Kind of a weird delivery method. I would have just deleted an email with a random survey from some company I've never heard of. I would think that is what most people would do.

I got the mail, and there was no indication who it was initiated by, outside of BCG.  Plus, they said they are giving away 100 iPad minis, which at first said 'scam!' to me.  That's $33,000 just to elicit responses!

They need to spend that kind of money to work out their problems - why, they could just read some of the forum posts here, the're free!

I wonder if the consultancy firm are working on 15%?

I got that survey and participated. Really felt like they were trying to determine market share and top of mind awareness plus price thresholds of buyers. Then there were questions about ease of use and content quality.

i think this is a good thing. the survey was indeed created by professionals after alot of discussions which tells ya they are really digging to find answers in order to improve iStockphoto. I agree that GETTY really does not know what to do with IS. But at least they are throwing some research and time to make it better.

OX
...so where is my iPad?

They are just pissing this money away.  BCG will give them a bunch of BCG boxes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growth-share_matrix, tell them that they had a star that they turned into a cash cow, that is on its way into becoming a dog, and send them a bill for $5,000,000. 

They could have hired me (or any of m'learned friends on MSG) to tell them what they were doing wrong ... in about 15 minutes ... and for free. In fact we have all spent our precious time doing so, innumerous times, on their own forum but they chose to take no notice. Then they wonder why sales are falling off a cliff. You really couldn't make this stuff up.

+1 , +1 , +1 ..... i believe 10 seconds are enough: Stop being so greedy with contributors and clients.

Companies do these surveys all the time...you can participate or not. Not a big deal, markets change. The bigger issue is the email screams SPAM...they should of made it more clear why it was being sent or a preemptive email from iStock explaining the survey was coming fro a 3rd party would probably of garnered more participation than the iPad giveaway, which just makes it seem more like SPAM.

When a company starts handing money to high 'consultants' to tell them why their business isn't working, the end is near.   Or if not actually near,  definitely closer.

Quote from: Sadstock on March 12, 2013, 19:53

They are just pissing this money away.  BCG will give them a bunch of BCG boxes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growth-share_matrix, tell them that they had a star that they turned into a cash cow, that is on its way into becoming a dog, and send them a bill for $5,000,000.

Exactly.

The one thing they absolutely won't spend their money on is creating good will with their contributors, and that is the ONLY thing that could turn things around for them at this point.

I agree hiring consultants can be throwing money away, but it is common and I doubt they are the only stock agency who has done so. Also, can't fault them for wanting to know their market...can fault them on their approach though.

The only thing that could turn them around is for them to fix the many issues with the site. The site is broken and dated...they know it, we know it, the buyers know it. I am just surprised how little has been done over such a long period of time in that regard.

It would be interesting to see BCG's report.

Tantalising thought, but you might be disappointed even if they mailed you a copy.  There are times when the most important feedback is delivered verbally, while the report itself is a total bore.  That is most likely to happen when the consultants identify a sensitive/political problem (e.g., Mr CFO, you need to find a new chairman of the board because he .....).  If you are engaged to solve a problem your client considers very sensitive, they will want to control distribution of the report and limit any content that might make things difficult if the report found its way into the wrong hands.

Regards

Quote from: Pinocchio on March 12, 2013, 17:50

An outraged buyer started this thread http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=352131&page=1 and after a couple of posts Lobo confirmed that iStock/Getty has hired one of the top strategy consulting firms.  Firms like this are usually hired by senior management; they are not hired to conduct "surveys" - they will do a lot with the input gathered in the course of the survey.

Having worked for other consultancies who operate at this level of seniority in client companies, it seems to me this effort may be getting off to a troubled start.  But it does indicate that someone very senior is asking questions and hoping BCG can deliver answers, so it's a significant development.  It is very probable that BCG was hired by Getty, or, at the very least, with Getty's approval.

Regards

Slightly off topic, but I just read the thread over at istock and, well, I admit I haven't been on the iStock forums in ages but the tone of Lobo's responses sure don't sound like the snarky Lobo responses that I remember.   They read very polite and professional in that thread, it sort of scared me.

That's because he's talking to 'outraged buyers' rather than those pain-in-the-arse contributors.

Quote from: Sadstock on March 12, 2013, 19:53

They are just pissing this money away.  BCG will give them a bunch of BCG boxes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growth-share_matrix, tell them that they had a star that they turned into a cash cow, that is on its way into becoming a dog, and send them a bill for $5,000,000.

Exactly.

The one thing they absolutely won't spend their money on is creating good will with their contributors, and that is the ONLY thing that could turn things around for them at this point.

IMO, it's too late for that.

Quote from: wds on March 13, 2013, 13:14

It would be interesting to see BCG's report.

Anyone ever watch the Showtime show House of Lies? (great show!)   I'm sure the report will be completely FOS.

Sadly businesses just value outside opinions versus internal. I've seen it at various companies. I do agree there is quite a bit of BS and spin that comes with consulting groups...and the upper their tend to eat it up... Even if its the same stuff their employees have been preaching for years.

