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Author Topic: About exclusivity...  (Read 18545 times)

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ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #25 on: October 11, 2013, 11:38 »
+1
OK, think about the other thing.
You put your prices up to P+ and everything was good.
Then iS arbitrarily stopped that and put your prices really low.
Become exclusive, and there are no guarantees that they won't try to pull more new tricks. Their 'Collections' scheme seems to have benefitted some, hindered others, and there was no logic as to which side of the fence you came on.
They now have a history of changing the goalposts at will and at random, with no rhyme nor reason.
True, you only have to give 30 days notice to become independent again, but you'll have lost traction at your other sites in the meantime.
But if you want to give it a go, why not? (so long as you don't have innocent people depending on you to eat).


« Reply #26 on: October 11, 2013, 13:26 »
0
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« Last Edit: May 12, 2014, 09:11 by Audi 5000 »

« Reply #27 on: October 11, 2013, 13:59 »
0
Vinne, please read Sean's posts again. This will help you more than clicking and repeating the first question. Believe me, the answer is there.

Compact version, for lazier people is here:
<quote>
"High Quality 3d renders" are easily duplicated by people around the world, who sell non-exclusive, so you will be competing against the same content at cheaper prices.
</quote>

« Reply #28 on: October 11, 2013, 14:23 »
+8
Hi all,
I would like to clarify a doubt. I don't want to ask you if I should or not became an exclusive at Istock. I know that nobdy have the right answer to his question and I also know that, this days, this aswer would probably be no more than yes.
I want to make a practical example and have anwers based on your experience. So I am refearing to people how became exclusive or leaved his exclusivity.
Let say that I am a Gold level, with a portfolio of high quality 3d renders and elaborated pictures, and that I earn, from Istock, 1000$/month. So I am at a 18% royalty level. Going exclusive I will jump up from 18% to 35% royalty. This means that, only by that, my income will swich from 1000$ to 1944$. And so far it is ok.
Now the question: what else more (from higher prices, vetta, getty, more visibility, other things I don't know...) should I aspect to earn?
I don't want pricise amounts, but only rough estimations. I think this is not a difficult question to answer for how have an experience about that.
So, let's go with your experience...and thank you for that.

Hey Vinnie,

I, too, asked for advice on this forum many months back when I was pondering on illustration exclusivity, and was very glad for some of the feedback received. I guess you could say that I'm now duty bound to help others. :D

From your described circumstances, you seem vastly more experienced than I am (I'm only a Bronze on iStock and I've been doing stock vectors seriously for just 10+ months now), so the only information I can provide are observations and data from my experiences:

1. I became exclusive on the 12th week of 2013. The income I received this week was roughly twice the amount I had received on the 11th week.

2. From the 12th week onwards, my earnings continued growing until the 24th week of this year with minor fluctuations in between. I'd been uploading somewhat regularly till this point.

3. On the 25th week of 2013, iStock introduced a major overhaul to their site interface and collections. As a result, the income I received on the 25th week was roughly 40% that of the 24th week.

4. From the 25th week till now, my earnings have yet to recover. And while they are still better than my earnings when I was a non-exclusive, I've yet to have a week as good as my 12th week (My first week as an exclusive.)

On the overall, I do think exclusivity will definitely kickstart one's earnings and exposure as long as the status quo remains the same. But now that iStock is in somewhat of a flux (a large number of changes seem to be slated for the near future), I think it might be wise to hold off making any long term commitments until the dust has settled.

I hope this helps. :) I plan to share more at the start of next year when I've hit my first year anniversary as a stock artist!

Cheers,
David
« Last Edit: October 11, 2013, 14:30 by davidgoh »

« Reply #29 on: October 11, 2013, 14:27 »
0
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« Last Edit: May 12, 2014, 09:11 by Audi 5000 »

drd

« Reply #30 on: October 11, 2013, 15:02 »
+2
Now the question: what else more (from higher prices, vetta, getty, more visibility, other things I don't know...) should I aspect to earn?

Don't have any unrealistic expectations!


« Reply #31 on: October 11, 2013, 15:41 »
+1
I think that is better to wait for you, I don't like exclusivity but this isn't my point.
I think that you must pay attention to the present moment. You asked something that it's early impossible to answer at this time, and davidgoh answer is a good example of what I mean to say. Before to take your decision you need some reliable data and at this time there isn't. Istock this year continues to change the rules. It isn't something about if are good or bad everyone can think what he wants, the point is that the new rules can completely change the results and this happened whit the new search and new prices in example. Worst, more are coming, this was promised by iStock and no one can say how the impact for contributor will be. Whatever will be your decision to me this isn't the right time to take it, you can't get reliable data.

« Reply #32 on: October 11, 2013, 16:57 »
+2
I would contact support and asked if your portfolio will be reviewed if you become exclusive. I would also ask how long before your images are on Getty. If not you may be waiting a long time to get into S+ and Vetta and be on Getty. I make most of my sales from a handful of Vetta images and the top third of my images which are in S+. In addition I make half again my istock income from mirroring at Getty. My good sellers are not easily duplicated because of their remote location and in several cases it would require time travel, so results may vary for you.
« Last Edit: October 13, 2013, 09:02 by landbysea »

« Reply #33 on: October 11, 2013, 17:05 »
0
I think that is better to wait for you, I don't like exclusivity but this isn't my point.
I think that you must pay attention to the present moment. You asked something that it's early impossible to answer at this time, and davidgoh answer is a good example of what I mean to say. Before to take your decision you need some reliable data and at this time there isn't. Istock this year continues to change the rules. It isn't something about if are good or bad everyone can think what he wants, the point is that the new rules can completely change the results and this happened whit the new search and new prices in example. Worst, more are coming, this was promised by iStock and no one can say how the impact for contributor will be. Whatever will be your decision to me this isn't the right time to take it, you can't get reliable data.

One or two relevant answers, including this.  Where is the conversation on what a quality render is or photography vs 3D coming from?  He's doing x amount of business and wondering if exclusivity will produce 2x.  Who can say but looking at the sales threads over there I wouldn't be optimistic whatever type of content. 

« Reply #34 on: October 12, 2013, 03:49 »
+1
Yes, in the end I had some relevant experience based answers. Thank you for that.
The conclusion I have reached is that, in my opinion, doubling the inconme becoming exclusive is absolutely possible if you have a good quality portfolio, due to the major royalty rate and the Vetta/Getty collections.
The fact is that doubling the income, for my situation, is absolutely non enough for considering exclusivity.
So, thank you all for your replyes... ;)

« Reply #35 on: October 12, 2013, 05:36 »
+3
You know what they say - "past performance is no guarantee of future earnings".  Getty are up to something with IS and not clear what their end game is...

« Reply #36 on: October 12, 2013, 08:39 »
+3
I think it really is wise to just wait and see how things develop in the next few weeks or months. In principle being exclusive with a site that sells well and has a huge international network is very comfortable. I really enjoyed being exclusive. But the market is in big flux, Shutterstock has announced they want to reach a revenue of 1 billion, i.e. 5 times more than they have now and they obviously have the money to invest in the marketing.
Fotolia also has a private investor and is the largest agency in Europe.

And Getty has...2.4 Billion in debt. Maybe they still have a lot of money to invest to grow the site, I dont know. But if they invest money - will it go into marketing getty or marketing istock? or Thinkstock? Or Punchstock??

If you read the September earnings thread, it is very depressing.

On the plus side, they are actively doing something about istock,even if they start with changing logos and site layout,but it really looks like finally something is being done.

But just right now, I doubt they are the market leader in microstock. The report said their "midstock" business was 300 million. Shutterstock now has 230 million. Fotolia??? And all the others??

If you go exclusive, you would probably want to be with the agency that will be the market leader. But who will be the market leader in the coming years? I really wouldnt know at the moment.

I think the idea to ask them to tell you how many of your files will be placed into S+ or Vetta and when they will be transferred to Getty is a very good idea. If the quality of your work is really that good, they should be able to promote your work across their many agencies. Maybe they can even give you an earnings estimate based on how many files they push to a higher agency or collection.

Another alternative might be to talk to Fotolia. They pay up to 60% to their exclusive artists.

If you are good, there is nothing wrong in asking around and seeing what the agencies might offer you.

Whatever you do,best of luck!


« Last Edit: October 12, 2013, 08:56 by cobalt »

« Reply #37 on: October 12, 2013, 10:00 »
0
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« Last Edit: May 12, 2014, 09:11 by Audi 5000 »

« Reply #38 on: October 12, 2013, 10:18 »
+2
Hi all,
I would like to clarify a doubt. I don't want to ask you if I should or not became an exclusive at Istock. I know that nobdy have the right answer to his question and I also know that, this days, this aswer would probably be no more than yes.
I want to make a practical example and have anwers based on your experience. So I am refearing to people how became exclusive or leaved his exclusivity.
Let say that I am a Gold level, with a portfolio of high quality 3d renders and elaborated pictures, and that I earn, from Istock, 1000$/month. So I am at a 18% royalty level. Going exclusive I will jump up from 18% to 35% royalty. This means that, only by that, my income will swich from 1000$ to 1944$. And so far it is ok.
Now the question: what else more (from higher prices, vetta, getty, more visibility, other things I don't know...) should I aspect to earn?
I don't want pricise amounts, but only rough estimations. I think this is not a difficult question to answer for how have an experience about that.
So, let's go with your experience...and thank you for that.

I'd think if you are doing $1000 a month at IS, then you are probably doing well at the other sites too. Especially if you've hit the point where you can adjust your prices at FT. I'd think that you'd be giving up more than you gain.

I'd say to look at your year over year and look at where you are growing, shrinking, etc. Then, plot out where you think you'll be in another couple years and compare that to how you think you'll do as an exclusive. If it is close, you may be able to squeeze out that same amount of money from adding a self-hosted site, finding new sites, or doing image exclusive deals.

In the end, you are really the only one that can decide what is going to be the most profitable.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #39 on: October 12, 2013, 10:24 »
0
If you can find reports on facebook or a few here you'll see that many exclusives that left had their iStock income drop by 90%.
True, but that was only to be expected short term; and many of those who became indie had experienced rapidly falling sales on iS, pushing them towards independence.
I wonder if iS would make a promise to port all your images over to Getty within a rapid time-frame, and actually deliver on the promise. (Depends whether the 'poor connector' is really bad technology, incompetence or malice).
The OP could always try to get all their images made Vetta and Editors' Pick as others have already done.
Of course, with iStock, what they do today may change tomorrow ...

« Reply #40 on: October 12, 2013, 10:29 »
0
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« Last Edit: May 12, 2014, 09:11 by Audi 5000 »

« Reply #41 on: October 12, 2013, 10:52 »
0
Personally my sales are on an upward trend in October although September was a big disappointment.

If I were you, I would not change my status until at least the end of December. You don't want to miss the peak sales in any agencies.

« Reply #42 on: October 12, 2013, 11:55 »
+1
There is another thread where nonexclusives said that the average price a buyer paid for their images was around $5 while the average price paid for an exclusive image was between $20-25.  That would mean 4x the royalty from price increase plus 2x the royalty from your % increase for a total of 8x.  Sales may fall because of the higher prices but they may not because of the better best match placement.  If you do get a good amount of files into Getty that can account for another 50% of your iStock. exclusive income.  For me it's 25-40% but there are others who make more on Getty than iStock.  I would think 8x is likely outcome on the conservative side, for me just for losing the higher prices, Getty, and % I would probably be down around 93% .   If you can find reports on facebook or a few here you'll see that many exclusives that left had their iStock income drop by 90%.

This is the kind of answer I would like to have when I start this thread. Something inside me wants to give it a try. In any case, I will aspect some months to see if the situation settles.
Thank you for your point of view.

« Reply #43 on: October 12, 2013, 12:06 »
+2
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« Last Edit: May 12, 2014, 09:10 by Audi 5000 »

« Reply #44 on: October 12, 2013, 13:01 »
+3
more changes? thank god we have iStock to cheer up the stock business, actually I prefer the boredness from SS ;D

« Reply #45 on: October 12, 2013, 14:24 »
-1
.
« Last Edit: May 12, 2014, 09:10 by Audi 5000 »

« Reply #46 on: October 12, 2013, 14:39 »
+4
more changes? thank god we have iStock to cheer up the stock business, actually I prefer the boredness from SS ;D
Shutterstock has been kind of exciting recently getting rid of referral earnings and changing the TOS, launching Offset, etc... and I doubt they're done yet.

and I can't wait ;D

whatever SS decides to change in the future, don't forget iStock pulled us to 15% back in 2010, 3 * years, weren't they suppose to be sustainable now? ::)
« Last Edit: October 12, 2013, 15:26 by luissantos84 »

« Reply #47 on: October 12, 2013, 15:33 »
-2
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« Last Edit: May 12, 2014, 09:10 by Audi 5000 »

« Reply #48 on: October 12, 2013, 15:37 »
0
more changes? thank god we have iStock to cheer up the stock business, actually I prefer the boredness from SS ;D
Shutterstock has been kind of exciting recently getting rid of referral earnings and changing the TOS, launching Offset, etc... and I doubt they're done yet.

and I can't wait ;D

whatever SS decides to change in the future, don't forget iStock pulled us to 15% back in 2010, 3 * years, weren't they suppose to be sustainable now? ::)
Good reason not to be nonexclusive.

because exclusives are doing a lot better ;D

« Reply #49 on: October 12, 2013, 15:43 »
0
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« Last Edit: May 12, 2014, 09:10 by Audi 5000 »


 

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