MicrostockGroup
Agency Based Discussion => iStockPhoto.com => Topic started by: cidepix on December 21, 2012, 13:21
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surely screwing contributors' royalty rates must have consequences..
there are currently 31867 members on MSG and most of these members have their web pages and blogs or some other sort of web presence with a lot of good, natural backlinks to istockphoto..
I am starting by removing all istock backlinks from my blogs and pages..
Just imagine how much it would hurt them losing all the possible backlinks from 31867 members..
I will also remove backlinks to fotolia, the company that started it first..
I think these agencies don't deserve our backlinks..
Edit: I understand that most contributors can not afford to delete their portfolios, so this is the least we can all do to save our future..
This initiative will definitely not hurt contributors in the long run..
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Are you going to delete your portfolio there ?
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I really don't think that Istock needs any help from us. They appear to be contributing to their own demise just fine. We'd just get in the way __ they're the experts.
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there are currently 31867 members on MSG and most of these members have their web pages and blogs or some other sort of web presence with a lot of good, natural backlinks to istockphoto..
I am starting by removing all istock backlinks from my blogs and pages..
You are just now starting this? I was under the impression most independents here stopped backlinking and referring to Istock in Sept 2010 when the RC Credit scheme was first introduced.
Secondly, I was hesitant to post in this thread because of the title. Istock is well on its way to demise, IMO, but very little of it was due to efforts by contributors. It is their own policies that are bringing them down.
ETA: Gostwyck said it better above :)
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Are you going to delete your portfolio there ?
your question is not relevant to this thread..
steps I took so far:
1- stop uploading
2- tell all designer friends to shop elsewhere
3- remove all the backlinks
and no, I won't delete my portfolio because it will not hurt them while you keep your portfolio there.. there is no point in trying to be a hero.. the idea in this thread will hurt them more than anybody removing their ports..
once they go down, they will be irrelevant and removing our portfolios won't matter anyway, because all the customers will continue to buy from us, using other agencies..
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You are just now starting this? I was under the impression most independents here stopped backlinking and referring to Istock in Sept 2010 when the RC Credit scheme was first introduced.
well no I stopped backlinking to them long time ago, but just noticed a link that I didn't delete in an article I wrote years ago and that gave me the idea for this thread..
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I'm not so sure that I want it's demise as I would then have to compete with people like Sean on all sites!!!!
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I'm not so sure that I want it's demise as I would then have to compete with people like Sean on all sites!!!!
I think we are in for a bigger trouble if they succeed.. many more agencies will follow the suit thinking lowering royalties is the magic formula for success!
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I'm not so sure that I want it's demise as I would then have to compete with people like Sean on all sites!!!!
I think we are in for a bigger trouble if they succeed.. many more agencies will follow the suit thinking lowering royalties is the magic formula for success!
When iStock sees how many backlinks they've lost I'm sure they'll reconsider their policies.
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Secondly, I was hesitant to post in this thread because of the title.
You are right Lisa, I changed the title as the previous one wasn't that great :)
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Well, I make alot more $ there as an exclusive than I did anywhere else as an independent. I'd much rather see $70 for an EL at iStock than 25 cents from a sub sale at SS.
By keeping your port on iStock you are, in essence, supporting them. Any sale you make benefits them in some very small way. So, trying to speed their demise while supporting them at the same time doesn't make much sense, IMO.
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This is a stupid, naive, banal, unintelligent thread. Havent ppl here got more important things to do then starting one bollocks thread after another.
Go and do some work instead, you can always supply the freebie agencies.
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This is a stupid, naive, banal, unintelligent thread. Havent ppl here got more important things to do then starting one bollocks thread after another.
Go and do some work instead, you can always supply the freebie agencies.
+1
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This is a stupid, naive, banal, unintelligent thread. Havent ppl here got more important things to do then starting one bollocks thread after another.
Go and do some work instead, you can always supply the freebie agencies.
while I agree that this thread is not the most intelligent move I have made in my life :) I just had to do it because it's my "hate istock hour" of the day.. ;D
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This is a stupid, naive, banal, unintelligent thread. Havent ppl here got more important things to do then starting one bollocks thread after another.
Go and do some work instead, you can always supply the freebie agencies.
name me a few of those ;D
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This is a stupid, naive, banal, unintelligent thread. Havent ppl here got more important things to do then starting one bollocks thread after another.
Go and do some work instead, you can always supply the freebie agencies.
name me a few of those ;D
123rf has over 42,000 free images
DT has thousands of free images (they changed their search now so I can't see how many, I think it was much more than 123rf though)
FT don't they ask to put your photos into a free section if they are rejected
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This is a stupid, naive, banal, unintelligent thread. Havent ppl here got more important things to do then starting one bollocks thread after another.
Go and do some work instead, you can always supply the freebie agencies.
name me a few of those ;D
123rf has over 42,000 free images
DT has thousands of free images (they changed their search now so I can't see how many, I think it was much more than 123rf though)
FT don't they ask to put your photos into a free section if they are rejected
yep I know about them, anyway who is contributing to that? its not cidepix for sure...
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Yes, I`m doing my best :D
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Secondly, I was hesitant to post in this thread because of the title.
You are right Lisa, I changed the title as the previous one wasn't that great :)
New title definitely makes more sense :)
Am I the only independent who has mixed feelings about Istock's demise?
I can definitely understand the sense of schadenfreude at seeing a site that has behaved with such hubris suffer as a result of their actions.
But at the same time, I would much prefer for them to roll back the bad changes, begin rewarding contributors with more respect (and more MONEY), and pull out of this nosedive.
It may be naive, but I see the recent improvements in site functionality, communication, and freezing the RC rates for next year as steps in the right direction. It gives me some hope that the new owners are more far sighted than the prior ones.
Of course it may be way too little way too late. I don't know.
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I can definitely understand the sense of schadenfreude at seeing a site that has behaved with such hubris suffer as a result of their actions.
But at the same time, I would much prefer for them to roll back the bad changes, begin rewarding contributors with more respect (and more MONEY), and pull out of this nosedive.
+1 on both counts.
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Secondly, I was hesitant to post in this thread because of the title.
You are right Lisa, I changed the title as the previous one wasn't that great :)
New title definitely makes more sense :)
Am I the only independent who has mixed feelings about Istock's demise?
I can definitely understand the sense of schadenfreude at seeing a site that has behaved with such hubris suffer as a result of their actions.
But at the same time, I would much prefer for them to roll back the bad changes, begin rewarding contributors with more respect (and more MONEY), and pull out of this nosedive.
It may be naive, but I see the recent improvements in site functionality, communication, and freezing the RC rates for next year as steps in the right direction. It gives me some hope that the new owners are more far sighted than the prior ones.
Of course it may be way too little way too late. I don't know.
Totally agree for more than one reason. It would be very hard for exclusives to have to upload large ports to multiple sites especially if they haven't already got the keywords etc in the metadata. Also as I said above I don't want to have to compete with all the exclusives at all the other sites. I would much rather IS start to treat contributors properly but unfortunately that seems unlikely to last.
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Secondly, I was hesitant to post in this thread because of the title.
You are right Lisa, I changed the title as the previous one wasn't that great :)
New title definitely makes more sense :)
Am I the only independent who has mixed feelings about Istock's demise?
I can definitely understand the sense of schadenfreude at seeing a site that has behaved with such hubris suffer as a result of their actions.
But at the same time, I would much prefer for them to roll back the bad changes, begin rewarding contributors with more respect (and more MONEY), and pull out of this nosedive.
It may be naive, but I see the recent improvements in site functionality, communication, and freezing the RC rates for next year as steps in the right direction. It gives me some hope that the new owners are more far sighted than the prior ones.
Of course it may be way too little way too late. I don't know.
Yes there is an improvement! and a clear one. Its rather stupid asking for anybodys demise. Could backfire on them as well.
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Geezz can we give this topic a rest!!?? I mean how many "I HATE ISTOCK" threads do we need. I am doing very well at iStock because I work hard at making images that sell and not whining on forums about how unfair life is.
If you hate iStock, please leave it. It means more money for me. And if you do leave don't announce it because half of us don't care and the other half are glad to see you go.
OX
...now back to the studio
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This is a stupid, naive, banal, unintelligent thread. Havent ppl here got more important things to do then starting one bollocks thread after another.
Go and do some work instead, you can always supply the freebie agencies.
name me a few of those ;D
123rf has over 42,000 free images
DT has thousands of free images (they changed their search now so I can't see how many, I think it was much more than 123rf though)
FT don't they ask to put your photos into a free section if they are rejected
Very true.
... and 0,30 (more or less) one "sub" is the norm almost everywhere. Getting downloads it's not exactly the same that getting money. If it is just an reassuring ego question, ok. I left behind this phase long ago. Subs are just next thing to freebies. If something good has done Istock is daring to put up prices, to value our work (and yes, I know of other many not-so-good things as TS, comission cuts etc). In the end, maybe the diference in royalties (15-45% at Isock, about 26% at other sites) has a lesser impact in earnings than difference in price. In any case, should Istock finally feel the heat, they would lower prices, and next day many other sites would decrease even more their prices to be able to compete. What about 0,10 the sub?
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Geezz can we give this topic a rest!!?? I mean how many "I HATE ISTOCK" threads do we need. I am doing very well at iStock because I work hard at making images that sell and not whining on forums about how unfair life is.
If you hate iStock, please leave it. It means more money for me. And if you do leave don't announce it because half of us don't care and the other half are glad to see you go.
OX
...now back to the studio
Have they got you on intravenous Kool-Aid nowadays or what?
If you cared to open your eyes you'll find that the "I HATE ISTOCK" campaign HQ ... is actually the Istock forums themselves ... with most of the vitriol being spewed by exclusives threatening to ditch their crowns. It's positively mild at MSG.
Why don't you pop over to the Istock forums and tell them to suck it up because actually everything's great?
