MicrostockGroup Sponsors


Author Topic: Istock's back  (Read 35744 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

« Reply #25 on: September 14, 2014, 02:03 »
0
Double post


« Reply #26 on: September 14, 2014, 03:49 »
+1
I know that a prostitute with a better make-up will have more customers, but can somebody explain me how a change of interface can/will raise the contributors earnings?

Well, as  you say, maybe more customers. If you are talking about the whole restructuring then it will raise earnings for me (if the sales remain the same) because my average sale commission was less than the minimum commission under the new structure. It seems designers and exclusives will get their earnings cut. So it depends on the individual's circumstances.

« Reply #27 on: September 14, 2014, 03:51 »
+1
How about exclusives? Should be pretty good stuff that I would buy 3x credits.

I think iStock will definitely drive more credit sales now, but does it compensate the $ earnings.

Next movement should be raising the contributor commissions to a decent level.

« Reply #28 on: September 14, 2014, 03:56 »
+1
Might be worth noting that the iStock exclusive earnings rating on the right, which was more than 300 last year and about 150 last month is now down to 138.8 as of Sept 14.  It will be interesting to see where it goes next month.

stocked

« Reply #29 on: September 14, 2014, 06:05 »
0
It's a little bit better now  8)

« Reply #30 on: September 14, 2014, 07:21 »
0
If 1 credit is 12,50 (how much US dollars is it?):

My files priced at 1 old credit will make more money now (made a sale that netted me $1.38 instead of the usual $0.37)
My files priced at 5 old credits will probably make the same amount, if the credit price won't go down too much, I think.
My files priced at 12 old credits will go down drastically.

My video's will go down drastically, they're now priced 6 new credits. The buyer pays 6 credits (48,75 54.25), so I'll be getting 7.31 8.14(15%) which is roughly $9.50 $10.54 instead of $24.80...
Time to remove them.
« Last Edit: September 14, 2014, 07:43 by Noedelhap »

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #31 on: September 14, 2014, 08:01 »
+2
Unless you usually sell a lot of xs images or 1-credit vectors, you're screwed. My second sale went the same way today....1/3 of what I used to get. I have a few 5-credit files, sales of which would pretty much break even, but the majority of my images were 12-22 credits, so my new earnings are not looking good at all. I'm predicting iStock will soon be neck and neck with Dreamstime for me.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #32 on: September 14, 2014, 08:24 »
0
They're really plugging subscriptions. Go to the plans and pricing page and credit sales are in a narrow grey headered column and sub sales are in a wide, red-headed column.

« Reply #33 on: September 14, 2014, 08:33 »
0
I know that a prostitute with a better make-up will have more customers, but can somebody explain me how a change of interface can/will raise the contributors earnings?


simplicity, if a task is simpler  is also faster, and time is money

« Reply #34 on: September 14, 2014, 08:46 »
-14
Thank you iStock!

a file that usually made me $4.50 to $4.90 just made me $1.50

Once again, you screwed us BIG
I don't get it.

If you don't like it, just pull out your portfolio, nobody is forcing you to contribute; it's a free market.

Edit: Yeah, downvote as much as you like, but that's the reality. Nobody owes you (us) anything. But we can shape the market because we have a choice. Stop being a victim. If you don't like it, do something instead of bitching.
« Last Edit: September 14, 2014, 09:40 by spike »

« Reply #35 on: September 14, 2014, 09:08 »
+4
Two sales of Large files since the change yesterday. Both would have paid me $22 before; each paid $7.35 this time. Looks like it's time to take a walk.

Uncle Pete

« Reply #36 on: September 14, 2014, 09:16 »
0
True but you don't know that! Someone needs to go through and see how many XS they had (for example) last month for 8c, 12c 24c or whatever piddly amount, then see how many XXLs they had for a larger number and then see if they are getting more or less, for the same images.

You can't assume that XXLs now would ever have been an XXL last week.

Second, IS is right that size doesn't matter. It could if the native size of an image was used for pricing, but if you have an 18MB file and someone DLs a XS or a XXL it's still the same image, isn't it? Just electronically altered.

What's the difference? It's not like paper, or on media. It's electrons. No added expense, no added value, and the person who buys the license can upscale or reduce, according to their needs. (meaning buy a smaller size for less and make it larger for the web)

Pricing by size is a flawed concept in digital downloads. (with the exception of native resolution and size, as mentioned above)

Tell me why someone should get 600% less, because the agency downsizes the identical image? Are you saying you like making less?

One size pricing is better balance, less confusing for everyone. Lets give it a chance before tossing it into the trash bin?


His XXL today might have been an XXL last week.

Uncle Pete

« Reply #37 on: September 14, 2014, 09:21 »
+2
I'll try again and hope. How do you know that these would have been Large sales last week? It's not last week, it's now. How do you know that they wouldn't have been XS DLs last week, for much less?

See what I'm trying to get at. We don't know but people are assuming the worst. There's no way to know.

I think people need to calm down and watch for a month or more and see how DLs commissions are compared to their usual return for the same volume of sales. That needs to be against an average also, not August 2014 vs Nov 2014!  :D

RPD for equal sales numbers over a longer period of time than one day.

We Don't Know Yet.

Two sales of Large files since the change yesterday. Both would have paid me $22 before; each paid $7.35 this time. Looks like it's time to take a walk.

« Reply #38 on: September 14, 2014, 09:23 »
+1
The simple solution is to look at the number of ordinary  iS sales you had last month and how much they made and then divide the earnings by the volume to find out what your average sale value is.  In my case it was 80 or 90c.

Mind you, I have not yet had a single sale on the new system.

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #39 on: September 14, 2014, 09:33 »
+4
I'll try again and hope. How do you know that these would have been Large sales last week? It's not last week, it's now. How do you know that they wouldn't have been XS DLs last week, for much less?

See what I'm trying to get at. We don't know but people are assuming the worst. There's no way to know.

I think people need to calm down and watch for a month or more and see how DLs commissions are compared to their usual return for the same volume of sales. That needs to be against an average also, not August 2014 vs Nov 2014!  :D

RPD for equal sales numbers over a longer period of time than one day.

We Don't Know Yet.

Two sales of Large files since the change yesterday. Both would have paid me $22 before; each paid $7.35 this time. Looks like it's time to take a walk.

My sales will have to instantly triple in volume just for me to reach the new low in earnings I've been getting since subs were introduced. I don't think that's likely; do you?

Uncle Pete

« Reply #40 on: September 14, 2014, 09:41 »
0
Thanks that's what I'm trying to say. We don't know yet, don't know volume or how it effects the average RPD. Although I don't really expect any change in how many sales I get, but I'm wondering how many of my XS will now be at a mid-point and higher.

The simple solution is to look at the number of ordinary  iS sales you had last month and how much they made and then divide the earnings by the volume to find out what your average sale value is.  In my case it was 80 or 90c.

Mind you, I have not yet had a single sale on the new system.

Sorry Shelma I don't understand what you are writing about subs and the One Price for all sizes?

For me subs have been dismal and TS hasn't been very productive. (but TS has managed to cut into IS sales in a big way and reduce my income) I'm getting a cut for the S files re-badged and my Getty Exclusive will get some kind of a cut as well. But I'm willing to wait and see the numbers for the one size plan and see if it's better or worse.

My sales will have to instantly triple in volume just for me to reach the new low in earnings I've been getting since subs were introduced. I don't think that's likely; do you?

If the point is, does anyone like subs or TS, my answer is NO!   >:(
« Last Edit: September 14, 2014, 09:46 by Uncle Pete »

« Reply #41 on: September 14, 2014, 09:48 »
0
I made a sale this morning, which falls under the new guidelines. (non-exclusive) How do I find out how much I got for that sale? If I look at the financial section, it shows what that file has earned over it's lifetime, but I can't figure out how much it earned today. For instance, what if it sold with an extended license?

« Reply #42 on: September 14, 2014, 09:52 »
+6
Uncle Pete, I don't need any more data. My average RPD was north of $12 before the Total Makeover. Now it clearly will be around $7, because sales of files larger than "Large" are rare. Hardly anyone needs an XL or XXL file. The "average" file size (extracted from RPD) WAS was a Medium. And Medium is large enough for most print applications to say nothing of the web, where Smalls and XS files rule. Sizes needed won't change.

I'll say that again. Sizes needed won't change.

Now-- Sizes downloaded MIGHT change, because you can get more for less now. But in the last 24 hours it has been proven to me beyond a shadow of a doubt, that my income will drop by 65% for larger images, and about 40% on average. And those are ugly statistics.
« Last Edit: September 14, 2014, 09:55 by Shooterguy »

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #43 on: September 14, 2014, 09:58 »
0
I made a sale this morning, which falls under the new guidelines. (non-exclusive) How do I find out how much I got for that sale? If I look at the financial section, it shows what that file has earned over it's lifetime, but I can't figure out how much it earned today. For instance, what if it sold with an extended license?

If you look at your most recent downloads and click on the amount the file has earned, a chart will appear showing each download and how much you earned from each.

« Reply #44 on: September 14, 2014, 09:58 »
+6
Thank you iStock!

a file that usually made me $4.50 to $4.90 just made me $1.50

Once again, you screwed us BIG
I don't get it.

If you don't like it, just pull out your portfolio, nobody is forcing you to contribute; it's a free market.

Edit: Yeah, downvote as much as you like, but that's the reality. Nobody owes you (us) anything. But we can shape the market because we have a choice. Stop being a victim. If you don't like it, do something instead of bitching.

It's not that hard of a concept to grasp.  One week you are making a certain level of income.  The source controlling that income says starting next week I will be paying you less, much less, for the same effort and content.  No supplier would be happy with that and many will pull their portfolio.  But those relying on the income may need to keep the meager portion for awhile while they implement plan B and they are not likely to keep quiet in the interim.

It's not unlike supplying Walmart.  High volume for the supplier offsets tight margins but when they start squeezing you for more it becomes unsustainable for the supplier yet to walk away creates it's own set of financial issues.
« Last Edit: September 14, 2014, 10:02 by klsbear »

Uncle Pete

« Reply #45 on: September 14, 2014, 10:03 »
+1
Got it... based on past average returns and Max. potential for the same volume, it will be down. And I'd agree with that assessment since you know best what your long term RPD history is. Some people it could be an increase. (like me with more small DLs than XXLs) Anyone like yourself, it won't.

Also NO, I have no expectations of increased volume to make up for this. Which would be the way it could balance.

Many people just got a cut, some got a raise. But for someone to say "I just got an XXL that could have earned ### last week", is flawed logic. It also could have been an XS and earned much less. That's where I started but seem to be talking to a brick wall.

Uncle Pete, I don't need any more data. My average RPD was north of $12 before the Total Makeover. Now it clearly will be around $7, because sales of files larger than "Large" are rare. Hardly anyone needs an XL or XXL file. The "average" file size (extracted from RPD) WAS was a Medium. And Medium is large enough for most print applications to say nothing of the web, where Smalls and XS files rule. Sizes needed won't change.

I'll say that again. Sizes needed won't change.

Now-- Sizes downloaded MIGHT change, because you can get more for less now. But in the last 24 hours it has been proven to me beyond a shadow of a doubt, that my income will drop by 65% for larger images, and about 40% on average. And those are ugly statistics.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #46 on: September 14, 2014, 10:16 »
+2
FI, iS hadn't sold XS files for a while before the change, the smallest for months was S.

What will happen is that iS will probably lose sales from small-time bloggers, but that's so obvious, they'd hopefully have factored that into the decision of the current change. Maybe there aren't all that many of these.

Probably buyers who typically use images in small sizes, e.g. in newsletters or small format magazines might also start looking elsewhere. Again, maybe there aren't many of these.

OTOH, why exclude some potential buyers?

Plaaying Devil's Advocate, on one side, why should a blogger wanting a small image pay as much as a company wanting to use an image on hoardings or full page in a glossy magazine. On the other side, an image might be on a hoarding or magazine for a week or month, but on a website for years (or just a day).

For myself, as I had almost no Vettas and relatively very few S+, I could stand to gain a bit from this new arrangement - if there are more sales.
People with a lot of Vettas and S+ stand to lose quite substantially from iS alone, especially as they are pushing subs so strongly.

All anyone can do is suck it and see - or leave.

BoBoBolinski

« Reply #47 on: September 14, 2014, 10:40 »
0
Well I'm seeing some reasonable sales for a Sunday so I'm quite happy at the moment. (better just stress that last bit)
I'm not bothered what individual files earn, in fact I've long hoped for a lowering of prices, all that matters is what I have at the end of the week.

wds

« Reply #48 on: September 14, 2014, 10:48 »
+1
We have to give this a few months to see the real impact of these changes. The changes are quite significant, not just a simple price change. There will most likely be short term (major changes in pricing impacting current customer purchases) and long term (market share) impacts. We have to give it time.

« Reply #49 on: September 14, 2014, 11:01 »
0
according to the poll results here to our right,

IS exclusive 138.8   vs SS 91.7 (and sinking)
does it mean that IS is doing much better than SS???

if so, IS is still not doing badly. just wondering. perharps exclusives can tune us in on that.
(thx in advance)


 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
35 Replies
10872 Views
Last post January 20, 2012, 15:55
by cathyslife
6 Replies
3494 Views
Last post August 06, 2012, 15:13
by red
4 Replies
3383 Views
Last post April 04, 2016, 14:01
by Anyka
6 Replies
5246 Views
Last post April 27, 2016, 09:42
by marthamarks
1 Replies
2213 Views
Last post February 12, 2017, 17:49
by ShadySue

Sponsors

Mega Bundle of 5,900+ Professional Lightroom Presets

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors