Author Topic: just started with istock (Read 7220 times)

phildaint · « **on:** November 22, 2015, 18:18 »

well i've finally decided to try some other agencies instead of just ss and dt, i have a port of around 1400 on both and while ss does quite well dt is almost pointless- i stopped uploading there a long time ago.

How should i expect sales to be compared to ss once is once my port is fully uploaded? is it as simple as the poll results to the right, expect about half of what i get from shutterstock?

Also how long are review times at the moment, im eager to get my first few hundred reviewed

cheers, phil

Hongover · « **Reply #1 on:** November 22, 2015, 18:37 »

You can expect higher RPD ~~RPI~~, but fewer downloads. Don't be so sure about getting half of SS. iStock is very different and their keywording system could either hurt or help a portfolio.

Their search engine is a bit tougher to crack compare to the others. They have their own search dictionary and creates a narrow search field for keywords and makes it hard for new uploads to climb the rankings. This benefits first movers and veterans more than newcomers.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #2 on:** November 22, 2015, 19:21 »

Have 'fun'! Lol.

somethingpretentious · « **Reply #3 on:** November 22, 2015, 19:29 »

I disagree, you can expect a lot lower RPI (return pr image) compared to Shutterstock and likely also lower RPD (return pr download).

Hongover · « **Reply #4 on:** November 22, 2015, 19:30 »

Quote from: somethingpretentious on November 22, 2015, 19:29

I disagree, you can expect a lot lower RPI (return pr image) compared to Shutterstock and likely also lower RPD (return pr download).

You're right, I got the 2 mixed up. It's lower RPI, but based on my experience so far, it has higher RPD.

somethingpretentious · « **Reply #5 on:** November 22, 2015, 19:40 »

If I include Istock subscription and Istock partner subscriptions (thinkstock) my RPD for istock is much lower than my RPD on Shutterstock. Istock used to have much higher RPD but right now it is one of the absolute lowest in the industry.

Zero Talent · « **Reply #6 on:** November 22, 2015, 21:02 »

Quote from: Hongover on November 22, 2015, 18:37

You can expect higher RPD ~~RPI~~, but fewer downloads.

Incorrect.
You can expect:
1. 1/3 SS $
2. Lower RPD (downloads can go as low as $0.19)
3. Lower RPI
4. Lower # of downloads

See below the RPD.

w7lwi · « **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2015, 21:26 »

Quote from: phildaint on November 22, 2015, 18:18

well i've finally decided to try some other agencies instead of just ss and dt, i have a port of around 1400 on both and while ss does quite well dt is almost pointless- i stopped uploading there a long time ago.

How should i expect sales to be compared to ss once is once my port is fully uploaded? is it as simple as the poll results to the right, expect about half of what i get from shutterstock?

Also how long are review times at the moment, im eager to get my first few hundred reviewed

cheers, phil

My condolences.

phildaint · « **Reply #8 on:** November 23, 2015, 16:50 »

Oh dear, sounds like i've made a good move then...

If you had to choose one or 2 more to upload to which would you choose then... i have a bit of free time at the moment whilst im off work and cant really do much with a broken wrist, thought id try and be productive

Hongover · « **Reply #9 on:** November 23, 2015, 17:14 »

Quote from: Zero Talent on November 22, 2015, 21:02

Quote from: Hongover on November 22, 2015, 18:37
You can expect higher RPD ~~RPI~~, but fewer downloads.

Incorrect.
You can expect:
1. 1/3 SS $
2. Lower RPD (downloads can go as low as $0.19)
3. Lower RPI
4. Lower # of downloads

See below the RPD.

I haven't been on IS for too long, but each download seems to have a higher return so far compared to SS. If I keep getting more extended licenses on SS, it'll blow IS out of the water when it comes to RPD. It could just be temporary as the law of averages always seem to catch up.

hatman12 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 23, 2015, 18:43 »

A rising tide floats all boats. A waning tide sinks all boats. iStock appears to be a sinking business. Look for agencies where the tide is rising. Put all your effort into those agencies, and don't bother with those where the boats are sinking.

sharpshot · « **Reply #11 on:** November 24, 2015, 04:16 »

Quote from: phildaint on November 23, 2015, 16:50

Oh dear, sounds like i've made a good move then...

If you had to choose one or 2 more to upload to which would you choose then... i have a bit of free time at the moment whilst im off work and cant really do much with a broken wrist, thought id try and be productive

Alamy are good but it takes a long time to get sales going. I'm not doing well with Fotolia but I think they are on the way up for a lot of people. If you have video clips, try Pond5. Canva sell a lot but only $0.35 commissions so far and you have to work out what they want, as they reject all images with text now.

CJH · « **Reply #12 on:** December 18, 2015, 12:40 »

I am new there too. It looks like my first batch took 8 days. I used lightburner and images were supposed to be uploaded to the pending queue since I am exclusive with another agency til the end of the month. So I was surprised they were reviewed at all. Thankfully, all were rejected as they are editorial. I am now trying to work out how to batch upload editorial images-which are currently over 90% of my new work. Sometimes I wonder why any of us bother with this blasted image give-away business at all.

Pauws99 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 18, 2015, 12:44 »

I find it really hard to caption editoral for IS to get accepted....so hard in fact I gave up

CJH · « **Reply #14 on:** December 18, 2015, 12:57 »

Quote from: Pauws99 on December 18, 2015, 12:44

I find it really hard to caption editoral for IS to get accepted....so hard in fact I gave up

Thanks for the feedback. That is what I am considering after only my first submission. I know I can get these online and sold elsewhere. I don't see the sense to spending a lot of time messing with upload procedures when the business is so heavily volume-based.

PixelBytes · « **Reply #15 on:** December 18, 2015, 19:12 »

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on November 22, 2015, 19:21

Have 'fun'! Lol.

Exactly. I was about to offer my condolences.

With apology to the OP, to me the title reads a bit like 'Just bought a ticket for the Titanic!'.

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #16 on:** December 19, 2015, 08:51 »

Quote from: Hongover on November 23, 2015, 17:14

Quote from: Zero Talent on November 22, 2015, 21:02
Quote from: Hongover on November 22, 2015, 18:37
You can expect higher RPD ~~RPI~~, but fewer downloads.

Incorrect.
You can expect:
1. 1/3 SS $
2. Lower RPD (downloads can go as low as $0.19)
3. Lower RPI
4. Lower # of downloads

See below the RPD.

I haven't been on IS for too long, but each download seems to have a higher return so far compared to SS. If I keep getting more extended licenses on SS, it'll blow IS out of the water when it comes to RPD. It could just be temporary as the law of averages always seem to catch up.

Have you not had PP and and Subs come in for your IStock account yet? PPD sales on IS are high paying (and ever dwindling) compared to other sites, but when you factor in all the rest they have the lowest RPD in the industry

Hongover · « **Reply #17 on:** December 19, 2015, 13:04 »

Quote from: Justanotherphotographer on December 19, 2015, 08:51

Have you not had PP and and Subs come in for your IStock account yet? PPD sales on IS are high paying (and ever dwindling) compared to other sites, but when you factor in all the rest they have the lowest RPD in the industry

Looks like you're right. The RPD has fallen and has started to fall below even that of 123RF. They have such poor reporting tools that probably I just misread it the first couple times I looked at it. There's definitely more upside with SS and FT.

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Author Topic: just started with istock (Read 7220 times)

phildaint

Hongover

Sean Locke Photography

somethingpretentious

Hongover

somethingpretentious

Zero Talent

w7lwi

phildaint

Hongover

hatman12

sharpshot

CJH

Pauws99

CJH

PixelBytes

Justanotherphotographer

Hongover

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