pancakes

MicrostockGroup Sponsors


Author Topic: Another Massive Best Match Shift  (Read 247001 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

« Reply #725 on: January 11, 2012, 13:38 »
0
I think Istock are STILL excluding indies on certain searches and favouring crowns.

so it is beneficial to be exclusive, now that surprises me, who would have thought ...

Can you point me to where near total exclusion of non-exclusive files in searches was touted as an exclusive benefit?  I've been on Istock for 7 years, and while there was always an exclusive bias, customers used to be presented with a reasonable choice of indy images too.    

Customers expect "best match" to best suit their search terms, not to be a way of further padding the company's bottom line.  If a customer wanted to see only exclusive images, that has always been an option.  No need to incorporate it into best match.  GOOD exclusive images and talented artists have always been able to stand on their own without rigging the game.

It's not about "riggin the game" its about not "bleeding out" as promoting indies in the IS best match was a slow but quickening death.  Who knows if relegating indies to TS is going to work? But, I remember for a long time here the reporting of SS growth at the expense of IS.  Would you expect IS to see these internal numbers and just continue along this strategy while it benefited only independents and IS loses more market share.   It doesn't bother me to see indies upset with istock for protecting its market share.  I guess one of your baskets is braking eggs.   


« Reply #726 on: January 11, 2012, 13:48 »
0
It's not about "riggin the game" its about not "bleeding out" as promoting indies in the IS best match was a slow but quickening death.  Who knows if relegating indies to TS is going to work? But, I remember for a long time here the reporting of SS growth at the expense of IS.  Would you expect IS to see these internal numbers and just continue along this strategy while it benefited only independents and IS loses more market share.   It doesn't bother me to see indies upset with istock for protecting its market share.  I guess one of your baskets is braking eggs.   

Wrong on all counts. It is exactly about 'riggin the game' as you put it and, unfortunately for you, can only hasten Istock's demise. Keep drinking the Kool-Aid and avoid all contact with reality for as long as possible.

« Reply #727 on: January 11, 2012, 14:05 »
0
I think Istock are STILL excluding indies on certain searches and favouring crowns.

so it is beneficial to be exclusive, now that surprises me, who would have thought ...

Can you point me to where near total exclusion of non-exclusive files in searches was touted as an exclusive benefit?  I've been on Istock for 7 years, and while there was always an exclusive bias, customers used to be presented with a reasonable choice of indy images too.    

Customers expect "best match" to best suit their search terms, not to be a way of further padding the company's bottom line.  If a customer wanted to see only exclusive images, that has always been an option.  No need to incorporate it into best match.  GOOD exclusive images and talented artists have always been able to stand on their own without rigging the game.

It's not about "riggin the game" its about not "bleeding out" as promoting indies in the IS best match was a slow but quickening death.  Who knows if relegating indies to TS is going to work? But, I remember for a long time here the reporting of SS growth at the expense of IS.  Would you expect IS to see these internal numbers and just continue along this strategy while it benefited only independents and IS loses more market share.   It doesn't bother me to see indies upset with istock for protecting its market share.  I guess one of your baskets is braking eggs.  

I agree. Showing exclusive content in the first pages instead of commodities seems the right way to go. That's not good for indies, but on the other hand they are reporting not selling at IS and selling a lot at other sites and so, the damage for them is minimized.
« Last Edit: January 11, 2012, 14:07 by loop »

SNP

  • Canadian Photographer
« Reply #728 on: January 11, 2012, 14:12 »
0
the site seems slow today, or is it just me? and sales are a mess of strange files. I'd like to see a more comprehensive best match than this.

« Reply #729 on: January 11, 2012, 14:17 »
0

It's not about "riggin the game" its about not "bleeding out" as promoting indies in the IS best match was a slow but quickening death.  Who knows if relegating indies to TS is going to work? But, I remember for a long time here the reporting of SS growth at the expense of IS.  Would you expect IS to see these internal numbers and just continue along this strategy while it benefited only independents and IS loses more market share.   It doesn't bother me to see indies upset with istock for protecting its market share.  I guess one of your baskets is braking eggs.   

I think that most of IS's "bleeding out" is due to a rather unhealthy self cutting habit they seem to have lately with bugs and so on. I don't see completely skewing search results for agency/vetta/edstock/exclusive stuff to be about protecting market share as much as a short term attempt to prop up earnings and sales figures. For all I know it might be working.

