167e8b (https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2020/02/13/shutterstock-founder-and-ceo-jon-oringer-to-step-down-in-april/#295a04167e8b)

Time to enjoy life, he's an advisor now.

Here's the part that scares me: "... streamline operations, expand the marketplace’s margins, and make the core photo product more valuable to customers. "

1) Less staff, less support, no one checking for theft or other cheaters.
2) margins = less commissions paid?
3) more valuable to customers = lower prices.

Feel free to disagree or correct me, but I don't see the new plan as something to make me optimistic about our future earnings.

(https://i.postimg.cc/6p2Q04d2/microstock-which-one-web-500.jpg)

More and more looks like a self portrait.  ;)


i think they will hit mostly video producer where margins to less commissions are big big...probably try selling more newcomers images at 0,25 cent instead 0,38...
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: noodle on February 13, 2020, 15:05
There’s only so many ways to increase profits - and it’s usually on the backs of contributers

SS messed up starting with increasing the allowable print run for a sub price and every move since then has been detrimental to contributers earnings

Every move
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Mimi the Cat on February 13, 2020, 17:16
Obviously jumping ship before it sinks  ;D

Yes exciting news is on the way  :'(
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on February 14, 2020, 12:26
I guess they needed to have some "action" to reassure investors after a lackluster earnings report

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3541795-shutterstockminus-9-after-misses-ceo-transition (https://seekingalpha.com/news/3541795-shutterstockminus-9-after-misses-ceo-transition)

Some more articles on this change

https://techcrunch.com/2020/02/13/shutterstock-founder-and-ceo-jon-oringer-steps-down-after-16-years/ (https://techcrunch.com/2020/02/13/shutterstock-founder-and-ceo-jon-oringer-steps-down-after-16-years/)
https://www.dpreview.com/news/2751084477/shutterstock-founder-jon-oringer-is-stepping-down-from-his-role-as-ceo (https://www.dpreview.com/news/2751084477/shutterstock-founder-jon-oringer-is-stepping-down-from-his-role-as-ceo)
https://petapixel.com/2020/02/13/shutterstocks-ceo-and-founder-steps-down-after-16-years-at-the-helm/ (https://petapixel.com/2020/02/13/shutterstocks-ceo-and-founder-steps-down-after-16-years-at-the-helm/)
https://www.techzimo.com/shutterstock-founder-and-ceo-jon-oringer-steps-down-after-16-years/ (https://www.techzimo.com/shutterstock-founder-and-ceo-jon-oringer-steps-down-after-16-years/)
https://www.fastcompany.com/90464019/shutterstock-just-lost-its-ceo-the-man-who-founded-the-company-16-years-ago (https://www.fastcompany.com/90464019/shutterstock-just-lost-its-ceo-the-man-who-founded-the-company-16-years-ago)

Given that they're looking to improve earnings and have polluted their image collection with volumes of stuff that shouldn't be there, I am concerned that contributor royalty rates will look like low-hanging fruit.

February's royalties so far are (even for a slow month) anemic.

Hey ho - "exciting" news on its way...
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Uncle Pete on February 14, 2020, 13:40
I guess they needed to have some "action" to reassure investors after a lackluster earnings report

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3541795-shutterstockminus-9-after-misses-ceo-transition (https://seekingalpha.com/news/3541795-shutterstockminus-9-after-misses-ceo-transition)

Some more articles on this change

https://techcrunch.com/2020/02/13/shutterstock-founder-and-ceo-jon-oringer-steps-down-after-16-years/ (https://techcrunch.com/2020/02/13/shutterstock-founder-and-ceo-jon-oringer-steps-down-after-16-years/)
https://www.dpreview.com/news/2751084477/shutterstock-founder-jon-oringer-is-stepping-down-from-his-role-as-ceo (https://www.dpreview.com/news/2751084477/shutterstock-founder-jon-oringer-is-stepping-down-from-his-role-as-ceo)
https://petapixel.com/2020/02/13/shutterstocks-ceo-and-founder-steps-down-after-16-years-at-the-helm/ (https://petapixel.com/2020/02/13/shutterstocks-ceo-and-founder-steps-down-after-16-years-at-the-helm/)
https://www.techzimo.com/shutterstock-founder-and-ceo-jon-oringer-steps-down-after-16-years/ (https://www.techzimo.com/shutterstock-founder-and-ceo-jon-oringer-steps-down-after-16-years/)
https://www.fastcompany.com/90464019/shutterstock-just-lost-its-ceo-the-man-who-founded-the-company-16-years-ago (https://www.fastcompany.com/90464019/shutterstock-just-lost-its-ceo-the-man-who-founded-the-company-16-years-ago)

Given that they're looking to improve earnings and have polluted their image collection with volumes of stuff that shouldn't be there, I am concerned that contributor royalty rates will look like low-hanging fruit.

February's royalties so far are (even for a slow month) anemic.

Hey ho - "exciting" news on its way...

Too bad we don't get one super + (worth 10 or something) a month for posts like this from you. (https://i.postimg.cc/dttsYRZ0/thumbs-up-100.jpg)

Maybe Jon is telling the truth, the two year transition plan, which is now. And that will put someone more interested and capable in charge of this area of the operations.

Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: stockastic on February 14, 2020, 20:59
He's out of ideas and tired of fighting the decline. There's no way this business can continue to justify a $2 billion valuation.
.
 
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Joshzhen on February 14, 2020, 22:31
I see it sinking. Recent sales plummeted.
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: rinderart on February 15, 2020, 00:51
Been saying this for a few years. + 100 to JoAnn and Pete. SS was always One Of the worst at reviewing quality and the all time worst at communication skills. Adobe was and Is Built By Image makers. SS was Not even close. Hope the new Guy at Least can Take a Picture and Just Not some Tech Biz Stock Market Guy who was #1 at Business school. We are people and something Jon Forgot. I said in 2013......"If I were Jon. I would have the largest Boat ever made with a  heliport and get 20 best Friends and Travel The world." then Come back and start something else with a Better Human touch. SS Lost that touch a Long time ago, Something Bigstock had and was destroyed.
Innovation wins, Crowd sourcing Looses in the end Because you Loose touch. I was banned from their forums for speaking the truth and trying to help Others do better and speaking against the Haters,Stalkers ,Pretenders and Wannabes. 57,000 Posts was More than any employee or submitter has ever done to Help Others along with 9500 On the critique forum trying to Help. Also, Something No employee has ever done.
In retrospect....Im Glad they banned me. Shows exactly Who They are........And were and going forward gonna continue to be unless they make some serious changes.. I asked them why I was banned 3 Times and got No answer.......Classic SS. Good Luck to my Very Old friend Jon who I knew In the very Beginning upstairs in the Old Building. with Cora and Moshe.
Sales have dropped 80%. I'll stay until The end......And This Post makes me Sad.

Not Much More to say. All the Old timers are gone who Made SS and actually Not many new folks with Not Much to say..
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Chichikov on February 15, 2020, 02:55
[…] then Come back and start something else with a Better Human touch. SS Lost that touch a Long time ago, Something Bigstock had and was destroyed.[…]

I agree with you.

This is the essence of capitalism from the very beginning, the numbers are important, not the persons.
Today companies are not managed by persons, but by Excel spreadsheets…
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Mimi the Cat on February 15, 2020, 05:26
Good riddance is what I say now he can go polish his guitar collection ;D
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Hannafate on February 15, 2020, 08:39
I don't think Shutterstock can be saved as long as it's a publicly traded stock.  Stockholders (most of whom probably don't have a clue about microstock) want dividends above all else.
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: rinderart on February 15, 2020, 11:12
I hope sooner than Later. someone will come along and Offer a 50/50 Split and they Better do it soon as Micro as we Know it is going away. Any company who Can't make a profit with 50% of others work Doesn't deserve to be In Business...........Period. Nuff said. Im done.
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Uncle Pete on February 15, 2020, 11:13
I don't think Shutterstock can be saved as long as it's a publicly traded stock.  Stockholders (most of whom probably don't have a clue about microstock) want dividends above all else.

Yeah that 17 cents a share per quarter will be buying them a new Mercedes?   :o

Shutterstock shares have risen nearly 4% since the beginning of the year. The stock has risen 7% in the last 12 months.

I think it's over valued, so we can watch for adjustment. But the important point isn't us worrying about Jon or Investors, but how will SS find a way to make more money? Lets see, what's easiest to cut? Employees are expensive, so staff and services. Then who gets paid for making all the content, oh that's us.

(except some people who still post about SS but don't have an account)
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: rinderart on February 15, 2020, 11:20
I don't think Shutterstock can be saved as long as it's a publicly traded stock.  Stockholders (most of whom probably don't have a clue about microstock) want dividends above all else.

Yeah that 17 cents a share per quarter will be buying them a new Mercedes?   :o

Shutterstock shares have risen nearly 4% since the beginning of the year. The stock has risen 7% in the last 12 months.

I think it's over valued, so we can watch for adjustment. But the important point isn't us worrying about Jon or Investors, but how will SS find a way to make more money? Lets see, what's easiest to cut? Employees are expensive, so staff and services. Then who gets paid for making all the content, oh that's us.

(except some people who still post about SS but don't have an account)

Correct. Lotta dead weight there. Many Probably don't remember 2005/06 It was alive and Very active and you felt part of something. Oh Well. Nuff said. I wish Jon the best. And best of Luck to the new Guy!!!~
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: wds on February 15, 2020, 22:44
Maybe SS could do better by charging its' customer's a bit more for strong selling images.....and pay equivalently more to the contributors of said images. To this day, I can't understand why no micro-agency doesn't use the concept of charging more for images that demonstrate strong sales....most products in high demand can sell at a higher price point. I'm not talking about special collections, but any image which has proven to be in demand by strong sales.
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: rinderart on February 16, 2020, 00:41
Maybe SS could do better by charging its' customer's a bit more for strong selling images.....and pay equivalently more to the contributors of said images. To this day, I can't understand why no micro-agency doesn't use the concept of charging more for images that demonstrate strong sales....most products in high demand can sell at a higher price point. I'm not talking about special collections, but any image which has proven to be in demand by strong sales.

You are correct. I sell some Of my Images directly for $400 to $1100..always have. .......Always will.
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Pauws99 on February 16, 2020, 06:39
Maybe SS could do better by charging its' customer's a bit more for strong selling images.....and pay equivalently more to the contributors of said images. To this day, I can't understand why no micro-agency doesn't use the concept of charging more for images that demonstrate strong sales....most products in high demand can sell at a higher price point. I'm not talking about special collections, but any image which has proven to be in demand by strong sales.
Dreamtimes do this to some extent. Not sure how well it works for them. It surprises me that many of  those at the top of the game (or think they are)  don't take more care where they place their top quality images. At the end of the day we know the deal with SS and are free to place images there or not.
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: KeremGo on February 17, 2020, 20:26
I like Jon Oringer. We had a brief conversation once, he is a cool and good guy.
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Noedelhap on February 18, 2020, 13:00
I'm not saying it's gonna get better, but Jon was becoming more useless as CEO. Shutterstock was market leader for many years, but the last couple of years SS is sinking. Fewer Enhanced License sales, $1,50 video sales, lack of communication, bad review policies...Of course Jon is stepping down. There's no way to go but down.

In a few years they will lose their #1 market leader position to Adobe Stock and then the major cuts can begin (or even sooner than we think)
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Chichikov on February 20, 2020, 02:46
I hope sooner than Later. someone will come along and Offer a 50/50 Split and they Better do it soon as Micro as we Know it is going away. Any company who Can't make a profit with 50% of others work Doesn't deserve to be In Business...........Period. Nuff said. Im done.
50/50 does not mean that the company makes 50% of profit. From this you have to subtract all the management costs.
In order to be viable a company must make at least 30% profit (this is a generally accepted rule, although not mandatory).
So the question is, with 50/50, once the costs are subtracted, is there at least 30% profit left?
Certainly if Shutterstock would move its offices to Vietnam it could recoup a lot on the costs…
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Pauws99 on February 20, 2020, 03:15
I hope sooner than Later. someone will come along and Offer a 50/50 Split and they Better do it soon as Micro as we Know it is going away. Any company who Can't make a profit with 50% of others work Doesn't deserve to be In Business...........Period. Nuff said. Im done.
50/50 does not mean that the company makes 50% of profit. From this you have to subtract all the management costs.
In order to be viable a company must make at least 30% profit (this is a generally accepted rule, although not mandatory).
So the question is, with 50/50, once the costs are subtracted, is there at least 30% profit left?
Certainly if Shutterstock would move its offices to Vietnam it could recoup a lot on the costs…
No one has ever run a succesful stock site for very long paying out 50% as far as I can tell. Contributors hugely underestimate the costs I think. Particularly marketing. Profit margins vary widely by industry normally dictated by risk which is why succesful tech companies have big margins.
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: jefftakespics2 on February 23, 2020, 04:26
I know someone who worked there on the sales side. He said it was a great place to work until they went public. Overnight it changed with ridiculous goals set and massive backlash for not making them. It became nasty. My friend left soon after. When you are beholding to make your Wall Street numbers every quarter, at any cost, the game changes quickly.
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Uncle Pete on February 23, 2020, 10:26
I'm not saying it's gonna get better, but Jon was becoming more useless as CEO. Shutterstock was market leader for many years, but the last couple of years SS is sinking. Fewer Enhanced License sales, $1,50 video sales, lack of communication, bad review policies...Of course Jon is stepping down. There's no way to go but down.

In a few years they will lose their #1 market leader position to Adobe Stock and then the major cuts can begin (or even sooner than we think)

Sounds very right, in an unfortunate way. Same numbers of sales, less pay.

I know someone who worked there on the sales side. He said it was a great place to work until they went public. Overnight it changed with ridiculous goals set and massive backlash for not making them. It became nasty. My friend left soon after. When you are beholding to make your Wall Street numbers every quarter, at any cost, the game changes quickly.

Yeah, that's business. Investors are sold stock, so the company can improve and build, otherwise there would be no need for stock?

And you're right, as soon as there are investors, there are more demands for more profits to re-pay those investors. They didn't buy stock, just to be generous supporters of starving artists.  :)

I've worked for places that were running fine for 40 years, nice owners who were comfortably wealthy. Someone bigger in the industry, saw there was room for more profit, so they bought the company, made cuts, changes and improvements. Built up sales and revenue, cut commissions and agents, grew the business into something much more profitable and worth much more. Then they sold to investment bankers.

At least for now Jon actually holds a controlling interest. If he sold the company, or if he does, we can expect to see real cuts! In a way, we are fortunate that he hasn't sold and moved on to something else.

Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Chichikov on February 23, 2020, 12:41
"Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock"
This remember me an old saying about "rats abandoning a sinking ship"……
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Microstockphoto on February 25, 2020, 13:46
Quote
57,000 Posts was More than any employee or submitter has ever done to Help Others along

of which 90% you just posted 'OK' or slagging off people, i am also glad they got you banned, place is defo better without you.

Quote
selling images direct for $1100

yet here you are complaining about pennies  ;D never seen anyone more full of shhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitt than you

never change old man, never change....,
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: ArenaCreative on February 26, 2020, 12:50
Many of the best businesses are created by someone filling a need they had themselves.  Adobe got on board with the microstock game really late, and they will continue to try and claw at Shutterstock's client base.

Good for Jon.  I appreciate what he did because it gave me a full-time, home-based income over the years.  His vision and platform helped me to earn hundreds of thousands of dollars in income for my family.  Show the guy some respect - it's totally his prerogative if he wants to do something else. 

I highly doubt Jon will be reading this thread.  If he does, please know that it's been a fun run while it lasted.
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Trippy on February 26, 2020, 13:07
I hope sooner than Later. someone will come along and Offer a 50/50 Split and they Better do it soon as Micro as we Know it is going away. Any company who Can't make a profit with 50% of others work Doesn't deserve to be In Business...........Period. Nuff said. Im done.

Companies can make a profit selling other peoples work with a 50/50 split.
The problem is, they all get greedy.
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Pauws99 on February 27, 2020, 01:37
I hope sooner than Later. someone will come along and Offer a 50/50 Split and they Better do it soon as Micro as we Know it is going away. Any company who Can't make a profit with 50% of others work Doesn't deserve to be In Business...........Period. Nuff said. Im done.

Companies can make a profit selling other peoples work with a 50/50 split.
The problem is, they all get greedy.
Ok who has achieved this over a 5 year period? and how many actual $$$ have they paid contributors?
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Horizon on February 29, 2020, 12:38
Many of the best businesses are created by someone filling a need they had themselves.  Adobe got on board with the microstock game really late, and they will continue to try and claw at Shutterstock's client base.

Good for Jon.  I appreciate what he did because it gave me a full-time, home-based income over the years.  His vision and platform helped me to earn hundreds of thousands of dollars in income for my family.  Show the guy some respect - it's totally his prerogative if he wants to do something else. 

I highly doubt Jon will be reading this thread.  If he does, please know that it's been a fun run while it lasted.

Yes while it lasted thats true. I think for most people its been a somewhat downhill race ever since they went public and thats when the penny pinching started. Everything changed. As far as Adobe I think they treat Fotolia as some sort of a sidekick not too bothered about anyg
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Trippy on February 29, 2020, 14:29
Many of the best businesses are created by someone filling a need they had themselves.  Adobe got on board with the microstock game really late, and they will continue to try and claw at Shutterstock's client base.

Good for Jon.  I appreciate what he did because it gave me a full-time, home-based income over the years.  His vision and platform helped me to earn hundreds of thousands of dollars in income for my family.  Show the guy some respect - it's totally his prerogative if he wants to do something else. 

I highly doubt Jon will be reading this thread.  If he does, please know that it's been a fun run while it lasted.

Yes while it lasted thats true. I think for most people its been a somewhat downhill race ever since they went public and thats when the penny pinching started. Everything changed. As far as Adobe I think they treat Fotolia as some sort of a sidekick not too bothered about anyg

Pond5 achieved this over a 5 year period.

I have been with them since they started in 2006. For many years I made a comfortable living with them.

Today I make about 30% of what I used to.
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: jorgophotography on February 29, 2020, 17:18
A mass exodus of CEOs in 2019 and 2020 seems to be a growing trend:
https://www.ccn.com/ceos-quitting-in-record-numbers-could-signal-total-stock-market-collapse/ (https://www.ccn.com/ceos-quitting-in-record-numbers-could-signal-total-stock-market-collapse/)

Are they getting out while the goings good?
Would be interested to know if JO also had a departure from his SSTK holdings?

Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: wordplanet on March 01, 2020, 11:48
Maybe SS could do better by charging its' customer's a bit more for strong selling images.....and pay equivalently more to the contributors of said images. To this day, I can't understand why no micro-agency doesn't use the concept of charging more for images that demonstrate strong sales....most products in high demand can sell at a higher price point. I'm not talking about special collections, but any image which has proven to be in demand by strong sales.

Dreamstime does, and my images from years ago that are rated 4 and 5 are the ones that still sell there again and again. It's just too bad that they are so uneven and have fallen so low.

But yes that's a great idea and I wish they would do that. It would be a great way for them to raise prices and create a better collection.

On iStock years ago you could pick your best photos put them into a collection where they cost more and every time I had a chance to add a new image to the more expensive collection, its sales would take off.

Anyway +1 for your idea. It works. But that doesn't seem to be a direction for SS unfortunately.
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on March 03, 2020, 15:37
SS has added a Chief Product Officer (package and price content to appeal to buyers) and a Chief Revenue Officer (managing sales)

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shutterstock-hires-chief-product-officer-and-chief-revenue-officer-to-join-leadership-team-301015329.html (https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shutterstock-hires-chief-product-officer-and-chief-revenue-officer-to-join-leadership-team-301015329.html)

Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: wds on March 03, 2020, 16:34
SS has added a Chief Product Officer (package and price content to appeal to buyers) and a Chief Revenue Officer (managing sales)

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shutterstock-hires-chief-product-officer-and-chief-revenue-officer-to-join-leadership-team-301015329.html (https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shutterstock-hires-chief-product-officer-and-chief-revenue-officer-to-join-leadership-team-301015329.html)

With all these changes, I guess they were pretty unhappy with the way things were going.
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Evaristo tenscadisto on March 03, 2020, 17:25
Hi people,
my first post here. although i have been in this microstock market for at least a decade, i have never been much of a forum user. Perhaps now, with the need to better understand what is going on, I have tried to at least read what I am finding on the internet.

Thank you very much for the forbes article. It helped me make some decisions. I was never a big fan of SS. Especially since I never liked that others put a price on a clip that nobody knows its cost better than I do.

What I feel is that in recent years sales have been steadily falling. Subscription plans have taken over market networks. All contributors have recorded losses - am I wrong?

What I don't understand is how this company and others, who live off from artists who contribute, have their headquarters in the empire state building and 1200 employees !? - probably with a much higher salary than most of we who spend hours and hours making stock photos/footage.

It is best to do the math ... we are enriching others and not us.
I have a feeling that it is better to upload the works on youtube and offer to others free. At least I will be able to make a audience and earn from advertising what seems to me to be more safer and fairer than selling at a bargain price.

whishing all the best for all of you!

Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Pauws99 on March 04, 2020, 03:51
Total sales have not been falling the issue is that the number of suppliers as grown vastly quicker than sales. The pie is a little bigger but there are more wanting a slice so those slices are smaller. So SS are doing OK. I don't know much about the you tube model with advertising but I suspect similar fundementals of supply and demand are there.
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: georgep7 on March 05, 2020, 13:50
Quote

I have a feeling that it is better to upload the works on youtube and offer to others free. At least I will be able to make a audience and earn from advertising what seems to me to be more safer and fairer than selling at a bargain price.


Assume that i need a green screen train window scene and i search youtube for a free version. I get your clip, like your clip, subscribe after your cta and poof! I am gone. Even if i subscribe i will never check regularly until i will need another clip that i will first search in Youtube search bar and this is negative for your channel's growth as long as you need constant and loyal viewers. Perhaps you want to reconsider on advertisement profits :)
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: ArenaCreative on March 06, 2020, 09:31
Quote

I have a feeling that it is better to upload the works on youtube and offer to others free. At least I will be able to make a audience and earn from advertising what seems to me to be more safer and fairer than selling at a bargain price.


Assume that i need a green screen train window scene and i search youtube for a free version. I get your clip, like your clip, subscribe after your cta and poof! I am gone. Even if i subscribe i will never check regularly until i will need another clip that i will first search in Youtube search bar and this is negative for your channel's growth as long as you need constant and loyal viewers. Perhaps you want to reconsider on advertisement profits :)

It's more about how many hours your videos are getting viewed.  The subscriber count is a lot easier to attain.  You have to have content people want to view.  Then leave the advertising to YouTube, there is a "butt for every seat".  They will fill whatever type of content you have, with advertisers who want to put their message there. 

The YouTube partner program isn't as easy to get into as it was before.  You need a crap-ton of viewing hours (over 10,000 within the last year).  I used to earn some small side income from my youtube channel, until they booted me from it. I've got over the required 1000 subscribers on my channel, but not the amount of viewing hours.  Product placement is important, and brand influencers help out a lot.  If you were a stock footage producer and wanted to get the word out about your work, all you'd have to do is make a deal with a big video-editing channel with a nice following.  Either send them some free clips, or offer them an affiliate program.  Set your work up on your own website, and send the traffic there to license it direct.  It's not as tough as you might think.  I do it with physical goods now, as I'm tired of competing in the super-saturated digital content market.
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Horizon on March 07, 2020, 14:36
Quote

I have a feeling that it is better to upload the works on youtube and offer to others free. At least I will be able to make a audience and earn from advertising what seems to me to be more safer and fairer than selling at a bargain price.


Assume that i need a green screen train window scene and i search youtube for a free version. I get your clip, like your clip, subscribe after your cta and poof! I am gone. Even if i subscribe i will never check regularly until i will need another clip that i will first search in Youtube search bar and this is negative for your channel's growth as long as you need constant and loyal viewers. Perhaps you want to reconsider on advertisement profits :)

It's more about how many hours your videos are getting viewed.  The subscriber count is a lot easier to attain.  You have to have content people want to view.  Then leave the advertising to YouTube, there is a "butt for every seat".  They will fill whatever type of content you have, with advertisers who want to put their message there. 

The YouTube partner program isn't as easy to get into as it was before.  You need a crap-ton of viewing hours (over 10,000 within the last year).  I used to earn some small side income from my youtube channel, until they booted me from it. I've got over the required 1000 subscribers on my channel, but not the amount of viewing hours.  Product placement is important, and brand influencers help out a lot.  If you were a stock footage producer and wanted to get the word out about your work, all you'd have to do is make a deal with a big video-editing channel with a nice following.  Either send them some free clips, or offer them an affiliate program.  Set your work up on your own website, and send the traffic there to license it direct.  It's not as tough as you might think.  I do it with physical goods now, as I'm tired of competing in the super-saturated digital content market.


What you're saying is very, very true!! could not have put it better myself!
Title: Re: Jon Oringer Steps Down at ShutterStock
Post by: Evaristo tenscadisto on March 10, 2020, 07:31
Hi, Thanks for your feedback!
Ok maybe spreading passive income oportunities is better since stock photo/footage is dropping a lot from last year. Doing a channel could balance a little bit. Probably i try some tutorials first or little 1 min docs since I am not much of a review for unbox items person. At first sight it seems to me maybe more suitable.
Again thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts on this.