MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => iStockPhoto.com => Topic started by: Dreamframer on September 08, 2008, 02:46

Title: Did you notice this?
Post by: Dreamframer on September 08, 2008, 02:46
I noticed something unusual with my lately uploaded images on IS. Actually, when they get accepted, and I check it after few hours, they all have some 20-30 views, like they were online few days already. After it, number of views increases normally. Maybe IS changed their search algorithm and it shows new images first?
Did someone of you guys noticed this?
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: NancyCWalker on September 08, 2008, 05:44
Number of views is part of the secret best match formula. Some believe that high views with few downloads will push your images farther back in the results.
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: Sean Locke Photography on September 08, 2008, 05:46
People like to browse the new image page, so it gets views before it is indexed.
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: Dreamframer on September 08, 2008, 06:11
People like to browse the new image page, so it gets views before it is indexed.

Thanks, that explains a lot
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: Pixel-Pizzazz on September 11, 2008, 23:54
Number of views is part of the secret best match formula. Some believe that high views with few downloads will push your images farther back in the results.

Are you suggesting what I think you are?  That we now have to be concerned about 'viewing gangs'?  That to bolster best match placement - the idea is to ignore ones own images while grossly and intentionally elevating the view to sales ratio to negatively impact the best match placement of competitors?

I'm floored, if that is the case.
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: tomsailor on September 12, 2008, 06:37
I wouldn't get too worried - firstly, it's only speculation.  And secondly, those gangs would surely be better to spend their time working on their own images, rather than clicking aimlessly on the remaining 4 million???
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: lisafx on September 12, 2008, 13:05
...And secondly, those gangs would surely be better to spend their time working on their own images, rather than clicking aimlessly on the remaining 4 million???

One would think so, but if past behavior is any indication, once it is revealed how to game the istock search engine gangs quickly form and spend their time and even money  to do it. 
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: vonkara on September 12, 2008, 16:49
I have images that stopped selling a couple of times every weeks and they have received a huge amount of views compared to my others continuous sellers. But I can't say when this happen or if it could be cheating or something. Strange though
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: Alatriste on September 12, 2008, 17:29
Anyone noticed more sales when there are not images under review?
I think I sell less mages when I dont have any images pending...
Or perhaps It has no relation and I am becoming a little paranoid...
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: Dreamframer on September 12, 2008, 18:25
If this is true (and I don't want to believe it is) IS should pay attention on this...
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: RT on September 12, 2008, 18:43
I sell more photos at iS on days when I wear blue socks, unfortunately doing  that really buggers up my sales on Dreamstime, I tried wearing odd socks but that didn't help either.
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: Alatriste on September 12, 2008, 18:46
 >:(
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: NancyCWalker on September 13, 2008, 06:37
I don't know about the best match for sure. There is a lot of speculation about the best match and a lot of people who are more interested in spending time trying to figure out how to rig the system rather than figure out how to take good images.

Knowing that "Ratings Gangs" (rigging the ratings) and "Download Gangs" (dl'ing each others images to boost best match placement) have both been dealt with. IS admin has also stated that the best match algorithm has been changed based on these gangs. It's not that far fetched to think that a group may be trying to use views to influence best match. If it works no one knows but that wouldn't mean someone isn't trying.

My understanding is that views are only registered if the image screen is brought up and that you can't affect your own views. (ie I look at my image on the image screen and it doesn't register as a "view")
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: vonkara on September 13, 2008, 08:03
The best match's are easy to resolve except for Fotolia because too many infos are missing when you look at the pictures. Just look at the different thread about them
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: Dreamframer on September 13, 2008, 10:56
Maybe it would be good if contributors views could not be counted at all
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: vonkara on September 13, 2008, 11:02
Maybe it would be good if contributors views could not be counted at all
From what I experienced, when you look at your images description page, the views doesn't count on most of the agencies. But it can be hard to say on Istock, because I think the stats are updated once every day or something like, maybe more often now.
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: Peiling on September 13, 2008, 22:51
I sell more photos at iS on days when I wear blue socks, unfortunately doing  that really buggers up my sales on Dreamstime, I tried wearing odd socks but that didn't help either.

hahahaha....some of these speculations are really hilarious..... ;D
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: Dreamframer on September 18, 2008, 04:01
It happened again. How can be possible that just accepted image has 20 views at once? I noticed this maybe two weeks ago. Earlier, it wasn't that way. Now, almost every my image after acceptance has 20-25 views in first minutes online. It's not possible that everyone looked into my image just after acceptance. Also, one of my images had only 3 views after acceptance. What's going on here?
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: Pixart on September 18, 2008, 10:40
Do you have a big CN?  I try to go through my CN and rate new photos whenever I can.
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: vonkara on September 18, 2008, 10:48
It happened again. How can be possible that just accepted image has 20 views at once? I noticed this maybe two weeks ago. Earlier, it wasn't that way. Now, almost every my image after acceptance has 20-25 views in first minutes online. It's not possible that everyone looked into my image just after acceptance. Also, one of my images had only 3 views after acceptance. What's going on here?
People at IS look very often at the newer images directly via the homepage. I also do that when I have time and personally click on many images sometimes. My new images also receive many views when they are attractive at thumbnail size. All that is normal
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: jcpjr on September 18, 2008, 14:00
I have a "widget" on my desktop, and I'm sure others do to, that shows the latest accepted images on IS right after they are approved. There are times I will spot an image worth taking a closer look at...do think others do the same....just a thought
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: Dreamframer on September 19, 2008, 04:45
Do you have a big CN?  I try to go through my CN and rate new photos whenever I can.

Sorry, I may sound stupid, but what is CN? I am on the run and I can't check it now.
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: MicrostockExp on September 19, 2008, 04:50
CN=creative Network

Thanks for rating some of pics Lorraine, I did the same
Title: Re: Did you notice this?
Post by: Dreamframer on September 19, 2008, 05:44
Oh yes...I have small CN. Only 5-6 users...