no dls in days. I have a small portfolio but I used to sell slowly but steadily. Now - nothing in days. I am at 269 or so dls - am I bronze now or not?Yes, you qualify to be bronze but not all the canisters have been changed yet. The canister painter takes a few days sometimes for all levels (unfortunately).
Would that make a (tangible) difference to me?As a non-exclusive, a new canister level means higher upload limits. As an exclusive, a new canister level also means higher payout percentages.
At this rate I surely won't even think about exclusivity.I can understand your apprehension. It's hard to offer much help without seeing your portfolio, or knowing how large it is or how long it's been up. If you have a very small portfolio and have had several days with zero downloads, it's a lot different than if you have an average sized portfolio and have had several days with zero downloads. Summer is typically slower, but without knowing your numbers, can't say if it's way out of line with what might be expected. Sorry.
IS has been picking up for me lately. Not a huge amount ($100+/month), but the trend is definitely there.
I don't think that your "canister level" (as IS refers to it) is a factor in their search routine. Given that you have a small portfolio, why not take the time to investigate why images that were selling no longer are?
IS has been picking up for me lately. Not a huge amount ($100+/month), but the trend is definitely there.
I don't think that your "canister level" (as IS refers to it) is a factor in their search routine. Given that you have a small portfolio, why not take the time to investigate why images that were selling no longer are?
... how you would investigate why certain images aren't selling anymore ...
Hi..no disrespect intended believe me but I have to ask how you would investigate why certain images aren't selling anymore especially when your area of expertise is a port full of airplanes, skies and photoshop? ... I think many contributors at iStock would be interested in what you think is the problem with diminishing sales including some exclusives I know.I'm guessing that the problem may be that the images are no longer selling well due to either increased competition or unfavorable keyword weighting.
Anyway, the development at ss/is is still kind of surprising for me:
ss sales was #1 right away, nearly twice the numbers of dt/is. But since may ss is flat with a slight decrease. IS sales increased a lot in July (after a flat June), this month creating 15% more $$ than ss. Basically I have the same images on both sides (little deviations of course). So I´m a bit puzzled why SS sales is rather disappointing and IS is doing so good for my images. But maybe it´s the normal fluctuation of a small portfolio.
Small portfolio, was accepted by istock and shutterstock in March 2007 (DT since September 2007). So I know statistical conclusions are problematic. Anyway, the development at ss/is is still kind of surprising for me:
ss sales was #1 right away, nearly twice the numbers of dt/is. But since may ss is flat with a slight decrease. IS sales increased a lot in July (after a flat June), this month creating 15% more $$ than ss. Basically I have the same images on both sides (little deviations of course). So I´m a bit puzzled why SS sales is rather disappointing and IS is doing so good for my images. But maybe it´s the normal fluctuation of a small portfolio.
[... you have to keep uploading new material constantly in order to maintain your download rate.I think of it as feeding the monster. Ya gotta keep him happy or things will go south in a hurry. Leaf once commented that his sales dropped by about 2/3 when he stopped uploading to SS.
[... you have to keep uploading new material constantly in order to maintain your download rate.I think of it as feeding the monster. Ya gotta keep him happy or things will go south in a hurry. Leaf once commented that his sales dropped by about 2/3 when he stopped uploading to SS.
Small portfolio, was accepted by istock and shutterstock in March 2007 (DT since September 2007). So I know statistical conclusions are problematic. Anyway, the development at ss/is is still kind of surprising for me:
ss sales was #1 right away, nearly twice the numbers of dt/is. But since may ss is flat with a slight decrease. IS sales increased a lot in July (after a flat June), this month creating 15% more $$ than ss. Basically I have the same images on both sides (little deviations of course). So I´m a bit puzzled why SS sales is rather disappointing and IS is doing so good for my images. But maybe it´s the normal fluctuation of a small portfolio.
It's the subscription program. Subscribers download new stuff when it appears. If you don't upload new stuff, you don't get as many downloads, so instead of each image being a potential "nest egg" that you can collect on indefinitely, you have to keep uploading new material constantly in order to maintain your download rate.
... SS-sales can be used and interpreted as a market "indicator" (dont blame SS, blame yourself....). Sobering, but good - so I dont waste time and energy to go into the wrong direction.I've found that SS isn't that good an indicator of what will universally sell well. Its business model is such that users are inclined to DL images they don't immediately need, and that can artificially inflate the demand for any given image. I'm sure there are plenty of people who have images that sell well on SS and linger in obscurity elsewhere (vice-versa, too). Flickr's "interestingness" rating works similarly.
I've found that SS isn't that good an indicator of what will universally sell well. Its business model is such that users are inclined to DL images they don't immediately need, and that can artificially inflate the demand for any given image. I'm sure there are plenty of people who have images that sell well on SS and linger in obscurity elsewhere (vice-versa, too). Flickr's "interestingness" rating works similarly.
I'm guessing that the problem may be that the images are no longer selling well due to either increased competition or unfavorable keyword weighting.
With certain sites I think there is a bit more to it than this and they keep it a secret for a reason.
As far as my expertise in aircraft goes, this is not so correct - I began shooting this stuff only six months ago, after I began shooting stock exclusively and noticed that the existing imagery in this area was for the most part 'amateury' and 'snapshottish'. Prior to my involvement with microstock I specialized in studio portraiture and live performance photography. The reason I don't shoot and post that kind of stuff is that the market is already very flooded with it, and I'd rather compete in an area that's visibly weaker. Better to be a big fish in a small pond than vice versa, I think. On a related note, I think I've taken the airplane thing about as far as it can go, and will be changing specialties soon ...