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Author Topic: iStock rebound?  (Read 19829 times)

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« Reply #50 on: January 27, 2009, 00:01 »
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my sales have nose dived...

Not that it's much consolation, but I know where you're coming from: my IS sales dropped from >1000 per month to <300. They've recovered to about 70% of their previous norm with this last best match change. It's a zero sum game: some win, some lose, and I'm happy to be back on the winning side again.


« Reply #51 on: January 27, 2009, 00:34 »
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Kyle - you have 52 files...!!! I would hardly say that you can judge the best match...no offense, I'm sure you will get there. and I am glad your sales are going well, but your performance is hardly a gauge

Yes that is true I only have 52 files on Istock. I have however, been on Istock for over a year now so I do have an idea of how this best match compares to past ones. My Istock portfolio is so small because about 80% of my images are raster illustrations, and they accept about 1/100 of those. The few that I did manage to get accepted outsell my photos by a large margin though. If they were more accepting of my raster illustrations, that would be a huge incentive for me to go exclusive.
« Last Edit: January 27, 2009, 00:36 by Kngkyle »

yecatsdoherty

« Reply #52 on: January 27, 2009, 00:35 »
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my sales have nose dived...

Not that it's much consolation, but I know where you're coming from: my IS sales dropped from >1000 per month to <300. They've recovered to about 70% of their previous norm with this last best match change. It's a zero sum game: some win, some lose, and I'm happy to be back on the winning side again.


well, that is some consolation, my sales have dropped the same, from 1000 approx to 300. so maybe things will pick up at some point. congrats that you are doing better, that's good news since we are very similar in numbers. thank you.

yecatsdoherty

« Reply #53 on: January 27, 2009, 00:37 »
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Kyle - you have 52 files...!!! I would hardly say that you can judge the best match...no offense, I'm sure you will get there. and I am glad your sales are going well, but your performance is hardly a gauge

Yes that is true I only have 52 files on Istock. I have however, been on Istock for over a year now so I do have an idea of how this best match compares to past ones. My Istock portfolio is so small because about 80% of my images are raster illustrations, and they accept about 1/100 of those. The few that I did manage to get accepted outsell my photos by a large margin though.

I sure wish I knew how to do vectors.....stupid camera ;-)

« Reply #54 on: January 27, 2009, 00:39 »
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Kyle - you have 52 files...!!! I would hardly say that you can judge the best match...no offense, I'm sure you will get there. and I am glad your sales are going well, but your performance is hardly a gauge

Yes that is true I only have 52 files on Istock. I have however, been on Istock for over a year now so I do have an idea of how this best match compares to past ones. My Istock portfolio is so small because about 80% of my images are raster illustrations, and they accept about 1/100 of those. The few that I did manage to get accepted outsell my photos by a large margin though.

I sure wish I knew how to do vectors.....stupid camera ;-)

I wish I had the motivation to learn how to do vectors. It probably wouldn't be too difficult of a transition from Photoshop to Illustrator.

« Reply #55 on: January 27, 2009, 00:42 »
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well, that is some consolation, my sales have dropped the same, from 1000 approx to 300. so maybe things will pick up at some point. congrats that you are doing better, that's good news since we are very similar in numbers. thank you.

On the down side, and I hate to tell you the bad news, the best match change resulted in about $4500 of lost income for me.
You might be wise to plan for something similar.

yecatsdoherty

« Reply #56 on: January 27, 2009, 00:47 »
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well, that is some consolation, my sales have dropped the same, from 1000 approx to 300. so maybe things will pick up at some point. congrats that you are doing better, that's good news since we are very similar in numbers. thank you.

On the down side, and I hate to tell you the bad news, the best match change resulted in about $4500 of lost income for me.
You might be wise to plan for something similar.


at this point, and especially because I can't get any answers from admins at all....I am counting on nothing, and anything else is gravy...I'm also a writer....I sure know how to pick careers to get rich with

jsnover

« Reply #57 on: January 27, 2009, 01:18 »
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I'm also a writer....I sure know how to pick careers to get rich with
And you have actor and musician to keep in reserve in case you find too steady an income in writing and photography :)

traveler1116

« Reply #58 on: January 27, 2009, 01:39 »
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You guys saying IS is down, are you comparing your sales now to the last few months?  You look like exclusives and it's common knowledge that the best match that was changed last fall/winter heavily favored exclusives (look at the rankings to the right, IS was a strong 2nd just before that change), pretty much all the nonexclusives sales died.  I was down over 50% overnight when the 1st change happened and then another 25% after the second one, but I would not compare my earnings now to then.  To me that was just IS giving exclusives a christmas bonus and now it's getting back to normal.  During both of those changes the best match thread in the forum got over 70 pages long and there wasn't a word from the admins about it, I wouldn't expect much different after this change.
« Last Edit: January 27, 2009, 01:52 by traveler1116 »

shank_ali

« Reply #59 on: January 27, 2009, 02:03 »
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Sales are now back to normal for me since the xmas break.Downloads on new files are minimal to say the least but that is expected.Even had sales this saturday and sunday which was the first this year.

« Reply #60 on: January 27, 2009, 03:17 »
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My sales seem to of returned after a big slump for the past 3 months.  I just hope best match 2.0 isn't as bipolar :)
« Last Edit: January 27, 2009, 08:05 by sharpshot »

« Reply #61 on: January 27, 2009, 05:35 »
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My sales have always been slow but steady. I make twice more money there by referring buyers

« Reply #62 on: January 27, 2009, 05:59 »
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I am sure I will get beyond my December earnings there, but doubt I will reach the levels of October or November and not sure I can go back to where I was November 2007. But, would love to be corrected... .

Well, with the month being close to over I see my prediction to be correct. So far I went beyond Decembers earnings but am nowhere near the levels of October 2008, which was, if I may add, my second worst month at Istock last year. Earnings will probably be around 60% of what they were in January 2008. I plan a stronger push to uploading images to istock the next weeks. So maybe that will help. Not sure though.

« Reply #63 on: January 27, 2009, 10:18 »
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More EL sales yesterday than the whole of last year :-)) But it was only 2 :-)
However, this month has shown a decent increase in the number of downloads encouraging me to start uploading regularly again. Also, approvals have gone up. Perhaps there is hope for us non-exclusives!

« Reply #64 on: January 27, 2009, 10:49 »
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sales are definately on the increase :) you got 2 ELs in 1 day. Im yet to get any dam you :p

lisafx

« Reply #65 on: January 27, 2009, 12:03 »
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I mentioned it in the "totalitarian" thread, but I'll agree here, that sales at istock are not down across the board.  Just shifted. 

The people who got a HUGE bonus of sales from mid October through December are no longer so heavily favored, and those of us who lost thousands of $ in sales during that time are recovering to the sales levels we had before that massive best match shakeup in October. 

yecatsdoherty

« Reply #66 on: January 27, 2009, 12:07 »
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I mentioned it in the "totalitarian" thread, but I'll agree here, that sales at istock are not down across the board.  Just shifted. 

The people who got a HUGE bonus of sales from mid October through December are no longer so heavily favored, and those of us who lost thousands of $ in sales during that time are recovering to the sales levels we had before that massive best match shakeup in October. 

well, even though I am not benefitting.....this does make me feel better. as long as the best match remains dynamic.

« Reply #67 on: January 27, 2009, 12:19 »
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I'm not seeing anything like a rebound.  This month I'm on target to equal my second worst month at iS in two years (May 08), with of course a far larger portfolio.  I'm only up 13% over December 08, my worst month, which was down 40% from November.

« Reply #68 on: January 27, 2009, 13:36 »
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Well I have a very small sample size but I do have duration working for me.  In 4 years of IStock, this will be my BME by 1.5x with absolutely 0 new images in at least 3-5 months.


« Reply #69 on: January 27, 2009, 14:39 »
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I mentioned it in the "totalitarian" thread, but I'll agree here, that sales at istock are not down across the board.  Just shifted. 

The people who got a HUGE bonus of sales from mid October through December are no longer so heavily favored, and those of us who lost thousands of $ in sales during that time are recovering to the sales levels we had before that massive best match shakeup in October. 

Yes, I'm seeing the same.  The previous best match favored exclusives very much.  But like I said before this didn't serve the buyers who don't care if they have to buy from exclusives or non-exclusives, they just want the best images (best match ?) in front of them.  IS restored that imho.  Now those who got a boost from that weird best match are seeing a drop.

My sales are back to normal.  I think this will be my best month since feb.

lisafx

« Reply #70 on: January 27, 2009, 14:48 »
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Well I have a very small sample size but I do have duration working for me.  In 4 years of IStock, this will be my BME by 1.5x with absolutely 0 new images in at least 3-5 months.



Regardless of your sample size I think you are making a very relevant point.  This best match is favoring older images much more than newer ones.  As a result people like you and I, who have lots of older images are doing well in January, whereas people like Stacey whose portfolios are mostly newer are being hit hard.  

I have a lot of newer stuff and it is hardly selling at all on IS lately.  Hopefully in time they will settle on a best match that showcases the best of old and new work, exclusive and non-exclusive work.  

Hey, I can dream, can't I? :)

abimages

« Reply #71 on: January 27, 2009, 14:56 »
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Well I have a very small sample size but I do have duration working for me.  In 4 years of IStock, this will be my BME by 1.5x with absolutely 0 new images in at least 3-5 months.



Regardless of your sample size I think you are making a very relevant point.  This best match is favoring older images much more than newer ones.  As a result people like you and I, who have lots of older images are doing well in January, whereas people like Stacey whose portfolios are mostly newer are being hit hard.  

I have a lot of newer stuff and it is hardly selling at all on IS lately.  Hopefully in time they will settle on a best match that showcases the best of old and new work, exclusive and non-exclusive work.  

Hey, I can dream, can't I? :)


Hey Lisa we can all dream about that!

But like you I see a lot of my old timers returning to see some downloads again. :)

« Reply #72 on: January 27, 2009, 15:39 »
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Regardless of your sample size I think you are making a very relevant point.  This best match is favoring older images much more than newer ones.  As a result people like you and I, who have lots of older images are doing well in January, whereas people like Stacey whose portfolios are mostly newer are being hit hard.  

Given that I have a very small port (< 100) and want to start uploading regularly, I'm all for favoring newer images...after this month. ;)

shank_ali

« Reply #73 on: January 27, 2009, 15:59 »
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I think ALL new  files need to mature in the library.What i am expierancing is alot of files uploaded over 3/6 months ago are beginning to attract small but regular sales now.
You do all realise the new best match 2.0 won't work.Honestly can you really believe istockphoto have developed a perfect formula for best match.
It will change on a regular basis like before for the benifit of more revenue for istockphoto not for the buyers and certaintly not for us the  contributors. and the excuse will be the data has changed ,the buyers are keywording differently,we tweaked this and that...

shank_ali

« Reply #74 on: January 27, 2009, 16:46 »
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just looked closely at yesterday 8 sales and todays nine and nearly everyone has had one or more review,hmmmm


 

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