Author Topic: Sept 2019 Brutally Honest Earnings Report (Read 11492 times)

Brasilnut · « **on:** September 28, 2019, 07:01 »

Welcome-back to September’s action-packed edition of the Brutally Honest Earnings Report. Read on until the end to see which content has performed well and at which agencies and alternatively to find out which agencies are turding, as to avoid them altogether!

Synopsis: SS is strong, AS and Alamy have potential and something seriously broken at iStock and Pond5...

https://brutallyhonestmicrostock.com/2019/09/28/september-2019-brutally-honest-earnings-report/

DiscreetDuck · « **Reply #1 on:** September 28, 2019, 08:48 »

September is not over, %10 of the month left. Why are you so in a hurry to publish?
I love the "Donate now" part...
Are you also into the same charity regarding homeless people appearing in your portfolio?
Did you also gave them remuneration "as low as a price of a coffee"?

Really sorry for this "gently disobedient" comment...

Visualab · « **Reply #2 on:** September 28, 2019, 09:02 »

Quote from: DiscreetDuck on September 28, 2019, 08:48

September is not over, %10 of the month left. Why are you so in a hurry to publish?
I love the "Donate now" part...
Are you also into the same charity regarding homeless people whom you exploit the images?
Did you also gave them remuneration "as low as a price of a coffee"?

Really sorry for this "gently disobedient" comment...

What do you expect?? He wants to drive traffic to his youtube channel to make money,that's it...in return you have some data from one contributor out of millions which i find pretty useless since every portfolio is different,but that's just my opinion...

StockDaebak · « **Reply #3 on:** September 28, 2019, 09:45 »

Nothing wrong with driving traffic and making money! Maybe if we all did the same some of that traffic would spill over into stock sales.

This guy does a lot of work on YouTube and I bet it leads to more people sampling his stock video offerings as a result https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwoU327B927MD49NNf16gxw

Visualab · « **Reply #4 on:** September 28, 2019, 09:51 »

Quote from: StockDaebak on September 28, 2019, 09:45

Nothing wrong with driving traffic and making money! Maybe if we all did the same some of that traffic would spill over into stock sales.

This guy does a lot of work on YouTube and I bet it leads to more people sampling his stock video offerings as a result https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwoU327B927MD49NNf16gxw

If we all did the same we'd have only new contributors joining the party...sales don't come from youtube...

wollwerth · « **Reply #5 on:** September 28, 2019, 10:19 »

Thanks for the article. As an aside, one of your tips on helping you find your own pictures led me to one of my pictures that was used by the Washington Post almost a year ago that never showed up on any sales report. I've sent Alamy a message about it to find out what happened.

StockDaebak · « **Reply #6 on:** September 28, 2019, 10:34 »

If we all did the same we'd have only new contributors joining the party...sales don't come from youtube...
[/quote]

I disagree on that point about new contributors, these days everyone has Google and can read all those articles on side hustles and making money shooting and selling stock with a camera or cell phone comes up a lot, too often as a matter of fact.

The reason I like YouTube is it gets indexed by Google and I am pretty sure a lot of customers who don't have accounts with a specific stock agency might just use Google to start their search for the content they want.

Try a Google search for Hurricane stock footage or Typhoon stock footage and see who comes up, his YouTube content is quite nicely indexed by Google.

I wish there was a quick and easy want to upload, title and tag all of my content to YouTube or anything else that gets indexed by Google, I just think it's a good thing to be there and on the front page when customers come searching.

georgep7 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 28, 2019, 10:35 »

Quote from: StockDaebak on September 28, 2019, 09:45

Nothing wrong with driving traffic and making money! Maybe if we all did the same some of that traffic would spill over into stock sales.

This guy does a lot of work on YouTube and I bet it leads to more people sampling his stock video offerings as a result https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwoU327B927MD49NNf16gxw

yup! got some really cool ideas from other people's best sellers...

ha!!!

(just kidding... but that's seem to be the truth)

EDIT

Quote

I wish there was a quick and easy want to upload, title and tag all of my content to YouTube or anything else that gets indexed by Google, I just think it's a good thing to be there and on the front page when customers come searching.

Been there done that on about 400-450 clips. With full title description, tagging, end cards categories, hot links to agency pages all those bells and whistles.

Nought, nil, nada, nothing, zero, zilch and zip.

A total waste of time (at least in my case). Plus mass uploading is logged and eventually punished.

EDIT II

Quote

Try a Google search for Hurricane stock footage or Typhoon stock footage and see who comes up, his YouTube content is quite nicely indexed by Google.

Not sure on that but I think that query returns results relevant or similar to your browsing history.

@StockDaebak, perhaps you want to consider making a showreel instead and push this one piece on Youtube / Social with all ways possible?

EDIT III, I actually started this post wanting to comment sun flares on image at first post. Is this what actually is called a head-shot in photography!?

