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Author Topic: November 2010 Microstock Earnings Thread  (Read 31553 times)

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« Reply #25 on: December 01, 2010, 11:35 »
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Is anyone else missing the 30th at IS? It hasn't been reported in my stats, but I had sales.  ???

Yes, I'm missing that day too.

Maybe it is one of their new "punk'dem" days where they take 100% royalty.

ETA, BME for me (it has been a while since I had one). mainly due to stellar performance at SS and an EL at Featurepics and no really pathetic performance anywhere. been at it since 2006, but really started in 2007, each year seems to keep going up, but things slowed down a lot after 2008. I upload around 500 +- images of which most seem to have limited commercial value.
« Last Edit: December 01, 2010, 11:40 by pancaketom »


« Reply #26 on: December 01, 2010, 11:42 »
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A really good month. Best month ever for $$ - up 25% over October and 34% over November last year (which has always been my biggest month of the year)

DLs were up 12% over October but down 19% over November 2009

I was already over my prior BME before I got my increased royalty rate on November 25th and the week of November 14 - 20 was a best week ever (no ELs that week). I do have Christmas images, but I didn't upload any new ones this year - may have turned out OK as some weeks IS seems to have tweaked best match so solder images predominate. That can be good if you have older stuff in your portfolio :)

I've been doing microstock for 6 years; current portfolio is about 2500 images.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #27 on: December 01, 2010, 12:42 »
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Is anyone else missing the 30th at IS? It hasn't been reported in my stats, but I had sales.  ???

Thanks for pointing that out (they have finally arrived). Because my Stat's page had advanced to December I assumed that Nov must be complete. That explains why my projection for IS was strangely out. Final figures therefore a tad better than originally reported.
iStock daily stats updates have been late in the evening (GMT) for several weeks now. They don't all seem to be updated together - yours is up but mine isn't so far (it's usually a couple of hours later than this). Some people on the iStock forums have been reporting 2 or 3 day lags. However, the 'live' sales at the bottom of the page are updating throughout the day.

« Reply #28 on: December 01, 2010, 13:09 »
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Is sharing real monthly $$$ income considerd rude ?

lisafx

« Reply #29 on: December 01, 2010, 13:25 »
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What I'm wondering is... where is the wall?  Those of you in gostwyck's shoes, lamenting big decreases over the past year despite big increases in port size, how long have you been at this?  

My earnings rose fairly steadily for just over 5 years, peaking in March this year, before the decline started. I usually upload between 600-800 new images per year. It looks like I might have to increase my output if I want to remain avoiding having  to work for a living  ;)

My story is the same.  Sales rose steadily for about 5 years and only this year have started to decline.  I produce over 1000-1200 new images a year.  Can't really output much more than that without a decrease in quality, which would be counterproductive...

For me, Nov. 2010 is up 5% from October 2010, but down 7% on November 2009.  Shutterstock and Dreamstime are significantly up from last year, but couldn't make up for the big drop at Istock, or the moderate one at Fotolia.  100% day at Dreamstime was very good to me, so that has skewed their numbers a bit, but even excluding that, download numbers at DT were still better than last year. 

Istock really has fallen off a cliff for me.  My graph for them this year has November matching up with July and August.  Unheard of in past years. 

                    (% +/- from Nov 09)
ISP   34%      (-16%) 
SS   17%      (+15%)
DT   15%      (+32%)
Fot   21%      (-11%)
BigStock   4%        (+33%)
123RF  2%     (-08%)
Crest   0%        (-58%)
CanStockPhoto   2%        (+104%)
Almy   4%        (+71%)

grp_photo

« Reply #30 on: December 01, 2010, 13:46 »
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Now that my complaining is over, I guess it is sharing time. My list gets weirder looking every month.

IS - 26%
SS - 21%
CL - 11%
DT - 11%
FT - 7%
CA - 6%
MY - 6%
BS - 3%
VS - 3%
V - 2%
123 - 1%
what is VS,MY and CL?

« Reply #31 on: December 01, 2010, 13:50 »
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...Istock really has fallen off a cliff for me.  My graph for them this year has November matching up with July and August.  Unheard of in past years. 

                    (% +/- from Nov 09)
ISP   34%      (-16%) 
...


I have to wonder if they've been tweaking the best match a little to try and assist some groups in making their redeemed credits targets for 2011 - i.e. if they're worried about too many exclusives dropping the crown. It isn't just exclusive vs. independent - if you look at the thread on the IS forums there are lots of very unhappy exclusives whose sales for November weren't what they expected.

Happy as I am that I had a stellar November, I can't see any reason why - especially as I was so bummed I did no new Christmas stuff this year. If all exclusives did especially well, that might explain it - but that's not the case.

I oped out of Vetta and Agency back at the end of September, so it isn't the extra boost of those sales. I don't do exclusive plus either.

If you factored IS out of your numbers completely (and I know at one point they were close to half the total) does the picture look any different in terms of growth or decline over 5 years? If that is growing overall, then I think declines are  nothing to do with your content and everything to do with getting a less favorable placement on the store shelves at IS (for reasons we could speculate endlessly about :))

« Reply #32 on: December 01, 2010, 13:56 »
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what is VS,MY and CL?

