Author Topic: Exclusives - how are your sales lately? (Read 11282 times)

tundracamper · « **on:** April 23, 2014, 13:35 »

I ask because my sales over the last two weeks have slowed significantly. I was thinking it was perhaps due to the Easter weekend. However, they haven't picked back up this week. My sales last week were lower than what I had over the Christmas break and the last few days has been equally abysmal. I am hoping this is just a quirk and that things will pick back up again.

I know looking at sales weekly is not very reliable, but this new subscription model has me kinda worried. If things stay this bad, I suspect I will regret not dropping exclusivity some time ago - I'll be behind the competition in uploading to other sites.

vuk8691 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 23, 2014, 15:35 »

Sales are generally weaker and weaker and I'm surprised myself that I'm still exclusive.

KB · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2014, 15:43 »

Quote from: tundracamper on April 23, 2014, 13:35

I ask because my sales over the last two weeks have slowed significantly.

My own sales mirror your experience.

I can't say it surprises me at all. This is exactly what I predicted when the new sub plan was announced. I expect it to get even worse (though that might not seem possible), once all the larger buyers have used up their remaining credits. I fully expect almost all weekdays to look like weekend days used to.

As the saying goes, IS is done -- stick a fork in it.

asiseeit · « **Reply #3 on:** April 23, 2014, 21:46 »

The last 2 weeks were kind of low and Good Friday+Monday were very low. That being said, sales have picked back up to normal the 2 days.

Juanmonino · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2014, 23:39 »

Quote from: asiseeit on April 23, 2014, 21:46

The last 2 weeks were kind of low and Good Friday+Monday were very low. That being said, sales have picked back up to normal the 2 days.

Same experience, except sales did not exactly picked up as always, maybe 10-12% lower. There is no question subscription will have an impact in sales, the question is how big the impact will be.

aldomurillo · « **Reply #5 on:** April 24, 2014, 08:17 »

Last three weeks have been pretty low, about 35% less than normal for me, and about 50% less than last year. My sales over 7 years have been really steady (going up but steady). This is the first time that I'm getting a little nervous about the recently changes in IS. But we have to wait and see the the april GI sales and the subscriptions earning at the end of the month.

wds · « **Reply #6 on:** April 24, 2014, 09:41 »

My sales were quite poor last couple of weeks. Oddly though, yesterday was quite a strong day. I think any real assessment of the new subs plan impact will take a long time (6 months plus). All this being said, I don't feel good about long term prospects.

Marta · « **Reply #7 on:** April 24, 2014, 14:27 »

Quote from: wds on April 24, 2014, 09:41

My sales were quite poor last couple of weeks. Oddly though, yesterday was quite a strong day. I think any real assessment of the new subs plan impact will take a long time (6 months plus). All this being said, I don't feel good about long term prospects.

I can not even imagine summer time

gclk · « **Reply #8 on:** April 25, 2014, 07:02 »

My sales have been poor since the introduction of the new subs, but so far it's hard to say whether that's due to subscriptions or to all the recent best match changes. My guess is that it's more to do with the best match.

jjneff · « **Reply #9 on:** April 25, 2014, 09:23 »

My sales are GREAT up around 30% compared to last year! Mainly video here for me.

landbysea · « **Reply #10 on:** April 25, 2014, 10:17 »

Slowest month I have had in years. And April is usually my best or second best for the past 6 years or so. I am very disturbed by my RC total. I usually make the 30% with ease. I don't see how I am going to make it this year. Shooting new stuff seems like a poor investment but I may have to lose money on new travel and shooting to protect what I have. The past few days seem to be a bit better. Selling from all 4 collection levels.

Dook · « **Reply #11 on:** April 25, 2014, 14:02 »

Quote from: gclk on April 25, 2014, 07:02

My sales have been poor since the introduction of the new subs, but so far it's hard to say whether that's due to subscriptions or to all the recent best match changes. My guess is that it's more to do with the best match.

Have subs sales already started? I thought they will be introducing it after April 30th.

asiseeit · « **Reply #12 on:** April 25, 2014, 15:39 »

Quote from: Dook on April 25, 2014, 14:02

Quote from: gclk on April 25, 2014, 07:02
My sales have been poor since the introduction of the new subs, but so far it's hard to say whether that's due to subscriptions or to all the recent best match changes. My guess is that it's more to do with the best match.
Have subs sales already started? I thought they will be introducing it after April 30th.

