Author Topic: Trending Redeemed Credits. How are you doing? (Read 13978 times)

gostwyck · « **on:** May 10, 2011, 06:06 »

The introduction of P+ images for independent contributors will undoubtedly have a positive effect on their RC totals by the end of the year and therefore targets may be adjusted accordingly.

Before we see the full effect of P+ images in boosting RC's, thereby distorting the year-to-date trend, it would interesting to hear how other contributors are doing so far in 2011, both independent and exclusive.

To project forward your RC total until the end of the year simply divide your RC total today (10th May) by 4.33 and then multiply by 12. Then divide the projected total RC's for 2011 by actual RC's for 2010 to work out whether you are up or down and by how much.

Obviously there may be some seasonal variation that will not be taken into account but for most contributors I doubt that it will make too much difference.

As it happens my own RC total for 2011 is projected to be 14% down on my total for 2010.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2011, 06:19 »

Mine looks down by 5%. Of course, I tend to have a really strong Xmas season, so...

jsmithzz · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2011, 06:21 »

Quote from: gostwyck on May 10, 2011, 06:06

The introduction of P+ images for independent contributors will undoubtedly have a positive effect on their RC totals by the end of the year

You seem a little tooo certain about that. Customers are already upset about having Vetta and Agency files shoved down their throats and yet another increase and price point will only turn them off even more. As more customers leave my bet is that everyones' total RC's will drop when compared to the prior year. I don't see anything positive at iStock at the moment. Any positive effects will be cancelled out by fleeing customers going to other sites.

briciola · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2011, 06:45 »

Down 5%

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2011, 06:46 »

I'm trending down 7% but the summer isn't here yet so it would probably have ended up significantly worse than that without a Photos+ boost.

aeonf · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2011, 06:51 »

Quote from: gostwyck on May 10, 2011, 06:06

The introduction of P+ images for independent contributors will undoubtedly have a positive effect on their RC totals by the end of the year and therefore targets may be adjusted accordingly.

Before we see the full effect of P+ images in boosting RC's, thereby distorting the year-to-date trend, it would interesting to hear how other contributors are doing so far in 2011, both independent and exclusive.

To project forward your RC total until the end of the year simply divide your RC total today (10th May) by 4.33 and then multiply by 12. Then divide the projected total RC's for 2011 by actual RC's for 2010 to work out whether you are up or down and by how much.

Obviously there may be some seasonal variation that will not be taken into account but for most contributors I doubt that it will make too much difference.

As it happens my own RC total for 2011 is projected to be 14% down on my total for 2010.

You are calculating this the wrong way, for the simple reason you are not taking into account GROWTH of you portfolio. This is especially relevant for people who upload regularly.

We expect to reach ~45,000 RC's WITH taking into account portfolio growth, which is 4.5 times of the RC's we had for 2010 .

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #6 on:** May 10, 2011, 07:01 »

Quote from: aeonf on May 10, 2011, 06:51

You are calculating this the wrong way, for the simple reason you are not taking into account GROWTH of you portfolio. This is especially relevant for people who upload regularly.

You're right that growth could throw the calculation completely off course but after a certain time uploading just seems to fill in for the effects of aging of files. So this calculation probably works for large, old, active portfolios.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #7 on:** May 10, 2011, 07:01 »

Quote from: aeonf on May 10, 2011, 06:51

We expect to reach ~45,000 RC's WITH taking into account portfolio growth, which is 4.5 times of the RC's we had for 2010 .

Actually, my portfolio growth has allowed me to remain relatively in the same place, so the number is accurate. Adding 2000 new images to IS last year kept March's number for $$$ the same, and downloads down %20.

gostwyck · « **Reply #8 on:** May 10, 2011, 07:10 »

Quote from: aeonf on May 10, 2011, 06:51

You are calculating this the wrong way, for the simple reason you are not taking into account GROWTH of you portfolio. This is especially relevant for people who upload regularly.

We expect to reach ~45,000 RC's WITH taking into account portfolio growth.

For the purposes of this exercise portfolio growth is likely to be fairly inconsequential for contributors who have been in microstock for a few years. It's all relative to the size of the greater market. Obviously it is very significant for relative newbies but, trust me, the growth in your earnings will slow down all too soon!

