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Author Topic: Under Performing Portfolio  (Read 12287 times)

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tab62

« on: April 19, 2012, 16:53 »
0
Hey MSG Folks,

I've noticed an alarming trend in my sales the last three months- My RPD is dropping quite a bit. January it was .71 and this month it is now around .47. My sales volume has gone up but the RPD is dropping fast!  Does this mean my portfolio has only pics that are of min use to the business world? One person told me that I have the 'Walmart' approach on my business model- lot's of sales but small profit lines thus I will need over 10,000 pics to see a decent payout. Any suggestions on how I can get my RPD to a higher level?

Maybe this is typical of a rookie?


Thanks.

Tom


« Reply #1 on: April 20, 2012, 01:27 »
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You haven't given enough info. Which sites are you on, is your sales volume large enough to be statistically significant and how long have you been submitting for? Has the bulk of your sales shifted from a higher-paying site to a lower or is the balance between sites the same?

lagereek

« Reply #2 on: April 20, 2012, 01:52 »
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To me, the only thing that counts, is a good payout towards the end of the month. I dont care about the RPD, etc, etc, as long as the revenue is good. Dont really understand the people worrying about this?  and if its such an issue, maybe they should stick to RM/RF. :)

Microbius

« Reply #3 on: April 20, 2012, 03:43 »
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Honestly I don't have a clue what my RPD is, not even a ball park figure. If you have signed up for subs on an agency, or if an agency you are with has just started offering subs your RPD could go through the floor while your profit goes up.
What's your RPI like, dropping RPI would be of interest to me (not necessarily a big concern as long as total income was increasing)

antistock

« Reply #4 on: April 20, 2012, 06:20 »
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Honestly I don't have a clue what my RPD is, not even a ball park figure. If you have signed up for subs on an agency, or if an agency you are with has just started offering subs your RPD could go through the floor while your profit goes up.
What's your RPI like, dropping RPI would be of interest to me (not necessarily a big concern as long as total income was increasing)

i think RPD == return per Download ?

Microbius

« Reply #5 on: April 20, 2012, 06:38 »
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Sorry I may not have been clear enough, I know what RPD stands for, I just have no interest in tracking it for my own portfolio. I am interested my return per image, not how many downloads it has taken to get that return.

ETA, my point was that I wouldn't consider my portfolio as under-performing if I had a very low RPD as long as my RPI was high. So if I had 10 images on line that returned me $3000 I wouldn't call that under performing even if the RPD was 30c and I made it from 10000 sub sales.
« Last Edit: April 20, 2012, 06:41 by Microbius »

« Reply #6 on: April 20, 2012, 08:39 »
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What's your RPI like, dropping RPI would be of interest to me (not necessarily a big concern as long as total income was increasing)

+1

RPI is the thing to watch. 

And it's quite possible to do VERY well with a small portfolio (just 1 or 2 thousand pics).  They just have to be the RIGHT pics.  You could have 10,000 pics in your port, but if they're not in demand or if there's a ton of competition and you're not offering a unique take, you might as well shoot for 100,000 before seeing a decent payout.

Ed

« Reply #7 on: April 20, 2012, 10:14 »
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I just mentioned this in another thread...I've been working on this over the past couple of weeks as well.

I am seeing the same thing...years ago, it was closer to 86 cents per image on average...these days it's closer to 64 cents per image on average.  I agree on the Walmart analogy.  I've dumped a few agencies because of this as well - it's not worth my time.

With relation to your comment about 10,000 images to make a decent payout, I've started using the "revenue per portfolio image" approach.  I take the total revenue for the month, then divide it by the number of images in my portfolio.  Then I take the payout amount at the agency and divide it by that number.

As an example, at Dreamstime, you have a $100 payout.  If I take my revenue per portfolio image average of .03644 cents then divide 100 by that amount, I compute that I need 3,644 images in my portfolio to make payout on an average month.
« Last Edit: April 20, 2012, 10:28 by Ed »

WarrenPrice

« Reply #8 on: April 20, 2012, 10:48 »
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I just mentioned this in another thread...I've been working on this over the past couple of weeks as well.

I am seeing the same thing...years ago, it was closer to 86 cents per image on average...these days it's closer to 64 cents per image on average.  I agree on the Walmart analogy.  I've dumped a few agencies because of this as well - it's not worth my time.

With relation to your comment about 10,000 images to make a decent payout, I've started using the "revenue per portfolio image" approach.  I take the total revenue for the month, then divide it by the number of images in my portfolio.  Then I take the payout amount at the agency and divide it by that number.

As an example, at Dreamstime, you have a $100 payout.  If I take my revenue per portfolio image average of .03644 cents then divide 100 by that amount, I compute that I need 3,644 images in my portfolio to make payout on an average month.

I think that makes a lot of sense.  I'll give it a try.  Thanks.

« Reply #9 on: April 20, 2012, 11:19 »
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As an example, at Dreamstime, you have a $100 payout.  If I take my revenue per portfolio image average of .03644 cents then divide 100 by that amount, I compute that I need 3,644 images in my portfolio to make payout on an average month.

sorry but thats the same as RPI :D

steheap

  • Author of best selling "Get Started in Stock"

« Reply #10 on: April 20, 2012, 11:23 »
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I calculated the earnings per image per month from each of the main sites last year, and tracked it by quarter. Not a lot of work if you already have the data, but this is the table that summarizes the results.


I've no idea if these are good, bad or indifferent - they simply are stats from my own images on the stock sites I submit to.

The full discussion is here: http://www.backyardsilver.com/2011/12/earnings-per-image-what-can-you-make-from-each-photo/

Steve

Ed

« Reply #11 on: April 20, 2012, 11:24 »
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As an example, at Dreamstime, you have a $100 payout.  If I take my revenue per portfolio image average of .03644 cents then divide 100 by that amount, I compute that I need 3,644 images in my portfolio to make payout on an average month.

sorry but thats the same as RPI :D

RPI is different.  RPI is revenue per image downloaded.

I'm talking revenue per portfolio image - not all of the images in your portfolio will be downloaded on every given month.  Take the total revenue and divide it by EVERY image in your portfolio.

They are two different things.

« Reply #12 on: April 20, 2012, 11:35 »
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As an example, at Dreamstime, you have a $100 payout.  If I take my revenue per portfolio image average of .03644 cents then divide 100 by that amount, I compute that I need 3,644 images in my portfolio to make payout on an average month.

sorry but thats the same as RPI :D

RPI is different.  RPI is revenue per image downloaded.

I'm talking revenue per portfolio image - not all of the images in your portfolio will be downloaded on every given month.  Take the total revenue and divide it by EVERY image in your portfolio.

They are two different things.

RPI = return per image (in your portfolio or per submitted whether accepted or not - some people calculate it either way) I think per submitted is more honest, otherwise you could delete all your non - sellers and send RPI through the roof.
RPD= return per download


What really matters at the end of the month is the total income. RPI and RPD are ways of trying to track how different sites and months compare, but the total income at the end is all that really matters.

« Reply #13 on: April 20, 2012, 11:37 »
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As an example, at Dreamstime, you have a $100 payout.  If I take my revenue per portfolio image average of .03644 cents then divide 100 by that amount, I compute that I need 3,644 images in my portfolio to make payout on an average month.

sorry but thats the same as RPI :D

RPI is different.  RPI is revenue per image downloaded.

I'm talking revenue per portfolio image - not all of the images in your portfolio will be downloaded on every given month.  Take the total revenue and divide it by EVERY image in your portfolio.

They are two different things.

For me, RPI is revenue per image CREATED.  If I waste my time on a bunch of images that don't sell or don't even get accepted into my ports at the major agencies, I still count those because I'm concerned about how the amount of work I do translates into real money.  My bad images that don't sell or don't get accepted have to factor into that equation.

« Reply #14 on: April 20, 2012, 11:41 »
0
As an example, at Dreamstime, you have a $100 payout.  If I take my revenue per portfolio image average of .03644 cents then divide 100 by that amount, I compute that I need 3,644 images in my portfolio to make payout on an average month.

sorry but thats the same as RPI :D

RPI is different.  RPI is revenue per image downloaded.

I'm talking revenue per portfolio image - not all of the images in your portfolio will be downloaded on every given month.  Take the total revenue and divide it by EVERY image in your portfolio.

They are two different things.

For me, RPI is revenue per image CREATED.  If I waste my time on a bunch of images that don't sell or don't even get accepted into my ports at the major agencies, I still count those because I'm concerned about how the amount of work I do translates into real money.  My bad images that don't sell or don't get accepted have to factor into that equation.

agree, like you have said a while ago

Ed

« Reply #15 on: April 20, 2012, 11:53 »
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LOL...and this is why people get confused when others talk about $2.30 RPI in their portfolio (and why I never believe them)  :D :D :D

« Reply #16 on: April 20, 2012, 11:59 »
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LOL...and this is why people get confused when others talk about $2.30 RPI in their portfolio (and why I never believe them)  :D :D :D
My RPI (for month of March) was $3.92.   Daily hovers around $.12.  No tricks.


« Reply #17 on: April 20, 2012, 12:03 »
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LOL...and this is why people get confused when others talk about $2.30 RPI in their portfolio (and why I never believe them)  :D :D :D

now I am the one confused :D

« Reply #18 on: April 20, 2012, 12:16 »
0
As an example, at Dreamstime, you have a $100 payout.  If I take my revenue per portfolio image average of .03644 cents then divide 100 by that amount, I compute that I need 3,644 images in my portfolio to make payout on an average month.

sorry but thats the same as RPI :D

RPI is different.  RPI is revenue per image downloaded.

I'm talking revenue per portfolio image - not all of the images in your portfolio will be downloaded on every given month.  Take the total revenue and divide it by EVERY image in your portfolio.

They are two different things.

I am here stratching my head because I really think it is the same thing, why do I say this? because my RPI is the $$ I have made on a agency divided by the portfolio I have at the same.. which is exactly what you are saying no?

sorry got it lol portfolio all of it, you take the average?
« Last Edit: April 20, 2012, 12:23 by luissantos84 »

steheap

  • Author of best selling "Get Started in Stock"

« Reply #19 on: April 20, 2012, 12:25 »
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I can see the difference. There are two ways to calculate revenue per image. One way, which is what I did in the table above, is to calculate, month by month how much revenue I get from Shutterstock divided by the number of images online with Shutterstock and repeat that for every agency. As we know, some agencies don't take editorial, iStock has limits on uploads, and so the images online on each site is different based on those factors and the rejection rate.

Alternatively, you can take the revenue per site (or total for the month) and divide it by all the images you have available for sale, whether they were accepted or not. That is more a measure of your revenue related to total effort.

Both measures tell you something, although the numbers could be very different from each other.

Steve

« Reply #20 on: April 20, 2012, 12:34 »
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I calculated the earnings per image per month from each of the main sites last year, and tracked it by quarter. Not a lot of work if you already have the data, but this is the table that summarizes the results.


I've no idea if these are good, bad or indifferent - they simply are stats from my own images on the stock sites I submit to.

The full discussion is here: http://www.backyardsilver.com/2011/12/earnings-per-image-what-can-you-make-from-each-photo/

Steve


That's very useful information, and the reason why, malgr tout, istock exclusiveness is still attractive for me, as mi Return per Image/Month is noticeably higher than the sum of all your averages at different sites. I'm also seeing an increase in my RPD; the loss of sales seems bigger in small sizes, while L to XXXL stands and gain in percentage. Light increase in E+ prizes can have a role too.

« Reply #21 on: April 20, 2012, 16:23 »
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LOL...and this is why people get confused when others talk about $2.30 RPI in their portfolio (and why I never believe them)  :D :D :D
My RPI (for month of March) was $3.92.   Daily hovers around $.12.  No tricks.

Absolutely incredible!

« Reply #22 on: April 21, 2012, 10:19 »
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LOL...and this is why people get confused when others talk about $2.30 RPI in their portfolio (and why I never believe them)  :D :D :D
My RPI (for month of March) was $3.92.   Daily hovers around $.12.  No tricks.

I think it also useful to include some sort of "time spent per image" calculation in addition to just RPI. My RPI is quite low(~$.60-.70), but it only takes me about 20 minutes on average to produce an image(shoot and post-process). I shoot inanimate objects, in mostly natural light, so I can knock them out pretty quick, as opposed to having to setup time with models, lighting etc.
From content created in the last year I have earned approx $3000 , and spent about 120 hours to create them. So thats about $25 per hour. Of course that per hour number increases over time, since the time spent is fixed, but the $ returned keeps rising.

Someone who spends 5 times the amount of time to create an image, and whose RPI is 5x as high, is no better off than the person with 5x as many images, but whose RPI is 1/5 as high, since they spent the same amount of time to earn the $,

Stockmarketer, the images in your port are primarily illustrations, and I am guessing they take quite a bit more time to produce than mine. Have you ever calculated the "return per hour" instead of RPI?

« Reply #23 on: April 21, 2012, 10:28 »
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very well said zimmytws! it makes TONS of sense! been doing that in Zazzle, might do that from now on

Microbius

« Reply #24 on: April 22, 2012, 03:26 »
0
LOL...and this is why people get confused when others talk about $2.30 RPI in their portfolio (and why I never believe them)  :D :D :D
My RPI (for month of March) was $3.92.   Daily hovers around $.12.  No tricks.
That is really impressive, as you know I calculate the same way as you and hover around the 3.50 mark


 

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