Author Topic: Istock vs others (Read 19091 times)

Freedom · « **Reply #25 on:** September 08, 2012, 17:57 »

Traveller, my last post was actually a response to your post above it. Nope, I am not making 4 times more than what I made from IS before becoming exclusive, in case my previous posts casted any doubts.

traveler1116 · « **Reply #26 on:** September 08, 2012, 19:36 »

Quote from: Freedom on September 08, 2012, 17:57

Traveller, my last post was actually a response to your post above it. Nope, I am not making 4 times more than what I made from IS before becoming exclusive, in case my previous posts casted any doubts.

When did you go exclusive? The point I was making is that your income on IS would pretty much have to go up 4x because of the difference in RCs and royalty % between nonexclusives and exclusives as long as sales stayed the same.

ShadySue · « **Reply #27 on:** September 08, 2012, 20:21 »

Quote from: traveler1116 on September 08, 2012, 19:36

Quote from: Freedom on September 08, 2012, 17:57
Traveller, my last post was actually a response to your post above it. Nope, I am not making 4 times more than what I made from IS before becoming exclusive, in case my previous posts casted any doubts.
When did you go exclusive? The point I was making is that your income on IS would pretty much have to go up 4x because of the difference in RCs and royalty % between nonexclusives and exclusives as long as sales stayed the same.

That's the rub. If your port has unique and in-demand photos, yes, no bother.
If your port has a lot of competent stuff which is in fair supply, you are immediately competing against indie files which are lower-priced. Against that, the best match does generally favour exclusive files, but someone price-conscious can always scrutinise the icons. If you get a lot of V/A files, or choose to set your prices to E+, you could get the images mirrored on Getty, if they get round to doing it. And some might consider it an advantage that exclusives don't have to participate in the PP (for the moment. I did notice that JK wants to push Thinkstock, so who knows how long we can keep that 'perk'?)

So higher prices and higher %age (maybe not much more if you're on a lower RC rate) against possibly-dwindling sales.

Lots of people have moved in one direction or the other, and there's no clear winner between independence and exclusivity, if you have the time and inclination to submit across more sites. Probably if you're only going to submit to one, iS is still the one.

Anyway, it's all constantly changing. You can make a careful assessment of the pros and cons, then one or more site can hit you a flanker from nowhere that leaves your accounting in shreds.

Freedom · « **Reply #28 on:** September 08, 2012, 21:13 »

I agree with Sue.

I became exclusive about the time when RC was announced and have since advanced to a higher RC level. I had some good months before the summer slump and thought I had a good chance to advance to an even higher level. But the slow first week of September does not look promising to me, plus E+, V&A have slowed down too. I am not considering to be independent any time soon and hope, wishfully maybe, that IS will pick up.

Reef · « **Reply #29 on:** September 09, 2012, 03:48 »

Quote from: Freedom on September 08, 2012, 21:13

I agree with Sue.

I became exclusive about the time when RC was announced and have since advanced to a higher RC level. I had some good months before the summer slump and thought I had a good chance to advance to an even higher level. But the slow first week of September does not look promising to me, plus E+, V&A have slowed down too. I am not considering to be independent any time soon and hope, wishfully maybe, that IS will pick up.

September is traditionally my slowest month and it seems to be holding true again this year.

Freedom · « **Reply #30 on:** September 09, 2012, 07:39 »

September has always been my best month of the year. I just have to keep my fingers crossed and hope for a miracle for this year.

ShadySue · « **Reply #31 on:** September 09, 2012, 07:51 »

Quote from: Freedom on September 09, 2012, 07:39

September has always been my best month of the year. I just have to keep my fingers crossed and hope for a miracle for this year.

It might take a miracle. I do my weekly stats around midnight on a Sunday, but ATM I'm on my worst week for dls since April 2007 (started in late Dec 06). I lost my stats from the beginning (late Jan 2006) in a HD failure. An EL on Tuesday has retrieved the $$ to some extent. And I can't blame it all on site issues: others have been getting at least 'normal' sales this week.
Pollyanna is telling me there are still ten hours to go before my weekly stats, but I'm not that hopeful.
This year the daily, weekly and monthly fluctuations for my port are far, far greater than before.

fotoVoyager · « **Reply #32 on:** September 10, 2012, 13:46 »

My iStock sales have completely crashed today. Used to be I sold 150 images a day - today I've sold barely 10.

I would ask what was going on over there in the forums but you just get a slap for daring to complain.