Even Sean, who has added about 2000 images in the last year (roughly 25% increase to port) has reported his actual sales to have slipped by 20% over the same period. Exclusive contributors may also have benefited RC-wise if they have a large number of Vetta/Agency files. There are also others who were hit hard by the credit-card scam and who 'benefited' from the RC's but not the actual sales. Those are all distortions to the overall picture however, as it is all relative, by not too much.

fotografer · « **Reply #9 on:** May 10, 2011, 07:29 »

5% down but I have virtually stopped uploading there at the moment.

Difydave · « **Reply #10 on:** May 10, 2011, 07:54 »

About 7% down, which can't be good. I'd have to do quite a bit better to go up a notch, although I'd also have to do quite a bit worse to drop back at present RC levels.

If I did drop a level, I'd also drop exclusivity for sure.

I'm still far from certain that the master plan isn't to have the vast majority of exclusives on 20 or 25% before too long.

NONE of this nonsense is in any way beneficial to any of us.

qwerty · « **Reply #11 on:** May 10, 2011, 08:12 »

10% up on last year, which is in line with increase in portfolio size.

note to self, need to upload more.

aeonf · « **Reply #12 on:** May 10, 2011, 09:01 »

Quote from: sjlocke on May 10, 2011, 07:01

Quote from: aeonf on May 10, 2011, 06:51
We expect to reach ~45,000 RC's WITH taking into account portfolio growth, which is 4.5 times of the RC's we had for 2010 .

Actually, my portfolio growth has allowed me to remain relatively in the same place, so the number is accurate. Adding 2000 new images to IS last year kept March's number for $$$ the same, and downloads down %20.

Then the sales degradation (amortization of your portfolio )i s only a another variable to throw in to the equation. in your case for example if you would have added 30% more files I guess you could expect a increase in revenue.
My calculations and bussiness plan are based on a 25% sales degredation (RPI) per year. so far my RPI is VERY steady though so everything is going better then expected for us.

As said, the OP's methood is good for old and stagnating portfolios and NOT for high growth portfolios (20% isn't high growth).

skvoor · « **Reply #13 on:** May 10, 2011, 09:09 »

12% down with no new images uploaded since royalty cut

disorderly · « **Reply #14 on:** May 10, 2011, 09:13 »

Down 20%. I stopped uploading in September and have been deleting nonsellers since then.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 10, 2011, 09:38 »

up 69%

RC 2010 1403
RC 2011 860

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #16 on:** May 10, 2011, 09:57 »

Quote from: aeonf on May 10, 2011, 09:01

As said, the OP's methood is good for old and stagnating portfolios and NOT for high growth portfolios (20% isn't high growth).

Lol, yeah, that's me. Stagnating.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 10, 2011, 10:00 »

this aeonf don´t exist.. 20% grow is low??

FreeTransform · « **Reply #18 on:** May 10, 2011, 10:20 »

It means nothing until they release the targets, no?

Atwim · « **Reply #19 on:** May 10, 2011, 10:24 »

Up 69%. My projections put me on the verge of reaching the old 35% target.

So who knows, I might reach it, I might not, they might move the bar higher or lower....I live in a complete uncertainty in this matter. But I sleep well, thanks God I don´t rely on this for anything, otherwise i would be a bit nervous.

gostwyck · « **Reply #20 on:** May 10, 2011, 10:49 »

Quote from: aeonf on May 10, 2011, 09:01

... if you would have added 30% more files I guess you could expect a increase in revenue.
My calculations and bussiness plan are based on a 25% sales degredation (RPI) per year. so far my RPI is VERY steady though so everything is going better then expected for us.

As said, the OP's methood is good for old and stagnating portfolios and NOT for high growth portfolios (20% isn't high growth).

*sigh*

Good luck with your 'bussiness plan' then and shame on Sean for stagnating the way he has. You need to teach him more about your methods for success in microstock and stop him stagnating immediately.

adamkaz · « **Reply #21 on:** May 10, 2011, 11:00 »

I'm up about 10%, but last year the fall season dropped like never before, in spite of the "Half of our RC's come in the last 4 months" comment. So really, I'm about the same as last year. With about 30% port growth.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #22 on:** May 10, 2011, 11:17 »

Down 15%

I have only uploaded some editorial images this year so far though, so not much portfolio growth. I have a lot of stuff I haven't uploaded because of the many bugs (with aRGB images and new stuff getting buried).

Typically the last 3 months of the year are very strong for me, but as this best match change has been horrible, I'm not all that optimistic at the moment.

lisafx · « **Reply #23 on:** May 10, 2011, 12:23 »

I'm projected to be down 15% too. Still on track to keep my royalty level as long as they don't move the target, but not by as comfortable a margin as last year.

I only uploaded 1k images last year, so I am "stagnating" even worse than Sean.

Must say, I am envious of people who feel they can continue to grow their portfolios by 30-50% or more year on year, even when they have 10's of thousands of images. I'll have some of what you're smoking please...

Of course if we all DID grow our ports by 50% each year, that would massively increase the dilution problem, so we still might find ourselves with the dreaded "stagnation". Or to put it another way - "unsustainable".

pancaketom · « **Reply #24 on:** May 10, 2011, 12:46 »

18% down. My port has 100% stagnated since the commission drop announcement. Unless there are some drastic changes to the RC targets I'll still end up in the same low % category.

ayzek · « **Reply #25 on:** May 10, 2011, 13:37 »

20% down. Still keeping my royalty level.

jamirae · « **Reply #26 on:** May 10, 2011, 13:41 »

horrible.

considering I was exclusive last year, so had more RC per sale - my port is split between illustrations and photos.

trending: photos down 50%; illustrations down 25%

but the good news is that I would still say at the crappy 16% if targets stay the same.

Anyka · « **Reply #27 on:** May 10, 2011, 14:53 »

20% down in RC's, and even more in $$$ sales.

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #28 on:** May 10, 2011, 14:57 »

Quote from: aeonf on May 10, 2011, 09:01

My calculations and bussiness plan are based on a 25% sales degredation (RPI) per year...... (20% isn't high growth).

25% + portfolio growth is unsustainable. Really, truly, mathematically unsustainable.

aeonf · « **Reply #29 on:** May 10, 2011, 15:00 »

Don't know what your problem is. Sean himself says for quite a while now that his revenue is stagnating. Am I wrong

Not that I wouldn't trade places with him any day... Hell I'll settle for 15% of his revenue.

All I am saying (giving sean as an example) is that if your portfolio grew by 20% but your revenue stayed more or less the same, it is a safe assumption that if you grow your portfolio by 30% (for example) you CAN expect a rise in revenue. No need for a math degree for this.
If one wants to predict future revenue and hence RC's, you must ALSO take into account by how much your RPI will drop (and it willl) and how much your portfolio will grow, nothing more, nothing less.

And no, 20% for an exclusive doing MS as a full time job isn't that high IMO. Then again, its not just a numbers game.

Please don't take this personal anyone, these are only numbers and opinions. I have great respect for Sean, and many other individuals not only becuase of how much $$ they make a month but because they are talented artists (which I might add, I am NOT!).

aeonf · « **Reply #30 on:** May 10, 2011, 15:48 »

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on May 10, 2011, 14:57

Quote from: aeonf on May 10, 2011, 09:01
My calculations and bussiness plan are based on a 25% sales degredation (RPI) per year...... (20% isn't high growth).

25% + portfolio growth is unsustainable. Really, truly, mathematically unsustainable.

That depends on the size of your portfolio, no ? the bigger it is the harder it is for it to grow... (in percentage).

luissantos84 · « **Reply #31 on:** May 10, 2011, 15:55 »

you are just INSANE (sorry but you are) and if I remember well you have 2k pics, how long did you took (or I guess your partner)

you are talking about 2k pictures in a year and not 2k crappy or average pics.. 200 pics per month is very good.. I guess you aren´t thinking properly, come back tomorrow and talk, you sound a crazy folk talking about reaching 45k RC.. what do you think his Sean target?

you are really travelling in the mayonese

you might be doing well but you have started "yesterday" (comparing to other here) your earnings will drop like everyone is talking here

pancaketom · « **Reply #32 on:** May 11, 2011, 01:12 »

Quote from: aeonf on May 10, 2011, 15:00

Don't know what your problem is. Sean himself says for quite a while now that his revenue is stagnating. Am I wrong
Not that I wouldn't trade places with him any day... Hell I'll settle for 15% of his revenue.

All I am saying (giving sean as an example) is that if your portfolio grew by 20% but your revenue stayed more or less the same, it is a safe assumption that if you grow your portfolio by 30% (for example) you CAN expect a rise in revenue. No need for a math degree for this.
If one wants to predict future revenue and hence RC's, you must ALSO take into account by how much your RPI will drop (and it willl) and how much your portfolio will grow, nothing more, nothing less.

And no, 20% for an exclusive doing MS as a full time job isn't that high IMO. Then again, its not just a numbers game.

Please don't take this personal anyone, these are only numbers and opinions. I have great respect for Sean, and many other individuals not only becuase of how much $$ they make a month but because they are talented artists (which I might add, I am NOT!).

In my experience best match changes make a much bigger change than portfolio degradation. 20% might not be that hard for a few years, but eventually if you are working solo it will become unsustainable. If you are not exclusive there the upload limits alone will stop you.

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #33 on:** May 11, 2011, 05:36 »

Quote from: aeonf on May 10, 2011, 15:48

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on May 10, 2011, 14:57
Quote from: aeonf on May 10, 2011, 09:01
My calculations and bussiness plan are based on a 25% sales degredation (RPI) per year...... (20% isn't high growth).

25% + portfolio growth is unsustainable. Really, truly, mathematically unsustainable.

That depends on the size of your portfolio, no ? the bigger it is the harder it is for it to grow... (in percentage).

I should have said 25% per annum but I thought "sustainable" carried the built in assumption that it had to apply long-term.
Assuming that you are going hard at it, year 1 you upload as much as possible, year two you have 100% growth, year three you have 50% growth, year four you have 25% growth but in year five you have to upload 25% more than in year one... by year eight you have to work two and a half times harder than in year one just to hit your modest 25% target.

And I guess that really is the barrier that everyone hits. If 20% of your files drop out of contention every year, and you work as hard as you can, then after five years all you can do is replace the losses you can't achieve real growth. And lots of us have run into that sort of barrier at about that time.

gostwyck · « **Reply #34 on:** May 11, 2011, 05:46 »

^^^ Exactly. It is almost mathematically inevitable that a contributor will 'hit the wall' after 5-6 years, even in a flourishing market growing at the same rate as the libraries.

If growth in the market slows (or even falls) then you have a constantly growing number of images competing for the same or fewer sales. New images increasingly have to be outstanding in their subject to make any impact at all. I believe that is what many of us who have been contributing to microstock for 6+ years have been experiencing over the last year or so.

aeonf · « **Reply #35 on:** May 11, 2011, 06:24 »

Good point you have (gosty & BT), but once you do hit this stagnation (lets say after 5 or 6 years doing this full time) I would assume that you have enough revenue to expand and hire some help, no ? That's what Yuri does, and he does have 40K+ files in his portfolio.

ShadySue · « **Reply #36 on:** May 11, 2011, 06:37 »

c8% down. Building up my port this year after a slow year last year (uploading to Alamy instead). 14.25% growth since Jan 1st.

ShadySue · « **Reply #37 on:** May 11, 2011, 06:45 »

Quote from: aeonf on May 11, 2011, 06:24

Good point you have (gosty & BT), but once you do hit this stagnation (lets say after 5 or 6 years doing this full time) I would assume that you have enough revenue to expand and hire some help, no ? That's what Yuri does, and he does have 40K+ files in his portfolio.

Why would it take 5/6 years to plateau? If you're working flat out in year 1, how can you work 25% harder in each of the next 5 years? (Accepting that you'll learn a lot in year one which will help your workflow in year 2)
As you well know, when you've got 'help', you've got a lot of extra expenses, not just their wages, but also insurance and time with all the employer's paperwork, and a clear knowledge of projections to know if that's going to be worthwhile. Then you've got the possibility of your 'help' saying after a couple of months, "to h*ck with this, why don't I just do this myself and keep all the lolly?" (if they can see that getting a studio/hiring models etc is indeed as lucrative as you [but certainly not everyone] find it to be).