It does appear that they are breaking eggs. Maybe a more accurate analogy is it is a balloon basket that is sinking - or at least not rising as fast as they would like- so for now they are flinging out indy eggs. Once those are all gone, I doubt that they will be able to sustain their unsustainable ambitions without flinging some exclusive eggs out next - because I doubt that the wholly owned content will get tossed.

wut

« Reply #730 on: January 11, 2012, 14:23 »
0
Well at least IS is working for most ppl, according to the poll. Most of them are probably exclusive, so we can extrapolate, that it still pays out to be one.

Cogent Marketing

« Reply #731 on: January 11, 2012, 14:41 »
0
Well at least IS is working for most ppl, according to the poll. Most of them are probably exclusive, so we can extrapolate, that it still pays out to be one.
I don't know if 'most people' is a significant number in terms of crowns at IS that come here - if you look at the page after page after page of negative disappointing comments on the IS forum from crowns about the December and (separate thread) overall 2011 numbers - the VAST majority are saying the opposite. I accept there is a unknown quantity being of course, the thousands of crowns that don't even read the forums and post, but notwithstanding that, the overwhelming point of view from crowns who do state an opinion is negative and I would suggest IS is NOT working for them either.

« Reply #732 on: January 11, 2012, 15:05 »
0

I agree. Showing exclusive content in the first pages instead of commodities seems the right way to go. That's not good for indies, but on the other hand they are reporting not selling at IS and selling a lot at other sites and so, the damage for them is minimized.

Exclusives will not thrive long term with this approach - and I can and did say this while I was exclusive too. Unless iStock turns into a specialist boutique - in which case a whole lot of the exclusives will have to go too as their content is too generic - being the store with the smallest choice of any site just isn't a way to go.

I realize you think that it's OK as long as the indie stuff is there somewhere, even at the back of the bus, but as buyers don't look through more than the first few pages most of the time, it'll look as though it isn't there at all. You'll lose more by frustrating customers than you win by being up front, IMO - it's the buyer that counts. Why send the buyer elsewhere, even for independent stuff? How does that help iStock?

« Reply #733 on: January 11, 2012, 16:04 »
0
There's the possibility that some customers find the indie content at IS... and buy it elsewhere. Not the ocassional customer, who doesn't know how things work at microstock, but yes the recurrent experiencied buyer, the one that spends more. I any case, I think that if you are going to sell at an higher price, the least you can do is offer something tnat can't be bougth cheaper elsewhere.

Cogent Marketing

« Reply #734 on: January 11, 2012, 16:20 »
0
There's the possibility that some customers find the indie content at IS... and buy it elsewhere. Not the ocassional customer, who doesn't know how things work at microstock, but yes the recurrent experiencied buyer, the one that spends more. I any case, I think that if you are going to sell at an higher price, the least you can do is offer something tnat can't be bougth cheaper elsewhere.

Been doing that since 2006. Not for exclusive files but always for Independents. Search for it on ISP and then download it from DT or FT. I guess between 1500 - 2000 files have been downloaded that way by us, it used to be (emphasis used to be) the IS search engine/best match/Relevant was the best way to find the image we needed and then we'd simply identify the photographer (Indie) and go elsewhere and download exactly the same image for 30-40% less that what IS charged. It was standard practise, I don't think we have purchased a IS image in the last three years. Right now we don't even bother with IS - straight to SS or DT, don't even bother with FT anymore either.

lisafx

« Reply #735 on: January 11, 2012, 16:23 »
0
There's the possibility that some customers find the indie content at IS... and buy it elsewhere.

That may have been true at one time.  I don't know. Seems so, according to Cogent.  

But considering the functioning of the IS site and search engine the past year or so, I seriously doubt it still happens.  Better to go to a site that functions, has a reliable search engine AND (in some cases) better prices.  

How these other sites manage to function, pay contributors more, charge less, and still turn a substantial profit has me scratching my head.  Must be some sort of magic... :o
« Last Edit: January 11, 2012, 16:24 by lisafx »

« Reply #736 on: January 11, 2012, 16:39 »
0
Things are not only going bad for independent contributors, for example, today (I'm exclusive) sales are dead for me, I think today is the worst working day in the last 3 years regarding $$$ and dls. There is not a logic for this sudden plummet of sales (beginning of january 2012 has been slow, but not THIS SLOW)

Has anyone here also experienced a substantial drop in sales today? any possible explanation?
« Last Edit: January 11, 2012, 17:24 by Juanmonino »

« Reply #737 on: January 11, 2012, 17:16 »
0
I don't count by sales (it's tedious, as you have to open those files that maybe have sold twice or thrice) but for income. Judging by income, today seems slow, bot just a bit slow.

