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Author Topic: Sales dropping. Istock especially.  (Read 78558 times)

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antistock

« Reply #250 on: October 27, 2011, 22:30 »
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I think most of us would be both shocked and sickened if we ever saw the figures proving just how profitable microstock was ... for the big agencies. Most of them pay out on average about 30% commission, possibly quite a bit less, and I am quite sure that royalties are their biggest single cost by some margin.

I agree...I think it would floor us to know what their cut is, versus ours. as long as they continue in the capitalism-requires-constant-growth mindset...they'll continue to chip away at our royalties. unless some of the most influential heavy hitters were to draw a line (assuming it isn't already drawn)

i'm afraid the line has been drawn already.
this thread has been opened by Yuri Arcurs who is microstock's top seller, if he's reporting falling sales this is indeed a good indicator about the actual scenario.


antistock

« Reply #251 on: October 27, 2011, 22:36 »
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Well, that's you. I'm talking about Google. They drive a lot of traffic to a lot of sites.

yes but getting traffic is one thing, getting buyers from this traffic is quite another thing !

it might be easily generic and untargetd "junk traffic" that never converts in sales.
leechers searching for free images for instance ...

i mean the demand for images seems to be huge nowadays, but how many are ready to pay ?
NOT many i say, and who can blame them when there are trillions of decent free images around ?

rubyroo

« Reply #252 on: October 28, 2011, 01:08 »
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i mean the demand for images seems to be huge nowadays, but how many are ready to pay ?

That's the very thing that the industry needs to address.  As you say, the demand is huge.  Imagine the massive sales increases we'd all experience if the agencies ran huge campaigns to educate the public on copyright theft and proper licensing.  More effort in that area would surely secure the microstock industry's future.  I'm sure many people would purchase if they knew how cheaply the could do so.

« Reply #253 on: October 28, 2011, 01:21 »
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"That's the very thing that the industry needs to address.  As you say, the demand is huge.  Imagine the massive sales increases we'd all experience if the agencies ran huge campaigns to educate the public on copyright theft and proper licensing.  More effort in that area would surely secure the microstock industry's future.  I'm sure many people would purchase if they knew how cheaply the could do so."



This make a lot of sense. The majority of people that I have spoken to, don't even know what stock images are, much less that there is such a thing as microstock.
And of course there is the prevailing thought process that says "if it is on the internet, it must be free".

lagereek

« Reply #254 on: October 28, 2011, 02:09 »
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...Over the last ten days I have actually deactivated 2 blue flames and numerous red flames,  simply because I have a much better use for them, I found them way down in the best match and no way they are going to generate any revenue from there. However, one of the issues was, they had to be removed from IS and sure enough, its already paying off.
Exactly. The less I submit to IS and the more I deactivate the more money I make elsewhere.

When I deactivate a 'flame' image, in the little box to give a reason why I am deactivating, I type, "Not suitable as stock."

Might be coincidence, dont know??  but, yes!  they tend to sell a hell of a lot more and a lot more RF sales and for good money. Weird?

So am I just stabbing myself in the back by spreading my work to smaller sites? I used to UL to just IS and SS. Perhaps that approach was a better one. An even better one would be SS + the best 50% royalties paying agency

Hi!

Well I dont know about that?  over the years I have registered with lots of sites but since a year back, Im only active on 6 of them. I mean you have to try them out and if no good you drop them, right.
What I do know and have experienced, is that certain types of buyers will visit certain sites, at least in my case. I know that DT and SS have got lots of creative buyers, i.e. ad-agencies, etc.
As for IS, well, from a buyers perspective you are met with tons of collections, price-sliders, this and that, P+, E+, Vettas, the list just goes on and on, resulting in a major hassle just trying to find an ordinary pic.
No wonder they move on.

« Reply #255 on: October 28, 2011, 03:37 »
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A few of my photos still sell better on istock that the other sites.  I'm going to treat them like a niche site and only send them the stuff they sell well.  It takes too much time to upload everything for 17% and there's no point now they are no longer a big seller for me.

rubyroo

« Reply #256 on: October 28, 2011, 04:11 »
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This make a lot of sense. The majority of people that I have spoken to, don't even know what stock images are, much less that there is such a thing as microstock.
And of course there is the prevailing thought process that says "if it is on the internet, it must be free".

Thanks Graffoto.  Although the various agencies are competitors, I do feel strongly that at times they should 'act as one' to protect their own industry.  I'm not sure how it would work, but there must be some way for them to acknowledge their collective interest and pool resources for such a campaign.

lagereek

« Reply #257 on: October 28, 2011, 04:40 »
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A few of my photos still sell better on istock that the other sites.  I'm going to treat them like a niche site and only send them the stuff they sell well.  It takes too much time to upload everything for 17% and there's no point now they are no longer a big seller for me.

Thats one way. I am limiting my port, since I feel many, many images will do better elsewhere, especially in RF, I have had good proof of that so far. Its better to treat IS, as a side-kick, if it sell, fine, if not, no big deal.

« Reply #258 on: October 28, 2011, 05:57 »
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i mean the demand for images seems to be huge nowadays, but how many are ready to pay ?

That's the very thing that the industry needs to address.  As you say, the demand is huge.  Imagine the massive sales increases we'd all experience if the agencies ran huge campaigns to educate the public on copyright theft and proper licensing.  More effort in that area would surely secure the microstock industry's future.  I'm sure many people would purchase if they knew how cheaply the could do so.

I couldn't agree more with this. I'm not against free images, if people want to offer a portion of their port for free then that's their choice and the extra traffic to the ms site is a bonus in getting them up the traffic ranks. But I am against the sites touting themselves (at times) as being free image sites. Just look at the affiliate banners, I can't use a lot of them, for example here is the text from one of them (big 4 site), "Free images, Free registration, High quality stock images". I can't use that even if that is seemingly the desire of the agencies. They may get lots of hits from a banner like that from people searching only for free images, but where is the revenue? An affiliate link is me sending someone to another site, with the given potential that I get affiliate commission if they purchase, and I have had a fair few buyer referrals. But if I used a banner like the example quoted, I'm only sending traffic their way with an almost certainty that their is nothing in it for me. I just don't get it. More important than traffic is the right traffic.
« Last Edit: October 28, 2011, 05:59 by Microstock Posts »

Slovenian

« Reply #259 on: October 29, 2011, 17:55 »
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Hey, what is it today with SS? I'm having a great day, sales are more Friday like, then what I usually get for the weekend, besides I got an EL (first time over the weekend). It would be great if weekend sales were always like that :) . That being said, SS owed me big time since sales were really average, while October was supposed to be the best month of the year.

« Reply #260 on: October 29, 2011, 22:28 »
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I figured out Yuri's new strategy. Start a sales thread and let his competition spend hours on the forums instead of creating content  ;D

« Reply #261 on: October 30, 2011, 04:01 »
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I figured out Yuri's new strategy. Start a sales thread and let his competition spend hours on the forums instead of creating content  ;D

LOL!!  ;D

« Reply #262 on: October 30, 2011, 13:04 »
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Hi All,

 Some of my Micro agencies are dropping and that is expected since I have not uploaded any new work in three years. However, my ShutterStock is showing a 20% increase from this time last year. They are doing something right over there at SS, keep up the good work.

Best,
Jonathan

« Reply #263 on: October 30, 2011, 13:49 »
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I figured out Yuri's new strategy. Start a sales thread and let his competition spend hours on the forums instead of creating content  ;D

Or start a sales thread, have all kinds of contributors coming up with ideas and solutions about it, and voila! he has research, all done for free.  ;D

« Reply #264 on: October 30, 2011, 13:52 »
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I figured out Yuri's new strategy. Start a sales thread and let his competition spend hours on the forums instead of creating content  ;D

Or start a sales thread, have all kinds of contributors coming up with ideas and solutions about it, and voila! he has research, all done for free.  ;D

The usual m.o.

« Reply #265 on: October 30, 2011, 14:18 »
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This is the first time I haven't reach a monthly payout with iStock since July 2006. My October sales have dropped 68% from my September sales. The last time my iStock monthly sales were that low was February 2006. In 2009 iStock was my number one in sale revenue. In 2010 it felt to number 2. Last September it felt to number 3. Now it is number 6. All other sites above IS, which are Shutterstock, Fotolia, Dreamstime, Bigstock, Canstock have all reached their regular monthly payouts and they all have given me better revenue then iStock. Furthermore, sales at those better sites appear to have increased to compensate  for the lost at IS.
« Last Edit: October 30, 2011, 14:28 by cybernesco »

« Reply #266 on: October 30, 2011, 16:42 »
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This is the first time I haven't reach a monthly payout with iStock since July 2006. My October sales have dropped 68% from my September sales. The last time my iStock monthly sales were that low was February 2006. In 2009 iStock was my number one in sale revenue. In 2010 it felt to number 2. Last September it felt to number 3. Now it is number 6. All other sites above IS, which are Shutterstock, Fotolia, Dreamstime, Bigstock, Canstock have all reached their regular monthly payouts and they all have given me better revenue then iStock. Furthermore, sales at those better sites appear to have increased to compensate  for the lost at IS.