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #38 on:** May 11, 2011, 06:47 »

Quote from: aeonf on May 11, 2011, 06:24

Good point you have (gosty & BT), but once you do hit this stagnation (lets say after 5 or 6 years doing this full time) I would assume that you have enough revenue to expand and hire some help, no ? That's what Yuri does, and he does have 40K+ files in his portfolio.

As mentioned "help" and "expanding" bring high overhead costs that are not necessarily going to be "sustainable" or rewarded in terms of net income. If you plan on making a spiral like that, you might as well drop out now.

gostwyck · « **Reply #39 on:** May 11, 2011, 06:48 »

Quote from: aeonf on May 11, 2011, 06:24

Good point you have (gosty & BT), but once you do hit this stagnation (lets say after 5 or 6 years doing this full time) I would assume that you have enough revenue to expand and hire some help, no ? That's what Yuri does, and he does have 40K+ files in his portfolio.

I really don't think that microstock scales predictably enough to justify hiring help. The fact that there are so few examples of 'photo factories' more less proves that. Such factories may have enviable sales but they'll need those to pay all the bills. As time goes on and it gets ever more competitive then the risk of 'investing' in help becomes even more uncertain. Costs are always rising whilst payback periods are lengthening.

As far as I am concerned 'hiring help' rather obliterates the main advantages of microstock which is to enjoy a laid-back lifestyle with no boss, no direct customers, no employees, no invoicing, no chasing money, no marketing, choosing your own hours, no commuting, minimal overhead, etc, etc, etc.

jjneff · « **Reply #40 on:** May 11, 2011, 07:34 »

That is exactly what Stock is all about. I started with video in 2006 and am now full-time. The reasons are freedom lifestyle and less stress! My earnings grow every year but
not nearly as fast as in the beginning. If you treat this as a business it is a business. If I spend money it is on gear, travel and hiring models.

aeonf · « **Reply #41 on:** May 11, 2011, 08:29 »

Quote from: sjlocke on May 11, 2011, 06:47

Quote from: aeonf on May 11, 2011, 06:24
Good point you have (gosty & BT), but once you do hit this stagnation (lets say after 5 or 6 years doing this full time) I would assume that you have enough revenue to expand and hire some help, no ? That's what Yuri does, and he does have 40K+ files in his portfolio.

As mentioned "help" and "expanding" bring high overhead costs that are not necessarily going to be "sustainable" or rewarded in terms of net income. If you plan on making a spiral like that, you might as well drop out now.

I disagree. If I could hire a SJLOCKE for example and pay him 3K a month, I think that would be VERY sustainable.
Actually, that's exactly what did... I hired someone, gave him a 50% share and he does all of the work. all I do is blabber on MSG

So I don't have a boss, my partner (and friend) doesn't have a boss, and we are all very happy puppies (for now!)

Sue: as you knowin IS has upload limits, so your growth possibilities aren't infinite, it takes time to climb the "old" canisters.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #42 on:** May 11, 2011, 09:09 »

you have know remembered me of a song, thanks!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0OVpyvey4U[/youtube]

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #43 on:** May 11, 2011, 09:33 »

Quote from: aeonf on May 11, 2011, 08:29

I disagree. If I could hire a SJLOCKE for example and pay him 3K a month, I think that would be VERY sustainable.
Actually, that's exactly what did... I hired someone, gave him a 50% share and he does all of the work. all I do is blabber on MSG
So I don't have a boss, my partner (and friend) doesn't have a boss, and we are all very happy puppies (for now!)

Sue: as you knowin IS has upload limits, so your growth possibilities aren't infinite, it takes time to climb the "old" canisters.