« Reply #738 on: January 11, 2012, 17:37 »
0
Things are not only going bad for independent contributors, for example, today (I'm exclusive) sales are dead for me, I think today is the worst working day in the last 3 years regarding $$$ and dls. There is not a logic for this sudden plummet of sales (beginning of january 2012 has been slow, but not THIS SLOW)

Has anyone here also experienced a substantial drop in sales today? any possible explanation?

Unless it is related to some istock site outages - many are reporting 503 errors - unfortunately this could be a clear indicator that customers made a switch to other sites at the beginning of the new year.

These dates are a tremendous opportunity to aquire new customers from competitors but in the last three months I haven't seen anything to indicate that istock was aggressively encouraging customers to switch to us. On the contrary, with all the site bugs and bad communication it seems like they made it very, very easy or the ompetition to steal our customers.

« Reply #739 on: January 11, 2012, 17:44 »
0
Things are not only going bad for independent contributors, for example, today (I'm exclusive) sales are dead for me, I think today is the worst working day in the last 3 years regarding $$$ and dls. There is not a logic for this sudden plummet of sales (beginning of january 2012 has been slow, but not THIS SLOW)

Has anyone here also experienced a substantial drop in sales today? any possible explanation?

I'm dead in the water too after a couple of normal days. Can only assume there's some technical problem that's buggering up the search and therefore sales.

« Reply #740 on: January 11, 2012, 18:03 »
0
Doing fine here.

Good day today, par for the month, 2 ELs so far...

« Reply #741 on: January 11, 2012, 18:08 »
0
Things are not only going bad for independent contributors, for example, today (I'm exclusive) sales are dead for me, I think today is the worst working day in the last 3 years regarding $$$ and dls. There is not a logic for this sudden plummet of sales (beginning of january 2012 has been slow, but not THIS SLOW)

Has anyone here also experienced a substantial drop in sales today? any possible explanation?

I'm dead in the water too after a couple of normal days. Can only assume there's some technical problem that's buggering up the search and therefore sales.

I'm actually having my best day of the year so far. That means I'm getting about half the sales of a previous 'good day' rather than just a quarter. I think the change to the best match (just the other day) may be helping independents a bit.

traveler1116

« Reply #742 on: January 11, 2012, 18:25 »
0
Things are not only going bad for independent contributors, for example, today (I'm exclusive) sales are dead for me, I think today is the worst working day in the last 3 years regarding $$$ and dls. There is not a logic for this sudden plummet of sales (beginning of january 2012 has been slow, but not THIS SLOW)

Has anyone here also experienced a substantial drop in sales today? any possible explanation?


I'm dead in the water too after a couple of normal days. Can only assume there's some technical problem that's buggering up the search and therefore sales.


I'm actually having my best day of the year so far. That means I'm getting about half the sales of a previous 'good day' rather than just a quarter. I think the change to the best match (just the other day) may be helping independents a bit.


I did a few searches and independent files showed up as the first result (guess it's time to start a thread about how unfair that is?) and one of those images was the worst image I've seen on IS in a while (guess it's time to start a thread about how independents get special treatment too?).   For what it's worth, today has been slow for me too.  I mean look at the levels on this photo
« Last Edit: January 11, 2012, 18:36 by traveler1116 »

wut

« Reply #743 on: January 11, 2012, 18:46 »
0
I did a few searches and independent files showed up as the first result (guess it's time to start a thread about how unfair that is?) and one of those images was the worst image I've seen on IS in a while (guess it's time to start a thread about how independents get special treatment too?).   For what it's worth, today has been slow for me too.  I mean look at the levels on this photo



It just shows how messed up best match is and that buyers don't get what they're looking for and start buying elsewhere. Showing the most pathetic indie files sure doesn't help us (except for the bad photographers that made them). It could also be some kind of idiotic IS' plan, to show indie files as substandard and exclusive as in exclusive for quality (well they did that to some degree up until now, as some exclusives think their stuff is better simply because it's exclusive). And by that push them into PP collections. Some kind of subliminal manipulation of buyers perhaps...

traveler1116

« Reply #744 on: January 11, 2012, 18:51 »
0
Well I do like conspiracy theories but my guess is that it got approved by mistake or that the image processor at IS messed it up, there have been some complaints about wrong colors before.

« Reply #745 on: January 11, 2012, 18:58 »
0
Things are not only going bad for independent contributors, for example, today (I'm exclusive) sales are dead for me, I think today is the worst working day in the last 3 years regarding $$$ and dls. There is not a logic for this sudden plummet of sales (beginning of january 2012 has been slow, but not THIS SLOW)

Has anyone here also experienced a substantial drop in sales today? any possible explanation?

I'm dead in the water too after a couple of normal days. Can only assume there's some technical problem that's buggering up the search and therefore sales.

Hi fotovoyager, I see you also move from the IS forums to this forums:) -  Censorship has been wildly enforced there lately. I hope this is a one day only plummet in sales, otherwise I will have to start looking for a regular job again :)

wut

« Reply #746 on: January 11, 2012, 19:01 »
0
Things are not only going bad for independent contributors, for example, today (I'm exclusive) sales are dead for me, I think today is the worst working day in the last 3 years regarding $$$ and dls. There is not a logic for this sudden plummet of sales (beginning of january 2012 has been slow, but not THIS SLOW)

Has anyone here also experienced a substantial drop in sales today? any possible explanation?

I'm dead in the water too after a couple of normal days. Can only assume there's some technical problem that's buggering up the search and therefore sales.

Hi fotovoyager, I see you also move from the IS forums to this forums:) -  Censorship has been wildly enforced there lately. I hope this is a one day only plummet in sales, otherwise I will have to start looking for a regular job again :)

Juan, you seem to start panicking very easily and quickly. I remember you joining MSG around Christmas, when your sales were down as well. What happened in between, guessing by your absence your sales were just fine or even good?

« Reply #747 on: January 11, 2012, 19:14 »
0
Things are not only going bad for independent contributors, for example, today (I'm exclusive) sales are dead for me, I think today is the worst working day in the last 3 years regarding $$$ and dls. There is not a logic for this sudden plummet of sales (beginning of january 2012 has been slow, but not THIS SLOW)

Has anyone here also experienced a substantial drop in sales today? any possible explanation?

I'm dead in the water too after a couple of normal days. Can only assume there's some technical problem that's buggering up the search and therefore sales.

Hi fotovoyager, I see you also move from the IS forums to this forums:) -  Censorship has been wildly enforced there lately. I hope this is a one day only plummet in sales, otherwise I will have to start looking for a regular job again :)

Juan, you seem to start panicking very easily and quickly. I remember you joining MSG around Christmas, when your sales were down as well. What happened in between, guessing by your absence your sales were just fine or even good?

sales were lower than last year and much lower than expected during this time. :)  I waited to january to see what happens, but today...never had worst working day results in years

wut

« Reply #748 on: January 11, 2012, 19:20 »
0
I just tried a single search at IS (not looking for a bad comparison or anything): homeless person. I can't believe the results!!! :o The majority of the photos are of dogs, then there's a bunch of mostly bad editorial shots, Vetta series of a kid on train tracks (what?!?), a guy reading paper at home (do crackheads make algorithms for them or what?) and some boring and bad isolations. Who'd want to buy at a site with such search results?!? Then I checked SS and got a site full of relevant results, there really wasn't a single photo that wasn't relevant, not to mention none of them were eye catching misfits. The difference between search results is just incredible.

Just look at this, it's freaking unbelievable!



« Last Edit: January 11, 2012, 19:22 by wut »

wut

« Reply #749 on: January 11, 2012, 19:23 »
0
Things are not only going bad for independent contributors, for example, today (I'm exclusive) sales are dead for me, I think today is the worst working day in the last 3 years regarding $$$ and dls. There is not a logic for this sudden plummet of sales (beginning of january 2012 has been slow, but not THIS SLOW)

Has anyone here also experienced a substantial drop in sales today? any possible explanation?

I'm dead in the water too after a couple of normal days. Can only assume there's some technical problem that's buggering up the search and therefore sales.

Hi fotovoyager, I see you also move from the IS forums to this forums:) -  Censorship has been wildly enforced there lately. I hope this is a one day only plummet in sales, otherwise I will have to start looking for a regular job again :)

Juan, you seem to start panicking very easily and quickly. I remember you joining MSG around Christmas, when your sales were down as well. What happened in between, guessing by your absence your sales were just fine or even good?

sales were lower than last year and much lower than expected during this time. :)  I waited to january to see what happens, but today...never had worst working day results in years

Well it's no wonder, since IS' search results are worthless, check my previous post.


 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
25 Replies
21008 Views
Last post February 26, 2011, 04:42
by ShadySue
120 Replies
39288 Views
Last post May 11, 2011, 16:22
by Jo Ann Snover
240 Replies
58344 Views
Last post September 24, 2011, 10:24
by nataq
69 Replies
28534 Views
Last post November 15, 2011, 08:17
by ShadySue
Best Match shift 27 Jan 12

Started by michealo « 1 2  All » iStockPhoto.com

48 Replies
32140 Views
Last post February 02, 2012, 16:03
by StanRohrer

Sponsors

Mega Bundle of 5,900+ Professional Lightroom Presets

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors