Author Topic: best match Shift towards older files? (Read 25657 times)

VB inc · « **on:** February 22, 2011, 13:33 »

It seems like its that time of the year where they jiggled the best match to show more older files. Ive been getting some dls on older files recently. Am i the only one noticing this? I would like to hear from others if they experienced this lately. Maybe this explains the newer files not getting views... besides all the f5 disaster.

ShadySue · « **Reply #1 on:** February 22, 2011, 14:06 »

Quote from: VB inc on February 22, 2011, 13:33

It seems like its that time of the year where they jiggled the best match to show more older files. Ive been getting some dls on older files recently. Am i the only one noticing this? I would like to hear from others if they experienced this lately. Maybe this explains the newer files not getting views... besides all the f5 disaster.

It's been months that new files have been sinking like stones in the best match - maybe even as far back as F5, but definitely since Nov.
Must be due a reshuffle soon.

ca2hill · « **Reply #2 on:** February 22, 2011, 15:00 »

Definitely noticed this over the last couple weeks.

Older files (06 and 07) that hadn't been downloaded in years getting some action.

lisafx · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2011, 16:53 »

I'm seeing a pretty good mix of old and newer images selling, but I agree with you that views and sales on brand new images are practically non-existent at the moment.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #4 on:** February 22, 2011, 18:11 »

Being new at iS, all my images there are new. And, iS has been a total disappointment for me.
But, I guess the OP is referring to contributors with much more substantial portfolios than mine?

SNP · « **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2011, 18:28 »

I'm seeing some odd mixes. my sales are also down for this time of year, where I would normally expect them to pick up. I'm not worried yet, but I'm trying not to become worried. I've also had some amazing sales days here and there. I think there's been a best match jiggle, but I also think site issues, search issues, fraud issues aren't helping. I'll say again that I'm surprised to be getting sales at all with everything that has been going on with the site and the business in general. I hope things will improve. my January was really good.

tempura · « **Reply #6 on:** February 23, 2011, 06:23 »

very very new or 08 - early 09 files here.

volk65 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 23, 2011, 07:34 »

I agree that new files are going down the hole quicker than in the past. Sales on my new files simply don't do justice to the effort I spent.

I decided to become exclusive a bit more than a year ago and now I'm thinking that it was a mistake. With better "exclusive" percentage and increased prices my income from istock remained the same, however I lost the others. I would accept 15-20% decrease in total income for the sake of minimized upload troubles, but my loss is far beyond that.

I guess the reason is a combination of recent istock troubles (mainly with search), continuously altered best match system, and the pricing policy which forced buyers to look for other alternatives. I will wait a couple of months and cancel my exclusivity if the situation doesn't improve. Istock says:

"If you get cold feet, you can cancel your Exclusive contract with 30 days notice, after providing us with a reason ("it's not you, it's me"). And we'll always take you back, with a 90 day reinstatement waiting period."

ShadySue · « **Reply #8 on:** February 23, 2011, 08:10 »

Quote from: volk65 on February 23, 2011, 07:34

"If you get cold feet, you can cancel your Exclusive contract with 30 days notice, after providing us with a reason ("it's not you, it's me"). And we'll always take you back, with a 90 day reinstatement waiting period."

Whereas the balance of probability will be "it's not me, it's you."

gostwyck · « **Reply #9 on:** February 23, 2011, 08:32 »

I don't see any change at all. If I view the first 100 images of my own port, sorted by best match, then about 30% are images uploaded within the last 6 months and have sales. I think the difficulty in new images gaining sales is just down to how many images there are for the buyer to choose from nowadays.

Considering the recent issues my sales this month are a little better than expected. I'm projecting Feb to be 19% higher than January (although still 17% down on Feb 2010).

ShadySue · « **Reply #10 on:** February 23, 2011, 08:55 »

Quote from: gostwyck on February 23, 2011, 08:32

I don't see any change at all. If I view the first 100 images of my own port, sorted by best match, then about 30% are images uploaded within the last 6 months and have sales. I think the difficulty in new images gaining sales is just down to how many images there are for the buyer to choose from nowadays.

There's a difference in how best match works within our own port and how it works sitewide. Don't shoot the messenger!

volk65 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 23, 2011, 09:10 »

I'm talking about how fast a successful file's download numbers were vs. now are growing. My best sold files used to reach >100 DLs within 5-6 months. Now, I'm checking last 5-6 months of uploads by top earners and I see just a few >10 DLs, rarely >100 DLs.

gostwyck · « **Reply #12 on:** February 23, 2011, 09:19 »

Quote from: ShadySue on February 23, 2011, 08:55

There's a difference in how best match works within our own port and how it works sitewide. Don't shoot the messenger!

Of course there's a difference. On real searches keyword-weighting comes into effect which obviously cannot be taken into account on a portfolio view. Nonetheless it is still a good overall indication of how individual images are favoured within the best match.

I'm not 'shooting the messenger' either __ what an utterly f*cking ridiculous comment to make. The OP asked if anyone else had noticed a change to the best match favouring older files. I was responding to his request. As someone who regularly undertakes a number of standard searches precisely to monitor the best match and any changes to it I felt qualified to comment. Sorry if my measurements don't confirm your own assumption that your work isn't selling because of the nasty best match. If your new work isn't selling it is because it isn't as good as what already exists. New images get at least one month of enhanced placement before slipping backwards if they don't sell. Good new images do sell and if so they do retain high best match placement. Sorry but that's the truth __ even if you'd prefer to think otherwise.

gostwyck · « **Reply #13 on:** February 23, 2011, 09:25 »

Quote from: volk65 on February 23, 2011, 09:10

I'm talking about how fast a successful file's download numbers were vs. now are growing. My best sold files used to reach >100 DLs within 5-6 months. Now, I'm checking last 5-6 months of uploads by top earners and I see just a few >10 DLs, rarely >100 DLs.

Obviously. That's because there are several million more images for buyers to choose from than there used to be.

ShadySue · « **Reply #14 on:** February 23, 2011, 09:28 »

Quote from: gostwyck on February 23, 2011, 09:19

Sorry if my measurements don't confirm your own assumption that your work isn't selling because of the nasty best match.

Whatever made you assume I was thinking that?

gostwyck · « **Reply #15 on:** February 23, 2011, 09:30 »

Quote from: ShadySue on February 23, 2011, 09:28

Quote from: gostwyck on February 23, 2011, 09:19
Sorry if my measurements don't confirm your own assumption that your work isn't selling because of the nasty best match.
Whatever made you assume I was thinking that?

Because of your whining comments earlier in the thread;

"It's been months that new files have been sinking like stones in the best match - maybe even as far back as F5, but definitely since Nov."

ShadySue · « **Reply #16 on:** February 23, 2011, 09:31 »

Quote from: gostwyck on February 23, 2011, 09:30

Quote from: ShadySue on February 23, 2011, 09:28
Quote from: gostwyck on February 23, 2011, 09:19
Sorry if my measurements don't confirm your own assumption that your work isn't selling because of the nasty best match.
Whatever made you assume I was thinking that?

Because of your whining comments earlier in the thread;

"It's been months that new files have been sinking like stones in the best match - maybe even as far back as F5, but definitely since Nov."

That wasn't whining. It was observed fact, though I guess 'sinking like stones' is a simile rather than subjective reporting.

loop · « **Reply #17 on:** February 23, 2011, 10:04 »

Quote from: volk65 on February 23, 2011, 09:10

I'm talking about how fast a successful file's download numbers were vs. now are growing. My best sold files used to reach >100 DLs within 5-6 months. Now, I'm checking last 5-6 months of uploads by top earners and I see just a few >10 DLs, rarely >100 DLs.

Have you opened these files? >10 in the search page mean 10 to 99 dls.

VB inc · « **Reply #18 on:** February 23, 2011, 10:36 »

I was just stating that these days, i see files from 08 come back from the dead often. I havent even considered the fact that might be a difference in vector best match and photo best match too since the majority of my sellers are vector.

Every new collection they put out, less my files gets seen.

volk65 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2011, 14:44 »

Quote from: loop on February 23, 2011, 10:04

Quote from: volk65 on February 23, 2011, 09:10
I'm talking about how fast a successful file's download numbers were vs. now are growing. My best sold files used to reach >100 DLs within 5-6 months. Now, I'm checking last 5-6 months of uploads by top earners and I see just a few >10 DLs, rarely >100 DLs.

Have you opened these files? >10 in the search page mean 10 to 99 dls.

Yes, but if it's somebody else's file, it still shows >10. The point is, I haven't seen >100 in the last 5 months of portfolios I checked (I randomly selected 5-6 top earners). I assumed I missed it if there is any. My conclusion was it became very rare.

lisafx · « **Reply #20 on:** February 23, 2011, 17:54 »

Quote from: VB inc on February 23, 2011, 10:36

I was just stating that these days, i see files from 08 come back from the dead often.

Wow, just goes to show, everything is relative. I still think of my photos from 08 as relatively new!

Guess I need to update my desk calendar...

VB inc · « **Reply #21 on:** February 23, 2011, 17:59 »

Quote from: lisafx on February 23, 2011, 17:54

Quote from: VB inc on February 23, 2011, 10:36
I was just stating that these days, i see files from 08 come back from the dead often.

Wow, just goes to show, everything is relative. I still think of my photos from 08 as relatively new!

Guess I need to update my desk calendar...

People still print calenders? lol jk

yeah i started contributing around that time so im no veteran like urself

RacePhoto · « **Reply #22 on:** February 24, 2011, 04:58 »

Quote from: ca2hill on February 22, 2011, 15:00

Definitely noticed this over the last couple weeks.

Older files (06 and 07) that hadn't been downloaded in years getting some action.

Funny that it should come up. I went and looked at my latest download and I have nowhere near the volume that most of the people here get.

12/12/09 - 137 views, first download this week. OK I'll bite, they swing the search best match from old to new and from sales to now sales and who knows what else. Exclusives get a boost on odd days from the 21st to 31st. (make up your own version) The idea may be, get a rotation of the images so people see something new when they search, not the same boring lineup, over and over. It might make it look more alive?

visceralimage · « **Reply #23 on:** February 24, 2011, 07:20 »

Well, what ever they did it is not helping me; just joined the mess we call IS and not action. Some views but no action. Granted, it has only been 10 days but I was expecting IS to do something like SS; guess if IS would allow us to upload more than a couple images a week, we might get a few sales-or maybe, if they would review the images in queue we might get a few sales

ShadySue · « **Reply #24 on:** February 24, 2011, 08:29 »

FWIW, my only 2 sales today have been one from August 07 with no previous dls and one from July 07 with 2 previous dls. Not connected.
Probably just coincidence. I hope - the last time I sold two old non-sellers, it was a bizarre part of the fraud!

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Author Topic: best match Shift towards older files? (Read 25657 times)

VB inc

ShadySue

ca2hill

lisafx

WarrenPrice

SNP

tempura

volk65

ShadySue

gostwyck

ShadySue

volk65

gostwyck

gostwyck

ShadySue

gostwyck

ShadySue

loop

VB inc

volk65

lisafx

VB inc

RacePhoto

visceralimage

ShadySue

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