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Author Topic: This month's sales  (Read 102207 times)

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« Reply #150 on: November 19, 2021, 19:28 »
+3
Adobe's free image giveaway is clearly working very well, shame it is killing sales this month.

I did my personal  math and came to the conclusion that Adobe's free selection is a losing proposition. It flushes money into the cash once and then brings losses for the remaining 11 months. That is the reason why I do not participate.

In addition, I firmly believe that the campaign produces false impulses that, on balance, harm the entire industry.

Totally agree Wilm, I've never participated in this program either.


Suspect

« Reply #151 on: November 28, 2021, 14:27 »
0
As the tortoise carrying my sales meanders on arthritic legs towards the end of another month I wonder ... how are others doing?

SVH

« Reply #152 on: November 28, 2021, 14:39 »
0
As the tortoise carrying my sales meanders on arthritic legs towards the end of another month I wonder ... how are others doing?

Shutterstock dead, Istock dead and Adobe (since at least my reshuffle) dead after the first week of November.

But maybe it's just me  ;)

Milleflore

« Reply #153 on: November 28, 2021, 14:54 »
+1
As the tortoise carrying my sales meanders on arthritic legs towards the end of another month I wonder ... how are others doing?

Good.

« Reply #154 on: November 28, 2021, 15:59 »
+2


I did my personal  math and came to the conclusion that Adobe's free selection is a losing proposition. It flushes money into the cash once and then brings losses for the remaining 11 months. That is the reason why I do not participate....

what 'math' leads to that conclusion? even for those with reduced sales (and many are reorting no reduction in sales), correlation is not causation

« Reply #155 on: November 28, 2021, 16:36 »
+1


I did my personal  math and came to the conclusion that Adobe's free selection is a losing proposition. It flushes money into the cash once and then brings losses for the remaining 11 months. That is the reason why I do not participate....

what 'math' leads to that conclusion? even for those with reduced sales (and many are reorting no reduction in sales), correlation is not causation

I checked how many of my images that Adobe Stock had selected for free selection were downloaded from AS over a four-week period and what revenue I generated. I extrapolated the revenue over a 12 month period. If sales continue like this for the remaining 11 months, I will not make a financial profit by releasing them in free selection.

I based this on the numbers I know from many other providers. So I can get an approximate idea of what percentage of the images AS has selected from my portfolio for the free selection would be accepted.

In addition, the images will continue to be purchased from other agencies. So there would be the additional risk that they no longer bring in anything there when the buyers see that they cost nothing at AS.

« Reply #156 on: November 28, 2021, 22:46 »
0
As the tortoise carrying my sales meanders on arthritic legs towards the end of another month I wonder ... how are others doing?

Shutterstock dead, Istock dead and Adobe (since at least my reshuffle) dead after the first week of November.

But maybe it's just me  ;)

Good on Shutterstock, poor everywhere else tho.

« Reply #157 on: November 29, 2021, 00:40 »
0
Compared to the last 4 months this month is 50% down  :'(

« Reply #158 on: November 29, 2021, 03:38 »
+1
Decent but below October/November expectations for iStock/Getty and Shutterstock. The positive side of me expected a slight peak, which didn't came.
But I did had my best month ever at Adobe Stock. 

What really stands out for me is the lack of sales volume at smaller agencies.
They shrunk even more the past two or three months.
I really wonder: how long are they able to keep their boat afloat?


« Reply #159 on: November 29, 2021, 06:47 »
0
As the tortoise carrying my sales meanders on arthritic legs towards the end of another month I wonder ... how are others doing?

Shutterstock dead, Istock dead and Adobe (since at least my reshuffle) dead after the first week of November.

But maybe it's just me  ;)

Good on Shutterstock, poor everywhere else tho.

Perhaps should add that I had my BME on iStock last month.

« Reply #160 on: November 29, 2021, 14:19 »
+3




what 'math' leads to that conclusion? even for those with reduced sales (and many are reorting no reduction in sales), correlation is not causation

I checked how many of my images that Adobe Stock had selected for free selection were downloaded from AS over a four-week period and what revenue I generated. I extrapolated the revenue over a 12 month period. If sales continue like this for the remaining 11 months, I will not make a financial profit by releasing them in free selection.
first, thanks for supplying some details.

i'm confused though, AS said the images selected for free were those that HADN'T generated any income. also, how did you decide which 4-week period to use?  given how stochastic the market is, extrapolating is unlikely to be statistically significant over any such period.   

