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Author Topic: death of istock postponed?  (Read 41512 times)

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« Reply #150 on: April 13, 2013, 21:07 »
+1
Did someone post that IS reduced their IT drpartment? I guess that could explain the issues forever being unresolved. With so many issues its hard to trust that their system can accurately track sales.


shudderstok

« Reply #151 on: April 13, 2013, 21:16 »
+1
@tickstock,

congrats on becoming a senior member on msg! :)

You made over 400 posts in 9 weeks. Thats half of what I have been posting in several years. I think it shows how everyone can benefit from being active here. Most exclusives I know only post on istock and lately posted a lot less or stopped because they are demoralized.

Although I still hope the istock forums pick up again. The forums can be great fun over there and I think the istock team is trying very hard to reach out to contributors, especially exclusives.

Are you this active over on istock as well? (and no, I am not trying to find your portfolio)

Why didn't you come here sooner?

i don't think people are scared to post in the IS forums. rather i think we are all sick and tired of that idiot LOBO. he constantly deletes great posts, threatens to ban you if you have your own opinion, and always needs to add some superior sarcastic comment. i personally gave up on posting there just because of him. i really don't know why IS keeps him around,he does more damage than good. can you imagine if you posted on the IS forums with his attitude? he'd delete it or warn you or can you.

« Reply #152 on: April 13, 2013, 21:41 »
+3
I don't think the guy is an idiot, but he tends to think that most of the contributors just want to discredit IS and troll the boards. Realistically the contributors just want a working site...this is iStocks responsibility as we provide content of value and we expect the same quality from IS as our content...the contributors are delivering their fair share while iStock has not been. And when we post about this on their forums we get shuffled, deleted, and told we are not being constructive.

« Reply #153 on: April 14, 2013, 03:28 »
+10
istock is still a paradise compared to the private board of a large company that-can-not-be-named that has a HUGE legal disclaimer to seen before you enter. So you are not allowed to write what is written in the forum, not even sure if you can mention the forum anywhere.

I guess they want the istock forums to be populated only by "the new exclusive". People who are so scared that they appear like children on the board and cheer all things Getty even if any changes are bad for them. Maybe that is why there is an increasing number of anonymous exclusive istock posters here.

I had the impression that Lobo was genuinly trying to improve things for a while, new structure for the forums, he opened good threads himself etc...but the last 10 days things seem to be different.

He also sent me a nasty sitemail accusing me of stirring things up and specifically mentioned he doesn't like what I write on msg.

I was pretty shocked because I think I am one of the few people who keep defending Lobo and his work. I think if Getty just leaves him alone he can be a very positive community builder if he wants to.

Later that day I heard that other people got nasty sitemails as well.
So I wonder if Lobo was given a list of people from someone higher up who write on msg and that they don't like.

I've been here for years, really don't think I have changed my style at all. I am just as positive or critical as I always am, but I guess some people have no clue how people write on open business boards.

I haven't posted on istock since and will stay away from there until I feel the place is safer. But I will upload, they will not convince me to delete my portfolio.

And I will proably be taking screenshots if I do post with a question. I want backup before my post gets zapped and misrepresented.

It was the day when Thomas Hawke posted his famous "Dear Getty, I quit", maybe they just needed to kick the dog and lash out at everyone with a voice.


But it certainly doesn't make me feel welcome.
« Last Edit: April 14, 2013, 03:46 by cobalt »

« Reply #154 on: April 14, 2013, 04:20 »
-4
istock is still a paradise compared to the private board of a large company that-can-not-be-named that has a HUGE legal disclaimer to seen before you enter. So you are not allowed to write what is written in the forum, not even sure if you can mention the forum anywhere.

I guess they want the istock forums to be populated only by "the new exclusive". People who are so scared that they appear like children on the board and cheer all things Getty even if any changes are bad for them. Maybe that is why there is an increasing number of anonymous exclusive istock posters here.

I had the impression that Lobo was genuinly trying to improve things for a while, new structure for the forums, he opened good threads himself etc...but the last 10 days things seem to be different.

He also sent me a nasty sitemail accusing me of stirring things up and specifically mentioned he doesn't like what I write on msg.
I was pretty shocked because I think I am one of the few people who keep defending Lobo and his work. I think if Getty just leaves him alone he can be a very positive community builder if he wants to.

Later that day I heard that other people got nasty sitemails as well.
So I wonder if Lobo was given a list of people from someone higher up who write on msg and that they don't like.

I've been here for years, really don't think I have changed my style at all. I am just as positive or critical as I always am, but I guess some people have no clue how people write on open business boards.

I haven't posted on istock since and will stay away from there until I feel the place is safer. But I will upload, they will not convince me to delete my portfolio.