Your port is really nice.  But it doesn't surprise me, not because of your port, but because of the many factors that control you, the contributor, from being successful.


« Reply #267 on: October 30, 2011, 16:58 »
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This is the first time I haven't reach a monthly payout with iStock since July 2006. My October sales have dropped 68% from my September sales. The last time my iStock monthly sales were that low was February 2006. In 2009 iStock was my number one in sale revenue. In 2010 it felt to number 2. Last September it felt to number 3. Now it is number 6. All other sites above IS, which are Shutterstock, Fotolia, Dreamstime, Bigstock, Canstock have all reached their regular monthly payouts and they all have given me better revenue then iStock. Furthermore, sales at those better sites appear to have increased to compensate  for the lost at IS.


You haven't reach minimum payout on IS ($100) or your usual payout this month?

P.S. I think that Yuri's photos are not so bright any more, like before... ;)
« Last Edit: October 30, 2011, 17:03 by borg »

« Reply #268 on: October 30, 2011, 18:41 »
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Hi All,

 Just made our 40k credits this past week so we will hold our 18% at Istock for at least another year. Happy to have made it but if I don't feed the kitty I don't think I will see it in the future. On to new exciting things :)

Best,
Jonathan

« Reply #269 on: October 30, 2011, 20:15 »
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Congratulations Jonathan!

I did a little analysis on my stats: if the current trend continues than I will be earning roughly 30% less in 2011 than in 2010. It will be lower than my earnings in 2008.

I did not upload as much as I should have, but looking at the traffic and the change in target group, it looks like my buyers are doing their xmas shopping elsewhere.

Next Thursday I am travelling and wont really have time to shoot. I will see what I can do the next few days. If newer files are being preferred than I will try to get a few seasonal images in.

« Reply #270 on: October 30, 2011, 23:21 »
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This is the first time I haven't reach a monthly payout with iStock since July 2006. My October sales have dropped 68% from my September sales. The last time my iStock monthly sales were that low was February 2006. In 2009 iStock was my number one in sale revenue. In 2010 it felt to number 2. Last September it felt to number 3. Now it is number 6. All other sites above IS, which are Shutterstock, Fotolia, Dreamstime, Bigstock, Canstock have all reached their regular monthly payouts and they all have given me better revenue then iStock. Furthermore, sales at those better sites appear to have increased to compensate  for the lost at IS.


You haven't reach minimum payout on IS ($100) or your usual payout this month?

P.S. I think that Yuri's photos are not so bright any more, like before... ;)

with 20k sales cannot be true or something is pretty wrong..

« Reply #271 on: October 31, 2011, 05:44 »
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I have over 20k sales and I'm going to earn around $170 this month, my worst for several years.  So I can believe that cybernesco isn't going to make a payout this month, I used to make over $500 regularly, so its a big drop.

« Reply #272 on: October 31, 2011, 05:47 »
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I have over 20k sales and I'm going to earn around $170 this month, my worst for several years.  So I can believe that cybernesco isn't going to make a payout this month, I used to make over $500 regularly, so its a big drop.

thats incredible.. pretty bad.. I have less than 1k sales and I will be over 170$..

« Reply #273 on: October 31, 2011, 13:03 »
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Hey, what is it today with SS? I'm having a great day, sales are more Friday like, then what I usually get for the weekend, besides I got an EL (first time over the weekend). It would be great if weekend sales were always like that :) . That being said, SS owed me big time since sales were really average, while October was supposed to be the best month of the year.
I too was wondering why my sudden lovely bump in sales toward the end of last week, especially with one of my popular photos, if you check the front page, you might find you have a photo there.  They have placed the same photo there before, and I saw it in a photo of their NY office wall art - so I think they have their own favourites, or more likely, they were in a rush and reposted previous artwork that has already been sized to front page specs.

« Reply #274 on: October 31, 2011, 14:02 »
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fwiw my sales today are up as well. Maybe some buying before the holiday tomorrow.


 

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