Taxco boy · « **Reply #8 on:** September 28, 2019, 11:08 »

Quote

He wants to drive traffic to his youtube channel to make money

Hey, don't be bitter and pity, check the facts first, it helps.
The blog doesn't contain any link to the youtube channel, moreover, there are no ads there coming from Google Ads or any other online ad provider. The blog is not monetized at all, regardless of how much traffic comes there.

Visualab · « **Reply #9 on:** September 28, 2019, 18:41 »

Quote from: Elijah on September 28, 2019, 11:08

Quote
He wants to drive traffic to his youtube channel to make money

Hey, don't be bitter and pity, check the facts first, it helps.
The blog doesn't contain any link to the youtube channel, moreover, there are no ads there coming from Google Ads or any other online ad provider. The blog is not monetized at all, regardless of how much traffic comes there.

I'll call it charity...but still useless...

Visualab · « **Reply #10 on:** September 28, 2019, 18:44 »

Quote from: StockDaebak on September 28, 2019, 10:34

If we all did the same we'd have only new contributors joining the party...sales don't come from youtube...

I disagree on that point about new contributors, these days everyone has Google and can read all those articles on side hustles and making money shooting and selling stock with a camera or cell phone comes up a lot, too often as a matter of fact.

The reason I like YouTube is it gets indexed by Google and I am pretty sure a lot of customers who don't have accounts with a specific stock agency might just use Google to start their search for the content they want.

Try a Google search for Hurricane stock footage or Typhoon stock footage and see who comes up, his YouTube content is quite nicely indexed by Google.

I wish there was a quick and easy want to upload, title and tag all of my content to YouTube or anything else that gets indexed by Google, I just think it's a good thing to be there and on the front page when customers come searching.
[/quote]
Customers know where to buy what they want...and it's not youtube...

Brasilnut · « **Reply #11 on:** September 28, 2019, 19:58 »

I was going to write a long post addressing all the issues here and justifying myself for my actions and decided to delete it all.

The key point I would like to make is that: If you find what I write of value, great - keep reading and contribute to win/win situations. If you don't, don't bother or better yet, create something of value to share with the world. It's that simple.

I run a business, not a charity and in a running a business I have intangible costs, including time, which I dedicate with all my heart to creating valuable content to share freely without a paywall, YT revenue or annoying ads.

suz7 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 29, 2019, 01:24 »

I find your posts and blog interesting and if anything it's good to get an idea of how someone is doing on microstock.

And like most of us you're trying to earn money - nothing wrong with that, we all have to eat.

trabuco · « **Reply #13 on:** September 29, 2019, 06:56 »

Very useful information for newbies.

Video1977 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 29, 2019, 08:08 »

Quote from: Brasilnut on September 28, 2019, 19:58

I was going to write a long post addressing all the issues here and justifying myself for my actions and decided to delete it all.

The key point I would like to make is that: If you find what I write of value, great - keep reading and contribute to win/win situations. If you don't, don't bother or better yet, create something of value to share with the world. It's that simple.

I run a business, not a charity and in a running a business I have intangible costs, including time, which I dedicate with all my heart to creating valuable content to share freely without a paywall, YT revenue or annoying ads.

I don't often write here, but this time I wanted to do it to make it clear that there are many of us who read you silently and value your effort and dedication in sharing your experiences with others. Please do not let a couple of stupid (probably jealous of your success) discourage you.
Greetings from Argentina!

cathyslife · « **Reply #15 on:** September 29, 2019, 09:11 »

Hey, georgep7, name calling and thread derailment. Maybe this is why agencies don’t come here!

“I don't often write here, but this time I wanted to do it to make it clear that there are many of us who read you silently and value your effort and dedication in sharing your experiences with others. Please do not let a couple of stupid (probably jealous of your success) discourage you.”

trabuco · « **Reply #16 on:** September 29, 2019, 10:24 »

This is bizarre.

georgep7 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 29, 2019, 10:35 »

We have to filter everything @Cathy.
But all opinions (guess) must be heard, either we like them either not.
Everyone decides what is the truth that he/she needs.

I find Alex's blog really informative.
It was my googled entrance in stock actually.

I personally disagree with the "buy me a coffee" thing though.
It sounds (to me) in total contrast with "running a business".
It is either free with ads e.g. selling a book either payed subscription. Else it is ...pixabay... (line edited)
Not ashamed to say that for this reason I "+1" some of the critisising posts of the thread.

That, doesn't mean that I don't admire him and his work.

trabuco · « **Reply #18 on:** September 29, 2019, 10:39 »

I like to read every month the size of the ports, the pictures added and the income.

charged · « **Reply #19 on:** September 29, 2019, 10:44 »

Malachy McCourt once said, “Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.”

While it is not easy, we all have the ability to choose our reactions to someone else's words or actions. We don't have to choose to be offended.