And I will proably be taking screenshots if I do post with a question. I want backup before my post gets zapped and misrepresented.

It was the day when Thomas Hawke posted his famous "Dear Getty, I quit", maybe they just needed to kick the dog and lash out at everyone with a voice.


But it certainly doesn't make me feel welcome.

Why do you keep banging on about Istock? Saying how wonderful they were, they are or they could be ... if only. It's old news. Let it go.

« Reply #155 on: April 14, 2013, 04:41 »
+9
istock changed my life. But I guess you are right.

But it is very depressing to see how Getty is bringing a once strong community and business down. It will definetly be a textbook case for years to come.

« Reply #156 on: April 14, 2013, 06:44 »
0
@tickstock,

congrats on becoming a senior member on msg! :)

You made over 400 posts in 9 weeks. Thats half of what I have been posting in several years. I think it shows how everyone can benefit from being active here. Most exclusives I know only post on istock and lately posted a lot less or stopped because they are demoralized.

Although I still hope the istock forums pick up again. The forums can be great fun over there and I think the istock team is trying very hard to reach out to contributors, especially exclusives.

Are you this active over on istock as well? (and no, I am not trying to find your portfolio)

Why didn't you come here sooner?

i don't think people are scared to post in the IS forums. rather i think we are all sick and tired of that idiot LOBO. he constantly deletes great posts, threatens to ban you if you have your own opinion, and always needs to add some superior sarcastic comment. i personally gave up on posting there just because of him. i really don't know why IS keeps him around,he does more damage than good. can you imagine if you posted on the IS forums with his attitude? he'd delete it or warn you or can you.

If you have been posting on istock with the same cheery and constructive attitude you have demonstrated here, I would have zapped your posts too.

But you are right with one thing, just like Getty kicked out Sean to externalize the disaster of the Getty/Google deal, I wouldnt be surprised if they kicked out Lobo without warning instead of facing the mistakes of their own team.

Theyll probably even reference your post when they do it.

« Reply #157 on: April 14, 2013, 18:29 »
+2
I have been out of there, for a couple of months, and it has been a great releaf.
Only rarely I take a look at something istockish, like this thread.
Nice to be without all the frustrations and anger. And nice to see them loose 1/3 of their income every month.

« Reply #158 on: April 14, 2013, 19:37 »
-2
istock changed my life. But I guess you are right.

But it is very depressing to see how Getty is bringing a once strong community and business down. It will definetly be a textbook case for years to come.

I know how you feel, I felt the same way. You just have to realize that a lot of us felt this way, and then got over it a long time ago. We went through the same "mourning period"...it's just that it ws so long ago, and people just going through it now, well, seems monotonous to some of us now.  :)

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #159 on: April 14, 2013, 19:41 »
+10
istock changed my life. But I guess you are right.

But it is very depressing to see how Getty is bringing a once strong community and business down. It will definetly be a textbook case for years to come.

I know how you feel, I felt the same way. You just have to realize that a lot of us felt this way, and then got over it a long time ago. We went through the same "mourning period"...it's just that it ws so long ago, and people just going through it now, well, seems monotonous to some of us now.  :)
How strange.
Do people who have been literally bereaved a long time ago feel that recently-bereaved people are monotonous?

If people 'got over it' a long time ago, why are they still haunting iS forums/threads?
No-one is forced to read or even see any threads or forums they don't want to see.

« Reply #160 on: April 14, 2013, 20:00 »
+5
I guess they speak for everyone.  Some of us are newer to iStock. I'm there still because it makes me the most $$$. The lower sales haven't been drastic for me and are the least of my issues with iStock. I'm more frustrated with the lack of action on site issues and the overall lack of transparency. The heavily moderated forums is just annoying and has only brought their contributors here to discuss the issues. The overall perception from a contributor stand point is that they just don't care...maybe that is from the top down. I'm sure this is perceived by buyers as well..and some contributors are also buyers and influence buyers...I don't think iStock is naive enough to not know this...so that just adds to the perception that they don't care anymore. It seems to me the folks still employed there are there for the paycheck...the fun and spirit of iStock is long gone, and I am sure iStock is just a small sliver on the pie chart for Getty. As of now the minute I feel I can start making more money without iStock I will surely jump ship. They always tease change for the better, but it never comes.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #161 on: April 14, 2013, 20:08 »
+3
They always tease change for the better, but it never comes.
Yeah, what's that all about.
If what they'd promised had come to pass, I'd be a lotus eater by now.

« Reply #162 on: April 14, 2013, 21:51 »
-6
.
« Last Edit: May 12, 2014, 14:30 by Audi 5000 »

shudderstok

« Reply #163 on: April 15, 2013, 01:41 »
-4
I think it's a rule that every thread has to have Istock brought into the discussion at some point. 
"I stubbed my toe  "
"That's because of Istock!  I can't wait for them to fail."


BINGO!!!

Which reminds me, my mommy is better than your mommy because she is exclusive!!!  ;D


« Reply #164 on: April 15, 2013, 02:19 »
+3
I guess they speak for everyone.  Some of us are newer to iStock. I'm there still because it makes me the most $$$. The lower sales haven't been drastic for me and are the least of my issues with iStock. I'm more frustrated with the lack of action on site issues and the overall lack of transparency. The heavily moderated forums is just annoying and has only brought their contributors here to discuss the issues. The overall perception from a contributor stand point is that they just don't care...maybe that is from the top down. I'm sure this is perceived by buyers as well..and some contributors are also buyers and influence buyers...I don't think iStock is naive enough to not know this...so that just adds to the perception that they don't care anymore. It seems to me the folks still employed there are there for the paycheck...the fun and spirit of iStock is long gone, and I am sure iStock is just a small sliver on the pie chart for Getty. As of now the minute I feel I can start making more money without iStock I will surely jump ship. They always tease change for the better, but it never comes.

+1 from me to all your points, except re. iStock being a small sliver on the pie chart for Getty.  Obviously I don't know anything concrete about the figures, but my guess would be that in terms of profit, iStock make up a decent chunk of Getty group's numbers, which they're very keen to grow rather than lose.

iStock, Getty and Carlyle are three very different organisations, with contrasting histories and cultures. And all of Getty must be a sliver on Carlyle's pie chart.  But even still, a sliver that cost them real money, and they'll want to grow it, because that's what they're in business to do.

But IMHO, with the desire to make more profits filtering down from Carlyle to Getty, then Getty using their own methods to get push iStock to be more and more profitable, there's a risk that they're gradually getting rid of what was making iStock so buoyant and successful, and turning away their best people too.

Even if they recognise the damage they're doing to iStock and want to turn it around, reversing the trend that's set in would be difficult.  When Rebecca suddenly stepped into the forums in December to admit some errors and talk about positive changes, it did briefly seem that an effort was being made to turn things around.  And very briefly it even translated into some action.  But now here we are just a few months later, and it's hard to feel optimistic about iStock.

« Reply #165 on: April 15, 2013, 04:52 »
+3
I think it's a rule that every thread has to have Istock brought into the discussion at some point. 
"I stubbed my toe  "
"That's because of Istock!  I can't wait for them to fail."


BINGO!!!

Which reminds me, my mommy is better than your mommy because she is exclusive!!!  ;D

Beautiful comments!

All the people reading here, considering wether they should go exclusive or not will love to see the community style of the "new exclusives".

You guys are the best advocates for istock exclusivity on msg!!

Lets hope that more anonymous exclusives sign up here to entertain the crowd! :)

When you meet up to shoot together, do you wear masks?? Or are there secret initiation rites to become part of the new club?

« Reply #166 on: April 15, 2013, 05:00 »
+3
I'm more frustrated with the lack of action on site issues and the overall lack of transparency. The heavily moderated forums is just annoying and has only brought their contributors here to discuss the issues.

Dont invest your time and money to area that gets you frustrated and annoyed. If you feed bad feelings, they will only grow. Feed good ones, and you will be happy and rich.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #167 on: April 15, 2013, 07:13 »
+3
To be honest, if I was doing well just now on iS, I either wouldn't be shouting about it or I'd change my pseudo here to become anonymous. If you've found a niche the buyers want, why let everyone else into it? (Even though I'm very curious to know what is selling over there, just out of interest.)
I started uploading again over this past week, and have had only one 'real' view, i.e. the other was a friend, not a possible buyer.
OK, so not in a big selling subject area, so I cross-checked some traditional high selling subjects, and looking at the last 200 or 400 uploaded, they're not getting views or sales either.
In the Good Old Days, even with my highly uncommercial port, I'd get views within a couple of days, lightboxed within a week and sales starting on at least a few of a batch in the month after that. (Not for all pics of course, I've got my fair share of old non-sellers.)

« Reply #168 on: April 15, 2013, 07:40 »
+1
They stated that only logged in views are counted. Which has been argued by contributors that should not be the intended way to track views. My newer uploads are light on views when compared to the past. They first claimed there was no change to views and later stated there was a change because contributors were raising their own view counts to raise their best match placement...if best match accounted for view/sales ratio then that wouldn't be an issue. They only acknowledge such issues after contributors have to bring it up over and over and then they quickly dismiss it. So now you can have a higher download number than views because files can be purchased without logging in. Makes little sense. I'd buy their excuse if my sales backed it up...they don't.