You'd have to be crazy to go exclusive there now.

gostwyck · « **Reply #33 on:** September 10, 2012, 14:35 »

Quote from: fotoVoyager on September 10, 2012, 13:46

My iStock sales have completely crashed today. Used to be I sold 150 images a day - today I've sold barely 10.

I would ask what was going on over there in the forums but you just get a slap for daring to complain.

You'd have to be crazy to go exclusive there now.

Trust me, the sluggish start to September is not just at IS. My numbers are well down across the board.

I was really surprised that Freedom said that they went exclusive immediately after the RC debacle. That was the point where 'the great question of exclusivity' suddenly disappeared forever as far as I was concerned.

Freedom · « **Reply #34 on:** September 10, 2012, 14:47 »

Well, my exclusivity was planned long before RC was announced. That being said, I doubt if I would do better had I stayed independent, given all the complaints I read about other sites. Did IS meet my expectation? Heck no.

traveler1116 · « **Reply #35 on:** September 11, 2012, 01:00 »

Quote from: fotoVoyager on September 10, 2012, 13:46

My iStock sales have completely crashed today. Used to be I sold 150 images a day - today I've sold barely 10.

I would ask what was going on over there in the forums but you just get a slap for daring to complain.

You'd have to be crazy to go exclusive there now.

This month has been rough for me too (on pace to be half the sales of last month) but what I was saying is that the RC increase and royalty % increase just from becoming exclusive means istock earnings will quadruple. So if you are making 25%+ of total income on IS then you are pretty much guaranteed to be doing better, whether that holds up over time is a different story.

gostwyck · « **Reply #36 on:** September 11, 2012, 02:11 »

Quote from: traveler1116 on September 11, 2012, 01:00

... but what I was saying is that the RC increase and royalty % increase just from becoming exclusive means istock earnings will quadruple. So if you are making 25%+ of total income on IS then you are pretty much guaranteed to be doing better, whether that holds up over time is a different story.

Ha ha ha! Very good joke. For a moment I even thought you were being serious! *wipes tears from eyes*

ShadySue · « **Reply #37 on:** September 11, 2012, 04:03 »

Quote from: traveler1116 on September 11, 2012, 01:00

Quote from: fotoVoyager on September 10, 2012, 13:46
My iStock sales have completely crashed today. Used to be I sold 150 images a day - today I've sold barely 10.

I would ask what was going on over there in the forums but you just get a slap for daring to complain.

You'd have to be crazy to go exclusive there now.
This month has been rough for me too (on pace to be half the sales of last month) but what I was saying is that the RC increase and royalty % increase just from becoming exclusive means istock earnings will quadruple. So if you are making 25%+ of total income on IS then you are pretty much guaranteed to be doing better, whether that holds up over time is a different story.

You'll be doing better in RPD, but whether your exclusive price increase means your buyers go elsewhere all hinges on how unique/desireable your work is.

traveler1116 · « **Reply #38 on:** September 11, 2012, 10:18 »

Quote from: gostwyck on September 11, 2012, 02:11

Quote from: traveler1116 on September 11, 2012, 01:00
... but what I was saying is that the RC increase and royalty % increase just from becoming exclusive means istock earnings will quadruple. So if you are making 25%+ of total income on IS then you are pretty much guaranteed to be doing better, whether that holds up over time is a different story.

Ha ha ha! Very good joke. For a moment I even thought you were being serious! *wipes tears from eyes*

I'm not sure I understand why you think this isn't true? All things being equal earnings on istock should quadruple for most people. Go check the pricing differences between nonexclusives and exclusives (the difference between an XS file is a 400% increase in price for example). When I did the math for my portfolio I found that the RC difference and royalty % difference would mean that in going nonexclusive my earnings on IS would drop by over 75% only from those two factors. Can you show me the error in this?

traveler1116 · « **Reply #39 on:** September 11, 2012, 10:26 »

Quote from: ShadySue on September 11, 2012, 04:03

You'll be doing better in RPD, but if your exclusive price increase means your buyers all hinges on how unique/desireable your work is.

I'm not so sure about that, I think that with exclusive files getting better placement in the search those two factors (price vs. best match placement) negate each other.

ShadySue · « **Reply #40 on:** September 11, 2012, 11:14 »

Quote from: traveler1116 on September 11, 2012, 10:26

Quote from: ShadySue on September 11, 2012, 04:03
You'll be doing better in RPD, but if your exclusive price increase means your buyers all hinges on how unique/desireable your work is.
I'm not so sure about that, I think that with exclusive files getting better placement in the search those two factors (price vs. best match placement) negate each other.

Most, but not all, longer term contributors are reporting many fewer dls compared to previous years, though each earns more. Plus with changing royalties, nothing is certain.

PixelsAway · « **Reply #41 on:** September 11, 2012, 11:16 »

I started my microstock photography with submitting to IS almost 5 years ago, but very early I made decision to be independent and diversify my submissions. So, I've never had a problem with that "exclusive-independent" dilemma, "sitting on a fence" etc.

BTW. I am still getting around 30% of earnings from IS. If switching to the exclusive status would increase 4x my sales at IS, it would mean only 20% increase of my total income. It doesn't look very exciting, especially, with the current condition of IS.

traveler1116 · « **Reply #42 on:** September 11, 2012, 11:21 »

Quote from: ShadySue on September 11, 2012, 11:14

Quote from: traveler1116 on September 11, 2012, 10:26
Quote from: ShadySue on September 11, 2012, 04:03
You'll be doing better in RPD, but if your exclusive price increase means your buyers all hinges on how unique/desireable your work is.
I'm not so sure about that, I think that with exclusive files getting better placement in the search those two factors (price vs. best match placement) negate each other.
Most, but not all, longer term contributors are reporting many fewer dls compared to previous years, though each earns more. Plus with changing royalties, nothing is certain.

Some things are certain like RPD is around 4x higher as an exclusive, it's less work to contribute to IS alone than to IS plus other sites, etc.. If most long term contributors are seeing falling DLs that doesn't really mean anything either if nonexclusives see their downloads falling and still are making 25%+ of their income from IS, it only changes the equation if exclusives are seeing DLs fall at a disproportionate rate compared to nonexclusives since the calculus is based on relative income at IS vs. total income.

traveler1116 · « **Reply #43 on:** September 11, 2012, 11:25 »

Quote from: PixelsAway on September 11, 2012, 11:16

I started my microstock photography with submitting to IS almost 5 years ago, but very early I made decision to be independent and diversify my submissions. So, I've never had a problem with that "exclusive-independent" dilemma, "sitting on a fence" etc.

BTW. I am still getting around 30% of earnings from IS. If switching to the exclusive status would increase 4x my sales at IS, it would mean only 20% increase of my total income. It doesn't look very exciting, especially, with the current condition of IS.

That makes sense. I was only pointing out that the increase in sales is about 4x since I don't think many people realize the difference in RCs is such a big factor now, it wasn't like that a couple years ago when the only real change between exclusive and nonexclusive was the royalty %.

gostwyck · « **Reply #44 on:** September 11, 2012, 11:31 »

Quote from: traveler1116 on September 11, 2012, 10:18

I'm not sure I understand why you think this isn't true? All things being equal earnings on istock should quadruple for most people. Go check the pricing differences between nonexclusives and exclusives (the difference between an XS file is a 400% increase in price for example). When I did the math for my portfolio I found that the RC difference and royalty % difference would mean that in going nonexclusive my earnings on IS would drop by over 75% only from those two factors. Can you show me the error in this?

Your maths might be correct right now but I certainly wouldn't go exclusive to find out. My data suggests that Istock have been hemorrhaging customers at an significant rate for some time and that seems to be accelerating recently. I've just projected my stats for September, based on the first 10 days of the month, and Istock are on target to drop to a staggering 17% of my earnings. Last September they were at 30% and before that over 36%. Maybe there's been a change to the best match or something but the future doesn't look too bright if others are experiencing similar drops in sales.

gostwyck · « **Reply #45 on:** September 11, 2012, 11:42 »

Quote from: traveler1116 on September 11, 2012, 11:21

Some things are certain like RPD is around 4x higher as an exclusive, it's less work to contribute to IS alone than to IS plus other sites, etc.. If most long term contributors are seeing falling DLs that doesn't really mean anything either if nonexclusives see their downloads falling and still are making 25%+ of their income from IS, it only changes the equation if exclusives are seeing DLs fall at a disproportionate rate compared to nonexclusives since the calculus is based on relative income at IS vs. total income.

I don't think that is 'certain'. According to Aluxum in an earlier thread he reported his RPD, as an exclusive on 40%, to be around $5.50. As an independent on 18% my RPD at Istock is about $1.68. If I had been exclusive last month, with the same number of sales, then with an RPD of $5.50 I would have lost nearly 30% of my earnings. Maybe the better best match placement as an exclusive would have helped but I don't think the equation is anything like as clear as you insist.

traveler1116 · « **Reply #46 on:** September 11, 2012, 11:51 »

Quote from: gostwyck on September 11, 2012, 11:42

I don't think that is 'certain'. According to Aluxum in an earlier thread he reported his RPD, as an exclusive on 40%, to be around $5.50. As an independent on 18% my RPD at Istock is about $1.68. If I had been exclusive last month, with the same number of sales, then with an RPD of $5.50 I would have lost nearly 30% of my earnings. Maybe the better best match placement as an exclusive would have helped but I don't think the equation is anything like as clear as you insist.

I'm a little surprised by that RPD. I wonder if he is talking about since he started with IS back in 2009? My royalty rate is not 40% but last month my RPD was significantly higher than that. I also see that he doesn't have very many files in E+ so that could be a factor too. I would guess his recent RPD is more than 4x yours which would match my numbers as well for my royalty rate.

gostwyck · « **Reply #47 on:** September 11, 2012, 12:11 »

Quote from: traveler1116 on September 11, 2012, 11:51

I'm a little surprised by that RPD. I wonder if he is talking about since he started with IS back in 2009? My royalty rate is not 40% but last month my RPD was significantly higher than that. I also see that he doesn't have very many files in E+ so that could be a factor too. I would guess his recent RPD is more than 4x yours which would match my numbers as well for my royalty rate.

We can all 'guess'! Unfortunately that falls somewhat short of your 'certain' statement. The interview with John Lund was published on 31st August and this is what he said;

What is the average amount that you receive from an iStockphoto download?
The average net amount I receive now from an iStock download is $5.50. This depends on where you stand in iStock. Vetta and Agency shooters have a much higher average while non-exclusives have a much lower one.

http://blog.johnlund.com/2012/08/from-tradtional-to-microstock-cristian.html

Christian appears to have been very open, honest and generous with his information so I have no reason to disbelieve him. My portfolio in terms of subject has many similarities so I'd regard his RPD figure as a reliable guide.

traveler1116 · « **Reply #48 on:** September 11, 2012, 12:46 »

Quote from: gostwyck on September 11, 2012, 12:11

Quote from: traveler1116 on September 11, 2012, 11:51
I'm a little surprised by that RPD. I wonder if he is talking about since he started with IS back in 2009? My royalty rate is not 40% but last month my RPD was significantly higher than that. I also see that he doesn't have very many files in E+ so that could be a factor too. I would guess his recent RPD is more than 4x yours which would match my numbers as well for my royalty rate.

We can all 'guess'! Unfortunately that falls somewhat short of your 'certain' statement. The interview with John Lund was published on 31st August and this is what he said;

What is the average amount that you receive from an iStockphoto download?
The average net amount I receive now from an iStock download is $5.50. This depends on where you stand in iStock. Vetta and Agency shooters have a much higher average while non-exclusives have a much lower one.

http://blog.johnlund.com/2012/08/from-tradtional-to-microstock-cristian.html

Christian appears to have been very open, honest and generous with his information so I have no reason to disbelieve him. My portfolio in terms of subject has many similarities so I'd regard his RPD figure as a reliable guide.

I agree it's probably reliable but a lot of things have changed within the last year or two so I could say my RPD over the last three years or over the last three months and both would be accurate but they would differ a lot. For instance my RPD as an exclusive (over the last 3 years) is very close to what he said while my recent RPD (over the last 12 months) is significantly higher. You also say your portfolios are similar so one would expect similar sales and similar sales for nonexclusives vs. exclusives are about 4x less RPD. Those figures all match what I see as well.

landbysea · « **Reply #49 on:** September 11, 2012, 12:57 »

FWIW my iStock RPD at the 35% royalty level is around $12.00. It varies. In June it was $16. I am not counting PP dls or royalties. I only put my slow sellers in there and it doesn't amount to a lot of income. About 1% of my port is V/A. In addition I make money for my files at Getty, which hopefully will go up after the E+ mirroring.

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Author Topic: Istock vs others (Read 19091 times)

Freedom

traveler1116

ShadySue

Freedom

Reef

Freedom

ShadySue

fotoVoyager

gostwyck

Freedom

traveler1116

gostwyck

ShadySue

traveler1116

traveler1116

ShadySue

PixelsAway

traveler1116

traveler1116

gostwyck

gostwyck

traveler1116

gostwyck

traveler1116

landbysea

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