MicrostockGroup
Microstock Footage Forum => General - Stock Video => Topic started by: helloitsme on April 10, 2015, 23:31
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http://www.videoblocks.com/videos/footage?tab=marketplace (http://www.videoblocks.com/videos/footage?tab=marketplace)
I see a few major video content producers there already. I hope this will make others to increase the commission rate!!
Some major stock video producers on VideoBlocks already.
http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/Wavebreak+Media (http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/Wavebreak+Media)
http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/hotelfoxtrot (http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/hotelfoxtrot)
http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/dubassy (http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/dubassy)
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I'm relatively interested on videoblocks but there are things that don't add-up to me.
If I understand it right videoblocks profit solely on the subscription service and the fees paid by their customers. They do not earn a dime from the deals made in the marketplace since we keep 100% of the sales.
But what will happen when the sales from the marketplace outgrow the ones from the subscription plan and customers loose their interest in paying the subscription fees since they only have a fraction of all they need, compared to the marketplace? Won't costumers start asking for single downloads options, or to have the videos from the marketplace included on the Unlimited Library?
Will we then have our videos moved to the Unlimited Library section, or will videoblocks start charging a commission on our $49 sales?
At this moment I'm already seeing 57k videos on the Unlimited Library and 137k on the marketplace. What will happen when the Unlimited Library becomes obsolete and no longer appealing to buyers? Won't videoblocks risk losing the busines unless they do what I mentioned earlier?
Can someone clarify me how this work today, or the risks we may be facing in the near future?
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Some major stock video producers on VideoBlocks already.
http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/Wavebreak+Media (http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/Wavebreak+Media)
http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/hotelfoxtrot (http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/hotelfoxtrot)
http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/dubassy (http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/dubassy)
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Some major stock video producers on VideoBlocks already.
[url]http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/Wavebreak+Media[/url] ([url]http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/Wavebreak+Media[/url])
[url]http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/hotelfoxtrot[/url] ([url]http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/hotelfoxtrot[/url])
[url]http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/dubassy[/url] ([url]http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/dubassy[/url])
Aside from number of videos, I didn't see a lot that impressed me in there.
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Some major stock video producers on VideoBlocks already.
Bear in mind that these may have been given golden hellos in order to attract other providers.
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I hope im wrong in this -in which case i will contribute there asap- but it seems like this whole marketplace deal is to drive massive traffic to their already established pool,where the prices -last time i looked- are ridiculously low there and some clips had hundreds if not thousands of downloads already.
Otherwise it makes no sense whatsoever why the full commission.They may sell some stuff from the marketplace but i don't think that's their goal at all.
I think time will tell eventually.
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Don't know but here's their claim:
"To date our members have downloaded more than 25,000,000 pieces of content. If our customers had downloaded the exact same content from a marketplace with a traditional pay-per-download model (say, Shutterstock), they would have had to pay in the neighborhood of $1.75 billion (with a “b”). That’s enough to make anyone feel kind of blue. "
http://www.wearevideoblocks.com/what-we-do/ (http://www.wearevideoblocks.com/what-we-do/)
Is Shutterstock a traditional pay per download site now? ???
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(...) it seems like this whole marketplace deal is to drive massive traffic to their already established pool (...)
(...) Otherwise it makes no sense whatsoever why the full commission.They may sell some stuff from the marketplace but i don't think that's their goal at all. (...)
I think that is, apparently, their main goal. But intentional or not, I think this has the potential to become the biggest trap we have seen for stock artists with serious consequences to the stock footage market!
As I questioned earlier, but still not responded by the people from videoblocks, what will happen when their Unlimited Library gets, lets say, 100k clips and the Marketplace 1 or 2 million?
Who's the costumer that will be willing to pay a subscription fee for the Unlimited Library, which very soon will be obsolete and of limited usefulness, only to buy almost all of their clips from the Marketplace where they will have an extra expense by paying per download?
Won't clients be upset to pay for a service that doesn't bring them much value, and then to pay an extra for each content they do in fact need?
At that point videoblocks will surely either integrate the marketplace in the subscription pool, or start charging a commission on each $49 sale.
They won't be ale to raise the prices for the marketplace downloads from $49 to, let's say, $69 in order to get a cut on the sale without getting a very hostile reaction from the clients. So they will get a cut on that $49. How much is what we'll see.
If anyone from videoblocks could answer this I think it would be very useful, because at this point this is looking too good to be true.
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So, you guys prefer the agencies that pay you 30% after all rather than 100%? Give them a chance. You can easily delete your clips if you want. People find a way to complain at anything!!
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So, you guys prefer the agencies that pay you 30% after all rather than 100%? Give them a chance. You can easily delete your clips if you want. People find a way to complain at anything!!
It would be nice if VB did chime in here and clarify. However, whatever they say "applies today" does not "apply tomorrow" in most stock circumstances. I think that might be more along the lines of what SPA is saying. What some of us are doing is being forward looking. The strategy might be great today but what's the VB strategy under the circumstances SPA rightfully states? To me that is a huge unanswered question. Mainly because at $49, which at 100% is already close to what some of us get on P5 at 50% can easily be reduced when VB reaches an inevitable crossroads decision. Say they claim "unsustainability" and have to take $20 from each sale. This is a monstrous, VERY LIKELY (and horrible) scenario that I would love to hear VB chime in to clarify.
Like I've mentioned before, the big deal to me is that VB gains significant market share, then clobbers the contributor with the above scenario. The RISK is that they take enough market share that it impacts sales at other good paying sites while contributors now get less at VB. Even if I were at VB and pulled my port, I am completely impacted because of the market traction they steal from other agencies. They become the cheap place to go for video, like the Dollar Photo Club for video (like Big Stock is doing). If they get enough content from videographers who either don't care or don't do their homework, we're sunk. I mean, $49 for a video vs. $79 on SS or P5 is simply competing on price. What happens then? SS will have to lower their selling price and P5 will be forced to enact some scheme to control pricing & reduce commissions.
This is no poke at you, helloitsme, just that I think there is one very "critical to quality" question that deserves some framework explanation from VB before we all jump in as contributors.
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So, you guys prefer the agencies that pay you 30% after all rather than 100%? Give them a chance. You can easily delete your clips if you want. People find a way to complain at anything!!
I think that the questions I made are justified, legitimate and logical. They are not a random rant, and I wish the people from videoblocks would answer them.
I understand your enthusiasm for an agency that promises to offer 100% royalty. Everyone is excited about that. But as I've stated, I have several doubts about their business model especially about the future since I do not see it as sustainable in the current mold.
Their Unlimited Library will very soon be irrelevant when compared to the Marketplace. What will happen when clients no longer feel it's viable to pay a fee and then having to additionally spend hundreds of dollars in the marketplace because the content is richer and better? Content that is already available on Pond5, for example, for similar prices to what is charged in VB in most part, if not cheaper?
Contrary to what you say I'm not complaining. I'm asking valid questions because I am in fact interested in joining videoblocks, but need to understand certain things so I do not end up risking my time, my portfolio and eventually damaging the footage stock market, regardless how small I am.
In fact, it's because people only think about the now and forget about the future that many end bitterly regretting having joined certain agencies. In case you haven't noticed stock is a business and we must think logically.
If you have any answers to my questions, and are allowed to speak in VB name, I'd appreciate you would answer them.
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So, you guys prefer the agencies that pay you 30% after all rather than 100%? Give them a chance. You can easily delete your clips if you want. People find a way to complain at anything!!
You need to be really careful.
Once you've uploaded content anywhere, you really have very little control over what they do with it, even if you delete them from the main site or close your account.
I was bitten this way back in 35mm days, and of course, misappropriation of submitted files is so much easier in the digital age.
Sure, I'm probably over-cautious now; but if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. We all have a duty to ourselves to do 'due diligence'. Ask ALL the questions, question the answers, make sure it rings true.
E.g. Stocktal. They sent shills over here, couldn't answer the questions, and where are they now?
How do we know that all 'our' full size files we find on scam sites haven't been sold to them by agencies people uploaded to, thinking they were genuine start-ups?
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So, you guys prefer the agencies that pay you 30% after all rather than 100%? Give them a chance. You can easily delete your clips if you want. People find a way to complain at anything!!
You need to be really careful.
Once you've uploaded content anywhere, you really have very little control over what they do with it, even if you delete them from the main site or close your account.
I was bitten this way back in 35mm days, and of course, misappropriation of submitted files is so much easier in the digital age.
Sure, I'm probably over-cautious now; but if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. We all have a duty to ourselves to do 'due diligence'. Ask ALL the questions, question the answers, make sure it rings true.
E.g. Stocktal. They sent shills over here, couldn't answer the questions, and where are they now?
How do we know that all 'our' full size files we find on scam sites haven't been sold to them by agencies people uploading to what they thought were genuine start-ups?
I read too many comments on this forum of people willing to try all these start up sites in hopes of getting something back. I agree with your genuine concern and I don't trust any of these sites. They just want to make money with content they haven't created themselves and its amazing to me how easily people give it to them.
Think about it people... Some might start a site with genuine intentions in the beginning (they always want to make money tho) to help other artists out. What if that venture fails? And most ventures will fail... If there is a way for them to monetize on the content they received like lets say getting $10,000 one time deal to sell to a 3rd party all the thousands of images they have at their disposal, how many would have the moral compass to say no to that and just face that their months of work went into getting nothing. They will find a way to make excuses for giving away other peoples work that they never ever met in life... WAKE UP and stop giving your work away to strangers who owes you nothing.
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I think a lot of valid questions have been asked above me, with regards to what future scenarios could arise. However, for the moment, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. If the current models outgrows itself and management starts to make questionable decisions, I'll pull my files. I doubt they will be able to steal a significant amount of market share from SS or Pond5 in the near future.
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(...) for the moment, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
(...)If the current models outgrows itself and management starts to make questionable decisions, I'll pull my files.
(...) I doubt they will be able to steal a significant amount of market share from SS or Pond5 in the near future.
And this is exactly what I am talking about.
So, you are willing to take a risk on an agency that you recognize haven't answered valid questions in this topic and others (I would add vital questions) that could severely damage the market and endanger your portfolio, when you do not even believe they will have great relevance in the near future... Oooook...
Anyway, if in they do get a significant amount of market share and one of the worst scenarios arises, you believe that by then pulling out the portfolio will make a difference...
Let me tell you that I've seen tenths of boycotts and pulling of portfolios from several agencies. In some cases agencies being the target for these actions more than once. But not only they are still around and strong but the damage they've done endured to this day. Once a price has dropped, they will never go up.
And once an agency becomes very relevant to you your income, contrary to what you say, you will not pull your portfolio. Even if you do, 99% of the other contributors won't, making your action irrelevant. This is what I've been seeing since 2006 with the consequences we are facing today.
Video is still a very controlled market. Keep it that way supporting only agencies that leave you absolutely no doubt about their intentions, strategy and capacity to finance themselves without having to resort to dubious actions in order to survive.
The right side of this page is full of these cases. Almost all never got relevant but helped damage the photography market in senseless price wars, dilution of portfolio, and loosing of control of the artists portfolio.
