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Author Topic: Sales Are Down Every Where  (Read 8682 times)

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« on: January 22, 2013, 14:08 »
0
I was wondering if the drop in IS was just best match related and it is NOT. I was speaking to someone at Pond5 and he stated they are getting e-mails as to why they are only making $80.00 when they usually make a $1000.00. Same goes for some other agencies being down. Now this is all on the video side so I can guess photo is down as well. There are several reasons for all of this and I knew this point in time would come. So its not just iStock giving away pictures as they have not given any of my videos away at this point!


ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #1 on: January 22, 2013, 14:11 »
0
I was speaking to someone at Pond5 and he stated they are getting e-mails as to why they are only making $80.00 when they usually make a $1000.00.
Did they offer a suggestion as to why? That is an enormous drop.
Are they being severely undercut somewhere else?

« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2013, 14:12 »
0
January has been a very bad month for me everywhere so far: microstock, video, POD.
Especially POD is a big disappointment this month. I was thinking of buying 5DMk3 but I think I will postpone it.

« Reply #3 on: January 22, 2013, 14:14 »
-3
I personally know two owners of large stock-sites, they in their turn know some more and its unanimous, sales are down everywhere.
The micro climate could, let us say be a bit healthier.

« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2013, 14:15 »
0
I have no basis for an opinion about video sales, but your assumption that photo sales have dried up as well does not match my experience.  Yes, my revenues from iStock have dropped, as have Fotolia, but other agencies have more than made up the difference.  Whatever you're seeing is not universal.

« Reply #5 on: January 22, 2013, 14:21 »
0
My sales from FT, IS and 123rf are up! SS, DT, Can and Big are steady or normal. I only have 1 sluggish site this month DP otherwise it's a good solid month.

« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2013, 14:25 »
+1
No suggestions except he said the economy is not great at the moment. Again some people may have some up sales on the photo side but overall it is down everywhere, I feel pretty positive I can make that statement.

« Reply #7 on: January 22, 2013, 14:27 »
0
I do this full-time and track a lot of data on the video side so I hope it picks up soon!

CD123

« Reply #8 on: January 22, 2013, 14:34 »
+8
I personally knows a guy who knows two owners of large stock-sites, they in their turn know some more and its unanimous, sales are down everywhere.  ;D

hotwalkn

  • ...I have a lens fetish...

« Reply #9 on: January 22, 2013, 14:38 »
0

« Reply #10 on: January 22, 2013, 14:38 »
-1
I personally knows a guy who knows two owners of large stock-sites, they in their turn know some more and its unanimous, sales are down everywhere.  ;D

Bingo! ;)

Poncke

« Reply #11 on: January 22, 2013, 14:41 »
0
I personally know two guys who know four more owners of even larger stock-sites, they in their turn know the most guys and its unanimous, sales are even downer everywhere times two.

« Reply #12 on: January 22, 2013, 14:44 »
+3
Yeah! and I know the woodoo wizzard that makes it all happen.

Claridge, can you not stop all that annoying mytomaniach bragging and behave normally or go away.

« Reply #13 on: January 22, 2013, 15:07 »
0
This will only make me focus more and plow ahead :-)

« Reply #14 on: January 22, 2013, 15:10 »
-6
Yeah! and I know the woodoo wizzard that makes it all happen.

Claridge, can you not stop all that annoying mytomaniach bragging and behave normally or go away.

If you call that bragging, giving some info from the ppl that really know, not guess working like most here, well sorry but then youre a fool and not really interested in facts just mouthing for the sake of it.
Grow up! whatever your name is. ::)

Besides. What would or could I possibly gain? by bragging to people like YOU and some others here? absoloute Nada.
« Last Edit: January 22, 2013, 15:13 by ClaridgeJ »

« Reply #15 on: January 22, 2013, 15:15 »
0
I'm not sure if my opinion counts as I'm a beginner and have a tiny portofolio, but for some reason my sales on Fotolia went to 0. I used to sell a few pictures a week when I had like 30 pictures online, but now even though I uploaded more than 100  pictures, I haven't sold anything in almost 2 months there.

On Shutterstock I had daily sales in December. Then it died on 23 December and had 0 sales until yesterday.
« Last Edit: January 22, 2013, 15:18 by morning.light »

« Reply #16 on: January 22, 2013, 16:10 »
+3
come on Christian, now that I was investing my time in RM you say its down, will we have next week unhealthy microstock? you are making it hard for us ;D


« Reply #17 on: January 22, 2013, 16:35 »
0
Bad month all round for me so far. 