Quote

In addition, the images will continue to be purchased from other agencies. So there would be the additional risk that they no longer bring in anything there when the buyers see that they cost nothing at AS.
as has been discussed many times, there's little evidence buyers shop across agencies, esp'ly if they have subscriptions.

Level6

« Reply #161 on: November 29, 2021, 14:43 »
0
stock is dead, crypto is the only way forward

Crypto to day/options trading or run a lemonade stand in winter will make you a better living than stock video/photos these days sadly....

« Reply #162 on: November 29, 2021, 17:35 »
+1




what 'math' leads to that conclusion? even for those with reduced sales (and many are reorting no reduction in sales), correlation is not causation

I checked how many of my images that Adobe Stock had selected for free selection were downloaded from AS over a four-week period and what revenue I generated. I extrapolated the revenue over a 12 month period. If sales continue like this for the remaining 11 months, I will not make a financial profit by releasing them in free selection.
first, thanks for supplying some details.

i'm confused though, AS said the images selected for free were those that HADN'T generated any income. also, how did you decide which 4-week period to use?  given how stochastic the market is, extrapolating is unlikely to be statistically significant over any such period.   

Quote

I do not know the source of your information, but it is wrong.

I currently have 68 images that are eligible for free selection. And these images have reached more than 500 downloads so far.

Level6

« Reply #163 on: November 29, 2021, 19:36 »
+1
Decent but below October/November expectations for iStock/Getty and Shutterstock. The positive side of me expected a slight peak, which didn't came.
But I did had my best month ever at Adobe Stock. 

What really stands out for me is the lack of sales volume at smaller agencies.
They shrunk even more the past two or three months.
I really wonder: how long are they able to keep their boat afloat?

Probably not too much longer, no one can compete with free, unless they are selling contributors content in bulk under the table they might start folding.

« Reply #164 on: November 30, 2021, 03:39 »
+1
Decent but below October/November expectations for iStock/Getty and Shutterstock. The positive side of me expected a slight peak, which didn't came.
But I did had my best month ever at Adobe Stock. 

What really stands out for me is the lack of sales volume at smaller agencies.
They shrunk even more the past two or three months.
I really wonder: how long are they able to keep their boat afloat?

Probably not too much longer, no one can compete with free, unless they are selling contributors content in bulk under the table they might start folding.

October was a BME in terms of vol/... also had a BDE and BWE. November has been steady and a little below Nov last year but up on the average for Nov.

Ever since the 1st batch if free images being accepted at AS, I haven't seen any reduction in sales... in fact, quite the opposite.

Edit. Just to state I've been doing this FT for about 10 years now... the agencies I deal with over that time have changed but, it's rather nice to see BME etc still cropping up!
« Last Edit: November 30, 2021, 04:30 by HalfFull »

« Reply #165 on: November 30, 2021, 04:17 »
0
The 12 week trend on AS no longer has any high-sale spikes on the trend line which is a first since I started to build my port in 2019. 

« Reply #166 on: November 30, 2021, 05:56 »
0




what 'math' leads to that conclusion? even for those with reduced sales (and many are reorting no reduction in sales), correlation is not causation

I checked how many of my images that Adobe Stock had selected for free selection were downloaded from AS over a four-week period and what revenue I generated. I extrapolated the revenue over a 12 month period. If sales continue like this for the remaining 11 months, I will not make a financial profit by releasing them in free selection.
first, thanks for supplying some details.

i'm confused though, AS said the images selected for free were those that HADN'T generated any income. also, how did you decide which 4-week period to use?  given how stochastic the market is, extrapolating is unlikely to be statistically significant over any such period.   

Quote

In addition, the images will continue to be purchased from other agencies. So there would be the additional risk that they no longer bring in anything there when the buyers see that they cost nothing at AS.
as has been discussed many times, there's little evidence buyers shop across agencies, esp'ly if they have subscriptions.

Since my downloads at AS are relatively constant, it doesn't really matter which 4-week period I choose.

Here I have made a screenshot. 68 images were suggested by AS for the free section. How many of them would be accepted, I don't know either, of course, but I assume about 10% - according to what I have heard from other contributors. That would be 7 images. Would bring in $35 for a year.

All 68 images had at least 1 download - up to 40 downloads as you can see. Together there were 513.

The red dots show the images that were sold at AS this month.
This year my RPD at AS is $1.23. Extrapolated to a year, 120 sales x $1.23 = $147.60. To bring in the same money, 30 images would have to be accepted in the free section. That would be 44% of the images selected. That many were not accepted at any of the contributors I know.

In addition, there is another important calculation factor that should be taken into account. Many of the selected images have very similar counterparts in my portfolio, many of which were also purchased this month - about 75 times. I am very sure that most of them would not have been bought if there was the very similar image in the free section.

And this is true only for AS. You may be right that customers at other agencies will not look in the free section at AS if they have a subscription elsewhere. But the On Demand, Enhanced and SOD purchases are more interesting anyway. These would then possibly also be omitted if the customers see that they can get the image elsewhere for free.


thijsdegraaf

« Reply #167 on: November 30, 2021, 08:24 »
+1
Compared to Shutterstock I have sold very little on AS.
My photos are not unique, so I suspect that similar images can also be found as free, which makes my photos less likely to sell.
I would almost certainly have made more if I had entered the promotion and some of the selected photos had been accepted by Adobe as free.
But..... If nobody had taken part or if Adobe hadn't started this free promotion, I'm sure I would have made more money.
So I continue to object to this system of free photos.

« Reply #168 on: November 30, 2021, 08:54 »
+2


I did my personal  math and came to the conclusion that Adobe's free selection is a losing proposition. It flushes money into the cash once and then brings losses for the remaining 11 months. That is the reason why I do not participate....

what 'math' leads to that conclusion? even for those with reduced sales (and many are reorting no reduction in sales), correlation is not causation

I checked how many of my images that Adobe Stock had selected for free selection were downloaded from AS over a four-week period and what revenue I generated. I extrapolated the revenue over a 12 month period. If sales continue like this for the remaining 11 months, I will not make a financial profit by releasing them in free selection.

I based this on the numbers I know from many other providers. So I can get an approximate idea of what percentage of the images AS has selected from my portfolio for the free selection would be accepted.

In addition, the images will continue to be purchased from other agencies. So there would be the additional risk that they no longer bring in anything there when the buyers see that they cost nothing at AS.

Adobe doesn't select images for free, we do. I only picked those that didn't have sales. Now I have money instead of nothing.

thijsdegraaf

« Reply #169 on: November 30, 2021, 09:03 »
0


I did my personal  math and came to the conclusion that Adobe's free selection is a losing proposition. It flushes money into the cash once and then brings losses for the remaining 11 months. That is the reason why I do not participate....

what 'math' leads to that conclusion? even for those with reduced sales (and many are reorting no reduction in sales), correlation is not causation

I checked how many of my images that Adobe Stock had selected for free selection were downloaded from AS over a four-week period and what revenue I generated. I extrapolated the revenue over a 12 month period. If sales continue like this for the remaining 11 months, I will not make a financial profit by releasing them in free selection.

I based this on the numbers I know from many other providers. So I can get an approximate idea of what percentage of the images AS has selected from my portfolio for the free selection would be accepted.

In addition, the images will continue to be purchased from other agencies. So there would be the additional risk that they no longer bring in anything there when the buyers see that they cost nothing at AS.

Adobe doesn't select images for free, we do. I only picked those that didn't have sales. Now I have money instead of nothing.

Of course. We indicate which ones we want to add to the free photos, but Adbe selects from them.
In my answer I indicate that I (just like you) would have earned more if I had participated.
But..... If nobody had taken part or if Adobe hadn't started this free promotion, I'm sure I would have made more money. Because now all my photos have to compete with similar free photos.

It is easy for Wilm to decide, because he assumes that he will earn more if he does not participate (I know his photos and I think he is right).
I earn more if I participate, but I'm against the system. If I were making a whole lot more, I would probably participate. I'm not that principled.  :)
« Last Edit: November 30, 2021, 13:16 by thijsdegraaf »

« Reply #170 on: November 30, 2021, 09:39 »
0


I did my personal  math and came to the conclusion that Adobe's free selection is a losing proposition. It flushes money into the cash once and then brings losses for the remaining 11 months. That is the reason why I do not participate....

what 'math' leads to that conclusion? even for those with reduced sales (and many are reorting no reduction in sales), correlation is not causation

I checked how many of my images that Adobe Stock had selected for free selection were downloaded from AS over a four-week period and what revenue I generated. I extrapolated the revenue over a 12 month period. If sales continue like this for the remaining 11 months, I will not make a financial profit by releasing them in free selection.

I based this on the numbers I know from many other providers. So I can get an approximate idea of what percentage of the images AS has selected from my portfolio for the free selection would be accepted.

In addition, the images will continue to be purchased from other agencies. So there would be the additional risk that they no longer bring in anything there when the buyers see that they cost nothing at AS.

Adobe doesn't select images for free, we do. I only picked those that didn't have sales. Now I have money instead of nothing.

Diana,

Adobe selects images as "eligible for free selection".
For me, that's 68 images. All of them had at least one download, as I have shown in the screenshot.

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #171 on: November 30, 2021, 12:07 »
+2

Adobe doesn't select images for free, we do. I only picked those that didn't have sales. Now I have money instead of nothing.

That's right, eligible means nothing as 5-10% seem to be accepted and nothing that I marked do not allow for free was selected.  ;) I can't see how anyone can use as an example, images that were not accepted and they didn't allow to be, as some kind of data for what might have been, since it hasn't happened yet.

Myself I allowed 45 illustrations that have no sales, or less than 3 sales lifetime, anywhere. AS picked two and I have $10. The lifetime earnings for each of those images is under $1 each over the years. Not difficult to see, that I have money in my pocket instead of imagining what might be, that hasn't happened in the past?

as has been discussed many times, there's little evidence buyers shop across agencies, esp'ly if they have subscriptions.

Debated, discussed and for the most part, agreed, that buyers do not shop price and don't shop agencies for the same images, as some have suspected over the years. I'd guess that more recent big deals by agencies are designed to hold clients to the low price contract, make sales stable as the big shared licenses are for a flat rate, and this in effect locks people who have the multi-seat license, into the images from one agency.

What I mean is, buyers are even less likely to shop by price now, than they would have been in the past.

Small time, limited buyers, might shop price, but the people who buy the most and make up the majority of our income, do not. It appears that subscriptions and contracts make up the majority of our download volume?

Sales on Adobe for myself are up 40% for the same 3 month period as 2020. I haven't uploaded a mass of new images either. Purely personal, I admit, but same images, same place, and sales are up since the free images program. Which although I can't attribute the increase to the free images, I can't ignore that sales are up.

Conclusion: My sales have not been hurt by the free image offerings.

« Reply #172 on: November 30, 2021, 12:59 »
+1
 
Adobe selects images as "eligible for free selection".
For me, that's 68 images. All of them had at least one download, as I have shown in the screenshot.

Adobe said they only selected images that had 4 or fewer DL in the last year. anyway, you choose whether any image is available for the free collection

« Reply #173 on: December 01, 2021, 02:21 »
+1
Conclusion: My sales have not been hurt by the free image offerings.
I have the same feeling, looking at short term. My past half year has been very decent despite growing free collections.

But long term is another story I guess. When I look at image credits in media outlets, the amount of Unsplash credits is still on the rise. Also premium outlets, glossy magazines, seem to use them very regularly. They use images from free collections wherever they can. At least that's my observation, and it would be foolish to think that this has no effect on our sales. Without free collections, these images would have generated sales. Probably small subscription sales, true, but still it's quite a volume.

« Reply #174 on: December 01, 2021, 02:39 »
+5
Yesterday i had a really big SOD on Shutterstock: $170

Nice!


 

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