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So, you are willing to take a risk on an agency that you recognize haven't answered valid questions in this topic and others (I would add vital questions) that could severely damage the market and endanger your portfolio, when you do not even believe they will have great relevance in the near future....
Video is still a very controlled market. Keep it that way supporting only agencies that leave you absolutely no doubt about their intentions, strategy and capacity to finance themselves without having to resort to dubious actions in order to survive.
Hmm...
Polite reminder that those agencies were once beginners too!
Sadly there seems to be a trend going around Top and Mid tier agencies not to answer any question.
Nothing wrong to give new folks a chance.
Time will tell! :)
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Video is still a very controlled market. Keep it that way supporting only agencies that leave you absolutely no doubt about their intentions, strategy and capacity to finance themselves without having to resort to dubious actions in order to survive.
Hmm...
Polite reminder that those agencies were once beginners too!
Nothing wrong to give new folks a chance.
Time will tell!
I know that, and on limited cases I've supported new agencies just to find out the disaster I got into. In the right side of this page many agencies got great support from contributors from the start and where are they now? The only relative newcomer that got up on that list is Depositphotos and we all know what's been happening with them, where contributors get 3% commission on some deals..
Every time they are talked about now in this forum it's about very worrying things, like non-payments, no answer to mails, inability to delete portfolios, lack of control over partners, etc, etc, etc.
But in Videoblocks case, contrary to most new agencies there's a huge, REALLY HUGE, doubt about their business model and sustainability right from the start.
As I said, I am interested to submit to Videoblocks but this is a business and I don't want to jeopardize the market and my portfolio by supporting an agency that is yet to respond to many valid and critical questions on different topics.
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(...) for the moment, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
(...)If the current models outgrows itself and management starts to make questionable decisions, I'll pull my files.
(...) I doubt they will be able to steal a significant amount of market share from SS or Pond5 in the near future.
And this is exactly what I am talking about.
So, you are willing to take a risk on an agency that you recognize haven't answered valid questions in this topic and others (I would add vital questions) that could severely damage the market and endanger your portfolio, when you do not even believe they will have great relevance in the near future... Oooook...
Anyway, if in they do get a significant amount of market share and one of the worst scenarios arises, you believe that by then pulling out the portfolio will make a difference...
Let me tell you that I've seen tenths of boycotts and pulling of portfolios from several agencies. In some cases agencies being the target for these actions more than once. But not only they are still around and strong but the damage they've done endured to this day. Once a price has dropped, they will never go up.
And once an agency becomes very relevant to you your income, contrary to what you say, you will not pull your portfolio. Even if you do, 99% of the other contributors won't, making your action irrelevant. This is what I've been seeing since 2006 with the consequences we are facing today.
Video is still a very controlled market. Keep it that way supporting only agencies that leave you absolutely no doubt about their intentions, strategy and capacity to finance themselves without having to resort to dubious actions in order to survive.
The right side of this page is full of these cases. Almost all never got relevant but helped damage the photography market in senseless price wars, dilution of portfolio, and loosing of control of the artists portfolio.
I don't know why there is so much negativity. It's fair to say the average price of a video on Pond5 is around $50 but we certainly don't get all of that...so to get the full sale price of $49 is an attractive proposition. I think some people are missing the point that VideoBlocks may actually be trying to do something constructive for the contributors with a different concept.
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I don't know why there is so much negativity. It's fair to say the average price of a video on Pond5 is around $50 but we certainly don't get all of that...so to get the full sale price of $49 is an attractive proposition. I think some people are missing the point that VideoBlocks may actually be trying to do something constructive for the contributors with a different concept.
I don't think anyone is missing the point that VB may trying to do something constructive. Just like the tenths of previous attempts you see on the right side. But after 9 years in this business (to me is my sole source of income) I just don't run after every carrot put in front of my nose without thinking in the future.
All I need is an answer from VB regarding their business model and the long term sustainability, because I cannot see it.
If in the future they end up taking 50% of that $49, which I do know is on par with the average sale on P5, all it proves is that the current 100% offer is the mentioned carrot.
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I don't know why there is so much negativity. It's fair to say the average price of a video on Pond5 is around $50 but we certainly don't get all of that...so to get the full sale price of $49 is an attractive proposition. I think some people are missing the point that VideoBlocks may actually be trying to do something constructive for the contributors with a different concept.
If you go back and read all the recent VB threads here including this one from the beginning you will come to the (sad) conclusion that this "different concept" has never been described or proposed officially.It is wishful thinking from our part and nothing else,and i cant blame us.
It is something that we all hope it exists and actually someone or some people with that frame of mind actually said that major internet personas such as neumann wouldnt be crazy to upload there as well and that the VB model reminded them of the walmart model or something
and of course VB spokesman came in at just about the right time and said in his deep sensous voive "yes, bingo, thats pretty much it kiddo" and we all lost it and went to upload our stuff there.
Well then sorry for sounding negative but this is almost way too surreal to take seriously so i will sound like a comedian then (a mediocre one).
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I don't know why there is so much negativity. It's fair to say the average price of a video on Pond5 is around $50 but we certainly don't get all of that...so to get the full sale price of $49 is an attractive proposition. I think some people are missing the point that VideoBlocks may actually be trying to do something constructive for the contributors with a different concept.
If you go back and read all the recent VB threads here including this one from the beginning you will come to the (sad) conclusion that this "different concept" has never been described or proposed officially.It is wishful thinking from our part and nothing else,and i cant blame us.
It is something that we all hope it exists and actually someone or some people with that frame of mind actually said that major internet personas such as neumann wouldnt be crazy to upload there as well and that the VB model reminded them of the walmart model or something
and of course VB spokesman came in at just about the right time and said in his deep sensous voive "yes, bingo, thats pretty much it kiddo" and we all lost it and went to upload our stuff there.
Well then sorry for sounding negative but this is almost way too surreal to take seriously so i will sound like a comedian then (a mediocre one).
At the risk of sounding simplistic...if they have to charge a commission on sales in the end, we're not going to be worse off than we are with any other agency.
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Hmm...
Polite reminder that those agencies were once beginners too!
Sadly there seems to be a trend going around Top and Mid tier agencies not to answer any question.
Nothing wrong to give new folks a chance.
Time will tell! :)
VB is not a beginner though.
They have been around for years,they just operate in a different business model,they hire people to create content to which they have exclusive rights to sell in bulk or per download.
Nothing wrong with that,its just that now they try to steal a piece of the shrinking pie of the other stock agencies (again nothing wrong with that) ,but they havent proposed a model for doing that,that makes sense for THEM.
They will pay contributors full commission,but thats impossible financially and ethically (i dont trust anyone in this business,economy,and universe, who wants to make money from my work ESPECIALLY when he proposes a win-win scenario)
How will they cover expenses if suddenly 2 million files find their way there in 6 months time?Do we know anything about them?Can they expand to cover this amount of work?
Apparently no because these things dont make sense,and thats why i believe that their major concern is to "steal" traffic from ss and p5 and the rest.
After all the 3 major producers of video someone posted earlier have uploaded 25-30% of the total clips on the marketplace.Thats major traffic by itself.
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At the risk of sounding simplistic...if they have to charge a commission on sales in the end, we're not going to be worse off than we are with any other agency.
Too many "if's" though.Lets just all zoom out a bit and look at the big picture.Are we suddenly already wishing/waiting for a soft backlash?
I wish they had said from the start that they would give us 50%commission.I would alreeady have uploaded everything i have.
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(...) for the moment, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
(...)If the current models outgrows itself and management starts to make questionable decisions, I'll pull my files.
(...) I doubt they will be able to steal a significant amount of market share from SS or Pond5 in the near future.
And this is exactly what I am talking about.
So, you are willing to take a risk on an agency that you recognize haven't answered valid questions in this topic and others (I would add vital questions) that could severely damage the market and endanger your portfolio, when you do not even believe they will have great relevance in the near future... Oooook...
Of course we'll have to monitor it closely to make sure that we won't be trapped, but so far they have been very open and they have answered most, if not all questions. (Except for the ones above, but let's be patient.)
Anyway, if in they do get a significant amount of market share and one of the worst scenarios arises, you believe that by then pulling out the portfolio will make a difference...
Let me tell you that I've seen tenths of boycotts and pulling of portfolios from several agencies. In some cases agencies being the target for these actions more than once. But not only they are still around and strong but the damage they've done endured to this day. Once a price has dropped, they will never go up.
Let me ask you a question: do you believe DPC (which I consider ten times more dangerous than any future scheme VideoBlocks might conceive) has destroyed the stock market after everyone pulled their port/opted out? Personally, I think not.
And once an agency becomes very relevant to you your income, contrary to what you say, you will not pull your portfolio. Even if you do, 99% of the other contributors won't, making your action irrelevant. This is what I've been seeing since 2006 with the consequences we are facing today.
True, once the income becomes relevant, it will be a decision based on money as well. But for now it's hard to predict what will happen. Any agency might at some point in the future do something you won't like, but does that keep you from submitting? Who would've thought 5 years ago that iStock would eff up so badly today? There's no way you could have known. Perhaps VideoBlocks will make a change 2 years from now that shakes up the microstock world, perhaps not. It's pure speculation.
Video is still a very controlled market. Keep it that way supporting only agencies that leave you absolutely no doubt about their intentions, strategy and capacity to finance themselves without having to resort to dubious actions in order to survive.
The right side of this page is full of these cases. Almost all never got relevant but helped damage the photography market in senseless price wars, dilution of portfolio, and loosing of control of the artists portfolio.
I don't blindly trust agencies and I'll be wary of any decision they make, even Shutterstock and Pond5 aren't sacred in my book.
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At the risk of sounding simplistic...if they have to charge a commission on sales in the end, we're not going to be worse off than we are with any other agency.
But that's exactly the question. What commission will they charge?
You are being optimistic (even naive?) to think that they will take 50% just like P5. But you cannot find anything, anywhere, where that is said.
The only thing we have until now is that they will give you 100% commission. And that is in fact not sustainable in the current mold unless they have something up their sleeve. Or if they haven't themselves thought this through! :o.
What if later they claim that things got unsustainable, and like IS did in the recent past, take a 85% commission leaving you with 15%?
Not only it demonstrates that you're focusing your eyes on the carrot 10 inches in front of your nose, and not paying attention to the abyss a mile ahead that may cross your path, you're even choosing to believe in something that has never been stated by anyone from VB at any time.
It's you who's assuming that the cut or deal they'll eventually make will leave you at the same level that SS or P5. And if they grow by shrinking SS and P5 quota you'd still be losing because you would have an extra agency to upload, and another bunch of people to solve problems when they arise. Time is also money.
Not to mention a possible price war.
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I don't know why there is so much negativity. It's fair to say the average price of a video on Pond5 is around $50 but we certainly don't get all of that...so to get the full sale price of $49 is an attractive proposition. I think some people are missing the point that VideoBlocks may actually be trying to do something constructive for the contributors with a different concept.
I don't think anyone is missing the point that VB may trying to do something constructive. Just like the tenths of previous attempts you see on the right side. But after 9 years in this business (to me is my sole source of income) I just don't run after every carrot put in front of my nose without thinking in the future.
All I need is an answer from VB regarding their business model and the long term sustainability, because I cannot see it.
If in the future they end up taking 50% of that $49, which I do know is on par with the average sale on P5, all it proves is that the current 100% offer is the mentioned carrot.
Even if they would, and the commission would then be on par with Pond5/SS, as long as they make sales, I don't see the problem. For me, it doesn't matter whether the sale is from SS, Pond5 or VB, the only thing that matters it that the best selling agency gives me better RPD than others.
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Simply it's a win-win-win situation. VideoBlocks want to increase their paid subscribers who can download their own footages unlimited and also can purchase our footage at discount from other sites, we the contributors make more money per clip, and customers can buy the same clips at discount from other sites after they pay subscription fee. Plain and simple, win-win-win.
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And if the other agencies lower the price without increasing our royalty rate, we'll delete our clips from those sites, just like we said bye bye to iStock.
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@ Noedelhap
DPC was just another nail in the coffin. The real damage has been made years before through countless price wars, and people submitting to every suspicious agency that right from the start didn't give any kind of guarantee.
Currently, paying $1 or $10 is absolutely irrelevant for most designers if the service provided by a more expensive agency is better.
I also don't blindly trust any agency. Not even with two open eyes and ten cups of coffee drank. But it's by far easier to control the behavior of a couple agencies than a dozen.
As I said before, I have no problem with VB and would like to submit to them. I'm just having difficulty to see a future in this. And if even when an agency promises something we get crossed at the first opportunity, imagine what could happen when an agency doesn't clarify things right from the start!
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Simply it's a win-win-win situation. VideoBlocks want to increase their paid subscribers who can download their own footages unlimited and also can purchase our footage at discount from other sites, we the contributors make more money per clip, and customers can buy the same clips at discount from other sites after they pay subscription fee. Plain and simple, win-win-win.
That is an extremely simplistic statement and wishful thinking. Please re-read my initial message.
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I don't know why there is so much negativity. It's fair to say the average price of a video on Pond5 is around $50 but we certainly don't get all of that...so to get the full sale price of $49 is an attractive proposition. I think some people are missing the point that VideoBlocks may actually be trying to do something constructive for the contributors with a different concept.
I don't think anyone is missing the point that VB may trying to do something constructive. Just like the tenths of previous attempts you see on the right side. But after 9 years in this business (to me is my sole source of income) I just don't run after every carrot put in front of my nose without thinking in the future.
All I need is an answer from VB regarding their business model and the long term sustainability, because I cannot see it.
If in the future they end up taking 50% of that $49, which I do know is on par with the average sale on P5, all it proves is that the current 100% offer is the mentioned carrot.
Even if they would, and the commission would then be on par with Pond5/SS, as long as they make sales, I don't see the problem. For me, it doesn't matter whether the sale is from SS, Pond5 or VB, the only thing that matters it that the best selling agency gives me better RPD than others.
You're missing the point. To me its what they do to pricing. Pricing is what will affect a competitive response from other agencies, who by the way charge today 50-70% more than VB. To me that's the real risk. Once SS or P5 are forced to respond, we ALL lose, thanks to VB.....now this is of course contingent on gaining enough market share to force these responses. But, assume that SS has to lower their prices to $49. What does that do to our commission? makes it like $14 instead of $23.
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Maybe I'm missing the point too I don't know but If I do a search on pond5 there are 1000's of clips for sale for $5. what? $5 people.... OK most of them are large web size but there are still 1000's of clips with amazing concepts and skill for sale at HD res for $10. This is a major problem to cause a price war in the future. I bet people on P5 have to compete with each other on site so lowering the price to stupid levels....
Also with VB they will charge a $1.84 processing fee for HD and $7.46 for 4K. This can add up to a large daily sum. Maybe enough for them to be happy with and to keep the site above water. $49 seems to be pretty fair I think especially if the commission stays above %50. I think it's shutterstock who should up their own commission rates?
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I don't blindly trust agencies and I'll be wary of any decision they make, even Shutterstock and Pond5 aren't sacred in my book.[/b]
+1000
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I got my 1st sale today! Anyone else? :)
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I got my 1st sale today! Anyone else? :)
Congrats!
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Me to but -30% for US tax >:(
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Me to but -30% for US tax >:(
Wow, but still got $33 for 1080P clip!
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Me to but -30% for US tax >:(
:D Same, but nothing you can do about it, move on lol
I got my 1st sale today! Anyone else? :)
Congrats!
Thanks
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VentureBeat weighs in with a great review of the new VideoBlocks marketplace where contributors keep 100% of the profit.
http://venturebeat.com/2015/04/13/videoblocks-stock-video-marketplace-is-now-open-to-the-public-and-creators-keep-100-of-the-proceeds/ (http://venturebeat.com/2015/04/13/videoblocks-stock-video-marketplace-is-now-open-to-the-public-and-creators-keep-100-of-the-proceeds/)
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Actually there is another Idea behind it.
As in 2014, I was negotiation with them about them buying out my clips, for their unlimited use. That's their old way of working. We couldn't make the right agreements for both parties, as they were not sure if it will sell well enough for them, so the deal didn't get though.. But! By enabling all contributors to come, sell, get profit on their work and most importantly for VB - track how our clips are performing, this can enable them to select specific parts of our portfolios for buy out offers. And this really is win-win-win situation for them, their customers and us.
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Actually there is another Idea behind it.
As in 2014, I was negotiation with them about them buying out my clips, for their unlimited use. That's their old way of working. We couldn't make the right agreements for both parties, as they were not sure if it will sell well enough for them, so the deal didn't get though.. But! By enabling all contributors to come, sell, get profit on their work and most importantly for VB - track how our clips are performing, this can enable them to select specific parts of our portfolios for buy out offers. And this really is win-win-win situation for them, their customers and us.
That, I can understand and make some sense.
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New marketplace with ready buyer base is so sweet :) got my 2nd sale today, I really dont mind 1 sale a day ;D bring it on lol
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Excuse me, are you joking? 100,000 new images a week, RF always XXL, Downloads that never expire! $1 downloads and you say this?
Let me ask you a question: do you believe DPC (which I consider ten times more dangerous than any future scheme VideoBlocks might conceive) has destroyed the stock market after everyone pulled their port/opted out? Personally, I think not.
DPC allowed 500,000 use per image. SS followed to match competition and raised theirs from 250,000 impressions.
I will point out some humor in the situation: "Keep in mind that Dollar Photo Club is a members-only club with a limited membership. Membership is limited to ensure DPC is able to provide the best service to the most passionate stock image users. Interested parties must submit an application to the Dollar Photo Club Review Committee. After the application is received, a review is conducted and a determination is made."
Limited membership, really? Has anyone ever been refused? So I'd guess it's only limited to people who ask? :)
Their website from time to time says this - "Over 33 million professional high quality royalty free stock photos - invitation only..." (which really says - If you can read these words, you are invited.) >:(
What am I saying? Please don't support new agencies with vague or impossible promises, we don't need more market dilution and more people draining every drop of blood (income) out of every image, for pennies.
We don't need more or new agencies, we need less. And for people to only support those that are honest and open about how and who they sell to. If you aren't making money and a reasonable market percentage, dump the chumps! They are bleeding the market dry, at the artists expense.
Bailing out water, and admitting the ship has holes, isn't going to do as much as fixing the leaks, before it sinks! Plug the holes. That would be stop supporting the little irrelevant agencies. Don't encourage new entries by diluting your earnings and the value of your work. And drop any agency that's got invisible partners or runs their own cheap sub agencies on the side.
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Like all of these new entrants, they offer good terms to start with, knowing fully that they have a clause in their contracts that says:
"This Agreement is subject to change by us in our sole discretion at any time. "
When they change their pricing or commission structure, they also know that very few contributors will pull their content. What it 100% of $49 now will almost certainly change to a lower percentage of a lower $$ figure in the future.
For those earning a living from licensing content, it also makes no sense to offer your content to a site that makes most of its money through a model where contributors only get paid once - the really cheap subs model from their own content.
If you don't think the other agencies have responded, take another look at what SS is doing with video on Bigstock. Its exactly the same model.
Having more agencies in this market doesn't help contributors - the opposite has proven to be true.
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And I should have included, I am against the Me Too Agencies. Places like Stocksy or Canva and I'm sure there are others, have a new idea, or are doing something different, they deserve the respect and opportunity to succeed and open new markets or methods.
The ones that just have the same basic blueprint, sell for less, pay us less or make artists empty promises that they won't and can't keep? Ignore them and maybe they will go away? :(
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Excuse me, are you joking? 100,000 new images a week, RF always XXL, Downloads that never expire! $1 downloads and you say this?
Let me ask you a question: do you believe DPC (which I consider ten times more dangerous than any future scheme VideoBlocks might conceive) has destroyed the stock market after everyone pulled their port/opted out? Personally, I think not.
DPC allowed 500,000 use per image. SS followed to match competition and raised theirs from 250,000 impressions.
I will point out some humor in the situation: "Keep in mind that Dollar Photo Club is a members-only club with a limited membership. Membership is limited to ensure DPC is able to provide the best service to the most passionate stock image users. Interested parties must submit an application to the Dollar Photo Club Review Committee. After the application is received, a review is conducted and a determination is made."
Limited membership, really? Has anyone ever been refused? So I'd guess it's only limited to people who ask? :)
Their website from time to time says this - "Over 33 million professional high quality royalty free stock photos - invitation only..." (which really says - If you can read these words, you are invited.) >:(
What am I saying? Please don't support new agencies with vague or impossible promises, we don't need more market dilution and more people draining every drop of blood (income) out of every image, for pennies.
We don't need more or new agencies, we need less. And for people to only support those that are honest and open about how and who they sell to. If you aren't making money and a reasonable market percentage, dump the chumps! They are bleeding the market dry, at the artists expense.
Bailing out water, and admitting the ship has holes, isn't going to do as much as fixing the leaks, before it sinks! Plug the holes. That would be stop supporting the little irrelevant agencies. Don't encourage new entries by diluting your earnings and the value of your work. And drop any agency that's got invisible partners or runs their own cheap sub agencies on the side.
So, those major stock video producers are making a big mistake?
http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/Wavebreak+Media (http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/Wavebreak+Media)
http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/hotelfoxtrot (http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/hotelfoxtrot)
http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/dubassy (http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/dubassy)
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Im not the right person to answer the question above, but i suspect that these 3 are the peope with the less to lose in this game (if any) .
In a different tone im very happy for the people that sold clips there so fast,and i wish them to prove me wrong.
I truthfully,sincerely, hope so.
After all i just voice an opinion in a public forum and that opinion needs public criticism,meaning that the people who contribute there have a moral obligation to
inform us all about the bad, AND the good.
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What do they care? Could have a paid up front guaranteed contract? A major producer who works on huge volume, no concerns about where. You bait the trap with fresh cheese...
I think if they get people to contribute for 100% and it brings in many more new buyers for their agency owned material, everyone wins.
I'm just skeptical of someone making big promises, and 100% commissions, at this stage.
So, those major stock video producers are making a big mistake?
[url]http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/Wavebreak+Media[/url] ([url]http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/Wavebreak+Media[/url])
[url]http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/hotelfoxtrot[/url] ([url]http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/hotelfoxtrot[/url])
[url]http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/dubassy[/url] ([url]http://www.videoblocks.com/portfolio/dubassy[/url])
New sites that offer something different than the same old, Microstock RF license, are a better choice for individuals.
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It's a Costco model.
http://techcrunch.com/2015/04/13/videoblocks-expands-its-all-you-can-eat-stock-video-service-with-video-marketplace/ (http://techcrunch.com/2015/04/13/videoblocks-expands-its-all-you-can-eat-stock-video-service-with-video-marketplace/)
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I see many wondering who will want to buy a subscription when the marketplace has XX,000,000 files. I can tell you exactly who will. People like me that have clients with VERY limited budgets and people that also want access to After Effects templates, audio tracks, and backgrounds.
As a contributor it's easy to focus only on the aspect of their subscription offering that you produce, but that's not all that they offer.
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Just had my first sales there. Keep it coming!!
While some of you keep complaining or being suspicious, we just make money!!
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Just had my first sales there. Keep it coming!!
While some of you keep complaining or being suspicious, we just make money!!
Bravo!
GO VideoBlocks! 8)
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Congrats! In all the years I've been a contributor I must say that it's great to see a 100% commission paid out. Is this business model sustainable for both VB and the contributor in the long run? I've no idea but it was still good to see :)
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Just had my first sales there. Keep it coming!!
While some of you keep complaining or being suspicious, we just make money!!
Bravo!
GO VideoBlocks! 8)
Thanks!
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Congrats! In all the years I've been a contributor I must say that it's great to see a 100% commission paid out. Is this business model sustainable for both VB and the contributor in the long run? I've no idea but it was still good to see :)
Thank you!!
Yes, I fell like, why not give it a chance?
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Ok, this would be the last time I show-off my download, I'm happy with VB performance so far.
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Ok, this would be the last time I show-off my download, I'm happy with VB performance so far.
Why are they withholding tax? Are you in the USA? I have a few test files there and also had a sale. They took out taxes even though I submitted my W9.
Congrats on the sales.
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Ok, this would be the last time I show-off my download, I'm happy with VB performance so far.
You are loaded. Congrats!
I think you are one of those big major producers.
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had my first sale as well.
However, taxes have indeed been withheld even though I submitted my tax form. I have sent an e-mail to support because no way I'm going to pay taxes if I don't have to.
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had my first sale as well.
However, taxes have indeed been withheld even though I submitted my tax form. I have sent an e-mail to support because no way I'm going to pay taxes if I don't have to.
Completely agree.
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Sorry for the delay here guys; been a really busy couple of weeks.
The general question/concern that seems to percolate through this thread is, how is our model sustainable? It's a fair question. We've always been a purely subscription-based business, so we've always been fully supported by our membership fees. The marketplace cost us the time to build it, and a little bit of storage/data space (though most of that was already in place), but that's about it. Since we have been and always will be supported by our membership fees, we don't need to take a cut on sales from our marketplace, which is an added component of a buyer's membership. And if we don't need to take a cut, then we have the unique opportunity to give you as the artists 100% of the commission.
We knew there would be some natural skepticism when we announced 100% commission, and we also knew that if we were to make any change in the future, the only way the commission could have logically gone was down. So we made sure our model was fully sustainable before building it. We won't ever lower the commission rate, and the ball will always be in our court to uphold that.
Addressing the more recent questions about tax withholdings: this is a bug. We're storing payments correctly, they're just not being displayed properly on your earnings tables. Our developer in charge of this functionality is on a much-needed vacation for a few days, but this should be cleaned up before the end of the week. Sorry for the confusion!
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I haven't jumped into this one yet. Their business model seems illogical to me.
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2 more sales today. Already more video sales revenue than at Fotolia this month!! Keep it coming!
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2 more sales today. Already more video sales revenue than at Fotolia this month!! Keep it coming!
I am glad you guys get sales.If this keeps up maybe us non believers will jump ship eventually.
But for the time being i've decided -and thats something propably only my shrink can explain-
to continue my uploads at dissolve (yeah i know) and clipcanvas.Yes, clipcanvas,despite the fact that they have sold nothing for me in 6 months.
Denial perhaps?
Anyway....
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I wonder what I'm doing wrong. I UL'd the top-performing 20% of my port (which means only about 100 files, granted, but the ones that have sold the best) -- and I've yet to get a single sale. :'( Maybe if I UL the other 80% ...?
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Addressing the more recent questions about tax withholdings: this is a bug. We're storing payments correctly, they're just not being displayed properly on your earnings tables. Our developer in charge of this functionality is on a much-needed vacation for a few days, but this should be cleaned up before the end of the week. Sorry for the confusion!
Good to hear. I just noticed the tax amount has been removed and I'll receive the full sum.
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2 more sales today. Already more video sales revenue than at Fotolia this month!! Keep it coming!
I am glad you guys get sales.If this keeps up maybe us non believers will jump ship eventually.
But for the time being i've decided -and thats something propably only my shrink can explain-
to continue my uploads at dissolve (yeah i know) and clipcanvas.Yes, clipcanvas,despite the fact that they have sold nothing for me in 6 months.
Denial perhaps?
Anyway....
No worries. It's good not to have everybody uploading to VideoBlocks. Less competition = more sales for us!!
