MicrostockGroup
Agency Based Discussion => iStockPhoto.com => Topic started by: StockManiac on April 28, 2007, 06:45
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Istock is now implemented a second phase of the dollar bin. This phase will include some automation. The new phase will start on 5/1/07. Any image that has had zero (0) downloads since 6/1/05 will be placed in the dollar bin. That timeframe gives the image almost two (2) years to get at least one download. It also gives the image at least one full season to sell (if the image is seasonal). Supposedly, this only accounts for another 10,000 images.
Once the image is in the dollar bin, it will only have 30 days to get a sale or it will be dropped totally from the IS database. If it gets sales, then the 30 day lease is renewed on every sale.
Here is the skinny:
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=51019&page=1
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I think it's important to clarify that only images who have never been downloaded will be moved to the dollar bin. So images who have been online before June 2005 and have been downloded before will remain online, even if they haven't been dld in the past two years.
"Beginning of next month, the system will be moving files to the Dollar Bin that were approved before June 1, 2005, and have not been downloaded. This will give another 10000 files another chance at getting a couple of sales."
It doesn't really affect me so far because I haven't been there for so long, but I'm glad that they are considering a two-year period now.
Regards,
Adelaide
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yah 1 year is a bit too short to put in bin....2-3 years is a better way...
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I think a year is good, if it only affects images wich have no dls. That would clear up the search engine a lot more. 10000 images is not really a lot.
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Maybe it's just the inexperienced me, but if an image hasn't sold once in one year I can only conclude that the commercial value of that image is zero. Waiting two years to reach this may be overly optimistic and conservative.
I have a eight images uploaded in December that haven't yet sold - I've already audited their keywords & categories and will deactivate them (to use IS terminology) if they don't sell by the end of May. I'd rather have a portfolio of active (and therefore "interesting") images than one which just takes up space.
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Maybe it's just the inexperienced me, but if an image hasn't sold once in one year I can only conclude that the commercial value of that image is zero. Waiting two years to reach this may be overly optimistic and conservative.
The main reasons that most people don't like one year is:
- Seasonal images. If you upload something in early December for Christmas, then it only gets a part of the season for sales.
- Changes to search engine algorithms. As you are aware, search engine results change all the time. What might not show up at the top of the search this month, might show up on the first page next month.
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Not that I care what istockphoto does :)
Sharply_done- you might consider keeping your images active...unlike a retail store, there are no limits to space. If fact more images can help you. A properly metatagged photo (whether it's a good one or not) can create more marketing exposure for you. At a certain point quality is relative...
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I just took a look at the images from my portfolio that have been placed in the dollar bin and to be honest, I think it's a good thing that this is done. Saves me a job of tidying up my portfolio myself and looking at the images themselves, quite glad they will prob be deleted!
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Trivia Questino Phil... How are you seeing which images went into there? From the email they sent, or is there a quick way on the site to check?
I got an email a wee while back about 5 images that probably deserved to go in there, but now I don't know which ones they were, and I didn't keep the email...
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How are you seeing which images went into there? From the email they sent, or is there a quick way on the site to check?
I got an email a wee while back about 5 images that probably deserved to go in there, but now I don't know which ones they were, and I didn't keep the email...
Go to http://www.istockphoto.com/my_uploads.php, and then choose "Active Dollar Images" from the pulldown menu.
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I'd rather have a portfolio of active (and therefore "interesting") images than one which just takes up space.
Why should you worry about the images taking up space, IS is paying for it not you. I've had images that have taken 9 months before they sold if I'd deactivated them then I never would have made the sale.
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Why should you worry about the images taking up space, IS is paying for it not you. I've had images that have taken 9 months before they sold if I'd deactivated them then I never would have made the sale.
I'm not at all worried about images taking up space - what I'm concerned about is professional image/reputation. The only thing that people know of me online is through the images I make available. If some of them are commercially worthless (i.e. potential buyers see them as 'crap'), I don't see how this can positively influence their opinion of me.
Perhaps what I'm thinking is that my professional reputation is worth more than (a handful of images which may at best earn) $20.