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Geezz can we give this topic a rest!!?? I mean how many "I HATE ISTOCK" threads do we need. I am doing very well at iStock because I work hard at making images that sell and not whining on forums about how unfair life is.
thats the joke of the year, are you saying Sean or fotovoyager are working on pictures that don't sell?
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I've been doing alright at iStock as well the past months, thanks to a bunch of new files that have sold well. But I'm still worried about the future of iStock.
I wish they would just accept the fact that they have to lose some money (by lowering all file prices and credit prices, and removing all those pricey nonsens collections) for a few years to save the company. What are they going to do when they have 50 downloads a day from all contributors together? Charge a million bucks for one credit?
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Geezz can we give this topic a rest!!?? I mean how many "I HATE ISTOCK" threads do we need. I am doing very well at iStock because I work hard at making images that sell and not whining on forums about how unfair life is.
If you hate iStock, please leave it. It means more money for me. And if you do leave don't announce it because half of us don't care and the other half are glad to see you go.
OX
...now back to the studio
I DO NOT AGREE WITH YOU!
100 % don't care and 100 % will be glad to see somebody to go.
:) :)
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We interrupt this broadcast with an important message:
"'Tis the season to be jolly.... fa la la la laaaaaaa la la la la!"
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Secondly, I was hesitant to post in this thread because of the title.
You are right Lisa, I changed the title as the previous one wasn't that great :)
New title definitely makes more sense :)
Am I the only independent who has mixed feelings about Istock's demise?
I can definitely understand the sense of schadenfreude at seeing a site that has behaved with such hubris suffer as a result of their actions.
But at the same time, I would much prefer for them to roll back the bad changes, begin rewarding contributors with more respect (and more MONEY), and pull out of this nosedive.
It may be naive, but I see the recent improvements in site functionality, communication, and freezing the RC rates for next year as steps in the right direction. It gives me some hope that the new owners are more far sighted than the prior ones.
Of course it may be way too little way too late. I don't know.
Yes there is an improvement! and a clear one. Its rather stupid asking for anybodys demise. Could backfire on them as well.
Coming from you thats odd.
Dont matter how many. FT has turned bad and sour. The agency changed the search some time back and its just terrible. Im leaving this place and slowly take my port with me.
same here! with non performers or even if they perform but mess around. I close my account and take my portfolio with me.
Have done this with three sites this year so nowdays I only activly submit to five sites.
I recon FT, will be the next one to call a halt. They have been chopping and changing their sort-order now for 6 months, to the point where they dont even know themselves on which leg to stand on. Ofcourse as usual it only hits the high-ranking members.
Anyway what am I doing here? trying to chat with what? bunch of total morons? end of conversation.
What are you doing here?
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Secondly, I was hesitant to post in this thread because of the title.
You are right Lisa, I changed the title as the previous one wasn't that great :)
New title definitely makes more sense :)
Am I the only independent who has mixed feelings about Istock's demise?
I can definitely understand the sense of schadenfreude at seeing a site that has behaved with such hubris suffer as a result of their actions.
But at the same time, I would much prefer for them to roll back the bad changes, begin rewarding contributors with more respect (and more MONEY), and pull out of this nosedive.
It may be naive, but I see the recent improvements in site functionality, communication, and freezing the RC rates for next year as steps in the right direction. It gives me some hope that the new owners are more far sighted than the prior ones.
Of course it may be way too little way too late. I don't know.
Yes there is an improvement! and a clear one. Its rather stupid asking for anybodys demise. Could backfire on them as well.
Coming from you thats odd.
Dont matter how many. FT has turned bad and sour. The agency changed the search some time back and its just terrible. Im leaving this place and slowly take my port with me.
same here! with non performers or even if they perform but mess around. I close my account and take my portfolio with me.
Have done this with three sites this year so nowdays I only activly submit to five sites.
I recon FT, will be the next one to call a halt. They have been chopping and changing their sort-order now for 6 months, to the point where they dont even know themselves on which leg to stand on. Ofcourse as usual it only hits the high-ranking members.
Anyway what am I doing here? trying to chat with what? bunch of total morons? end of conversation.
What are you doing here?
Piss off! punk. Divvy or Prat? which are your trade?
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Anyway what am I doing here? trying to chat with what? bunch of total morons? end of conversation.
What are you doing here?
Piss off! punk. Divvy or Prat? which are your trade?
I can't believe you came back, more than an hour later, to edit your post with extra insults! Did you spend all that time quietly seething, in front of your PC, whilst you thought them up?
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Typical
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and here I am learning more vocabulary ;D
too bad you aren't going to be banned again
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This reminds me of the good old days in the San Fransisco dungeon, back in the days when internetfora were newly invented. 1995 or such.
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1995? I've been on the Internet since 1992 and I'm sure I was on Usenet forums in 1992-93 (or am I mis-remembering the advent of Usenet?)
I remember using a text-based service called 'Gopher' too, but can't remember what for.
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Ja, that was back in the days when all was new and things were shared. Now we sell things on the interent marketplace.
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.. and that ends the discussion. One locked thread and one banned member.