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I decided to give them a go and started uploading video today. If the business model works out all for the better. Wish them success!
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I think everybody will be jumping in when they hear about prompt payment made on 5/15. There will be a stampede at the gate!!
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2 more sales today. Already more video sales revenue than at Fotolia this month!! Keep it coming!
I am glad you guys get sales.If this keeps up maybe us non believers will jump ship eventually.
But for the time being i've decided -and thats something propably only my shrink can explain-
to continue my uploads at dissolve (yeah i know) and clipcanvas.Yes, clipcanvas,despite the fact that they have sold nothing for me in 6 months.
Denial perhaps?
Anyway....
No worries. It's good not to have everybody uploading to VideoBlocks. Less competition = more sales for us!!
No need to be vitriolic.After all the sales you make at vb you (propably) lose from somewhere else and i wish in the long run that doesn't come back to bite us in the ass.
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2 more sales today. Already more video sales revenue than at Fotolia this month!! Keep it coming!
I am glad you guys get sales.If this keeps up maybe us non believers will jump ship eventually.
But for the time being i've decided -and thats something propably only my shrink can explain-
to continue my uploads at dissolve (yeah i know) and clipcanvas.Yes, clipcanvas,despite the fact that they have sold nothing for me in 6 months.
Denial perhaps?
Anyway....
No worries. It's good not to have everybody uploading to VideoBlocks. Less competition = more sales for us!!
No need to be vitriolic.After all the sales you make at vb you (propably) lose from somewhere else and i wish in the long run that doesn't come back to bite us in the ass.
I had the same concern and skepticism as everybody here still have. I think it'll all come down to how much you get from a single sale. If a site sells your clip for $80 but only give you less than $25, it's better of making $47 for the single sale despite it was sold for much less for $49 vs $80. So, I'm waiting to see the payment will be made promptly as promised on 5/15 to my paypal account. It'll be all good after that.
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Why are the supporters of this agency so adamant to prove to everybody they get sales and to get everyone to submit to them? Why the risk to delude your own sales?
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Why are the supporters of this agency so adamant to prove to everybody they get sales and to get everyone to submit to them? Why the risk to delude your own sales?
Good point. I actually don't want more people uploading there.
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...and they are mobile friendly too 8)
https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.videoblocks.com%2F (https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.videoblocks.com%2F)
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I sold another clip today, but all 4 clips I sold so far are the clips I've never sold on other sites. That's interesting!
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VideoBlocks is quickly becoming my 3rd best selling site after P5 and SS. Only question is how soon will it catch up to the level of P5 and SS.
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VideoBlocks is quickly becoming my 3rd best selling site after P5 and SS. Only question is how soon will it catch up to the level of P5 and SS.
Keep it up, soon your sales will be diluted with all the promotion you are doing. Because of you I joined them, so there you go ;) (not that my content will compete directly with yours, but its another 60 videos competing for sales.)
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VideoBlocks is quickly becoming my 3rd best selling site after P5 and SS. Only question is how soon will it catch up to the level of P5 and SS.
Keep it up, soon your sales will be diluted with all the promotion you are doing. Because of you I joined them, so there you go ;) (not that my content will compete directly with yours, but its another 60 videos competing for sales.)
We all win together as the creator of the content!!
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I sold another clip today, but all 4 clips I sold so far are the clips I've never sold on other sites. That's interesting!
Not creating conspiracy theories here, but I recall a site (I don't remember their name...they're no longer around) where in their marketing budget they purchased a bunch of videos to from contributors to "bait" them to submit more and encourage others. Not a bad idea, really, but it does send a false positive for which people expend effort for facade demand. I also had a sale, but no more since the one sold right after they opened. Just wondering if they are doing the same and balancing what they buy from contributors based on their port size.
I hope this isn't the case. I only uploaded some of my files to test the site. I am not uploading any more until I feel more confident about their success.
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Gotta jump in on that one Mantis: absolutely not. All sales earned are from real buyers.
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Gotta jump in on that one Mantis: absolutely not. All sales earned are from real buyers.
I plussed you. It's just that it has happened before but glad to hear that's not the case. Thanks for clarifying.
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Zero sales in the last 10 days. How is your sales there?
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Only two since it opened
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You realize it's been open for like only a month right?
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You realize it's been open for like only a month right?
Yes. So to me 2 is good, since on REVO I have had 2 in a year.
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How the taging and keywording process look here. Can you engine see keywords directly from video file? Or i need one by one copy paste keywords?
Or maybe i can upload video files with same name jpegs withs all info.
Regards, GooDween
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Hey GooDween, metadata can be applied on VideoBlocks in three ways:
1. Type the title and keywords for each clip in your account (you can copy and paste, too).
2. Upload a CSV file. (You can even upload a CSV formatted for Shutterstock or Pond5!)
3. IPTC metadata is automatically applied.
Hope that helps!
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Hey GooDween, metadata can be applied on VideoBlocks in three ways:
1. Type the title and keywords for each clip in your account (you can copy and paste, too).
2. Upload a CSV file. (You can even upload a CSV formatted for Shutterstock or Pond5!)
3. IPTC metadata is automatically applied.
Hope that helps!
FAR best method for me. I find that auto apply only works for some of the fields. And if I apply metadata in FCPX vs. Adobe Bridge it behaves differently. In my opinion auto populate is not yet perfected, and since I keep a master Excel file for my keywords anyway uploading CSV is simply the least amount of hassle for me at this time.
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When looking at my Finance page, it says this below 'Purchase date':
undefined 0NaN
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Hello Zach..
I've registered as a contributor, I can't find any info about editorial shots: accepted? and if accepted: any special caption required?
thanks in advance