« Reply #18 on: January 22, 2013, 16:39 »
+4
I personally know two newbies on large stock-sites, they in their turn know some more and its unanimous, BME for all of them.  ;)

« Reply #19 on: January 22, 2013, 16:41 »
0
Bad month all round for me so far.

Same here.

w7lwi

  • Those that don't stand up to evil enable evil.
« Reply #20 on: January 22, 2013, 17:06 »
+1
You don't suppose that as there are so many images out there for free, and growing by the hour, that it's beginning to have some impact on sales at all agencies?

« Reply #21 on: January 22, 2013, 17:08 »
0
yes, that might be a problem. Maybe we should try to direct Karma towards the more decent of the upcoming agencies.

« Reply #22 on: January 22, 2013, 17:15 »
0
There is one thing I don't understand. I am new at istock and just sold my 1st file. Maybe my question is not related with the topic but I wanted to ask. The file cost was 25$ (XXL size) but they just gave me 0,66$ . Normally they were talking about 16% but what does this 0,66 $ goes for?
Thanks in advance,
Alp


gillian vann

  • *Gillian*
« Reply #23 on: January 22, 2013, 17:38 »
0
could be time for the other agencies to step in and join the fight against the Getty/Google deal. I'm not sure how or what they can do, but it's going to hurt them too. Once buyers hear about the Google scheme they'll all head over there to take their freebies. Even designers, who don't use Google drive, will still go and take files and stockpile them for later use.

tab62

« Reply #24 on: January 22, 2013, 17:43 »
-1
"There is one thing I don't understand. I am new at istock and just sold my 1st file. Maybe my question is not related with the topic but I wanted to ask. The file cost was 25$ (XXL size) but they just gave me 0,66$ . Normally they were talking about 16% but what does this 0,66 $ goes for?
Thanks in advance,
Alp"


I will pretend that I didn't see this post  ::) Honest I didn't see this post...

T

ruxpriencdiam

    This user is banned.
  • Location. Third stone from the sun
« Reply #25 on: January 22, 2013, 17:44 »
-1
Sales go up

Sales go down


« Reply #26 on: January 22, 2013, 17:45 »
0
"There is one thing I don't understand. I am new at istock and just sold my 1st file. Maybe my question is not related with the topic but I wanted to ask. The file cost was 25$ (XXL size) but they just gave me 0,66$ . Normally they were talking about 16% but what does this 0,66 $ goes for?
Thanks in advance,
Alp"


I will pretend that I didn't see this post  ::) Honest I didn't see this post...

T


I shall delete if u want :(


« Reply #27 on: January 22, 2013, 17:47 »
+1
I only check sales at the end of the month.  A few slow weeks this time of the year is quite normal.  No need to panic yet.

« Reply #28 on: January 22, 2013, 17:53 »
0
"There is one thing I don't understand. I am new at istock and just sold my 1st file. Maybe my question is not related with the topic but I wanted to ask. The file cost was 25$ (XXL size) but they just gave me 0,66$ . Normally they were talking about 16% but what does this 0,66 $ goes for?
Thanks in advance,
Alp"


I will pretend that I didn't see this post  ::) Honest I didn't see this post...

T


I shall delete if u want :(


It's OK, Tab probably wanted to say that he sees no evil, hears no evil. :-)
0.66 USD - it's most probably because of huge discount for big buyers. Nice discount - isn't it?

« Reply #29 on: January 22, 2013, 17:56 »
0
"There is one thing I don't understand. I am new at istock and just sold my 1st file. Maybe my question is not related with the topic but I wanted to ask. The file cost was 25$ (XXL size) but they just gave me 0,66$ . Normally they were talking about 16% but what does this 0,66 $ goes for?
Thanks in advance,
Alp"


I will pretend that I didn't see this post  ::) Honest I didn't see this post...

T


I shall delete if u want :(


It's OK, Tab probably wanted to say that he sees no evil, hears no evil. :-)
0.66 USD - it's most probably because of huge discount for big buyers. Nice discount - isn't it?

Yep * discount :( thanks for the info

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #30 on: January 22, 2013, 18:15 »
0
There is one thing I don't understand. I am new at istock and just sold my 1st file. Maybe my question is not related with the topic but I wanted to ask. The file cost was 25$ (XXL size) but they just gave me 0,66$ . Normally they were talking about 16% but what does this 0,66 $ goes for?
Thanks in advance,
Alp


I will give you the benefit of assuming this is a genuine question, though I suspect people at least read the basic facts about any agency they sign up with. Of course, these facts can be twisted and mangled at will. But this is very basic and upfront.

What makes you think that the file cost is $25? Is that the American cash price?
Cash sales are a fairly recent invention at iStock, and probably the majority of buyers buy in credits.http://www.istockphoto.com/help/buy-credits]
[url]http://www.istockphoto.com/help/buy-credits
[/url]
You can see that a credit can go as low as 29c for a published regular credit and 24c for a published sub credit. There are even lower prices for huge bulk buyers, which aren't publicised.
As well as that, there are various discounts, like 10% for a new buyer, or up to 25% for special promotions.
And apparently there are old credits from the year dot still flying around with about 10c values.

« Reply #31 on: January 22, 2013, 18:21 »
0
There is one thing I don't understand. I am new at istock and just sold my 1st file. Maybe my question is not related with the topic but I wanted to ask. The file cost was 25$ (XXL size) but they just gave me 0,66$ . Normally they were talking about 16% but what does this 0,66 $ goes for?
Thanks in advance,
Alp


I will give you the benefit of assuming this is a genuine question, though I suspect people at least read the basic facts about any agency they sign up with. Of course, these facts can be twisted and mangled at will. But this is very basic and upfront.

What makes you think that the file cost is $25? Is that the American cash price?
Cash sales are a fairly recent invention at iStock, and probably the majority of buyers buy in credits.
[url]http://www.istockphoto.com/help/buy-credits]http://www.istockphoto.com/help/buy-credits]
[url]http://www.istockphoto.com/help/buy-credits
[/url]
You can see that a credit can go as low as 29c for a published regular credit and 24c for a published sub credit. There are even lower prices for huge bulk buyers, which aren't publicised.
As well as that, there are various discounts, like 10% for a new buyer, or up to 25% for special promotions.
And apparently there are old credits from the year dot still flying around with about 10c values.


Thanks for your comments. Seems that stock photography is very hard... :(

« Reply #32 on: January 22, 2013, 18:33 »
0
There is one thing I don't understand. I am new at istock and just sold my 1st file. Maybe my question is not related with the topic but I wanted to ask. The file cost was 25$ (XXL size) but they just gave me 0,66$ . Normally they were talking about 16% but what does this 0,66 $ goes for?
Thanks in advance,
Alp

you are making a mistake, there aren't files selling for 25$

1 - iStock sells files with credits
2 - there is no license for 25 credits (video, audio, photo or vector)
3 - thinking you had a XXL photo sold, photo+ collection indie, that is 18 credits
4 - 18 credits, you get 16% royalties, that means the buyer paid 4.125$ which makes 0.229$ per credit, which I believe it doesn't exist...
« Last Edit: January 22, 2013, 18:39 by luissantos84 »

« Reply #33 on: January 22, 2013, 18:39 »
+2
...Besides. What would or could I possibly gain? by bragging to people like YOU and some others here? absoloute Nada.

And yet you keep doing it over and over and over and over and ......    ;)

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #34 on: January 22, 2013, 18:44 »
0
There is one thing I don't understand. I am new at istock and just sold my 1st file. Maybe my question is not related with the topic but I wanted to ask. The file cost was 25$ (XXL size) but they just gave me 0,66$ . Normally they were talking about 16% but what does this 0,66 $ goes for?
Thanks in advance,
Alp

you are making a mistake, there aren't files selling for 25$

1 - iStock sells files with credits
2 - there is no license for 25 credits (video, audio, photo or vector)
3 - thinking you had a XXL photo sold, photo+ collection indie, that is 18 credits
4 - 18 credits, you get 16% royalties, that means the buyer paid 4.125$ which makes 0.229$ per credit, which I believe it doesn't exist...

iStock also sells by Cash Sales. XXL is 30, but I can't remember what it is in US$.

« Reply #35 on: January 22, 2013, 18:54 »
0
There is one thing I don't understand. I am new at istock and just sold my 1st file. Maybe my question is not related with the topic but I wanted to ask. The file cost was 25$ (XXL size) but they just gave me 0,66$ . Normally they were talking about 16% but what does this 0,66 $ goes for?
Thanks in advance,
Alp

you are making a mistake, there aren't files selling for 25$

1 - iStock sells files with credits
2 - there is no license for 25 credits (video, audio, photo or vector)
3 - thinking you had a XXL photo sold, photo+ collection indie, that is 18 credits
4 - 18 credits, you get 16% royalties, that means the buyer paid 4.125$ which makes 0.229$ per credit, which I believe it doesn't exist...

iStock also sells by Cash Sales. XXL is 30, but I can't remember what it is in US$.

hmmm ::) where are those? I can see: Prepaid Credits, Subscriptions, Corporate Accounts

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #36 on: January 22, 2013, 19:02 »
+1
There is one thing I don't understand. I am new at istock and just sold my 1st file. Maybe my question is not related with the topic but I wanted to ask. The file cost was 25$ (XXL size) but they just gave me 0,66$ . Normally they were talking about 16% but what does this 0,66 $ goes for?
Thanks in advance,
Alp


you are making a mistake, there aren't files selling for 25$

1 - iStock sells files with credits
2 - there is no license for 25 credits (video, audio, photo or vector)
3 - thinking you had a XXL photo sold, photo+ collection indie, that is 18 credits
4 - 18 credits, you get 16% royalties, that means the buyer paid 4.125$ which makes 0.229$ per credit, which I believe it doesn't exist...


iStock also sells by Cash Sales. XXL is 30, but I can't remember what it is in US$.


hmmm ::) where are those? I can see: Prepaid Credits, Subscriptions, Corporate Accounts


As I don't have any credits (I'm not a buyer), I see cash prices by default.
However, in each file's home page, where the price is given, you see a credit button, which I have to click to see credit values, or an appropriate cash value, in my case ' GBP', which I guess you would have to click to see cash value in your approriate currency.

This was introduced suddenly but with great fanfare in early September,
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=346851&page=1
and it's been downhill all the way since then.

Also, if you've been asleep for five months, it's worth knowing that although the prices in other currencies are much steeper than those in US$, a hike far more than is justified by fluctuations or conversion, we the suppliers only get paid on a proportion of what it would have cost had it been bought in US$. Unknown to most of us, this was always the case with credits bought in non-US$ values, and is covered by the obfuscatory legalese in our ASA.

A big slapdown for those of us particularly providing non-US content.
« Last Edit: January 22, 2013, 19:39 by ShadySue »


« Reply #37 on: January 22, 2013, 19:07 »
0
ahhh that, I have noticed it recently, don't think I ever had one of those, thanks for the explanation!

fritz

  • I love Tom and Jerry music

« Reply #38 on: January 22, 2013, 20:28 »
0
Today I noticed one strange thing. My SS earnings are 2x less than IS without PP (not only today). I'm asking myself if buyers bailing IS where did they go? I see no improvement on other sites from top and middle tier. The million $ question is where did buyers go? Macrostock or ????
« Last Edit: January 22, 2013, 20:38 by alexmk »

« Reply #39 on: January 22, 2013, 20:32 »
0
Today I noticed one strange thing. My SS earnings are 2x less than IS(not only today). I'm asking myself if buyers bailing IS where did they go? I see no improvement on other sites from top and middle tier. The million $ question is where did buyers go? Macrostock or ????

Not for me. SS earnings are heading for a BJE (Best January Ever!) , DT & BigStock are OK whilst IS and FT have fallen over a cliff.

fritz

  • I love Tom and Jerry music

« Reply #40 on: January 22, 2013, 20:35 »
0
Today I noticed one strange thing. My SS earnings are 2x less than IS(not only today). I'm asking myself if buyers bailing IS where did they go? I see no improvement on other sites from top and middle tier. The million $ question is where did buyers go? Macrostock or ????

Not for me. SS earnings are heading for a BJE (Best January Ever!) , DT & BigStock are OK whilst IS and FT have fallen over a cliff.
Ok than it's only me.

THP Creative

  • THP Creative

« Reply #41 on: January 23, 2013, 00:16 »
0
Sales for me are better than anticipated for January. SS going strong, DT set for a BME, as well as steady sales from a number of other sites.

CD123

« Reply #42 on: January 23, 2013, 00:33 »
0
"There is one thing I don't understand. I am new at istock and just sold my 1st file. Maybe my question is not related with the topic but I wanted to ask. The file cost was 25$ (XXL size) but they just gave me 0,66$ . Normally they were talking about 16% but what does this 0,66 $ goes for?
Thanks in advance,
Alp"


I will pretend that I didn't see this post  ::) Honest I didn't see this post...

