MicrostockGroup Sponsors


Author Topic: Down, down, down  (Read 5920 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

« on: September 18, 2007, 19:59 »
0
Does anybody have an idea what is happening at iStock? I try to browse through their forums, but apart from the usual "you're doing a great job!" and "I'm proud to be associated with iStock", there isn't much to find out.

Fact is:
- upload limits are at the bottom level
- review times are longer than ever
- technical problems are coming and going on a weekly basis, and at the moment, the statistics aren't working
- my new photos aren't selling at all
- my total sales have been going down every month since May, and so far, September represent another significant dip

A year or so ago, iStock looked more or less invincible, and although I've always found their attitudes (and their commissions) somewhat lacking, their sheer size has made participating there rather obvious. Now, they look like an old communist regime: big, bulky and slow, and with decreasing impact on the outside world.

I guess nobody here have the inside information needed to tell what is really going on over there, but what about some qualified guesses? Any ideas?


dbvirago

« Reply #1 on: September 18, 2007, 20:20 »
0
I'm seeing more ebb and flow across the sites now than ever. For me istock peeked in August and will beat that this month. It will likely take 2nd place and put SS in 3rd for the 1st time since I joined. Don't visit their forums as it is usually a waste of time.

« Reply #2 on: September 18, 2007, 21:00 »
0
I'm seeing more ebb and flow across the sites now than ever. For me istock peeked in August and will beat that this month. It will likely take 2nd place and put SS in 3rd for the 1st time since I joined. Don't visit their forums as it is usually a waste of time.

I agree that there's a lot of ebb and flow now than when I started. What makes IS stand out for me (unfortunately), is that it's more like ebb and ebb. My projected result for September is around 60% of that for April, which was my BME on IS. My projected result on SS is almost four times that on IS, although the SS portfolio is only twice as big.

An interesting aspect is that we seem to have portfolios of similar size and age on IS, so one would believe that sales developed along the same lines. Apparently, they don't.

« Reply #3 on: September 19, 2007, 00:23 »
0
My sales went down around 40% after March, more than on any other site but they have been improving since I turned silver at the end of July.  Still not going to be a BME but it is nice to see growing sales again.

« Reply #4 on: September 19, 2007, 00:45 »
0
Something I'm noticing is that folks who had a surge in sales after they started tweaking the search are now finding themselves in the dumps.  My sales nearly doubled January (while many declined), and now nine months later I'm back on par with November/December.  My BME was in March, and this month my projected earnings are 77% lower. 

Whatever is happening, one of my friends who has always been exclusive is feeling it, too, and is considering going with multiple sites.

« Reply #5 on: September 19, 2007, 01:03 »
0
77% lower ... wow, that's a big hit to take.

« Reply #6 on: September 19, 2007, 01:31 »
0
For me, iStock generates increasing sales as my portfolio grows.

I blow hot and cold over the exclusive thing - one week I'll be all for it, then something will happen and I'll thank my lucky stars that I don't have all my eggs in one basket.

I've been watching the news back in the UK of the queues and queues of people all lining up round the block and waiting patiently for hours to withdraw their life savings from Northern Rock Bank in case it goes bust.  Eggs and baskets came to mind.

Then I think to myself 'what if IS were to have a V2?' and I recall Phildate's comments about how he though Fotolia 'could do no wrong'.


« Reply #7 on: September 19, 2007, 01:56 »
0
For me IS gives the highest royalties, and it still growing up... since May each next month is BME! Acctually is gives almost double money than SS which is on 2nd place !!!
However, as Epixx noticed already, my new photos aren't selling at all :-( It can be a sign that something is wrong with positioning system
Anyway, I'm very happy I didn't decided to be exclusive...

Best regards
Tom

« Reply #8 on: September 19, 2007, 02:06 »
0
apart from the usual "you're doing a great job!" and "I'm proud to be associated with iStock", there isn't much to find out.

Also, thanx Zeus on the Olympus I'm exclusive. No wonder, their forums are guarded like a communist newspaper. It's a good news show. No problem with it, it's their site. But after they removed a post of me more than a year ago, I don't even bother to look there.

It's a place to upload and forget, and ask for payout some time. I wish they had FTP though. Their Java uploader makes my PC freeze, so technically, I can't upload any more.

« Reply #9 on: September 19, 2007, 10:02 »
0
I think Istock started on downward spiral since it's been bought by Getty. The flexibility and the edge of a small independent company is gone, and don't expect it to be back. But at the same time they dodn't seem to capitalize on being a part of a big company. I think right now they have the worst of both worlds! Funny, eh... At some time this year their search mechanism was awful, and that of course reflected on sales. It picked up a bit recently tho, but upload limits are killing me - they are way less than I am producing per month. And yes they are exactly like old communist regime, just like every big corporation out there. I work for one, and I used to live in SU, similarities are amazing:)

« Reply #10 on: September 19, 2007, 10:29 »
0
77% lower ... wow, that's a big hit to take.

You're not kidding!  And I earn my living from microstock, so this really hurts.  Sales from IS went from comprising 41% of my monthly income to a measly 16%, and the loss of 77% is equivalent to several hundred dollars per month.   :o

« Reply #11 on: September 19, 2007, 10:38 »
0
epixx - there was a France get together for exclusives only (including the image reviewers) so that is why the reviews have slowed down drastically.  I think they are starting to review again as of yesterday or so (I noticed that mentioned on the forums).

The statistics aren't updating because of site issues that the programmers are working on - supposedly, the updating stats was slowing things down so the disabled that functionality until it was fixed - this has nothing to do with your earnings balance.

Sales are sales are sales - mine have been increasing at iStock but at DT, I am at less than half of what I was last September (my second BME).

Keep uploading  8)

« Reply #12 on: September 19, 2007, 14:26 »
0
My experience is the EXACT REVERSE of yours and the past fortnight I have had a series of best days ever.

Something I'm noticing is that folks who had a surge in sales after they started tweaking the search are now finding themselves in the dumps.  My sales nearly doubled January (while many declined), and now nine months later I'm back on par with November/December.  My BME was in March, and this month my projected earnings are 77% lower. 

Whatever is happening, one of my friends who has always been exclusive is feeling it, too, and is considering going with multiple sites.

« Reply #13 on: September 19, 2007, 15:07 »
0

But after they removed a post of me more than a year ago, I don't even bother to look there.


Yeah, me too. The sycophancy there makes me want to throw up.

I'm waiting for the day when they announce something like ... "We're changing our system so photographers now have to pay us to sell their images for them" ...

... and their forums fill up with comments like: "Yay! That is so cool. Thankyou thankyou thankyou iStock."

« Reply #14 on: September 19, 2007, 15:45 »
0
My experience is the EXACT REVERSE of yours and the past fortnight I have had a series of best days ever.


Strange.... same for me... each month has been bigger and as a matter of fact,  I just got done running my daily talley and today was my best day sales ever at IS.         ???    I can't complain about IS.  It's been productive for me since day one.  If it continues on its current sales pace, it will become my #1 earner (even passing up SS) within a couple months, certainly before year's end.   
   Then again, maybe I'll nosedive too, who knows...   
      Forums?  This is the only one I participate in.  I used to dabble in LO's but don't even go there now. No time  8)=tom

« Reply #15 on: September 19, 2007, 15:45 »
0
..sorry, don't know why, by my post came up twice...    ???


 

Sponsors

Mega Bundle of 5,900+ Professional Lightroom Presets

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors