Author Topic: BME! NOT!! (Read 12931 times)

FreeTransform · « **on:** April 01, 2011, 11:56 »

It's my impression, from reading the monthly stats threads, that a lot of the BME's are Bronzes or below (what is that canister called, Ghost?). And more and more, the WME's are Diamonds. If this is true (and I realize that it's all anecdotal), it confirms what I've been thinking about a statement Kelly made about how the payouts to contributors keep increasing. He seemed to use that statement to justify that the RC targets were fair and that everybody was happy. But what he fails to understand, apparently, is that a statistic like that is cold comfort to the individual contributor whose income keeps dropping. It's just like when he said that we'd make 50% of our sales in the last quarter of the year. Again, that may be true for the company overall, but it doesn't take a math whiz to understand that it's not necessarily true for the individual.

You know what I'm saying? So do you think that the growth of the company is due to a lot of newbies, but at the expense of those of us near the top?

cathyslife · « **Reply #1 on:** April 01, 2011, 12:10 »

Quote from: FreeTransform on April 01, 2011, 11:56

It's my impression, from reading the monthly stats threads, that a lot of the BME's are Bronzes or below (what is that canister called, Ghost?). And more and more, the WME's are Diamonds. If this is true (and I realize that it's all anecdotal), it confirms what I've been thinking about a statement Kelly made about how the payouts to contributors keep increasing. He seemed to use that statement to justify that the RC targets were fair and that everybody was happy. But what he fails to understand, apparently, is that a statistic like that is cold comfort to the individual contributor whose income keeps dropping. It's just like when he said that we'd make 50% of our sales in the last quarter of the year. Again, that may be true for the company overall, but it doesn't take a math whiz to understand that it's not necessarily true for the individual.

You know what I'm saying? So do you think that the growth of the company is due to a lot of newbies, but at the expense of those of us near the top?

That's what I think. It makes sense, from their perspective. Sure not from the upper canister level contributor's. It falls right in line with some other people here on this forum's opinion that it's a pump and dump.

jen · « **Reply #2 on:** April 01, 2011, 12:22 »

Quote from: FreeTransform on April 01, 2011, 11:56

It's my impression, from reading the monthly stats threads, that a lot of the BME's are Bronzes or below (what is that canister called, Ghost?). And more and more, the WME's are Diamonds. If this is true (and I realize that it's all anecdotal), it confirms what I've been thinking about a statement Kelly made about how the payouts to contributors keep increasing. He seemed to use that statement to justify that the RC targets were fair and that everybody was happy. But what he fails to understand, apparently, is that a statistic like that is cold comfort to the individual contributor whose income keeps dropping. It's just like when he said that we'd make 50% of our sales in the last quarter of the year. Again, that may be true for the company overall, but it doesn't take a math whiz to understand that it's not necessarily true for the individual.

You know what I'm saying? So do you think that the growth of the company is due to a lot of newbies, but at the expense of those of us near the top?

There are a lot of ways to interpret that. I think it's pretty normal to have BMEs when you're just starting out. Almost every month for me is a BME because I don't have a lot of stats from the past to compare it to and I'm growing my portfolio. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the WME diamond contributors have developed their portfolios slowly over many years. These are the people being screwed by the new RC system while many of the newbies are benefiting.

But of course the comment "we're paying out more money to contributors each week" doesn't mean anything without the context of how much the contributor base is growing. If payouts increase by 10% but the contributor base increases by 15% then yeah, they're paying more money but it's a smaller piece of the pie for everyone.

PaulieWalnuts · « **Reply #3 on:** April 01, 2011, 12:32 »

Quote from: FreeTransform on April 01, 2011, 11:56

It's my impression, from reading the monthly stats threads, that a lot of the BME's are Bronzes or below (what is that canister called, Ghost?). And more and more, the WME's are Diamonds. If this is true (and I realize that it's all anecdotal), it confirms what I've been thinking about a statement Kelly made about how the payouts to contributors keep increasing. He seemed to use that statement to justify that the RC targets were fair and that everybody was happy. But what he fails to understand, apparently, is that a statistic like that is cold comfort to the individual contributor whose income keeps dropping. It's just like when he said that we'd make 50% of our sales in the last quarter of the year. Again, that may be true for the company overall, but it doesn't take a math whiz to understand that it's not necessarily true for the individual.

You know what I'm saying? So do you think that the growth of the company is due to a lot of newbies, but at the expense of those of us near the top?

The way the Redeemed Credit system is set up now it would seem to make sense that IS would want to recruit/keep contributors who are producing highly sellable images but not a huge volume or with a huge portfolio. This way IS gets fresh sellable images while still paying at the low end of the commission percentage. When those same contributors start moving up commission levels in the Redeemed Credit system it would seem to make sense to give them less benefits and give more incentives again to the lower tier people because they pay less commission and therefore make more profit per download.

In other words, the ideal scenario for IS would be to have tens of thousands of contributors with small portfolios that have highly sellable images. If large volume/portfolio contributors are seeing drops this is one possible reason why. Profit margins.

traveler1116 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 01, 2011, 12:34 »

Overall it looks like the golds and diamonds did ok with many of them having BMEs.

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #5 on:** April 01, 2011, 12:50 »

I do not think that they are gaming the best match to demote files from diamonds. I'm sure it would be easy to do but it would also be counter-productive if it tended to keep the best material away from buyers.

After a certain point you really can't expect growth every month. You only add maybe a couple of percent to your portfolio per month while newbies grow their percentages enormously. Your older files find they are competing against better, newer material so they effectively drop out of consideration. There are many reasons why it is hard to keep BME's rolling.

FreeTransform · « **Reply #6 on:** April 01, 2011, 12:57 »

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on April 01, 2011, 12:50

After a certain point you really can't expect growth every month. You only add maybe a couple of percent to your portfolio per month while newbies grow their percentages enormously. Your older files find they are competing against better, newer material so they effectively drop out of consideration. There are many reasons why it is hard to keep BME's rolling.

True, but it's doubly hard when your royalty percentages have been cut.

jamirae · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2011, 13:10 »

Quote from: traveler1116 on April 01, 2011, 12:34

Overall it looks like the golds and diamonds did ok with many of them having BMEs.

not this diamond.

Risamay · « **Reply #8 on:** April 01, 2011, 13:13 »

75 dls and $99.83 for me. Looking forward to my PP sales, as they make all the difference these days!

As I've said elsewhere, I would not be at all surprised if they were able to tweak best match to ding individual contributors. Would *not* put it past them to do so. While I completely expected my dls to continue going down after going independent, the more I learn of what goes on behind the curtain, the more disgusted and suspect I am about what else goes on behind the curtain.

Sigh.

ETA: Have you ever thought about how strange it is when you get the same number of dls per day? Always at least one? Or whatever your numbers are? Seems there should be much wider swings and variance. That also leads me to believe there's something funny going on with the numbers. I'm no mathematician, but the probability of getting such consistent sales on a daily, weekly, monthly basis seems kinda off to me. Right? Or am I the only one who's thinking this?

PaulieWalnuts · « **Reply #9 on:** April 01, 2011, 13:17 »

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on April 01, 2011, 12:50

I do not think that they are gaming the best match to demote files from diamonds. I'm sure it would be easy to do but it would also be counter-productive if it tended to keep the best material away from buyers.

After a certain point you really can't expect growth every month. You only add maybe a couple of percent to your portfolio per month while newbies grow their percentages enormously. Your older files find they are competing against better, newer material so they effectively drop out of consideration. There are many reasons why it is hard to keep BME's rolling.

I'm not sure how the technology is aligned with the payment model. My point is that a company will almost always do things that result in the greatest revenue and profits for the given business model.

SK · « **Reply #10 on:** April 01, 2011, 13:29 »

I do think they are gaming the best match system to maximize their revenue. This diamond took a 39% drop in revenue from March 2011.

ShadySue · « **Reply #11 on:** April 01, 2011, 13:41 »

Quote from: traveler1116 on April 01, 2011, 12:34

Overall it looks like the golds and diamonds did ok with many of them having BMEs.

That's not what I'm reading on that thread.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 01, 2011, 13:46 »

Quote from: Risamay on April 01, 2011, 13:13

75 dls and $99.83 for me. Looking forward to my PP sales, as they make all the difference these days!

60dls for 56.9$

lisafx · « **Reply #13 on:** April 01, 2011, 14:55 »

Quote from: FreeTransform on April 01, 2011, 11:56

You know what I'm saying? So do you think that the growth of the company is due to a lot of newbies, but at the expense of those of us near the top?

No. I think the claims of growth are outright lies. I think Istock has been hemorrhaging buyers and sales for at least two quarters now. Stealing more money from contributors to cover shrinking downloads doesn't count as growth in my book.

I totally agree with your observations about the end-of-month threads. I only bother to read the posts by golds and diamonds, because the sales numbers represented by the lower canisters (whether up or down) are too small paint an overall picture.

epantha · « **Reply #14 on:** April 01, 2011, 15:05 »

Looks like IS is losing traffic according to Google Trends $:-\$

lisafx · « **Reply #15 on:** April 01, 2011, 15:15 »

Quote from: jamirae on April 01, 2011, 13:10

Quote from: traveler1116 on April 01, 2011, 12:34
Overall it looks like the golds and diamonds did ok with many of them having BMEs.

not this diamond.

Nor this one. Down roughly 19% from a year ago.

cthoman · « **Reply #16 on:** April 01, 2011, 15:18 »

Best month of the year, but down 30% from last March. Things really fell off the cliff for me at IS in December and haven't really recovered. April was my BME last year, but I don't expect to get anywhere near that this month. Judging by how it's been going, half of last April wouldn't be surprising.

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #17 on:** April 01, 2011, 15:22 »

Quote from: FreeTransform on April 01, 2011, 12:57

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on April 01, 2011, 12:50
After a certain point you really can't expect growth every month. You only add maybe a couple of percent to your portfolio per month while newbies grow their percentages enormously. Your older files find they are competing against better, newer material so they effectively drop out of consideration. There are many reasons why it is hard to keep BME's rolling.
True, but it's doubly hard when your royalty percentages have been cut.

I know the feeling. But I may not feel it as much as you, since I have two dials here, not just one.

Phil · « **Reply #18 on:** April 01, 2011, 16:04 »

I'm diamond and much to my surprise I had a BME at IS this month, about 20% more than any other month.

lisafx · « **Reply #19 on:** April 01, 2011, 16:07 »

Quote from: Phil on April 01, 2011, 16:04

I'm diamond and much to my surprise I had a BME at IS this month, about 20% more than any other month.

Congrats! I am jealous!

ShadySue · « **Reply #20 on:** April 01, 2011, 17:27 »

Down 33% compared to March 2010; c8% on Feb 11, which is worse than it seems as March is 3 days longer. The reduction in the EL commission is biting.

(Unlike some others, I'm actually on the same %age level as last year, just won't 'go up' in a few weeks; and I lost relatively very little in the clawback, so neither of these are factors)
c200 new files this year so far, 37in queue, c10% of my port, so hopefully they will help for April and onwards. April has begun with a whimper.

traveler1116 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 01, 2011, 22:32 »

Quote from: ShadySue on April 01, 2011, 13:41

Quote from: traveler1116 on April 01, 2011, 12:34
Overall it looks like the golds and diamonds did ok with many of them having BMEs.
That's not what I'm reading on that thread.

Just a quick look for me shows that these diamonds had BME: nicolesy, Alina555, Studioxil (not sure BME but seems to imply it), LeggNet, ilbusca, RichVintage,
diamond saying very good: anouchka, sjlocke (I guess up 10% from last march is good), Talaj, adamkaz, Zemdega, nullplus (not very good but up from last march), inhauscreative
golds saying bme or very good month: dan_prat, AYImages, whitemay, ManuelVelasco, wdstock, MichaelUtech, Gannet77, antb, holgs, traveler1116

Looks split between very good months and very bad months with a few in the middle. I'm guessing the ones that had the WMEs lost a lot from a % drop this year.

travelstock · « **Reply #23 on:** April 01, 2011, 23:22 »

Quote from: traveler1116 on April 01, 2011, 22:32

Quote from: ShadySue on April 01, 2011, 13:41
Quote from: traveler1116 on April 01, 2011, 12:34
Overall it looks like the golds and diamonds did ok with many of them having BMEs.
That's not what I'm reading on that thread.
Just a quick look for me shows that these diamonds had BME: nicolesy, Alina555, Studioxil (not sure BME but seems to imply it), LeggNet, ilbusca, RichVintage,
diamond saying very good: anouchka, sjlocke (I guess up 10% from last march is good), Talaj, adamkaz, Zemdega, nullplus (not very good but up from last march), inhauscreative
golds saying bme or very good month: dan_prat, AYImages, whitemay, ManuelVelasco, wdstock, MichaelUtech, Gannet77, antb, holgs, traveler1116

Looks split between very good months and very bad months with a few in the middle. I'm guessing the ones that had the WMEs lost a lot from a % drop this year.

Congratulations on hitting gold by the way - am I right in thinking that happened this month?

traveler1116 · « **Reply #24 on:** April 01, 2011, 23:32 »

^Yep my paycut just went into effect

.

travelstock · « **Reply #25 on:** April 02, 2011, 00:33 »

Quote from: FreeTransform on April 01, 2011, 11:56

It's my impression, from reading the monthly stats threads, that a lot of the BME's are Bronzes or below (what is that canister called, Ghost?). And more and more, the WME's are Diamonds. If this is true (and I realize that it's all anecdotal), it confirms what I've been thinking about a statement Kelly made about how the payouts to contributors keep increasing. He seemed to use that statement to justify that the RC targets were fair and that everybody was happy. But what he fails to understand, apparently, is that a statistic like that is cold comfort to the individual contributor whose income keeps dropping. It's just like when he said that we'd make 50% of our sales in the last quarter of the year. Again, that may be true for the company overall, but it doesn't take a math whiz to understand that it's not necessarily true for the individual.

You know what I'm saying? So do you think that the growth of the company is due to a lot of newbies, but at the expense of those of us near the top?

I think its easy to mistake canister level for how contributors are going. If you have a look at the data lookstat has been analysing, its pretty clear that there are some massive differences in how long its taken some contributors to get to their respective canisters: http://blog.lookstat.com/2011/02/22/istock-contributor-analysis-rank-versus-years-contributing/ What the scatter-gun first graph shows is that the ranking in terms of total downloads is a very poor representation of how contributors are performing at the moment.

Diamonds who got there early but aren't keeping up with the pace of growth of iStock in terms of volume or quality will naturally find it hard to keep posting BMEs. There are however some that are doing extremely well in a short space of time. Chances are these people are also less likely to post in the community that's developed on various forums.

lagereek · « **Reply #26 on:** April 02, 2011, 01:02 »

This Diamond, is pretty much on par with last year but only thanks to some ELs. It does not make sense to punish the high cannisters since they are basically the life-blood of any photoagency. On the other hand, as far as IS, is concerned, they are the screamers and shouters and primadonnas when the going gets rough. I agree, Ideally they would want lots of small contributors but with highly commercial material.

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #27 on:** April 02, 2011, 03:44 »

Quote from: lagereek on April 02, 2011, 01:02

I agree, Ideally they would want lots of small contributors but with highly commercial material.

That's not sustainable, because those contributors would accumulate RCs fast and would be motivated to produce more, so they would rapidly become high-ranked in the commission scale, costing the same as existing high-rankers.

PaulieWalnuts · « **Reply #28 on:** April 02, 2011, 04:16 »

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on April 02, 2011, 03:44

Quote from: lagereek on April 02, 2011, 01:02
I agree, Ideally they would want lots of small contributors but with highly commercial material.

That's not sustainable, because those contributors would accumulate RCs fast and would be motivated to produce more, so they would rapidly become high-ranked in the commission scale, costing the same as existing high-rankers.

But it would take a while for them to reach uppers tiers. And the accumulation is only good for that year and then they start over with RCs.

This could be sustainable if there were as many, or more, new contributors coming aboard to replace the contributors who have moved into high ranks. And I doubt they have a shortage of new applications.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #29 on:** April 02, 2011, 07:18 »

Quote from: traveler1116 on April 01, 2011, 22:32

...Looks split between very good months and very bad months with a few in the middle. I'm guessing the ones that had the WMEs lost a lot from a % drop this year.

And then there are the people who don't post.

I have the same royalty rate (35%) as last year in March but my earnings were $200 less. Downloads were down as well. The site's erratic performance and many bugs probably make that a pretty respectable result in the circumstances, but I'm still not happy.

The people who are having great months will be attributing it to their great images, and that will continue until they experience one of those cold showers that a best match shift can bring about.

I've given up posting on IS unless I need something specific (like in the editorial forum). Nothing IS says has any credibility anyway - even if they mean it when they post it,they can (and have) done the exact opposite whenever it suits them.

Artemis · « **Reply #30 on:** April 02, 2011, 10:23 »

I'm roughly 35%-40% down compared to march 2010. (that being said, apr.2010 was my 2nd best month of last year and i stopped uploading in september..).
What i have lost on iStock i more than gained on Shutterstock though

sam100 · « **Reply #31 on:** April 02, 2011, 11:56 »

As if I care....

I deleted every image over there as a member.
Still a member... but...

Been working as an intern for a company 2 weeks ago.
Had to design a flyer/poster for the company.
Had to use (comp) images from istock..... did it... but my final result delivered with images from SS.
And................... accepted. Firm is now working with SS.

Patrick.

cathyslife · « **Reply #32 on:** April 02, 2011, 13:34 »

Quote from: patrick1958 on April 02, 2011, 11:56

As if I care....
I deleted every image over there as a member.
Still a member... but...

Been working as an intern for a company 2 weeks ago.
Had to design a flyer/poster for the company.
Had to use (comp) images from istock..... did it... but my final result delivered with images from Shutterstock.
And................... accepted. Firm is now working with Shutterstock.

Patrick.

Good for you.

I cringe every time I hear my teacher tell students to go to istock to buy photos. Sometimes I take them aside and recommend one of the other sites.

visceralimage · « **Reply #33 on:** April 03, 2011, 06:09 »

March was my first full month with IS and I am completely disappointed. I had heard such raving reviews during the past year and was really looking forward to joining the team. I had my BME only because it was my first full month but I would not consider it worthy of a top tier agency. DT and SS both gave me very respectable earnings last month; FT and IS should be dropped from the top tier.

Oh, the numbers; grand total of $13.94 for March for IS. Granted I have a limited port online at IS but I was still expecting better results.

At this rate, I will make diamond a couple hundred years after my death. My great great great grand children will be so proud of me; this is if my children have kids.

aeonf · « **Reply #34 on:** April 03, 2011, 06:11 »

^^^ if this is your first month with IS, that makes your portfolio size ~20, no ?

sobm · « **Reply #35 on:** April 03, 2011, 06:37 »

Quote from: visceralimage on April 03, 2011, 06:09

March was my first full month with IS and I am completely disappointed. I had heard such raving reviews during the past year and was really looking forward to joining the team. I had my BME only because it was my first full month but I would not consider it worthy of a top tier agency. Dreamstime and Shutterstock both gave me very respectable earnings last month; Fotolia and IS should be dropped from the top tier.

Oh, the numbers; grand total of $13.94 for March for IS. Granted I have a limited port online at IS but I was still expecting better results.

At this rate, I will make diamond a couple hundred years after my death. My great great great grand children will be so proud of me; this is if my children have kids.

thats better than me,i remember my first sale of iS was at the time after 2 month when I was accepted by them

ShadySue · « **Reply #36 on:** April 03, 2011, 06:45 »

Quote from: sobm on April 03, 2011, 06:37

Quote from: visceralimage on April 03, 2011, 06:09
March was my first full month with IS and I am completely disappointed. I had heard such raving reviews during the past year and was really looking forward to joining the team. I had my BME only because it was my first full month but I would not consider it worthy of a top tier agency. Dreamstime and Shutterstock both gave me very respectable earnings last month; Fotolia and IS should be dropped from the top tier.

Oh, the numbers; grand total of $13.94 for March for IS. Granted I have a limited port online at IS but I was still expecting better results.

At this rate, I will make diamond a couple hundred years after my death. My great great great grand children will be so proud of me; this is if my children have kids.
thats better than me,i remember my first sale of iS was at the time after 2 month when I was accepted by them

I got my first sale of a file in my first submssion the day after it hit my port, a mighty 20c. Though I was underwhelmed at the 20c, some excited calculations of projections on the back of an envelope proved to be waaayy over-optimistic.

(I should have taken into account the pics on the same submission which had not sold the next day!)

jen · « **Reply #37 on:** April 03, 2011, 12:38 »

Quote from: visceralimage on April 03, 2011, 06:09

March was my first full month with IS and I am completely disappointed. I had heard such raving reviews during the past year and was really looking forward to joining the team. I had my BME only because it was my first full month but I would not consider it worthy of a top tier agency. Dreamstime and Shutterstock both gave me very respectable earnings last month; Fotolia and IS should be dropped from the top tier.

Oh, the numbers; grand total of $13.94 for March for IS. Granted I have a limited port online at IS but I was still expecting better results.

At this rate, I will make diamond a couple hundred years after my death. My great great great grand children will be so proud of me; this is if my children have kids.

When I joined iStock it took 3 months to make 84 cents.

Patience!

SNP · « **Reply #38 on:** April 03, 2011, 13:24 »

Quote from: traveler1116 on April 01, 2011, 22:32

Quote from: ShadySue on April 01, 2011, 13:41
Quote from: traveler1116 on April 01, 2011, 12:34
Overall it looks like the golds and diamonds did ok with many of them having BMEs.
That's not what I'm reading on that thread.
Just a quick look for me shows that these diamonds had BME: nicolesy, Alina555, Studioxil (not sure BME but seems to imply it), LeggNet, ilbusca, RichVintage,
diamond saying very good: anouchka, sjlocke (I guess up 10% from last march is good), Talaj, adamkaz, Zemdega, nullplus (not very good but up from last march), inhauscreative
golds saying bme or very good month: dan_prat, AYImages, whitemay, ManuelVelasco, wdstock, MichaelUtech, Gannet77, antb, holgs, traveler1116

Looks split between very good months and very bad months with a few in the middle. I'm guessing the ones that had the WMEs lost a lot from a % drop this year.

I'm gold and just posted my stats in the iStock thread. BME for $, up 7.7% on previous BME. Almost was my BME for dls, but still didn't bump the current best month for downloads

loop · « **Reply #39 on:** April 03, 2011, 14:37 »

Not BME, just for the year, but no far. Had my BDE during March, beating even 100 x 100 royalties-days from the past. Changes with best match poduce peaks and lows. Exc Diamond.

Digital66 · « **Reply #40 on:** April 03, 2011, 18:05 »

Quote from: visceralimage on April 03, 2011, 06:09

March was my first full month with IS and I am completely disappointed. I had heard such raving reviews during the past year and was really looking forward to joining the team. I had my BME only because it was my first full month but I would not consider it worthy of a top tier agency. Dreamstime and Shutterstock both gave me very respectable earnings last month; Fotolia and IS should be dropped from the top tier.

Oh, the numbers; grand total of $13.94 for March for IS. Granted I have a limited port online at IS but I was still expecting better results.

At this rate, I will make diamond a couple hundred years after my death. My great great great grand children will be so proud of me; this is if my children have kids.

Come on! What where you expecting?

cathyslife · « **Reply #41 on:** April 03, 2011, 18:30 »

Quote from: Digital66 on April 03, 2011, 18:05

Quote from: visceralimage on April 03, 2011, 06:09
March was my first full month with IS and I am completely disappointed. I had heard such raving reviews during the past year and was really looking forward to joining the team. I had my BME only because it was my first full month but I would not consider it worthy of a top tier agency. Dreamstime and Shutterstock both gave me very respectable earnings last month; Fotolia and IS should be dropped from the top tier.

Oh, the numbers; grand total of $13.94 for March for IS. Granted I have a limited port online at IS but I was still expecting better results.

At this rate, I will make diamond a couple hundred years after my death. My great great great grand children will be so proud of me; this is if my children have kids.
Come on! What where you expecting?

Really. In 2005, when IS was very young, it took me until I passed the 100 image mark before I started seeing growing sales. I think your expectations were a little lofty, especially in today's reality. I hope you have patience.

rubyroo · « **Reply #42 on:** April 03, 2011, 19:19 »

Quote from: ShadySue on April 03, 2011, 06:45

some excited calculations of projections on the back of an envelope proved to be waaayy over-optimistic.

I came across my earliest projections just recently and laughed my head off. How naive I was

cobalt · « **Reply #43 on:** April 03, 2011, 19:42 »

Quote from: visceralimage on April 03, 2011, 06:09

March was my first full month with IS and I am completely disappointed. I had heard such raving reviews during the past year and was really looking forward to joining the team. I had my BME only because it was my first full month but I would not consider it worthy of a top tier agency. Dreamstime and Shutterstock both gave me very respectable earnings last month; Fotolia and IS should be dropped from the top tier.

Oh, the numbers; grand total of $13.94 for March for IS. Granted I have a limited port online at IS but I was still expecting better results.

At this rate, I will make diamond a couple hundred years after my death. My great great great grand children will be so proud of me; this is if my children have kids.

How cute! The bliss of a new beginning...:-) seriously, this industry produces over 100 000 images A WEEK. It might take a while for you to get noticed...

pancaketom · « **Reply #44 on:** April 03, 2011, 20:00 »

Quote from: visceralimage on April 03, 2011, 06:09

March was my first full month with IS and I am completely disappointed. I had heard such raving reviews during the past year and was really looking forward to joining the team. I had my BME only because it was my first full month but I would not consider it worthy of a top tier agency. Dreamstime and Shutterstock both gave me very respectable earnings last month; Fotolia and IS should be dropped from the top tier.

Oh, the numbers; grand total of $13.94 for March for IS. Granted I have a limited port online at IS but I was still expecting better results.

At this rate, I will make diamond a couple hundred years after my death. My great great great grand children will be so proud of me; this is if my children have kids.

I think it took me 3 months or so to get up around 50 images. I made around 55$ that month and was pretty excited, I think one image sold 15 times. Then they did a best match tweak and I dropped like a stone and it took 100's more images to get to that level. Then when I had around 500 images they did another best match tweak and I dropped back to around 55$ for that month. IS appears to be off of their rails these days, especially for non exclusive contributors. It is a bit sad really. (Although personally I'd like to see all the sales at IS and Fot go to sellers that give us a fair %.)

visceralimage · « **Reply #45 on:** April 04, 2011, 03:47 »

What was I expecting? I guess my expectations were not enlarged but my hopes were very high.

I hoped for 50-100 per month starting out

now I know to be more patient, keep uploading my 18 images a week then ignore them till the following week

ShadySue · « **Reply #46 on:** April 04, 2011, 04:24 »

Quote from: visceralimage on April 03, 2011, 06:09

March was my first full month with IS and I am completely disappointed. I had heard such raving reviews during the past year and was really looking forward to joining the team.
Oh, the numbers; grand total of $13.94 for March for IS. Granted I have a limited port online at IS but I was still expecting better results.

I'm really surprised you heard 'raving reviews during the past year': you must have been limiting your sources. If you'd looked here, you'd have seen very little positive since early September at least.
For a dose of realism, here are my figures. I'm totally 'average' in terms of sales: when istockcharts was running, I was around position 1880. Obviously everyone's stats are different according to what they shoot, how they shoot it and what the market wants.
Week ending 6 April 2008 ( 30% from 1st April): 1013 files; 62 dls, £111.69 (EL $42 included)
W/e 5th April 2009: 1605 files; 35 dls, "c$77?"
W/e 4th April 2010: 2005 files: 42 dls, $114.20
W/e 3rd April 2011: 2261 files: 23 dls: $70.09 (included EL of $18.40) Still on 30% commission.
(between April 2009 and now I added almost 1500 pics to Alamy. Only time will tell if that was worthwhile effort!)

So if with a tiny port you made $13.94, you are doing significantly 'better than average'.
FWIW, my first 'full month' on iStock was Jan 2007. I was on 20% and an XSM netted me c20c. I had 33 dls and $22.44 royalties.
H*ll, that's sobering. I had exactly 40 images in my port at the end of Jan 2007, and had 33 dls.
With 2258 at end of March 2011, I had 113 dls in March. (My downloads are falling consistently).

visceralimage · « **Reply #47 on:** April 05, 2011, 17:49 »

Thanks Shadysue;

I have readjusted my expectations; thanks for the real data. Most of what I had heard about IS was from other microstockers on DT; not a reliable source, I guess. I did not find out about MSG until FEb of this year.

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