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Author Topic: To which agencies do you submit your footage?  (Read 31114 times)

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« on: March 10, 2016, 06:15 »
+2
Hi :)

I'm looking into exploring other agencies, but don't know if its worth my time+effort.

Was wondering if anyone has any recent statistics/insights/success from any other agencies for footage.

Which agencies do you submit your footage to, and which have you abandoned?

Are there any agencies other than Pond5, SS and VB that you would recommend?

I've heard Fotolia-Adobestock is picking up, but I find their submission workflow really painful (they really don't accept spreadsheets for metadata?!)

Cheers and thanks for any insights :)
« Last Edit: March 10, 2016, 06:17 by VeniVidiVici »


SpaceStockFootage

  • Space, Sci-Fi and Astronomy Related Stock Footage

« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2016, 06:32 »
0
iStock has been ok for me recently. I get a few sales from Fotolia and Motion Elements, but nothing to write home about. Most of my sales are from VideoHive, as I had a large exclusive portfolio there before I started focusing more on non-exclusive last year. Aside from them, I've not found a site better than Pond5 for video... VB is looking promising though, but time will tell. 

« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2016, 08:07 »
+10
I am trying to balance my video outlets with what I believe to be best for me and the industry.  I no longer upload video to Istock because they only pay $6-$8 for an HD OR 4k.  That is despicable and supporting them means you are supporting the rest of the agencies to reduce their royalties.  It's a choice so I choose to not upload there.  Also, Videohive has among the most shameful deals, giving videos away for just about the royalty of a photo.  So I choose to skip them, along with Dreamtime and dissolve. Dreamtime has the same issue as Videohive, practically giving away your work.  With Dissolve they took the route to penalize you if you uploaded to Videoblocks. As of a few weeks ago, I had the formally close my account (my stuff was just deactivated) as I see no pathway for improving their business model.

On the positive side, I am getting reasonable sales on SS ($22-$30 a pop...and a smattering of $4.20 pack royalties:(......
Pond 5 is strong this month and I have had about 10 sales in 10 days.  VB has finally come alive for me this month with about 8 sales so far.  I am not sure what's going on as I had three months of zero sales and all of a sudden I am seeing a mix of sales (different subjects).

So for me right now:

1. SS
2. P5
3. VB (showing small signs of life)
4. Testing Alamy (my first set of 1,000 videos are up, no sales yet but only three weeks in).

Out:
1. IS
2. DT
3. VH 

SpaceStockFootage

  • Space, Sci-Fi and Astronomy Related Stock Footage

« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2016, 08:50 »
0
I appreciate what you're saying about VideoHive, but I get about two thirds of my stock revenue from there. If I was hardly making anything there then I wouldn't think twice about closing my account, but I'd be shooting myself in the foot if I did so currently. I don't like $8 for a Full HD clip any more than anyone else, but I'm less concerned about what I get per clip, than the total amount I get in my bank every month. VideoHive may charge a lot less, but I get a lot more sales there, so my total income from them is more than the places where they sell HD for $79.

That won't be the same for everyone, I'm not saying that VideoHive are the saviors of the universe... far from it. Just that it works for me, so I'd be daft to move away from them. Not sure if that's what's best for the industry, but they've been around for several years and don't seem to have ruined anything for the other sites.   

« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2016, 09:12 »
+7
I appreciate what you're saying about VideoHive, but I get about two thirds of my stock revenue from there. If I was hardly making anything there then I wouldn't think twice about closing my account, but I'd be shooting myself in the foot if I did so currently. I don't like $8 for a Full HD clip any more than anyone else, but I'm less concerned about what I get per clip, than the total amount I get in my bank every month. VideoHive may charge a lot less, but I get a lot more sales there, so my total income from them is more than the places where they sell HD for $79.

That won't be the same for everyone, I'm not saying that VideoHive are the saviors of the universe... far from it. Just that it works for me, so I'd be daft to move away from them. Not sure if that's what's best for the industry, but they've been around for several years and don't seem to have ruined anything for the other sites.   

4 $ for a Full HD clip !? Jesus ... what is wrong with you ??

« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2016, 09:38 »
+7
and that is why agencies take as for stupid. if there are ppl that sell hd for 4 and 8 bucks why should other angencies be stupid and sell them for 100 or 150 dollars? the same goes for photos. WAke up ppl and dont be satisfies by a few pennies

SpaceStockFootage

  • Space, Sci-Fi and Astronomy Related Stock Footage

« Reply #6 on: March 10, 2016, 09:58 »
+3
Well the amount I get for one clip sale isn't really of massive interest to me. Sure, $49 or $99 or $199 per clip is great, but what matters more is the amount you get in your account at the end of every month. That's what your landlord, bank manager, significant other and accountant are interested in. If I didn't sell stuff at VideoHive then I'd lose two thirds of my stock revenue.

It may only be 'a few pennies', but those pennies add up to several hundred dollars over a month.
 

 

 

« Reply #7 on: March 10, 2016, 10:10 »
0
Well the amount I get for one clip sale isn't really of massive interest to me. Sure, $49 or $99 or $199 per clip is great, but what matters more is the amount you get in your account at the end of every month. That's what your landlord, bank manager, significant other and accountant are interested in. If I didn't sell stuff at VideoHive then I'd lose two thirds of my stock revenue.

It may only be 'a few pennies', but those pennies add up to several hundred dollars over a month.

Yeah right ... look what says a contributor on videohive forum :

"Yarche  SAYS
Some time passed and it is time to look at the statistics:

VideoHive : 31 sales ~ $41
Stock X: 17 sales ~ $277
Stock Y: 11sales ~ $192

As you can see, the principle of less price more sales does not work. The number of sales at other markets about the same, but earnings is much higher. There are very few high-quality stock video clips of similar subjects and buyers are willing to pay more , so why VH does not use this?

I like Videohive and AE projects are sold very well.

But I do not understand why a good footage (not light leak etc ) can not bring me profit here?
Maybe VH should evaluate such work differently? It would be a winning strategy for all. "


http://videohive.net/forums/thread/tell-me-how-to-sell-my-video/70985
 

 

 

SpaceStockFootage

  • Space, Sci-Fi and Astronomy Related Stock Footage

« Reply #8 on: March 10, 2016, 10:13 »
+3
That's him though. He's not me.

« Reply #9 on: March 10, 2016, 10:28 »
0
Maybe more people can at least tell us which agencies they've tried and abandoned? (i.e. 123rf, motion elements, ClipCanvas, ClipDealer, Deposit, Dissolve.. etc...) :)

« Reply #10 on: March 10, 2016, 10:58 »
+1
I tried most, and find that only Shutterstock, Pond5, Dissolve and Videoblocks are worth it (in order of income). I quit Clipcanvas, Clipdealer and iStock. I stopped uploading at Fotolia, 123RF, Canstockphoto and MotionElements. These combined are less than 5% of my income.

I haven't tried Videohive, prices are too low for me. If prices went up, I'd maybe sell my low earners there.
« Last Edit: March 10, 2016, 11:00 by ccbcc »

« Reply #11 on: March 10, 2016, 11:17 »
+6
Currently (animations only):

- VideoBlocks
- SS
- Pond5
- FT
- 123RF
- Canstock (HD only)

Not anymore:
- ClipCanvas (no sales)
- MotionElements (dried up)
- IS (low commission)
- DT (low commission)
- DP (all refunds, prone to credit card fraud)
- Revostock (bunch of crooks who quit and left with other people's money)

Wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole:
- VideoHive
« Last Edit: March 10, 2016, 11:26 by Noedelhap »

« Reply #12 on: March 10, 2016, 11:45 »
+6
I appreciate what you're saying about VideoHive, but I get about two thirds of my stock revenue from there. If I was hardly making anything there then I wouldn't think twice about closing my account, but I'd be shooting myself in the foot if I did so currently. I don't like $8 for a Full HD clip any more than anyone else, but I'm less concerned about what I get per clip, than the total amount I get in my bank every month. VideoHive may charge a lot less, but I get a lot more sales there, so my total income from them is more than the places where they sell HD for $79.

That won't be the same for everyone, I'm not saying that VideoHive are the saviors of the universe... far from it. Just that it works for me, so I'd be daft to move away from them. Not sure if that's what's best for the industry, but they've been around for several years and don't seem to have ruined anything for the other sites.
Maybe if you stopped selling HD for $8, you would sell more on the higher priced sites?  That can happen, I think a lot of buyers use more than one site and they are happy to pay more if they can't get the same clip for a lower price.  So you might make more per month not selling HD for $8 and that's what counts :)

« Reply #13 on: March 10, 2016, 18:14 »
0
I was going to start a new thread but then I saw this one..

Could you guys, video masters, answer a quick question for me?..

Let me elaborate first.. I am a vector artist, (as some of you may know) but I am creating some animated footage right now.. I am NOT looking to mass submit my animated videos to as many agencies as possible.. that's stretching it way too much, for my current workflow.. as long as I cover %85-%90 of potential earnings, I am fine.. I won't bother with the small agencies and the extra %10-%15 earnings they can bring.. here is the question..

does submitting to only pond5 and SS cover %85-%90 of the market? or do I need to add 1 or 2 sites more? and if yes, which should the third and/or fourth site be?

That's all I am interested in knowing.. Thanks in advance for your kind help!..
« Last Edit: March 10, 2016, 18:18 by cidepix »

« Reply #14 on: March 10, 2016, 18:43 »
+7
Anyone earning less than US$20 Net average per download is doing something wrong. That should be the ultimate lowest threshold a professional videographer should tolerate.

« Reply #15 on: March 10, 2016, 19:30 »
+1
Anyone earning less than US$20 Net average per download is doing something wrong. That should be the ultimate lowest threshold a professional videographer should tolerate.

Definitely.

« Reply #16 on: March 10, 2016, 19:30 »
0
Anyone has experience with selling footage on Alamy?..

« Reply #17 on: March 10, 2016, 20:19 »
0
Anyone has experience with selling footage on Alamy?..

I just started with them. No sales yet...only three weeks in.  I don't anticipate any sales, though. Too small a collection. My hope is that they take a whole new approach to video and I will be positioned to take advantage it it...so for me it was really a chance on future growth and repositioning.

SpaceStockFootage

  • Space, Sci-Fi and Astronomy Related Stock Footage

« Reply #18 on: March 11, 2016, 02:57 »
+2
Anyone earning less than US$20 Net average per download is doing something wrong. That should be the ultimate lowest threshold a professional videographer should tolerate.

So you'd be happy to earn $100 a year, as long as you're getting $20 net per sale? But you'd be 'doing something wrong' if you were earning $10,000 a year but getting $19 net per sale?

Sure, if you're on a site where you can set your own prices, then changing them from $20 to $19 isn't going to make hardly any difference to your sales. But my point is that this $20 magical number that you've put up on a pedestal... how is it any way related to overall earnings, being able to pay the bills, being a successful stock seller etc?

« Reply #19 on: March 11, 2016, 04:51 »
0
iStock has been ok for me recently. I get a few sales from Fotolia and Motion Elements, but nothing to write home about. Most of my sales are from VideoHive, as I had a large exclusive portfolio there before I started focusing more on non-exclusive last year. Aside from them, I've not found a site better than Pond5 for video... VB is looking promising though, but time will tell.

You mentioned your portfolio at VideoHive is exclusive, so I take it those 274 clips aren't available at the other sites. This makes it hard to compare. Maybe you made more commercially successful items for VH?

SpaceStockFootage

  • Space, Sci-Fi and Astronomy Related Stock Footage

« Reply #20 on: March 11, 2016, 05:18 »
+2
iStock has been ok for me recently. I get a few sales from Fotolia and Motion Elements, but nothing to write home about. Most of my sales are from VideoHive, as I had a large exclusive portfolio there before I started focusing more on non-exclusive last year. Aside from them, I've not found a site better than Pond5 for video... VB is looking promising though, but time will tell.

You mentioned your portfolio at VideoHive is exclusive, so I take it those 274 clips aren't available at the other sites. This makes it hard to compare. Maybe you made more commercially successful items for VH?

I have an exclusive account at VH and a non-exclusive account. Anything I feel might have broader appeal, I upload to my non-exclusive account and then also to P5, SS, iS, VB, FT, ME and Artbeats. Last month, my exclusive VH account (including my few audio tracks, graphics, 3D models - 380 items total) got me an average of $3.18 per item. My non-exclusive VH account got me an average of $6.36 an item (even though I get 36% commission for them, rather than 55% on my exclusive account). And my P5, SS, iS, VB, FT, ME and Artbeats (which all have the same items in as my VH account) got me $6.87 per item.

So yeah, I may get an average of $0.50 more on sites that aren't VH, but around 46% of my non-exclusive income comes from VH and 54% comes from P5, SS, iS, VB, FT, ME and Artbeats combined. Sure, $79 for a clip is great compared to $8 for a clip, but it doesn't make much difference in the long run if I'm only getting $6.87 per item over $6.36. I can't argue with those figures! VH works for me, might not work for others.   
« Last Edit: March 11, 2016, 05:22 by SpaceStockFootage »

« Reply #21 on: March 11, 2016, 06:26 »
0
SpaceStockFootage - You mentioned about Artbeats, tell me how many clips you have there and what is the number of downloads (average) that you do per month ? ...if you do not mind and please explain to me their calculation formula ( Subscription Fees x 50% x (your downloads/total downloads) . How can you see as a contributor their total number of downloads ?    
thank you...

« Reply #22 on: March 11, 2016, 07:00 »
+1
Anyone has experience with selling footage on Alamy?..

I just started with them. No sales yet...only three weeks in.  I don't anticipate any sales, though. Too small a collection. My hope is that they take a whole new approach to video and I will be positioned to take advantage it it...so for me it was really a chance on future growth and repositioning.

I think you ought not to hold your breath over this. Reading between the lines when the subject has come up on the Alamy forum, I get the impression that video at Alamy has been put firmly on the back burner. My opinion is that they got it wrong several years ago when they started out, by limiting the intake to existing collections of 250 clips or more from established videographers, by not having online upload and by largely overpricing their product, not to mention their underwhelmingly small collection of clips. They were well placed to take advantage of an existing knowledgeable and skilful contributor base (in still images) many of whom were looking to move into video and Alamy missed the opportunity to grow both their contributors and their agency.

Just to further muddy the waters, they are now actively encouraging microstockers to shift and/or duplicate their photograph portfolios to Alamy. Alamy has, up until now, been a different kind of beast to microstock but now I can see them becoming more and more just another microstock agency. In the long run, I can't see this development helping contributors (existing or new) and, quite possibly, even Alamy themselves will come to regret it.

It seems to me unlikely that great efforts will be put into developing the Alamy video library while great change is being undertaken on the photographic side.  However, I will watch with keen interest on any reports you make in future about your experience with Alamy video.

SpaceStockFootage

  • Space, Sci-Fi and Astronomy Related Stock Footage

« Reply #23 on: March 11, 2016, 09:22 »
+1
SpaceStockFootage - You mentioned about Artbeats, tell me how many clips you have there and what is the number of downloads (average) that you do per month ? ...if you do not mind and please explain to me their calculation formula ( Subscription Fees x 50% x (your downloads/total downloads) . How can you see as a contributor their total number of downloads ?    
thank you...

Yeah, just to clarify, it's Artbeats Express rather than Artbeats, Although I've been invited to have my portfolio on the original Artbeats as well. Anyway, you're right... they take the total amount of subscription revenue in a month, keep 50% for themselves and then pay out 50% to the authors/contributors. The amount you get is the total author revenue (that 50%) divided by how many clips have been downloaded in the month to give a per clip figure. You then get that multiplied by how many of your clips have been downloaded.

So if the total revenue from subscriptions is $100,000 in one month and 5,000 clips are downloaded (5 of them yours) then it's $50,000 divided by 5,000 multiplied by 5 = $50.

There's a less complicated explanation of it out there somewhere, but I can't find it at the moment. That's right though. Not including the three I only uploaded this week, I have 30 clips there and I've got $13.29 per sale. Only had seven sales there so far, five of one clip over a month or two, which was the top seller for a while. I'm trying to get in touch with them about it though... when you search by 'most downloaded' that clip is on page 5 or something, when it's actually been downloaded the most... only tied with one other clip. Some pesky eagle. My clip should be on the home page, under popular footage, in-between the eagle and the lizard thing.

https://artbeatsexpress.com/videos/180544

« Reply #24 on: March 11, 2016, 12:34 »
0
SpaceStockFootage - You mentioned about Artbeats, tell me how many clips you have there and what is the number of downloads (average) that you do per month ? ...if you do not mind and please explain to me their calculation formula ( Subscription Fees x 50% x (your downloads/total downloads) . How can you see as a contributor their total number of downloads ?    
thank you...

Yeah, just to clarify, it's Artbeats Express rather than Artbeats, Although I've been invited to have my portfolio on the original Artbeats as well. Anyway, you're right... they take the total amount of subscription revenue in a month, keep 50% for themselves and then pay out 50% to the authors/contributors. The amount you get is the total author revenue (that 50%) divided by how many clips have been downloaded in the month to give a per clip figure. You then get that multiplied by how many of your clips have been downloaded.

So if the total revenue from subscriptions is $100,000 in one month and 5,000 clips are downloaded (5 of them yours) then it's $50,000 divided by 5,000 multiplied by 5 = $50.

There's a less complicated explanation of it out there somewhere, but I can't find it at the moment. That's right though. Not including the three I only uploaded this week, I have 30 clips there and I've got $13.29 per sale. Only had seven sales there so far, five of one clip over a month or two, which was the top seller for a while. I'm trying to get in touch with them about it though... when you search by 'most downloaded' that clip is on page 5 or something, when it's actually been downloaded the most... only tied with one other clip. Some pesky eagle. My clip should be on the home page, under popular footage, in-between the eagle and the lizard thing.

https://artbeatsexpress.com/videos/180544

Is there a minimum commission per clip?


 

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