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Author Topic: IS Changes best match Algorithm Again!  (Read 34837 times)

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« Reply #125 on: October 29, 2008, 08:16 »
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I hope that this is not the way to get rid of new photographers.

"Devil shits on a large bunch!"


bittersweet

« Reply #126 on: October 29, 2008, 08:30 »
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I hope that this is not the way to get rid of new photographers.

"Devil shits on a large bunch!"

Yes, that is what it is. They are trying to get rid of all vector artists, too, and all videographers. Instead of just not accepting new contributors during the application process, they thought it would be more fun to approve them and then just kill whatever work they produce. But only those that belong to non-exclusives. Oh, and they are also hoping that this will discourage everyone from uploading anything at all so there won't be any new work that they have to inspect. They just want to let the inspectors take a break from inspecting new files so that they can catch up on going through and removing all the relevant keywords from a bunch of files. But only those that belong to non-exclusives.

j2k

« Reply #127 on: October 29, 2008, 15:01 »
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Not only my sales plummeted, but also I didn't sell anything bigger than medium in two weeks. That's quite unusual.

To top it off some *!~ is killing all my keyword in my better selling files. I sincerely hope the best match will get another revision soon. I don't think it can get any worse.

EDIT: got a L sale today. yay.
« Last Edit: October 30, 2008, 15:50 by j2k »

« Reply #128 on: October 29, 2008, 16:25 »
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I don't think it can get any worse.

I bet they are working on this right now.  ;D

Regards,
Adelaide

« Reply #129 on: October 29, 2008, 17:18 »
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One nice consequence of this best match is that difficults very much the "work" of a handful of contributors specialized in copying successful images/concepts, often down to the keywords, with the hope of having a best search psition than the original, and "get" its downloads.

bittersweet

« Reply #130 on: October 29, 2008, 17:23 »
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One nice consequence of this best match is that difficults very much the "work" of a handful of contributors specialized in copying successful images/concepts, often down to the keywords, with the hope of having a best search psition than the original, and "get" its downloads.

Yeah, I've enjoyed that little perk as well, having the first of a subject on the site that ended up being copied by dozens of others. My originals have been selling again.

lisafx

« Reply #131 on: October 31, 2008, 12:30 »
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One nice consequence of this best match is that difficults very much the "work" of a handful of contributors specialized in copying successful images/concepts, often down to the keywords, with the hope of having a best search psition than the original, and "get" its downloads.

Yeah, I've enjoyed that little perk as well, having the first of a subject on the site that ended up being copied by dozens of others. My originals have been selling again.

This is a really good point!  It's nice to see older files sell.

Unfortunately my overall sales are down so badly this past week that it's hard to see a silver lining.  If not for great sales the first week, before the new best match, October would be tragic for me. As it is it managed to tie my summer months (?!) and down a bit on Sept.

If this best match continues though, I will have the most dismal November ever. 

bittersweet

« Reply #132 on: October 31, 2008, 13:03 »
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As it goes on, Lisa you seem to be one of the few photographers who still acknowledges that the vector/video slam is a problem. (Thank you for that!) I've grown a bit weary of hearing the "it's your turn to lose" argument from those who are obviously benefiting hugely from this error (since I don't remember having a turn to WIN yet!!) and I wish that iStock would not have promised a "fast" resolution and then not only NOT delivered that fast resolution, but also have been completely silent to explain why it's not quite as fast as (I hope) they had planned.

I have no doubt that they are working on it, but it pisses me to no end to get promises and then the silent treatment.

« Reply #133 on: October 31, 2008, 13:47 »
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This is the first month where Fotolia took 2nd place (after Shutterstock) instead of Istock.  October will be a BME for every stock site, except Istock.  Istock will reach 50% BELOW BME. 
Congratulations Fotolia for covering my Istock loss !

lisafx

« Reply #134 on: October 31, 2008, 16:36 »
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As it goes on, Lisa you seem to be one of the few photographers who still acknowledges that the vector/video slam is a problem. (Thank you for that!) I've grown a bit weary of hearing the "it's your turn to lose" argument from those who are obviously benefiting hugely from this error (since I don't remember having a turn to WIN yet!!) and I wish that iStock would not have promised a "fast" resolution and then not only NOT delivered that fast resolution, but also have been completely silent to explain why it's not quite as fast as (I hope) they had planned.

I have no doubt that they are working on it, but it pisses me to no end to get promises and then the silent treatment.


Photographers may not be saying it much, but the buyers who have weighed in on that thread have said they WANT the best match to mix the various types of media. 

To borrow a phrase we Americans are hearing a lot in this election, Istock seems to be trying to "redistribute the wealth" with their best match.  It really makes me wonder why they are trying so hard to supress some groups and favor others. 

I can't help but wonder if overall sales are down and the only way to disguise that fact from their top exclusive contributors is to slant the search heavily in their favor...

My sales on other sites are not reflecting this downward trend at all.  In fact, they are showing the expected bump as the holiday season ramps up. 

 

bittersweet

« Reply #135 on: October 31, 2008, 16:59 »
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I can't help but wonder if overall sales are down and the only way to disguise that fact from their top exclusive contributors is to slant the search heavily in their favor...

There are quite a few top exclusive contributors who are vector artists. Remember what the zeitgeist USED to look like? Vectors are big money for istock. Averaging out the most frequent size sales, I'm guessing they have to sell multiple photos to make up for one lost vector sale. I'm not as familiar with video pricing, but I'd say that the same holds true, but that they are less likely to be interchangeable.



lisafx

« Reply #136 on: October 31, 2008, 17:22 »
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Totally agree about vectors.  Their popularity combined with the complexity involved in producing them are good reasons to keep them visible.   

I honestly believe that has been an unintended consequence of this latest best match.  Can't imagine istock would intentionally bury its vectors, but I am baffled why this has gone on a couple of weeks and still not fixed....???
« Last Edit: October 31, 2008, 17:24 by lisafx »

« Reply #137 on: October 31, 2008, 19:14 »
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It really makes me wonder why they are trying so hard to supress some groups and favor others.  I can't help but wonder if overall sales are down and the only way to disguise that fact from their top exclusive contributors is to slant the search heavily in their favor...
 

Any best match or any default search result at any site will favore some groups and prejudice others, I think this is easy to understand.
About overall sales... do the math, now the numbers are available. I don't see any sign of sales going down. Ath this has merit, considering the price increase.
« Last Edit: October 31, 2008, 19:19 by loop »

« Reply #138 on: October 31, 2008, 19:54 »
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...considering the price increase.

Price increase!

Did I miss something?

« Reply #139 on: October 31, 2008, 20:00 »
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I meant price increase last Jaunuary.

traveler1116

« Reply #140 on: October 31, 2008, 21:29 »
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The new best match has caused me to start submitting to other sites.   I was very close to going exclusive there but it's not worth the risk so now I am going to expand to other sites.  BTW sales down 50% with the last half of the month closer to 70% down and all this when I am having BMEs on 5 other sites.

« Reply #141 on: October 31, 2008, 23:51 »
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About overall sales... do the math, now the numbers are available. I don't see any sign of sales going down


Where can we see those figures? I have been presuming that their growth, while certainly not at a standstill, was likely slowing but that has only been a hunch based on anecdotal evidence to be honest and seeing much faster growth on the other sites  - would love to see actual figures showing that they were as strong as ever ... might change my strategy a bit ...?

bittersweet

« Reply #142 on: November 01, 2008, 00:00 »
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About overall sales... do the math, now the numbers are available. I don't see any sign of sales going down


Where can we see those figures? I have been presuming that their growth, while certainly not at a standstill, was likely slowing but that has only been a hunch based on anecdotal evidence to be honest and seeing much faster growth on the other sites  - would love to see actual figures showing that they were as strong as ever ... might change my strategy a bit ...?

These actual numbers have not been made public by iStock. Anything that you can compile on your own is not going to be an exact dollar amount because there is absolutely no way to know whether 1 download = 1 credit or 15 credits.


 

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