VS- Vectorstock, CL - Clipartof & MY - my own site (See my signature below).

grp_photo

« Reply #33 on: December 01, 2010, 13:58 »
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what is VS,MY and CL?

VS- Vectorstock, CL - Clipartof & MY - my own site (See my signature below).
ah thanks I'm not into vector :-) but surprisingly good sales from your own site - congrats :-)

« Reply #34 on: December 01, 2010, 14:00 »
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I have to wonder if they've been tweaking the best match a little to try and assist some groups in making their redeemed credits targets for 2011 - i.e. if they're worried about too many exclusives dropping the crown. It isn't just exclusive vs. independent - if you look at the thread on the IS forums there are lots of very unhappy exclusives whose sales for November weren't what they expected.
It's been pretty stable for me as an independent, so I can't say it's been a search change.

« Reply #35 on: December 01, 2010, 14:03 »
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ah thanks I'm not into vector :-) but surprisingly good sales from your own site - congrats :-)

Thanks. I was a little surprised too. It's definitely an encouraging sign. Hopefully, it continues.

lisafx

« Reply #36 on: December 01, 2010, 14:05 »
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I have to wonder if they've been tweaking the best match a little to try and assist some groups in making their redeemed credits targets for 2011 - i.e. if they're worried about too many exclusives dropping the crown. It isn't just exclusive vs. independent - if you look at the thread on the IS forums there are lots of very unhappy exclusives whose sales for November weren't what they expected.


I suspect you are right JoAnn, about the best match tweaking.  I had an excellent Sept, and decent October at IS, so November sales being comparable to the worst of the summer slump doesn't make sense.  

Quote
If you factored IS out of your numbers completely (and I know at one point they were close to half the total) does the picture look any different in terms of growth or decline over 5 years?

Very good question!  Without Istock in the mix, I am dead even with last year.  Less than $50 difference.  And last year StockXpert was 7% of my totals.  Exclude StockXpert and I would be up 7%.  So yes, the losses at Istock over the past year are a big reason for my decline. 

Looks like Getty has screwed me twice in the past year - once through StockXpert and once through Istock.   Not much I can do about that I guess, but at least it suggests that my work is still marketable.  Just not at IS ;)
« Last Edit: December 01, 2010, 14:07 by lisafx »

« Reply #37 on: December 01, 2010, 14:21 »
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Thanks to everyone who responded about how long they've been at it and their port size.  I think this kind of info is really enlightening, in terms of getting a general sense of where the dreaded wall is.  Yes, everyone is different, but there does seem to be a trend here...

-------

THE 3-YEAR CLUB
Myself - port size about 1,500 - steady growth, maintaining straight trendline from day 1 - not IS exclusive
PixelsAway - port size about 2,000 - still growing, steady growth - not IS exclusive

-------

THE 5-YEAR CLUB
Gostwyck - port size ? - rose fairly steadily for just over 5 years, peaking in March then decline - not IS exclusive
FD-Regular -  port size 1,000 - hit the glass ceiling in 2008 - not IS exclusive
LisaFX - port size ? - rose steadily for about 5 years and only this year have started to decline - not IS exclusive
jsnover - port size 2,500 - still seeing steady growth - IS exclusive

-------

Could it be that the dreaded wall typically appears around 4 to 5 years in and after you hit about 1 to 2 K images?  (But some at this for less time but also with 1K or 2K ports are still growing, so port size itself may not be a factor).

And further, could IS exclusivity be a key to breaking through the wall?  I've always cringed at the idea, and don't see myself seriously considering it anytime soon, but this is definitely worth collecting more stats.  

How about you?  What's your story?  Copy the above info, put yourself in one of the groups or start a new one, and we'll see if this trend continues or falls apart.

« Reply #38 on: December 01, 2010, 14:34 »
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...And further, could IS exclusivity be a key to breaking through the wall?  I've always cringed at the idea, and...


I knew Getty was the elephant in the living room when I became exclusive in August 2008; I just bet/hoped that it'd take them a while longer to start stomping around.

I'd say that anyone established (i.e. with a good size portfolio) who contemplated it now would have to have (a) a very high tolerance for risk and (b) a cool and pragmatic disposition about business issues.

I still think that the direction Getty wants to go is minimizing the slice of the pie going to contributors. If they could grow the pie enough, that might still be OK, but I haven't seen anything so far that shows that - getting new business. If they're just focused on income for the current fiscal year regardless of the consequences for the business 2 or 3 years out, then not so much :)

« Reply #39 on: December 01, 2010, 14:41 »
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Thanks to everyone who responded about how long they've been at it and their port size.  

Sorry, I missed your original post.

4 years/ 3K images/ slower growth, but still growing at some sites. Growth was a lot better from 1K to 2K images than from 2K to 3K. I guess I need to change up what I'm doing.

« Reply #40 on: December 01, 2010, 14:41 »
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I am small small fish but I don't see or think that exists a trend on different portfolios, every portfolio is unique, some have this some have that.. as we know stock is all about finding niches and also quality, size isn't "important" (a little ok)..

it will never be possible to see trends, unless on your own work or if there is a very similar photographer..

« Reply #41 on: December 01, 2010, 15:22 »
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I am very (and pleasantly) surprised that November turned out to be a BME, but only JUST (with 2% over March and 4% over November last year).  Still, it is good news, considering the loss of StockXpert this spring.

BME is thanks to Shutterstock, Dreamstime, Fotolia, 123rf and Canstock (all BME's), but despite Istock, Bigstock (VERY bad), and, of course : Rodeo.

As for Rodeo, it is not a surprise at all that they're more than 30% down from last year : they haven't added an image since July.  I have a queue waiting of more than 500 images, including lots of holiday photos. 


microstockphoto.co.uk

« Reply #42 on: December 01, 2010, 16:58 »
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Thanks to everyone who responded about how long they've been at it and their port size.  I think this kind of info is really enlightening, in terms of getting a general sense of where the dreaded wall is.  Yes, everyone is different, but there does seem to be a trend here...

I'm a little over the 3 years club, and my sales are still growing but a bit less than before. More logarythmic than linear. I fear the dreadful wall is approaching in the form of an horizontal asymptote.

« Reply #43 on: December 01, 2010, 17:03 »
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Is anyone else missing the 30th at IS? It hasn't been reported in my stats, but I had sales.  ???

Yes, I'm missing that day too.

I guess I can do it by hand. IS needs to fix their sh... [wanders off grumbling].


This has been going on for over a month.  It now takes them usually until the late evening to catch up on the previous day's sales figures.  It's amazing the amount of problems that site has.

lisafx

« Reply #44 on: December 01, 2010, 18:28 »
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-------

THE 3-YEAR CLUB
Myself - port size about 1,500 - steady growth, maintaining straight trendline from day 1 - not IS exclusive
PixelsAway - port size about 2,000 - still growing, steady growth - not IS exclusive

-------

THE 5-YEAR CLUB
Gostwyck - port size ? - rose fairly steadily for just over 5 years, peaking in March then decline - not IS exclusive
FD-Regular -  port size 1,000 - hit the glass ceiling in 2008 - not IS exclusive
LisaFX - port size ? - rose steadily for about 5 years and only this year have started to decline - not IS exclusive
jsnover - port size 2,500 - still seeing steady growth - IS exclusive

-------

Could it be that the dreaded wall typically appears around 4 to 5 years in and after you hit about 1 to 2 K images?  (But some at this for less time but also with 1K or 2K ports are still growing, so port size itself may not be a factor).

And further, could IS exclusivity be a key to breaking through the wall?  I've always cringed at the idea, and don't see myself seriously considering it anytime soon, but this is definitely worth collecting more stats.  

How about you?  What's your story?  Copy the above info, put yourself in one of the groups or start a new one, and we'll see if this trend continues or falls apart.

Very interesting observations.  I realize I left off my port size.  Currently around 6,100 at all sites.  When I hit the wall the beginning of this year it was around 5k. 

I still do think that the economy has some effect on hitting the wall.  Also things like StockXpert being closed, and royalty cuts at the top sites are playing a part.  If the economy were ever to turn around, those of us still building our portfolios might see a recovery in our sales.  I hope :)

« Reply #45 on: December 01, 2010, 20:20 »
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BME in $$ terms for me  - the first since March this year, and the first since going exclusive. DLs at iStock are at their highest level this year, but still down on all-time highs.

« Reply #46 on: December 01, 2010, 22:22 »
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I'm relatively new at this and have only been uploading seriously for the past few months.  I have about 45 - 50 images on most of the sites and saw at least a few sales on the majority of them.  SS was and always has been my best site with consistant sales every week this past month (I more than doubled what I'd done in October).  The other sites had just a few sales here and there.  I'm encouraged by the growth and steady sales and I sure hope that the dark clouds of doom that seem to be hovering over the industry will disapate because I'm really enjoying this despite all the concerns that seem to be expressed here.

SS - 64%
IS - 6%
DT - 12%
FT - 10%
123 - 0%
CanStockPhoto - 0%
BS - 3%
DP - 4%
CRE-0%

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #47 on: December 02, 2010, 04:50 »
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iStock exclusive.
Thanks to a very good (for me, for this year) last two days, Nov edged into BMY.
However, it's well below Nov 09 and miles below Nov 08, which is still my BME, by a very long way.
DL figures: Nov 10: 172;  Nov 09: 269;  Nov 08: 565.
Hmmmm
On the positive side, my 2010 total $$ has overtaken last year's total, and with a following wind in December, might possibly match or overtake the 2008 total. But December started quietly for me.

« Reply #48 on: December 02, 2010, 07:20 »
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Is sharing real monthly $$$ income considerd rude ?
my question also.

« Reply #49 on: December 02, 2010, 07:31 »
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iStock exclusive.
... DL figures: Nov 10: 172;  Nov 09: 269;  Nov 08: 565.

Being as your downloads have shrunk by a staggering 70% over the last two years why on earth are you still wearing a crown? Don't you just want to rip the thing off and shove it up Istock's a**e?


 

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