When he wises up, he'll do it himself, keep 100%, and you'll be back at zero. Witness laflor and Yuri's other interns. My costs are way below 50%.

lisafx · « **Reply #44 on:** May 11, 2011, 09:48 »

Quote from: gostwyck on May 11, 2011, 06:48

As far as I am concerned 'hiring help' rather obliterates the main advantages of microstock which is to enjoy a laid-back lifestyle with no boss, no direct customers, no employees, no invoicing, no chasing money, no marketing, choosing your own hours, no commuting, minimal overhead, etc, etc, etc.

So true! If I wanted the hassle of managing and supporting a workforce I would be better off in a "real job", with a steadier income and benefits.

etienjones · « **Reply #45 on:** May 11, 2011, 10:46 »

Down 14%

slobo · « **Reply #46 on:** November 20, 2011, 20:37 »

I am down 17%.
iStock raised diamond limit by 25%.
I will not make it this year. I'll be short some 37%

cobalt · « **Reply #47 on:** November 20, 2011, 20:45 »

I´ll be down over 25% Rc, but stay within my 35% range. 40% or 150k RC is completely unreachable with my portfolio and style. I won´t even try. I really would need to hire help and upload in high volume.

it would be nice if there were other intermediate bonus levels, even if it was just one time cash payments.

qwerty · « **Reply #48 on:** November 21, 2011, 02:05 »

I was on track to retain my level and now I have 0,.

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #49 on:** November 21, 2011, 02:46 »

Quote from: cobalt on November 20, 2011, 20:45

150k RC is completely unreachable with my portfolio and style.

Yes, the RC system is designed to reward top lifestyle shooters and punish anyone who deviates from the most popular niches however good their work is.

RacePhoto · « **Reply #50 on:** November 21, 2011, 07:57 »

Quote from: qwerty on November 21, 2011, 02:05

I was on track to retain my level and now I have 0,.

Thanks for mentioning that, mine says 0 and I know I have sales. Obviously I don't understand the RC level at all? How can I have monthly sales and a zero RC for 2011?

PaulieWalnuts · « **Reply #51 on:** November 21, 2011, 08:12 »

Quote from: RacePhoto on November 21, 2011, 07:57

Quote from: qwerty on November 21, 2011, 02:05
I was on track to retain my level and now I have 0,.

Thanks for mentioning that, mine says 0 and I know I have sales. Obviously I don't understand the RC level at all? How can I have monthly sales and a zero RC for 2011?

Assuming you're not being sarcastic here, the RC system is broken. There's a thread here and at IS about the problem.

Suljo · « **Reply #52 on:** November 21, 2011, 14:16 »

Quote from: RacePhoto on November 21, 2011, 07:57

Quote from: qwerty on November 21, 2011, 02:05
I was on track to retain my level and now I have 0,.

Thanks for mentioning that, mine says 0 and I know I have sales. Obviously I don't understand the RC level at all? How can I have monthly sales and a zero RC for 2011?

Im speechless...

traveler1116 · « **Reply #53 on:** November 21, 2011, 16:06 »

Quote from: Suljo on November 21, 2011, 14:16

Im speechless...

I'm speechless.

cobalt · « **Reply #54 on:** November 21, 2011, 16:57 »

It is true. Although I have over 40 000 euros invested in my studio and monthly bills of around 1200, my images are too generic for V/A. I could only reach 150k if I hired staff and produced in very large volume. But I really don´t want to do that, I had a team before and really enjoy the freedom of working alone.

But of course there is enough room to grow. I can double or triple my income if I can find more time for stock.

TheDman · « **Reply #55 on:** November 29, 2011, 15:24 »

Last year I had double the RCs needed to hit the 30% level. This year I'll probably miss it by a few hundred credits. In every year prior to this one (I've been on since 2005), my bar charts have gone up in Oct, Nov and Dec. This year they're going down with each successive month.

ShadySue · « **Reply #56 on:** November 29, 2011, 16:57 »

My RCs are slightly up on this time last year, but my $$ are down.
This can surely only mean that 'my' buyers are paying less, on average, for their credits.

MicrostockGroup Sponsors

Author Topic: Trending Redeemed Credits. How are you doing? (Read 13978 times)

lisafx

ayzek

lisafx

slobo

RacePhoto

traveler1116

Related Topics

Sponsors

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors