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Author Topic: Yotola - What are Your Thoughts?  (Read 24307 times)

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« Reply #25 on: June 15, 2012, 20:23 »
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They probably got it the same way that they got mine... My domain registrations aren't private.


« Reply #26 on: June 15, 2012, 20:29 »
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Currently, we are polishing off site development and then plan to have a big launch in the coming weeks. Unlike other stock photo sites, we want to take it slow and create a win-win situation for everyone.
Yotola may not work for everyone as some people maybe making good money on every single image they produce. However, the response we have got on our site has been extremely positive and we already have some high quality photographers who are ready to contribute.

Our site now has a live chat with some members of our team waiting to answer any specific questions you may have on Yotola.

Thank you,
Yotola

So where are you and your team located? The voice on the video sounds like a Chicago accent. Are these advertisers selling family-friendly products and services? I see a lot of "free" stuff websites actually get their revenue from adult entertainment. Do you have any experience as an artist or business for that matter? Have any of the "high quality photographers" begun uploading yet?

Our main team is based in London. The voice was done by a team colleague in the US (and yes that is a Chicago accent :)).
Our advertisers will be all family-friendly products and services I can guarantee you that.
Our team and investors are composed of people with backgrounds in stock photography and marketing. We already have high quality photographers on board and they will begin uploading as soon as we are done polishing off site development (which is not long now)

Still wondering how you got my personal phone number just to invite me. Not wise, and clearly you're starting with the wrong foot. But that's a first, have to admit it. ???

Hi Rui, we found your phone number in the registrar details of your stock photography website, which was publicly available. We felt it was better to call you in person rather than sending an email. Apologise if there was any inconvenience. As we are starting up we wanted to add that personal touch to our contributors.

« Reply #27 on: June 15, 2012, 20:40 »
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Hi Rui, we found your phone number in the registrar details of your stock photography website, which was publicly available. We felt it was better to call you in person rather than sending an email. Apologise if there was any inconvenience. As we are starting up we wanted to add that personal touch to our contributors.

what is the point of inviting an exclusive contributor? (not to mention an admin/reviewer of DT)

« Reply #28 on: June 15, 2012, 20:42 »
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Currently, we are polishing off site development and then plan to have a big launch in the coming weeks. Unlike other stock photo sites, we want to take it slow and create a win-win situation for everyone.
Yotola may not work for everyone as some people maybe making good money on every single image they produce. However, the response we have got on our site has been extremely positive and we already have some high quality photographers who are ready to contribute.

Our site now has a live chat with some members of our team waiting to answer any specific questions you may have on Yotola.

Thank you,
Yotola

They must be racking up quite a bill because they called me too. Overseas to USA.  Unfortunately for them I am not interested in that kind of model.

So where are you and your team located? The voice on the video sounds like a Chicago accent. Are these advertisers selling family-friendly products and services? I see a lot of "free" stuff websites actually get their revenue from adult entertainment. Do you have any experience as an artist or business for that matter? Have any of the "high quality photographers" begun uploading yet?

Our main team is based in London. The voice was done by a team colleague in the US (and yes that is a Chicago accent :)).
Our advertisers will be all family-friendly products and services I can guarantee you that.
Our team and investors are composed of people with backgrounds in stock photography and marketing. We already have high quality photographers on board and they will begin uploading as soon as we are done polishing off site development (which is not long now)

Still wondering how you got my personal phone number just to invite me. Not wise, and clearly you're starting with the wrong foot. But that's a first, have to admit it. ???

Hi Rui, we found your phone number in the registrar details of your stock photography website, which was publicly available. We felt it was better to call you in person rather than sending an email. Apologise if there was any inconvenience. As we are starting up we wanted to add that personal touch to our contributors.

Tryingmybest

  • Stand up for what is right
« Reply #29 on: June 15, 2012, 20:43 »
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They probably got it the same way that they got mine... My domain registrations aren't private.

It bothers me that Yotola has a private domain registration yet they use public domain registrations for sales calls. If you don't like folks doing sales calls to you, then don't do them yourself.

grafix04

« Reply #30 on: June 15, 2012, 21:00 »
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Still wondering how you got my personal phone number just to invite me. Not wise, and clearly you're starting with the wrong foot. But that's a first, have to admit it. ???

Know of any DT staff that has resigned or has been fired recently?

RolMat

« Reply #31 on: June 15, 2012, 21:27 »
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Still wondering how you got my personal phone number just to invite me. Not wise, and clearly you're starting with the wrong foot. But that's a first, have to admit it. ???

Quote
Hi Rui, we found your phone number in the registrar details of your stock photography website, which was publicly available. We felt it was better to call you in person rather than sending an email. Apologise if there was any inconvenience. As we are starting up we wanted to add that personal touch to our contributors.

I see. I really have to turn it private just in case any other "bright" marketeers think that "administrative/technical contacts" on public registrar details are available for other matters than abusive use. And yes, that's inconvenient. As a final note, from my own experience a marketing manager for about 15 years or so, I would suggest that you rethink your marketing "personal touch". Tip: international phone calls must be cheap over there. If not, in marketing terms they normally fall under avoidable costs. Good luck, though.
« Last Edit: June 15, 2012, 21:30 by RolMat »

« Reply #32 on: June 16, 2012, 01:09 »
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Obviously I can't whether it is a scam or not.. the business idea certainly doesn't have to be but the way the domain and website are set up sure makes me scratch my head and run the other direction.

If there isn't something to hide, why the hidden contact details and why the hard sell squeeze page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squeeze_page

perhaps I'm paranoid but when I see a squeeze page I see a scam / spam

The concept isn't exactly new.  There are already revenue sharing free stock photo sites like freerangestock and stockvault
« Last Edit: June 16, 2012, 02:56 by leaf »

drugal

    This user is banned.
« Reply #33 on: June 16, 2012, 03:04 »
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Are ppl in this forum stuck in some time vortex? :o Monetizing traffic is hardly a new model. Hey, do you have to pay to use forum f.e.?

« Reply #34 on: June 16, 2012, 04:37 »
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If this is such a good idea (giving free files an monetize through ads) I wonder why the free downloads leader, sxc. hu (the one used as example in the video, with these so many downloads underlined) is not brimming with ads. Actually, it just have istock ads, and, even when it was not owned by getty, and getting tens of thousands of downloads publicity and banners were very scarce (and all related to micro RF sites). When their owners wanted to monetize, what they did was to create a regular microstock site, as we all now. In my opinion, this is the kind of plan that can give some money to the owners and near to nil to the photographers. Don't fall in this trap.

Tryingmybest

  • Stand up for what is right
« Reply #35 on: June 16, 2012, 08:28 »
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If this is such a good idea (giving free files an monetize through ads) I wonder why the free downloads leader, sxc. hu (the one used as example in the video, with these so many downloads underlined) is not brimming with ads. Actually, it just have istock ads, and, even when it was not owned by getty, and getting tens of thousands of downloads publicity and banners were very scarce (and all related to micro RF sites). When their owners wanted to monetize, what they did was to create a regular microstock site, as we all now. In my opinion, this is the kind of plan that can give some money to the owners and near to nil to the photographers. Don't fall in this trap.

From the perspective of someone that believes that not everyone wants something for nothing, this business model takes a cynical view of people. That is, this model presumes no one wants to pay for anything. They want to steal and get away with itor at least feel that it is justified. I seriously know that manynot allfolks want to pay something for high quality work. They understand the legal and moral ramifications of "free" and they don't want to be bothered with wasting time debating with their conscienceor a cease-and-desist email from an enraged artist/lawyer.

Yes I'm an idealist. Yes, loop, it smells like a trap.

« Reply #36 on: June 16, 2012, 08:35 »
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As someone that used to contribute regularly to sxc.hu (I've since removed most of my portfolio there) way back before I ever heard of micro-stock, I can tell you that there used to be ads from other businesses.

Only after they (and StockXpert) were purchased did the ads belong solely to iStock.

Neither an argument for or against Yotola, just my recollections.

« Reply #37 on: June 16, 2012, 09:53 »
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I wa there too. I dind't say that there were no ads, I said they were very scarce, and, by the way, just from ms sites or fron small unknow companies, nothing that suggested good business. Look at morguefile. com for a today's example.
« Last Edit: June 16, 2012, 09:56 by loop »

« Reply #38 on: June 16, 2012, 11:02 »
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I wa there too. I dind't say that there were no ads, I said they were very scarce, and, by the way, just from ms sites or fron small unknow companies, nothing that suggested good business. Look at morguefile. com for a today's example.

We used to have ads for sxc.hu's sister microstock site, Stockxpert, but we tried to make sure they don't ruin the user experience. Getty later replaced them with Istock ads in a similar fashion.

Everything written with big red letters is a scam. No exceptions. There's no easy money, there are no wonder pills, you're not going to make $9999 per day with Forex, there's no trick to beat the casino and there's no surefire way to pick up women. If this thing is genuine, they are not doing a really good job making it credible... :)
Btw the guy sounds exactly like Penn Jillette! :))
« Last Edit: June 16, 2012, 11:08 by peter_stockfresh »

« Reply #39 on: June 16, 2012, 11:36 »
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Great observations, Peter!   I don't think anyone's mentioned this:  Why do they say "Space is limited"??  You'd think with a concept like theirs that they (and their advertisers) would want a regular and huge influx of photos since that should lead to more hits/searches and thus more traffic. Why give the impression of "a limited time only"?

Answer: Scam-Marketing-101-high-pressure-sales-technique to get as many gullible contributors in as quickly as possible.

Also, shouldn't a photography website have . . . . photos??  The only images I saw were from IS and SXC.

Stay far far away.

« Reply #40 on: June 16, 2012, 13:31 »
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With regards to the site, as mentioned on the video, the revenue will be from advertising and subscription.  

If you have any specific questions, we have live support on the site, or you can contact us on skype.

We look forward to hearing from you.  
« Last Edit: June 16, 2012, 14:10 by Yotola_Team »

« Reply #41 on: June 16, 2012, 13:38 »
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With regards to the site, as mentioned on the video, the revenue will be from advertising and subscription.  

If you have any specific questions, we have live support on the site, or you can contact us on skype.

We look forward to hearing from you.  :)

are you talking about the one that doesnt answer you??

"did Mark Hall help you?"
no he havent answered me!
"shall we punish him?"
yes!
« Last Edit: June 16, 2012, 13:46 by luissantos84 »


« Reply #42 on: June 16, 2012, 13:49 »
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That video is one of the biggest loads of nonsense I've seen.  I wish I had the time to make fun of it piece by piece.

« Reply #43 on: June 16, 2012, 13:54 »
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That video is one of the biggest loads of nonsense I've seen.  I wish I had the time to make fun of it piece by piece.

ahahahahhahah I am available to help you  ;D

« Reply #44 on: June 16, 2012, 13:56 »
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That video is one of the biggest loads of nonsense I've seen.  I wish I had the time to make fun of it piece by piece.

I think the video is effectively made to cater to the level of photographers who would participate.

« Reply #45 on: June 16, 2012, 17:11 »
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guys had a long talk with Yotola and it aint a scam, they are open to hear everybody concerns, go ahead if you have any doubts or other, that said it doesnt mean I will contribute but needed to say they aren't dangerous, at least I havent got that idea, kind and communicate actually! :D

« Reply #46 on: June 16, 2012, 18:28 »
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it may not be a scam - but why are they not transparent about how much income will be made per view/clickthrough or whatever,  what will the payout level be?

every other legit ms site - crap or not- states exactly what revenue is per dl and what the payout level is?
 
but frankly, i value even my crap images greater than a penny or two...

« Reply #47 on: June 16, 2012, 18:31 »
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Well, of course they're dangerous, trying to put another nail in the 'hey, everything on the net should be free!!!' coffin.  We did free.  We started at free, and pennies.  'Free' tells people they need not worry about misusing the content or model likeness.  'Free' says 'this image has zero value'.  And more.  There's plenty dangerous here.

And it's also a sub site, likely paying less than anyone out there.  Hell $299 for 750 at SS is basically free.  You want to encourage people to leave SS for the site that bills itself as the home of 'rejects and crap work'?

« Reply #48 on: June 16, 2012, 19:53 »
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Well, of course they're dangerous, trying to put another nail in the 'hey, everything on the net should be free!!!' coffin.  We did free.  We started at free, and pennies.  'Free' tells people they need not worry about misusing the content or model likeness.  'Free' says 'this image has zero value'.  And more.  There's plenty dangerous here.

And it's also a sub site, likely paying less than anyone out there.  Hell $299 for 750 at SS is basically free.  You want to encourage people to leave SS for the site that bills itself as the home of 'rejects and crap work'?

I havent said the opposite, I dont appreciate the FREE too, I told them that along with my opinion about how it can damage stock agencies and our income, I havent told them that I would jump into their ship, I was only getting to know their business model and they seem pretty open and honest, thats said I repeat that I don't enjoy their concept of free, will see when it is online

« Reply #49 on: June 16, 2012, 20:09 »
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Well, they called me, I did not answer.  Saw the country code, pretty much knew it was them after hearing others claim something similar.  Very cheesy website.  The vid is in clear English but the site registration is suspect.  Not my cup of pee (I mean tea) right now.


 

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