;

They need to spend that kind of money to work out their problems - why, they could just read some of the forum posts here, the're free!

Because these are not the answers they want to hear. The consultants will provide more palatable ones, and it's worth paying a few hundred thou to hear what you want to hear.

I wonder if this is anything to do with the "technical problem" preventing Sean from being deactivated

The report of a survey company is just as good/informative as the mandate they received to investigate. For all we know the instruction might be, "How do we get our customers/sales back without changing any of our financial structures (e.g. commission) or break any of our recent partnership contracts?"

Do Istock Bosses really think there are so many people paying 10x more than other sites and paying artistes 10x less so stupid to continue "working" for them?
Now The new consults will tell them to give the "slaves" a "candy" so they can continue to work for them. You will see increments of 0.01% in your revenues, new games, new tips but it will remain the same s**t.

Do Istock Bosses really think there are so many people paying 10x more than other sites and paying artistes 10x less so stupid to continue "working" for them?
Now The new consults will tell them to give the "slaves" a "candy" so they can continue to work for them. You will see increments of 0.01% in your revenues, new games, new tips but it will remain the same s**t.

Totally agree with you. And I say this because of the data points that already exist from their past decisions.....multiple.....not just a one off.  Getty is doing their best to sink their own ship while still playing "walk the plank" with their contributors...and some buyers.  I recall a Istock forum post where lobo belittled a buyer.  Probably not supposed to say this without posting a link, but I am not going to spend time searching for it. It was also discussed here at MSG.  They need to look at their business holistically, and they don't, unfortunately.

Quote from: dingles on March 14, 2013, 12:22

Quote from: michey on March 14, 2013, 11:55

Do Istock Bosses really think there are so many people paying 10x more than other sites and paying artistes 10x less so stupid to continue "working" for them?
Now The new consults will tell them to give the "slaves" a "candy" so they can continue to work for them. You will see increments of 0.01% in your revenues, new games, new tips but it will remain the same s**t.

Have a bad taste in your mouth there?

How do you know that? Are you stalking me?

I'm behind you right now

I ask them to show Istock and Getty financial figures.... lol

That won't happen, I wish they would at least show a graph or something that indicates if sales are good or not. Doesn't have to be specific.

Quote from: dingles on March 14, 2013, 13:21

Quote from: Buzbuzzer on March 14, 2013, 13:16

I ask them to show Istock and Getty financial figures.... lol

That won't happen, I wish they would at least show a graph or something that indicates if sales are good or not. Doesn't have to be specific.

According to Rebecca, sales are "meeting expectations".

Which may not be the same a "meeting targets".

No filling out new surveys for me.   They know what is wrong.  Their objectives are not the sames as contributors.  Especially exclusives!

and give them the authority to take the appropriate action __ even if it does mean a reduction in the profits in the short to medium term.

LOL!

I can't believe how much these firms get paid to put this cr*p together! What a waste of my time (and my money too I guess as it's a cut of my commission going to pay for it!)

I met a tip-top consultant once, she had been employed by Maggie Thatcher at one time, she explained to me that the job basically consists of listening to people tell you what the problem is and then tell them what they told you, since they really know the answer, anyway.

Good money for old rope.

.

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on March 15, 2013, 11:11

Quote from: Microbius on March 15, 2013, 09:37

I can't believe how much these firms get paid to put this cr*p together! What a waste of my time (and my money too I guess as it's a cut of my commission going to pay for it!)

I met a tip-top consultant once, she had been employed by Maggie Thatcher at one time, she explained to me that the job basically consists of listening to people tell you what the problem is and then tell them what they told you, since they really know the answer, anyway.

Good money for old rope.

It's interesting to see that a few of Shutterstock's higher ups worked at the Boston Consulting Group before joining Shutterstock.  Financial Planning & Analysis Manager, Calvin Peng and Thilo  Semmelbauer, President and Chief Operating Office

Do you guys love the Boston Consulting Group now?   

Actually I would expect people who worked at BCG to be pretty sharp, capable, and good to have in management as they've spent a lot of time analyzing bad management.  Its more the use of consulting businesses that I don't like.  As BaldricksTrousers quoted, it is basically telling people what they already know and sending them a big bill.  Really I blame the people who hire them, not the consultants themselves. 

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on March 15, 2013, 11:11

Quote from: Microbius on March 15, 2013, 09:37

I can't believe how much these firms get paid to put this cr*p together! What a waste of my time (and my money too I guess as it's a cut of my commission going to pay for it!)

I met a tip-top consultant once, she had been employed by Maggie Thatcher at one time, she explained to me that the job basically consists of listening to people tell you what the problem is and then tell them what they told you, since they really know the answer, anyway.

Good money for old rope.

It's interesting to see that a few of Shutterstock's higher ups worked at the Boston Consulting Group before joining Shutterstock.  Financial Planning & Analysis Manager, Calvin Peng and Thilo  Semmelbauer, President and Chief Operating Office

Do you guys love the Boston Consulting Group now?   

Being a 'consultant' very often leads to being offered top positions at the businesses you are advising. Happens all the time.

i got an email - clearly indicated from istock - questions were very good &guess BCG wrote them.  didn't see anything about winning an ipod - wouldn't have taken it seriously if there had been.  the message said it was a survey for all exclusive istock contributors.  anyway i answered it in depth, also cited a particularly rude comment made to me, but no names.

It's interesting to see that a few of Shutterstock's higher ups worked at the Boston Consulting Group before joining Shutterstock.  Financial Planning & Analysis Manager, Calvin Peng and Thilo  Semmelbauer, President and Chief Operating Office

Do you guys love the Boston Consulting Group now?   

Maybe they realized what a farce their job was and wanted to do some real work.

Have any of you actually worked with consultants, or served as consultants yourselves?  I've done both, and the quality of consultants' work varies pretty much like any other kind of service.  It depends as much on how the hiring firms describe what they want done and how they want the results to be delivered as it does on the ability of the consultants.  Even the best and most honorable consultants have to deliver news in a way that will be accepted and stand a chance of getting them additional work, which means not telling the client that their kids are ugly and they dress them funny.  It's a balancing act, but one that helps the client more than being brutally honest.

I've been at places that hire consultants, and I've even been a consultant on a few memorable occasions.  It's a job like any other, but one that has special challenges due to its short term nature.  In this case I'd say that the exercise is a waste of time and money, because I believe iStock already has their mind made up before it starts.  That's not the consultant's fault, and if they try to budge iStock in the process, they'll try to do it in a way that doesn't preclude further work from iStock and Getty.  We'd like them to be more direct in their advice than they probably will be, but I understand why that's not likely to be so.

Have any of you actually worked with consultants, or served as consultants yourselves?  I've done both, and the quality of consultants' work varies pretty much like any other kind of service.  It depends as much on how the hiring firms describe what they want done and how they want the results to be delivered as it does on the ability of the consultants.  Even the best and most honorable consultants have to deliver news in a way that will be accepted and stand a chance of getting them additional work, which means not telling the client that their kids are ugly and they dress them funny.  It's a balancing act, but one that helps the client more than being brutally honest.

I've been at places that hire consultants, and I've even been a consultant on a few memorable occasions.  It's a job like any other, but one that has special challenges due to its short term nature.  In this case I'd say that the exercise is a waste of time and money, because I believe iStock already has their mind made up before it starts.  That's not the consultant's fault, and if they try to budge iStock in the process, they'll try to do it in a way that doesn't preclude further work from iStock and Getty.  We'd like them to be more direct in their advice than they probably will be, but I understand why that's not likely to be so.

As a consultant for one of the world's largest companies I'd also question whether any of you have ever served as a consultant or hired one. If you never have, to make such assumptions is pretty absurd.

For Istock to hire consultants they, or Getty, have likely realized they aren't making progress in the right direction with buyers and have run out of ideas that are producing positive results.

Have any of you actually worked with consultants, or served as consultants yourselves?  I've done both, and the quality of consultants' work varies pretty much like any other kind of service.  It depends as much on how the hiring firms describe what they want done and how they want the results to be delivered as it does on the ability of the consultants.  Even the best and most honorable consultants have to deliver news in a way that will be accepted and stand a chance of getting them additional work, which means not telling the client that their kids are ugly and they dress them funny.  It's a balancing act, but one that helps the client more than being brutally honest.

I've been at places that hire consultants, and I've even been a consultant on a few memorable occasions.  It's a job like any other, but one that has special challenges due to its short term nature.  In this case I'd say that the exercise is a waste of time and money, because I believe iStock already has their mind made up before it starts.  That's not the consultant's fault, and if they try to budge iStock in the process, they'll try to do it in a way that doesn't preclude further work from iStock and Getty.  We'd like them to be more direct in their advice than they probably will be, but I understand why that's not likely to be so.

Having worked for various members of the "big four" for a combined total of more than 10 years in both the commercial and government spaces, Disorderly's post is a good assessment of what happens.  Some clients, generally those who are honest with themselves and the consultants, get a lot of value, primarily in the form of risk mitigation.  Being an effective consultant requires a great deal of diplomacy and persuasiveness as well as technical skill, because implementation almost always requires some degree of cooperation from all levels of client staff.  Consultants know this, and so the task of helping management to gain and hold the required commitment often becomes a key element of their role.  Ironically, this dynamic is very similar to the challenge that iStock now faces in trying to retain contributors and buyers they have antagonized, or recruit new ones after the recent publicity (I am assuming that's part of iStock's motivation for the recent "surveys").  Karma.

Regards

I got the mail, and there was no indication who it was initiated by, outside of BCG.  Plus, they said they are giving away 100 iPad minis, which at first said 'scam!' to me.  That's $33,000 just to elicit responses!

Aside from the one IS member who said he got a mini, did anyone hear of anyone else getting one?  Did they really give out the prizes?