T


I shall delete if u want :(

I think Tom just thought that you would also be attacked and brought down because you do business with iStock. When he said that he got approved his head was nearly bitten off by a number of the members here. I am sure he rightfully thought it will happen here again, but there is more stability in the home for the Alzheimer sufferers than in the reactions of certain members in the forums here.  ;)

« Reply #43 on: January 23, 2013, 02:17 »
0
I had a slow start... but now... sales are normal. All the numbers are showing that Jan will be a good month.  :P

« Reply #44 on: January 23, 2013, 02:33 »
0
"There is one thing I don't understand. I am new at istock and just sold my 1st file. Maybe my question is not related with the topic but I wanted to ask. The file cost was 25$ (XXL size) but they just gave me 0,66$ . Normally they were talking about 16% but what does this 0,66 $ goes for?
Thanks in advance,
Alp"


I will pretend that I didn't see this post  ::) Honest I didn't see this post...

T


I shall delete if u want :(

I think Tom just thought that you would also be attacked and brought down because you do business with iStock. When he said that he got approved his head was nearly bitten off by a number of the members here. I am sure he rightfully thought it will happen here again, but there is more stability in the home for the Alzheimer sufferers than in the reactions of certain members in the forums here.  ;)

Thanks for the comment. I am thinking of transferring everything to shutterstock but not sure..

« Reply #45 on: January 23, 2013, 03:42 »
0
Yep first two weeks were terrible but coming back to normal now...

Microbius

« Reply #46 on: January 23, 2013, 04:37 »
0
Fine for a January


« Reply #47 on: January 23, 2013, 07:47 »
0
My SS sales are up in Jan, with new uploads selling instantly...IS DT FT almost dead even for new uploads.

« Reply #48 on: January 23, 2013, 12:39 »
0
I don't think the realization of the google deal has set in just yet.  If I was a buyer, I would not pay for what now is free.  It looks like the word of this incredible free portfolio is spreading in the design circles.

  All sites are showing bad traffic results.   This will get ugly.

« Reply #49 on: January 23, 2013, 19:13 »
0
My sales from FT, IS and 123rf are up! SS, DT, Can and Big are steady or normal.
This is why my sales have been dropped...
Anyway... Just consider every photo bought... Why they may want to buy again and again your shots? Time to upload something new. I have a lot of photos on my HDD, anybody wants to keyword and upload them? I can offer 15% revenue, 16% if the redeemed credits... so on...

« Reply #50 on: January 28, 2013, 04:50 »
-4
All 11 sites I contrib to are up.  ;D
Strange to see that the number of complainers is up as well  :(

possible causes:


- Its the economy
- Buyers dont like the existing pictures anymore
- Yuri started his own site and is pulling taffic away from the 1st and 2nd Tier
- Macro Stock is gaining volume
- Video is becomming a serious competitor for photo
- Copy cats have flooded the market with pictures
- Google
- Illegal use of art


please add possible causes

« Reply #51 on: January 28, 2013, 05:38 »
0
% growth in portfolio size no longer exceeds % growth in agency's collection size.

« Reply #52 on: January 28, 2013, 05:43 »
+1
% growth in portfolio size no longer exceeds % growth in agency's collection size.

Right.
Plus improvement in personal image quality is lower than competitors
You both have to grow the numbers and improve the quality of your images in the same time.
Thats only possible for at limited period of time.

« Reply #53 on: January 28, 2013, 07:01 »
+1
Stock photography is an entrepreneurial environment. You can take a break from working, but you'll have the same break from earning.

More and more photographers get into microstock everyday, with more and more quality content, while the media has more and more problems (think of newspapers being shut down, magazines, marketing budgets being cut everyday).

Well, all these only mean less and less sales for an individual, unless you have some sort of magic strategy to overcome the financial and media crisis.

The only strategy I know is to work more efficient and more inovative. Diversification is also good. Don't know if it's a magic strategy, but my sales are steady in the last year or so.  :)

« Reply #54 on: January 28, 2013, 11:29 »
+2
All 11 sites I contrib to are up.  ;D
Strange to see that the number of complainers is up as well  :(

You should be seeing good growth if submitting for less than 2 years.

RacePhoto

« Reply #55 on: January 28, 2013, 11:56 »
0
% growth in portfolio size no longer exceeds % growth in agency's collection size.

Repeating the truth and the facts, as you have done, will do no good, if no one pays attention. You are 100% correct. It's also called, smaller slice of the pie, when the licensing pie is the same size, year after year.

The total market for buyers, is leveling off. The number of images to choose from is over saturated. Microstock is stabilizing. Nothing can have the fantastic, climbing growth rate forever. This is not preventable.

Same thing happened with software companies, computer makers, communications services, cell phone service providers and now it's the future of Microstock where the best agencies and artists will survive and the weak will be culled from the herd.

And ps sales are NOT down "everywhere".


 

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