They started about 2 weeks ago, and they started marketing it last week. We won't see payouts from it however until probably end of May.

Dook · « **Reply #13 on:** April 26, 2014, 05:15 »

Quote from: asiseeit on April 25, 2014, 15:39

Quote from: Dook on April 25, 2014, 14:02
Quote from: gclk on April 25, 2014, 07:02
My sales have been poor since the introduction of the new subs, but so far it's hard to say whether that's due to subscriptions or to all the recent best match changes. My guess is that it's more to do with the best match.
Have subs sales already started? I thought they will be introducing it after April 30th.

They started about 2 weeks ago, and they started marketing it last week. We won't see payouts from it however until probably end of May.

Thanks for the info! I didn't know that. I'm not exclusive, but my earnings are seriously down this month.

Hobostocker · « **Reply #14 on:** April 27, 2014, 05:18 »

it's a race to the bottom and we can't stop it.

agencies have no incentives to raise our fees, it will end up exactly like for digital music and ebooks ... anything sold at 1$ or less or even free for "exposure".

the obvious consequence will be quality going further down the drain as there's no way to sustain expensive shootings and production costs.

i don't think it's a bad thing overall, quality stuff will still be produced and sold on agencies like Getty, while cheap buyers will stick to micros, to each his own.

as for us, we better diversify our product lines.

kayann · « **Reply #15 on:** April 27, 2014, 06:36 »

the minute I put in for non-exclusivity my very consistent up to that point istock tanked.

tickstock · « **Reply #16 on:** April 28, 2014, 12:32 »

landbysea · « **Reply #17 on:** April 29, 2014, 09:00 »

GI payout was substantial for me. It will easily beat my other IS earnings for April. But it carries no RC points. Neither does the subscription plan. And nothing new has been added to E+ or Vetta for a year. I own some pretty tight market niches. Not like they can go somewhere else for what I have been putting up. I am in a tough spot because I can only make money at mid stock prices where most of my work belongs, but I am being shoved into micro.

landbysea · « **Reply #18 on:** May 03, 2014, 09:37 »

Worst week in 7 years for dls and money. A sudden end to sales. I got one dl for $3.71 on Monday. So I guess the buyers have taken subscription plans. If I am going to only make a buck or so on an image I may as well hang up exclusivity. The Getty pay out was nice, but they have added no new work there in a year. If they cut my royalty rate next year I will have to drop exclusivity, which seems to be what they want.

bunhill · « **Reply #19 on:** May 03, 2014, 11:49 »

Quote from: tickstock on April 28, 2014, 12:32

With GI sales just added in March was up about 20% on last year.

For me ($):

March 2014 GI + iS was slightly up on March 2013 GI + iS
Feb 2014 GI+ iS was slightly up on Feb 2013 GI + iS
Jan 2014 GI + iS was very slightly down on Jan 2013 GI + iS

April 2014 iS only is slightly up on April 2013 iS only. And only 2c different from March 2014 iS only. April GI is not in yet.

So far this year is very slightly up on this time last year. But by such a small amount as to be statistically insignificant. It seems remarkable stable - given the growth of the collection, the dreadful economic conditions and the increasing competition from free content and social media. Hope I haven't jinxed it

ARTPUPPY · « **Reply #20 on:** May 03, 2014, 14:17 »

Quote from: bunhill on May 03, 2014, 11:49

Quote from: tickstock on April 28, 2014, 12:32
With GI sales just added in March was up about 20% on last year.

For me ($):

March 2014 GI + iS was slightly up on March 2013 GI + iS
Feb 2014 GI+ iS was slightly up on Feb 2013 GI + iS
Jan 2014 GI + iS was very slightly down on Jan 2013 GI + iS

April 2014 iS only is slightly up on April 2013 iS only. And only 2c different from March 2014 iS only. April GI is not in yet.

So far this year is very slightly up on this time last year. But by such a small amount as to be statistically insignificant. It seems remarkable stable - given the growth of the collection, the dreadful economic conditions and the increasing competition from free content and social media. Hope I haven't jinxed it

Unfortunately both of you are using a false metric. I see this all the time in the monthly sales threads. "As an exclusive my istock income is down but with Getty Images, I'm up by 10% so Whooyay for this month!!" If you're an istock exclusive, then the only sales that are important are from istock only, since it is these sales that total up your RC for next years percentage earnings. Since Getty Images sales don't apply RC to your yearly totals, you're actually loosing money with each Getty Image sale - that lost RC will come at a price. Not to mention you only get a 20% royalty (and Getty gets 80% of a high priced image). Doesn't sound so good now, does it?

My sales? Awful. I haven't seen lower downloads then when I first started in 2007. My new images have no views whatsoever, if I'm only expecting one or two views per year, then I might as well pull all my portfolio and go 100% independent, I'll make more per image percentage wise, and I trust me. It painfully obvious now that the official PR from istock regarding images views is mostly nonsense. The real reason is the customers are no longer there anymore, they've all left for greener pastures leaving behind their RC empty accounts. There are huge flaws in the business model and in the website, and they are fatal. I recently purchased some images off of istock for a golfer's website. After searching, I had to go and click on the thumbnails to find out prices and if they were from istock exclusives. (No Getty for me, thanks) Some of the images I had chosen were above and beyond my budget (Vetta) and other were of sizes I couldn't use. Imagine going to a grocery store only to find there are no prices on anything. You had to check out the items (click on them) to find out the prices. Can of peas? "Oh, that's $2." Can of mushroom soup? "Oh, that's premium, it's $120." Imagine going to that store every day to search for items. (Like an art director going to istock) It's so frustrating, it's easy to give up and go somewhere else for images. And yes, I know there is a price slider, but I doubt most people use it (or even know how). Pricing is too varied now to even make sense.

bunhill · « **Reply #21 on:** May 03, 2014, 15:04 »

Quote from: ARTPUPPY on May 03, 2014, 14:17

Doesn't sound so good now, does it?

Yes it does actually. Because looking at iS on its own and excluding GI, it's the same story. Income is still remarkably stable - slightly up year to date vs 2013. But it's very close - too close to be statistically significant. Jan was slightly down. Feb, March and April were slightly up vs 2013. And 2013 was already in line with my expectations.

I include GI because it is part of the whole picture. Suppose, for example, I was only reporting that income was very slightly up at iS whilst failing to mention that it was down on the GI side.

BTW - I'm not a "whooyay" kind of person. I never much liked all that on the old forum. What I am saying is completely different - that I am quietly pleased enough and that my experience is roughly in line with what I see as reasonable expectations.

ShadySue · « **Reply #22 on:** May 03, 2014, 15:19 »

Hmmm, when they condescended to let the plebs sell some images via Getty, they heralded it as "an opportunity to earn more money", it wasn't announced as 'a way to make up the income which is being lost at iStock'.
Also, @ArtPuppy, although I've had a few high value sales via GI, I've had a lot more low sales, well under $10 net, right down to 40c, for a very scarce subject.

Odd, because clause 3c of the EASA says, inter alia, "Exclusive Content may be included in one or more current or future content collections (“Collections”) made available for licensing or distribution by iStockphoto or third party distributors (each a “Distribution Partner”). Your Exclusive Content may be made available for licensing through a lower price tier royalty-free Collection of a Distribution Partner only if you opt in to the “Partner Program” category or other applicable indicator under the preferences panel of your account profile on the Site. "

So how is it they can sell at a lower price tier on Getty?

And, now that I think about it, how does that clause let them force our content into their new low-price subs model? Oh, I guess they'll say it isn't technically a "Distribution partner".

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #23 on:** May 03, 2014, 15:22 »

"And, now that I think about it, how does that clause let them force our content into their new low-price subs model? Oh, I guess they'll say it isn't technically a "Distribution partner". "

You've got them! They are paying through the monthly PP mechanism! They are having it both ways.

ShadySue · « **Reply #24 on:** May 03, 2014, 15:54 »

Immediately after that in the EASA, it says, "Unless otherwise provided for in the upload process or on the Site, your Exclusive Content may be made available for licensing through a similar or higher price tier Collection of a Distribution Partner as may be determined by iStockphoto from time to time upon notice to you either by posting notice on the Site or otherwise. "

pancaketom · « **Reply #25 on:** May 03, 2014, 16:07 »

Maybe they consider free to be similar.

loop · « **Reply #26 on:** May 03, 2014, 16:30 »

This week has been very volatile. Two very good days, one "normal" day and two very bad days. Waiting for Monday to see whan happens.

And, to ArtPuppy: Using the price slider you can avoid Vetta or whatever content out of your budget.

landbysea · « **Reply #27 on:** May 04, 2014, 08:06 »

Now I am panicking. No dls in a week. Not only that but I am falling in the best match even from yesterday. Even my red flame Vetta is lost. Yet an ancient non exclusive image in the main collection is in the top row on a page I should dominate with my Vettas, flamers and hot new files. Instead I have nothing. It is the exclusive promotion in reverse.

KB · « **Reply #28 on:** May 04, 2014, 10:50 »

Quote from: landbysea on May 04, 2014, 08:06

It is the exclusive promotion in reverse.

As others have pointed out, with Getty now pushing their subscription plan, they have a strong financial incentive to promote non-exclusive content, since they pay out significantly less per DL.

Don't expect things to get any better.

Gannet77 · « **Reply #29 on:** May 04, 2014, 11:20 »

Well, my April sales were poor, but May seems to be starting out storming. 5 sales on a Sunday! Haven't had that many sales on a weekend day for years, I usually count myself lucky if I get one.

We shall see how it continues...

tickstock · « **Reply #30 on:** May 04, 2014, 13:57 »

StanRohrer · « **Reply #31 on:** May 05, 2014, 07:12 »

I made $8.20 in March in GI sales. Not a big factor in my continued Exclusivity decisions.

wds · « **Reply #32 on:** May 05, 2014, 07:39 »

Since iS shut down exclusive artist "promotion" of images from S to S+, for the most part GI sales will drive to zero in the future unless the artist consistently produces a significant number of Vetta images.

miladin14 · « **Reply #33 on:** May 12, 2014, 16:25 »

or simply - quality has to be improved

Karen · « **Reply #34 on:** May 27, 2014, 13:39 »

Quote from: Gannet77 on May 04, 2014, 11:20

Well, my April sales were poor, but May seems to be starting out storming. 5 sales on a Sunday! Haven't had that many sales on a weekend day for years.

My April were poor, but May is even worse - less then half of April.
Sales just disappeared. Where are all the buyers?

ShadySue · « **Reply #35 on:** May 27, 2014, 14:23 »

Buying subs, or on the DPC, or ...

Gannet77 · « **Reply #36 on:** May 27, 2014, 14:51 »

Quote from: Karen on May 27, 2014, 13:39

Quote from: Gannet77 on May 04, 2014, 11:20
Well, my April sales were poor, but May seems to be starting out storming. 5 sales on a Sunday! Haven't had that many sales on a weekend day for years.

My April were poor, but May is even worse - less then half of April.
Sales just disappeared. Where are all the buyers?

Well, the month for me didn't carry on quite as storming as it started, but stayed pretty good overall - certainly much better than April, which was abysmal. GI sales have been best for the year too. Still a long way short of BME, but not bad.

Karen · « **Reply #37 on:** May 28, 2014, 01:13 »

Looks like low-price iStock subs failed to attract even one single new buyer,
Though they made a huge drop in credit sales (-50% in my case).

This is the beginning of exclusives mass exodus from iStock.
Let the fun begin!!!

Monkeyman · « **Reply #38 on:** May 28, 2014, 06:29 »

My sales are going down the drain. May will be the worst month ever as exclusive, and income-wise I'm back to where I was after about one year in microstock (as independent). Depressing.

And the new subscription program is a joke, as I expected... I made six dollars in April.

Karen · « **Reply #39 on:** May 28, 2014, 07:58 »

Quote from: Monkeyman on May 28, 2014, 06:29

My sales are going down the drain. May will be the worst month ever as exclusive.

Too bad to be true.
Looks like accounting/reporting issue or bug, rather than real free fall.

landbysea · « **Reply #40 on:** May 28, 2014, 16:25 »

Almost non-existent now. No sub sales. Days go by with out a regular dl. I cash out 2x a month now instead of weekly. If not for GI sales it would be monthly or not at all. Worse thing is that I haven't had a file added to S+ or Vetta since the big change over a year ago. So GI sales can only decline over time. They didn't even move anything to main either although I sent the Pieman a link to the lightbox. I am getting paranoid that it is personal now. Just have to find a better place to park the world's greatest collection of deep water oil exploration, drilling and production images not taken from the air.

wds · « **Reply #41 on:** May 28, 2014, 16:44 »

Sales are quite poor. Reality is, you will know when it is time to leave exclusivity. If and when that time comes, it will be painfully obvious on an individual basis.

goober · « **Reply #42 on:** May 28, 2014, 22:34 »

I'm dropping like a rock.

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Author Topic: Exclusives - how are your sales lately? (Read 11282 times)

Dook

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