----------

Meanwhile, I don't personally find his blog useful to me in an economic sense, our work just don't overlap at all. BUT I do find his his stats interesting out of a curiosity point of view. I'd say keep sharing. I don't see a problem with him putting a donate button. People do donate for all sort of things. Youtube creators have people who donate to them. So do video game streamers. I've seen donations of $50-$100 a pop on the live youtube streams.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #20 on:** September 29, 2019, 11:28 »

The donation button seems to be the most controversial aspect of the post. It's clear that it rubs some people the wrong way and I want to go on the record that I also don't feel 100% comfortable with this approach, but in the end after some thought, I opted for this business model. I'll briefly explain why.

I could have gone for ads / pop-ups (full of cookies) but they slow down the site (just look at the Daily Mail) and I personally find are annoying and something back to 2003. Also, YT-ads is another option but seems like I missed the boat by about 10 years and it's (almost) too late to start to built a following there to earn $. The paywall is also out of the question as it goes against reaching out the public in a transparent away. There are other options I'm continuously exploring but being a bit of technophobe when it comes to anything web makes me reluctant at times! If you're an expert on this, please get in touch!

Anyway, as mentioned on the post itself, the gentle request for donations is to offset some of reduced earnings for "giving away" info on some of my best-sellers. My port, along with all others, is open publicly but for me to say that my Brexit series, involving XYZ images has earned me XYZ makes it easy for replicate since they're just composites. I have other series that are performing very well but I remain reluctant to post publicly for the time being. In fact, as a general comment, anything that is posted in public can be detrimental, such as that ego-driven "Show Your Latest Download" over on the SS forum, which makes for rich pickings for thieves and I would advise strongly against posting there.

As mentioned above by Charged, it's a quite common strategy in other market segments to request donations, such as developers of open-source software and YT content creators, especially in light of reduced ad revenues. Something like 90% of human history was made via a non-monetary barter system of "you help me and I help you". Why do things have to be so different in 2019?

I won't remove the donation button but instead do the next best thing, create more useful content. Stay tuned, amigos!

Clair Voyant · « **Reply #21 on:** September 29, 2019, 12:58 »

Keep your donation thing there. You are providing a service for many readers and if some people feel the need to contribute a donation for your time then let them, and ignore the naysayers. One thing for sure on this forum... you will always find naysayers and pissed off people. Carry on.

BalkanskiMacak · « **Reply #22 on:** September 29, 2019, 13:46 »

How come somebody would dare to try to make money from his work on the internet?

Oh... wait... microstock...

trek · « **Reply #23 on:** September 29, 2019, 14:04 »

Alex is a writer and writers write. Creative people need to create. His blog is informative. I appreciate his insight.

wollwerth · « **Reply #24 on:** September 30, 2019, 08:17 »

Quote from: Brasilnut on September 29, 2019, 11:28

The donation button seems to be the most controversial aspect of the post. It's clear that it rubs some people the wrong way and I want to go on the record that I also don't feel 100% comfortable with this approach, but in the end after some thought, I opted for this business model. I'll briefly explain why.

I could have gone for ads / pop-ups (full of cookies) but they slow down the site (just look at the Daily Mail) and I personally find are annoying and something back to 2003. Also, YT-ads is another option but seems like I missed the boat by about 10 years and it's (almost) too late to start to built a following there to earn $. The paywall is also out of the question as it goes against reaching out the public in a transparent away. There are other options I'm continuously exploring but being a bit of technophobe when it comes to anything web makes me reluctant at times! If you're an expert on this, please get in touch!

Anyway, as mentioned on the post itself, the gentle request for donations is to offset some of reduced earnings for "giving away" info on some of my best-sellers. My port, along with all others, is open publicly but for me to say that my Brexit series, involving XYZ images has earned me XYZ makes it easy for replicate since they're just composites. I have other series that are performing very well but I remain reluctant to post publicly for the time being. In fact, as a general comment, anything that is posted in public can be detrimental, such as that ego-driven "Show Your Latest Download" over on the SS forum, which makes for rich pickings for thieves and I would advise strongly against posting there.

As mentioned above by Charged, it's a quite common strategy in other market segments to request donations, such as developers of open-source software and YT content creators, especially in light of reduced ad revenues. Something like 90% of human history was made via a non-monetary barter system of "you help me and I help you". Why do things have to be so different in 2019?

I won't remove the donation button but instead do the next best thing, create more useful content. Stay tuned, amigos!

There's no need to explain yourself. You provide useful information, and that has value. If people don't want to donate they don't have to donate. Any opinion as to whether you have the right to ask for donations is none of their business.

MicrostockGroup Sponsors

Author Topic: Sept 2019 Brutally Honest Earnings Report (Read 11492 times)

Brasilnut

DiscreetDuck

Visualab

StockDaebak

Visualab

wollwerth

StockDaebak

georgep7

Taxco boy

Visualab

Visualab

Brasilnut

suz7

trabuco

Video1977

cathyslife

trabuco

georgep7

trabuco

charged

Brasilnut

Clair Voyant

BalkanskiMacak

trek

wollwerth

Related Topics

Sponsors

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors