istock: "Hello there,

As noted in our October Newsletter we are actively working towards educating our contributor base on Search Engine Optimization and their content. We are reaching out to a number of our contributors to request for their participation in our Search Engine Optimization testing. Our plan is to adjust the titles and descriptions of 19,000 images from a number of our contributors to meet the testing requirements. You are one of those contributors we were hoping to have participate in this testing.

You can view our article SEO | Help Customers Find Your Images if you would like some additional information on what Search Engine Optimization can do for your images.

The purpose of this test is to understand what the ROI is for updating and optimizing asset titles and descriptions and to understand how description length plays a role in how ADPs (Asset Detail Pages) are ranked in search engines. The 19K assets were selected based on iStock�s site analytics data based on visits coming from search, along with customer download behavior. Assuming this test provides the lift we are expecting, it will give us great information to help convince contributors that there is value in having them optimize their incoming / existing asset submissions. Our expectation is that the test will yield a more positive customer experience and increase their purchasing of your assets.

If you are happy to participate you don�t need to respond to this email. We will just keep you on our testing list.

If you would like to request a full list of the images and/or videos from your portfolio we will be testing with please use this IMAGE LIST link. We will then send you a breakdown of the files we will be using for the test. Please understand we won�t be able to remove specific images nor add any additional images. We will need you to contact us before November 4, 2014.

If you choose not to participate please respond to this email please use this OPT OUT link and we will immediately remove you from our test list.
We will need you to contact us before November 4, 2014. 

We would greatly appreciate your participation."

I got one too.  I don't mind being part of the test as long as they don't expect me to do anything.  I won't be manually changing my descriptions tho, and if they want that they are S0L

I got one too.  I don't mind being part of the test as long as they don't expect me to do anything.  I won't be manually changing my descriptions tho, and if they want that they are S0L

I know it will sound a bit Eeyore (doom and gloom), but suppose whatever changes they make were a mess (sales stop completely for those images)? I'm sure you're supposed to change things back if you don't like it. Depending upon how many images you'd have to edit to fix what they did, you might want to ask for a promise that if they break it they fix it

The thing is, if it works they expect YOU to go change all your image titles and descriptions to whatever the criteria is.

Unless I misunderstand their email it sounds like iStock is asking certain contributors to help them (iStock) better understand how SEO works.....shouldn't they already know that?

But titles and descriptions aren't part of the search, so messing with those won't directly affect buyer happiness while using the site.

But titles and descriptions aren't part of the search, so messing with those won't directly affect buyer happiness while using the site.

They're part of Google search. Which of these would you rather see in the Google search results? Which would show up higher in Google search results for someone looking for Jumping Goldfish? Which would drive more relevant traffic?

Image #216
Goldfish

Goldfish Jumping Between Fishbowls on White - Stock Photo
Stock photo of a goldfish jumping between two round fishbowls isolated on a white background.

"Our expectation is that the test will yield a more positive customer experience and increase their purchasing of your assets."

Got that email too. I wish that they focused on promoting a more positive seller experience. I would be so happy if I could upload to iStock the way I do to every other agency. I don't remember the last time I uploaded to them just because of the pain it is to put the files online.

No, I understand they're trying to figure out how to game the Google.  I was specifically speaking to: "Our expectation is that the test will yield a more positive customer experience and increase their purchasing of your assets."

It won't have anything to do with yielding a "more positive customer experience".

Besides, are we talking web search or image search on Google?

I'd guess it's both to give users a more consistent experience across all search options.

If I search Google or IS for "Fruit on White" and most contributors are keyword stuffing titles, descriptions and keywords with "fruit" when the picture is a plate of meat on a brown table I'm going to start looking somewhere else.

I'm not part of this experiment, and if they'd be inserting stupid descriptions like their example of the boy and dog, I'm very glad.

Ha, back in the day, I was told NOT to write things like "X is a migratory species which winters in Southern Africa and summers in western Europe" in my description, though IIRC that wasn't admin advice but that of those already well established in stock, and no admin contradicted the advice.

Besides, win on Google today, lose tomorrow when they change again.

I got the letter too and am happy to go along with the proposal.  Maybe it will help to get sales moving. 

As we all know SEO can have pretty significant impact on search response function.  And, limited as I am with my own direct knowledge on this topic, would be happy if someone who knows more would test out alternative wording.  If it works thats great! If it doesn't, well, I honestly feel I wouldn't be losing too much.

My comments at iStock.......

I got the letter as well.

So I was thinking that iStock already knows what keywords were used to buy any image. The keywords we see on the image page are to be sorted by this sales data. Why manual edit a lot of file names? iStock should just append the top 3 or 5 selling keywords to the SEO file name. With a special character or something this could be a running demon that updates the SEO file names as the keyword order changes and could be done on the whole site, not just the files where people get excited enough to do the manual labor. Yes?

The trouble with this system is that you can be stymied by 'odd' search successes (i.e. bought on lesser, though still relevant keywords) at the beginning, so your file can be lost on its 'main' keywords.

I'm not part of this experiment, and if they'd be inserting stupid descriptions like their example of the boy and dog, I'm very glad.

Though clearly, WDIK?
'according to Lobo' "Please review the SEO article to get a better idea of what we are planning to do. The examples in there are terrific."