« Reply #169 on: April 15, 2013, 07:42 »
+1
@Dingles

I agree completly.

If they would just fix the issues, increase transparency and focus on selling files to get back into the Market leader position, they wouldnt have to worry about what people write on istock or msg. The community shares all their sales numbers freely, so if the sales are great people will go back to being istock exclusive. Micromanaging our "attitude" while sales are falling is just silly and counterproductive.

I think video is a good indicator for how much getty is ready to push istock over their other agencies.  2 years ago, maybe even last year, istock was the market leader for video. They have a great team at istock HQ who are very helpful and nice people. I went to the Videolypse in Berlin and learnt so much, (thank you istock/getty video team!). Unfortunately, at the time the inspection times even for exclusives were over 3 months. Because I am a video newbie I went independent to get faster feedback, but i was absolutely determined to return once I felt, that I had learnt enough and reached a good quality level.

However, in the coming months, the exclusives kept reporting slower and slower sales and in the last 6 months that trend seems to have accelerated even more:

http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=352825&page=1

In January I had the free video of the month, i.e. front page exposure, although I was indie. I didnt sell a single video on istock. The same thing happened to the guy who had the the free video of the month in February: front page exposure - no sales.

But my files are selling well on all the other sites.

Video is a new market and it is a much smaller market than photography. With the amount of money Getty has, it should be easy for them to dominate the market. Why they decided to give up their market leadership, I dont know.

But if they are not even ready to invest enough to stay dominant in a new and emerging market, how much will they invest in the photo market? How much will they invest in istock, compared to getty, thinkstock or punch stock?

And if the video people report better sales on getty than on istock - I guess this will mean that Getty itself is where the money for marketing is going. Maybe it even makes sense for them. Instead of marketing two agencies, just market one. And of course you get a lower percentage as an artist there.

For me as an indie this would even be good, they said the Getty360 program will include all content and that indies will be paid 20% for what gets sold there, i.e. I will get a higher video royalty than on istock.

http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=352445&page=1

So there is something for me to look forward to.
« Last Edit: April 15, 2013, 08:48 by cobalt »

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #170 on: April 15, 2013, 07:58 »
+2
@dingles: Ah - I knew they were denying that only logged in views counted, although it was by far the most logical explanation for what was happening. I didn't realise that they had conceded.

@cobalt - It's not only iS and Getty, it's TS too, and the latter was, for a while at least, getting an inordinate amount of the marketing spend.

Also, I've noticed that the photo of the week on iS usually gets very few sales nowadays, even none. In the GODs, getting POTW was almost a guaranteed flame.

« Reply #171 on: April 15, 2013, 07:59 »
0
istock changed my life. But I guess you are right.

But it is very depressing to see how Getty is bringing a once strong community and business down. It will definetly be a textbook case for years to come.

I know how you feel, I felt the same way. You just have to realize that a lot of us felt this way, and then got over it a long time ago. We went through the same "mourning period"...it's just that it ws so long ago, and people just going through it now, well, seems monotonous to some of us now.  :)
How strange.
Do people who have been literally bereaved a long time ago feel that recently-bereaved people are monotonous?

If people 'got over it' a long time ago, why are they still haunting iS forums/threads?
No-one is forced to read or even see any threads or forums they don't want to see.


Well, you have kind of twisted my post, which was done in a good- hearted manner, into a post that sounds critical, and thats not how i meant it, but whatever. As far as "haunting" istock forums, i remain interested in everything going on with microstock in general, and since its an open forum, i feel that i can, and will, post in any thread i want. And no, no one is forcing me.  :-)

« Reply #172 on: April 15, 2013, 08:01 »
+3
I'm still trying to decide whether the old Kool-Aid cult was preferable to the present corporate cold shoulder: yes, it was, but you must admit it had its icky side too.

Like others here, I don't post on iStock any longer. I've lapsed a couple of times in the past year or two but I usually feel it was a mistake. I don't post here much either, mostly because I prefer to keep my head down for reasons others have mentioned.

On the bright side, my iStock sales slide seems to have stopped. Still way down from last September but at least the graph has been flattish for a while. There's been an uptick in the past few weeks as well, but that's probably because the best match has turned to older files.

« Reply #173 on: April 15, 2013, 08:02 »
+1
@ cathy, I thought your post was well meant too. Peace everyone, we dont need to bring each other down. :) Stick together and get rich...I like that!

« Reply #174 on: April 15, 2013, 08:22 »
+1
For me as an indie this would even be good, they said the Getty360 program will include all content and that indies will be paid 20% for what gets sold there, i.e. I will get a higher video royalty than on istock.

So there is something for me to look forward to.

You're looking forward to 20% commission.
Looks like Getty's strategy is working...


 

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