Author Topic: Photo+ - new iStockphoto collection for non exclusives (Read 56337 times)

ShadySue · « **Reply #75 on:** May 06, 2011, 12:24 »

Quote from: disorderly on May 06, 2011, 12:01

I'm still removing my port a few at a time. The way I'm going it'll take another year and a half to get them all gone, and of course I'm deleting the non- and slow sellers first. So I can't see any harm in moving some better sellers to P+. I wouldn't get to them for removal until long after the six months is up. Unless of course they decide that that's the wrong time frame and up it to a year or more. But they wouldn't do that. They wouldn't, would they?

As far as I know, you can still deactivate E+ files if you choose to. If you thrown in the crown, your E+'s soon go to base. So I'm pretty sure your files wouldn't be tied in if you wanted to leave altogether. Unless they change the rules on a whim, which happens a lot. E&OE.

spike · « **Reply #76 on:** May 06, 2011, 12:55 »

I have opted in just a few best sellers and some other images that don't have that much competition, since they're very specific, so the buyer in reality doesn't have the choice to buy the lower priced image. We'll see how that works out.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #77 on:** May 06, 2011, 13:00 »

I still don't see the icon that the admin who announced this program said would identify images in the P+ program. I see "Stock photo +" on the detail page and some have the new pricing, but others have the words but not the new prices.

Does anyone see it?

Without an identifier that shows the price, aren't we just setting things up for another round of complaints from buyers who feel ambushed by the price hike? They had images in their lightbox, carefully selected because they were all non-exclusive and now suddenly the price has doubled...?

caspixel · « **Reply #78 on:** May 06, 2011, 13:05 »

Quote from: jsnover on May 06, 2011, 13:00

I still don't see the icon that the admin who announced this program said would identify images in the P+ program. I see "Stock photo +" on the detail page and some have the new pricing, but others have the words but not the new prices.

Does anyone see it?

Without an identifier that shows the price, aren't we just setting things up for another round of complaints from buyers who feel ambushed by the price hike? They had images in their lightbox, carefully selected because they were all non-exclusive and now suddenly the price has doubled...?

The "Stock Photo +" text is about as obscure as it can get. If people aren't noticing the camera, they are certainly not going to see (or even know what) the '+' means. Another epic fail by iStock. Anyone want to add it to the other thread?

spike · « **Reply #79 on:** May 06, 2011, 13:12 »

Quote from: leaf on May 06, 2011, 12:22

I sorted my images by my best sellers and added a selection to the Photos+ collection. I also took a screen shot of their current downloads/day so I can compare in a month or two to see if it has changed for the worse or better. Then I'll decide what to do with other images.

Yep, similar to what I did. I'll give it three months and try to see is there a trend with DLs/month for "normal" images and the ones added to the collection and try to see if there is a difference and if it's statistically significant.

kingjon · « **Reply #80 on:** May 06, 2011, 13:14 »

I threw a few average sellers but included one best seller - lets see how it goes...

This is kind of interesting, from the photo + selection window: "Some of your files may have already been moved into Photo+ by our inspectors or admins. The six-month lock does not apply to these files and you can remove them immediately by un-checking the box below."

ShadySue · « **Reply #81 on:** May 06, 2011, 13:15 »

Quote from: jsnover on May 06, 2011, 13:00

I still don't see the icon that the admin who announced this program said would identify images in the P+ program. I see "Stock photo +" on the detail page and some have the new pricing, but others have the words but not the new prices.
Does anyone see it?
Without an identifier that shows the price, aren't we just setting things up for another round of complaints from buyers who feel ambushed by the price hike? They had images in their lightbox, carefully selected because they were all non-exclusive and now suddenly the price has doubled...?

Has there been any indication that they care what (?a few?) buyers think?
Seems like the P+ and png introduction are the 'suggestions of the week', implemented without preamble to contributors or buyers.
This seems to be the modus operandi.

ShadySue · « **Reply #82 on:** May 06, 2011, 13:17 »

Quote from: kingjon on May 06, 2011, 13:14

I threw a few average sellers but included one best seller - lets see how it goes...

This is kind of interesting, from the photo + selection window: "Some of your files may have already been moved into Photo+ by our inspectors or admins. The six-month lock does not apply to these files and you can remove them immediately by un-checking the box below."

They did that when they introduced Exc+. If you had nominated a file for Vetta but it was rejected as Vetta, it was imediately ingested to Exc+, but you could take it out if you wanted at any time. If you added any yourself, they were locked in for the six months, if you were still exclusive.

lisafx · « **Reply #83 on:** May 06, 2011, 13:36 »

Quote from: leaf on May 06, 2011, 12:22

I sorted my images by my best sellers and added a selection to the Photos+ collection. I also took a screen shot of their current downloads/day so I can compare in a month or two to see if it has changed for the worse or better. Then I'll decide what to do with other images.

This is really good thinking. I will do the same.

Looks like I can add over 1k to the Photos+ collection. I'm not that brave. I will probably put in a few hundred and see what happens.

Kind of nervous, though, because I have put a lot of my best sellers in there. If this destroys my sales I will be so pi$$ed!

If doubling prices on FT and higher level prices on DT are any indication, simply going up to regular exclusive collection prices shouldn't cause too big a drop in sales. But with all the shenanigans at IS I hope this isn't the last straw for some remaining price-sensitive buyers.

lagereek · « **Reply #84 on:** May 06, 2011, 14:29 »

Quote from: lisafx on May 06, 2011, 09:43

Quote from: Elenathewise on May 06, 2011, 08:57
I am not sure why they require the files to be locked-in for 6 months in this collection. Anyone has any idea?
I am reluctant to trust Istock... big surprise. In their Photo+ explanation, they definitely put a lot of emphasis on this 6 months lock-in. As if they about to reveal something else after enough people lock in their files there. Or am I being paranoid?

Nope, not paranoid. Your reasoning makes perfect sense to me. I was almost taken in by their "preserve your canister" scam. Some little voice in the back of my mind said let's wait and see. I am glad I listened to that intuition.

With Istock, there's always another shoe about to drop.

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on May 06, 2011, 09:02
Quote from: Elenathewise on May 06, 2011, 08:57
I am not sure why they require the files to be locked-in for 6 months in this collection. Anyone has any idea?

Maybe just to stop people changing their minds constantly and confusing buyers even more. I can't think of another reason.

I would bet there's some other reason for the lockin. Just because it hasn't been revealed yet doesn't mean it's not coming.

My guess is that all images opted in to P+ will automatically go to the PP. For those of you with images on PP anyway it's probably no big deal, but for those of us who have stayed out of the PP, that would be a sticking point.

Yes! sigh. there is always and have always been a method behind the madness and this is one of them.

lagereek · « **Reply #85 on:** May 06, 2011, 14:39 »

Quote from: lisafx on May 06, 2011, 11:58

You guys are very persuasive

I am going to lay down my natural skepticism and add some P+ files.

Im not and frankly I dont really care about this IS business anymore, yeah you might earn a bit more but thats just about it. Im trying to cut a deal here, moving over most of the industry shots from IS to RF and for a really good percentage as well.

Be careful though your shots doesnt end up in the PP or whatever, you should look out for this 6 months lock-up, doesnt make sense.

take care Christian

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #86 on:** May 06, 2011, 14:40 »

I now see a Photos plus icon - this is what I posted in the IS thread. Doesn't look to me as if they've really thought this through.

The reason I think this matters is that buyers need to be able to look at files and see what price things fall into. The ability to choose collections in search is important, but so is the visual confirmation shown with the thumb in search results

So now I see a new icon in the iStock firmament here. The Photos+ icon is separate from the file type icons - it's listed with the crown and other collections icons.

(a) I don't see this show up on images that are already showing Photo+ pricing
(b) Will images in P+ have both a camera icon and a camera+ icon?
(c) If the P+ images will have only one icon - camera with a plus - then wouldn't it be logical to have E+ images switch to a camera with a plus as well (and drop the plus on the crown)?

It just seems that the iconography is getting so complex - with file types that have a color to designate collection; file types with an add on that designate a collection; but then one collection (E+) doesn't change the file type at all?

As Vetta will now come to video and illustrations, I assume those file type icons will be changing color too? If E+ extends to video and illustrations you could continue with the crown and a plus. If P+ extends to I+ and V+ in the future (for independent video and illustrations in a "Plus" collection) will you then have little pluses on the pen and the TV?

caspixel · « **Reply #87 on:** May 06, 2011, 14:47 »

Quote from: jsnover on May 06, 2011, 14:40

I now see a Photos plus icon - this is what I posted in the IS thread. Doesn't look to me as if they've really thought this through.

The reason I think this matters is that buyers need to be able to look at files and see what price things fall into. The ability to choose collections in search is important, but so is the visual confirmation shown with the thumb in search results

So now I see a new icon in the iStock firmament here. The Photos+ icon is separate from the file type icons - it's listed with the crown and other collections icons.

I don't see an icon. It's a blank space. Nor do I see an icon for Vetta Video. Weird.

microstockphoto.co.uk · « **Reply #88 on:** May 06, 2011, 14:51 »

I see a blank space as well.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #89 on:** May 06, 2011, 14:55 »

This is what I see:

caspixel · « **Reply #90 on:** May 06, 2011, 14:57 »

I'd label that a fail. You can barely see the '+'. Couldn't they have picked a little lighter color?

pancaketom · « **Reply #91 on:** May 06, 2011, 15:06 »

I wonder if the reason this rollout is so scattered is that after KK said that only .1% were seriously affected and that people had calmed down they quick needed a diversion so they brought this up early...

Although looking at all their other problems lately I suppose this is nothing special.

jamirae · « **Reply #92 on:** May 06, 2011, 15:24 »

that's what I dont get. is it my imagination or don't they usually announce these things a little farther ahead of time and tell us when it's going live and what we need to do to get ready?

I don't frequent the IS forums much these days at all but didn't this just get announced the day it launched? weird.

as for the icon.. it is probably a cache issue as I recall a lot of people saw blank spaces when they added the exlusive+ icon too.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #93 on:** May 06, 2011, 15:28 »

cut on royalties back in September (a few months early announced) this one is just insane, we wake up and see this but this time looks like IS is going to share some of his greediness!

Risamay · « **Reply #94 on:** May 06, 2011, 15:52 »

Quote from: caspixel on May 06, 2011, 14:57

I'd label that a fail. You can barely see the '+'. Couldn't they have picked a little lighter color?

+1

Quote from: jamirae on May 06, 2011, 15:24

that's what I dont get. is it my imagination or don't they usually announce these things a little farther ahead of time and tell us when it's going live and what we need to do to get ready?

I don't frequent the IS forums much these days at all but didn't this just get announced the day it launched? weird.

+ another 1

caspixel · « **Reply #95 on:** May 06, 2011, 16:49 »

Quote from: jamirae on May 06, 2011, 15:24

as for the icon.. it is probably a cache issue as I recall a lot of people saw blank spaces when they added the exlusive+ icon too.

Why do they seem to have so many caching issues.

jamirae · « **Reply #96 on:** May 06, 2011, 17:27 »

Quote from: caspixel on May 06, 2011, 16:49

Quote from: jamirae on May 06, 2011, 15:24

as for the icon.. it is probably a cache issue as I recall a lot of people saw blank spaces when they added the exlusive+ icon too.

Why do they seem to have so many caching issues.

cash or cache.. it has something to do with sustainability, doesn't it?

lisafx · « **Reply #97 on:** May 06, 2011, 18:48 »

Just checked in and saw that I've had several P+ sales already this afternoon. Doesn't look like the price point (equal with exclusive regular) is a deterrent.

Also, sorting my personal lightboxes by best match, looks like the P+ images have some advantage. I am not positive about this because I added a lot of my best DL/mo. sellers to P+, so that might account for the best match placement.

In general searches, though, I notice that V/A don't seem, as dominant in the front pages today.

Or maybe it's all just wishful thinking $:-\$

wiser · « **Reply #98 on:** May 06, 2011, 19:36 »

Quote from: lisafx on May 06, 2011, 18:48

Snip
In general searches, though, I notice that V/A don't seem, as dominant in the front pages today.

Or maybe it's all just wishful thinking $:-\$

I think the best match has been tweaked to a more reasonable mix. I was helping someone today learn the ropes of how to search (by NOT using best match) and when I showed her the results of best match vs downloads, etc. the first couple of pages were not as heavy on V+A files.

I would like to think that IS was listening to the complaints of both contribs and buyers. Any other theories? Or am I just deluded?

Artemis · « **Reply #99 on:** May 07, 2011, 00:27 »

I think this sounds like higher RC targets in the make ("all is going so well and we keep growing, whooyay, therefore we must..yadayada").
Opted a couple in nevertheless; like many here i dont have to lose much anymore either since sales dried up mostly anyways.
If this turns out to be a nasty PP - TS trick my portfolio will be gone lightning fast.

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Author Topic: Photo+ - new iStockphoto collection for non exclusives (Read 56337 times)

ShadySue

spike

Jo Ann Snover

caspixel

spike

kingjon

ShadySue

ShadySue

lisafx

lagereek

lagereek

Jo Ann Snover

caspixel

microstockphoto.co.uk

Jo Ann Snover

caspixel

pancaketom

jamirae

luissantos84

Risamay

caspixel

jamirae

lisafx

wiser

Artemis

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