Buyers had no problem paying $79/HD just 3 years ago.  I know in any business, a bulk sellers get better deal from suppliers as in Walmart and Costco, but not like in extreme of video sub sales on Shutterstock, AdobeStock etc.  It would be insane to do that in any other retail industry.  If we the creators decide to un-publish videos on Shutterstock and delete all videos on AdobeStock and go Pond5 Exclusive, Pond5 will be the only stock video site with massive collections for buyers.  If you are making pennies now on Shutterstock and AdobeStock video sales, what are you got to lose by going Pond5 Exclusive for a year and see what happens.  You can turn on your video portfolio on Shutterstock instantly if it doesn't work.  And you can re-upload your best selling clips on AdobeStock again.  Re-imagine for a better world for us stock video creators!!

Pond5 tried that when they first launched the exclusive program.

The early requirements for being exclusive there was to totally remove videos from all other agencies. I was taken aback when they invited me and told me that.  I just couldn't do it.

Then I heard a few big guys were involved.  I mean, the big guys, and I was shocked.  They were even on-camera in the official Pond5 testimonial videos promoting the exclusive program. 

My jaw was on the floor when I watched these testimonials.  These portfolios are going to be gone from all agencies except Pond5?  Wow.  That's big.

But then Pond5 back-tracked and revised their requirements.  They now said they would allow a second exclusive account on Pond5 and videos there had to be exclusive to Pond5.  Users would be permitted to keep their other Pond5 account(s) and let them keep those videos on other agencies.

Well, that's where things failed.  I gather Pond5 got a lot of flack from these big producers realizing the income lost if their clips were removed everywhere.  That's too big of a gamble.  So, Pond5 changed the rules.

Now, if things went as planned from the get go, we'd be in a different place now.  But, it didn't go that way.

In theory, Pond5 exclusivity was a sound business model.   In practice, it didn't work out. 

So I feel exclusivity at this point is a pipe dream.

Eventually pond5 and ss will merge.

What will happen then?

Customers want a one stop shop with the same price for everything.

Maybe a year, maybe 3 years, but it is coming.

Or did ss put out a statement protecting the current p5 system for at least 10 years? Or 5? Or 1?

If SS puts out a legally binding statement, I would agree that having a lot of exclusive content at 60% is a good idea.

But p5 is now SS, so what will the new owners do?

Adding a link to pond5 is in principle a good thing, but obviously customers will want to use their ss plans to download freely on p5.

eta

Do you see p5 heavily promoting their exclusive plan with 60% royalty?

If they wanted to dominate the market, they would very heavily promote that. Also put out legally binding statements, that this will not change.

But I don�t see them doing that.

You are promoting a vision the company it self is not promoting.

Quote from: cobalt on July 20, 2023, 01:01

Eventually pond5 and ss will merge.

What will happen then?

Customers want a one stop shop with the same price for everything.

Maybe a year, maybe 3 years, but it is coming.

Or did ss put out a statement protecting the current p5 system for at least 10 years? Or 5? Or 1?

If SS puts out a legally binding statement, I would agree that having a lot of exclusive content at 60% is a good idea.

But p5 is now SS, so what will the new owners do?

Adding a link to pond5 is in principle a good thing, but obviously customers will want to use their ss plans to download freely on p5.

eta

Do you see p5 heavily promoting their exclusive plan with 60% royalty?

If they wanted to dominate the market, they would very heavily promote that. Also put out legally binding statements, that this will not change.

But I don�t see them doing that.

You are promoting a vision the company it self is not promoting.

Pond5 actually is promoting contributors to become Exclusive.
https://www.pond5.com/sell-stock-footage

You have very little experience selling on Pond5 and also selling stock videos.  So, I don't take your opinion seriously to be honest in regard to stock videos.

I don't think Shutterstock will just make Pond5 into Shutterstock.  I think Shutterstock will keep Pond5's own business model as it is.  Having 2 totally different business model generating revenue is their strength.

Perhaps it makes more sense to look at what SS did to Bigstock and SS as a likely future for P5 rather than hoping they will do what you think would be best.

On Pond5, I often have sales for $2-$4. Do exclusive authors have no such sales?

Yes, those are I think limited use enterprise license sale or whatever it is I see here and there sometimes.  But I still get about $60 royalty per clip sale on average.  That's way higher than Shutterstock or AdobeStock.  So, I'm happy going all Pond5 Exclusive so far.

Seriously, why not use your personal contacts at p5 or SS management to get them to put out an interview with a clear strategy confirming the 60% royalty and free choice of pricing for the next 5 years at least.

Lots of people would like to know if adding exclusive content to p5 is a reliable thing to do.

How are they planning to promote exclusive content? What other benefits are they planning for their exclusive producers?

I like p5. I wish they had not sold themselves to the company that so many producers literally ran away from.

But here we are.

But since p5 allows two ports and nobody is fully artist exclusive it is for now an interesting add on.

My last sale on P5 Exclusive is on December 2022 nothing in 2023 but in 2023 I have for same period on P5 ,,normal,, 7 downloads

Yes, my P5 exclusive sales are very low compared to my non-exclusive account, despite that I have unique editorial clips that were selling very well on SS.

Pond5 has really died down again for me this month. I wouldn't ever go exclusive with them. Also who's to say that Shutterstock can't deliver big(ger) sales? Yes there are lots of low sales which are quite pathetic but there are lot of higher sales too and overall the site performs a lot better for me than the others (namely Pond5, Adobe Stock, iStock). The attached daily video sales was just from yesterday, admittedly my best daily earnings for this year to date, but a whole lot better than the other sites even before I had these sales.

Good for you.  Whatever works for you.  But on average, video contributors are reporting sales have gone down to 1/4 or less from before video sub was introduced on Shutterstock.  I sell my HD videos for $89 on Pond5 currently.  So, I get $50 or so on regular HD sales and over $100 on 4k sales in which I price at $199.  So, I don't want to give potential buyers an option to shop around and buy on Shutterstock or Adobe Stock and result in me getting $3 instead of $50-$120.  Too much damage.  Just doesn't make sense anymore to sell on Shutterstock or AdobeStock video subs even if I get occasional regular price or premium license sales.  RPD on Shutterstock and Adobe Stock is ridiculously low now.  Not worth it.  Seeing those video sub sales report makes me only angry, disgusted and unhappy thinking I could've gotten more than 10x on Pond5.  It's really bad for my mental health.

Quote from: Pacesetter on July 20, 2023, 20:06

Pond5 has really died down again for me this month. I wouldn't ever go exclusive with them. Also who's to say that Shutterstock can't deliver big(ger) sales? Yes there are lots of low sales which are quite pathetic but there are lot of higher sales too and overall the site performs a lot better for me than the others (namely Pond5, Adobe Stock, iStock). The attached daily video sales was just from yesterday, admittedly my best daily earnings for this year to date, but a whole lot better than the other sites even before I had these sales.

Good for you.  Whatever works for you.  But on average, video contributors are reporting sales have gone down to 1/4 or less from before video sub was introduced on Shutterstock.  I sell my HD videos for $89 on Pond5 currently.  So, I get $50 or so on regular HD sales and over $100 on 4k sales in which I price at $199.  So, I don't want to give potential buyers an option to shop around and buy on Shutterstock or Adobe Stock and result in me getting $3 instead of $50-$120.  Too much damage.  Just doesn't make sense anymore even if I get occasional regular price or premium license sales.  RPD on Shutterstock and Adobe Stock is ridiculously low now.  Not worth it.  Seeing those video sub sales report makes me only angry, disgusted and unhappy thinking I could've gotten more than 10x on Pond5.  It's really bad for my mental health.

I just find Pond5 doesn't move enough content and generate enough sales, even if I was receiving 100% commission on sales. I've always said though and add here again, that I do like Pond5 and actually prioritize the platform when uploading video. Just wished they could sell more for mine.   

Quote from: blvdone on July 21, 2023, 11:22

Quote from: Pacesetter on July 20, 2023, 20:06

Pond5 has really died down again for me this month. I wouldn't ever go exclusive with them. Also who's to say that Shutterstock can't deliver big(ger) sales? Yes there are lots of low sales which are quite pathetic but there are lot of higher sales too and overall the site performs a lot better for me than the others (namely Pond5, Adobe Stock, iStock). The attached daily video sales was just from yesterday, admittedly my best daily earnings for this year to date, but a whole lot better than the other sites even before I had these sales.

Good for you.  Whatever works for you.  But on average, video contributors are reporting sales have gone down to 1/4 or less from before video sub was introduced on Shutterstock.  I sell my HD videos for $89 on Pond5 currently.  So, I get $50 or so on regular HD sales and over $100 on 4k sales in which I price at $199.  So, I don't want to give potential buyers an option to shop around and buy on Shutterstock or Adobe Stock and result in me getting $3 instead of $50-$120.  Too much damage.  Just doesn't make sense anymore to sell on Shutterstock or AdobeStock video subs even if I get occasional regular price or premium license sales.  RPD on Shutterstock and Adobe Stock is ridiculously low now.  Not worth it.  Seeing those video sub sales report makes me only angry, disgusted and unhappy thinking I could've gotten more than 10x on Pond5.  It's really bad for my mental health.

I do understand where you're coming from as some or even many of those commissions are pathetically low. But curious how are you going with sales on Pond5 exclusive account? Is this making up for the absence of sales from other platforms?

I explained that here.
https://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-video/adobe-stock-video-subscription-1-year-later-$12-vs-$31-revenue-per-clip-sale/

But recently having slow down in sales probably because of the writers' strike in Hollywood.  But I hope things will get better after strike ends.

24k port

300 regular sales at 50 dollars, 15k a month...I am sure many would consider this a very good workable income that allows fresh production and regular investments (models, staff...)

30 regular sales at 50 dollars, 1500 USD a month...not so sure, most people would expect more from a 24k port also does not allow investing in the business.

3 regular sales...

The thing is, producers are connected and if exclusivity was the easy way to a stable income that gives enough fresh money for regular production, then by now most high quality producers would be exclusive with pond5.

And we are back to the question, how long will SS allow the current 60% Xroyalty to exist.

And how long until the SS subscription plan includes pond5?

They paid 240 million for pond5, that money has to be paid back in some way.

There is no public statement that pond5 will stay the same, there is no dedicated staff or admin reaching out personally to the producers the way Adobe does on their channels or even istock does.

There used to be regular interaction with team members on the forums - where are they now?

You can of course continue to promote exclusivity as a wonderful solution, but the company itself is not making any visible commitments to the future of their exclusive content.