Author Topic: Sales are kind of modest at LO, or is it only me? (Read 13105 times)

epixx · « **on:** May 14, 2007, 23:49 »

While I like the layout and concept of LO a lot, after six months, my commissions there are lower than those at stockphotomedia ant featurepics, the other bottom-feeders among those I upload to. I suspect that even Crestock will make me a millionaire before I reach my first payout at LO.

Is it only me, or do others feel the same???

sharpshot · « **Reply #1 on:** May 15, 2007, 02:11 »

They are slow for me but a lot better than featurepics. I get some sales every week and have had 1 EL sale for $25 but it will still take a long time to reach the $100 payout. A few more EL sales would speed that up a bit.

sim · « **Reply #2 on:** May 15, 2007, 06:06 »

Very slow for me to. In fact they are my worst performer out of the nine sites I am with. I like their set up and approach, so I will stick with them for a while longer before I think about stopping uploading. Hoping that their marketing efforts produce increased sales. Come on LO !!!

Pixart · « **Reply #3 on:** May 15, 2007, 22:22 »

I was quite optimistic about the small trends I was observing over the last 4 months. One sale in January. Soon one a week, and almost 1.5/week in April. It seemed like sales were doubling every couple of months - but now I haven't had a sale in May so I don't know what to think.

sharply_done · « **Reply #4 on:** May 16, 2007, 00:04 »

... oy vey!

Pixart · « **Reply #5 on:** May 16, 2007, 10:10 »

Quote from: sharply_done on May 16, 2007, 00:04

... oy vey!

Sharply... is that you rolling on the floor in laughter over there on the West Coast?

We'll let you know when you should upload. If I don't get back to you by Christmas 2008 be sure to follow up with one of us.

I thought that although slim, the downloads were doubling and soon there would be a sale every day.... Then I read a post by rinderart and he only had like 57 sales or something like that (the amazing Laurin Rinder!).

I'm still optomistic. I like the way they treat their contributors. I do think they'll find their way.

Tim Markley · « **Reply #6 on:** May 16, 2007, 20:27 »

slow!

cornishman · « **Reply #7 on:** May 17, 2007, 04:02 »

Not a jot, sadly.

They are very polite and freindly though.

Edit: As of the end of May, 2 sales, one of which was an extended license. Not bad.

Edited Again: They took back about $13 because of some royalty bug. Wasn't an extended license then. So just two ordinary sales so far.

scrappinstacy · « **Reply #8 on:** June 07, 2007, 09:39 »

I like the atmosphere of the bouncers and site at LO but sales are pretty slow. However, I just got my first extended license sale there. Was pretty cool to see a $25.00 jump in my total!

snem · « **Reply #9 on:** June 07, 2007, 12:21 »

9 downloads, one of which an EL. Slow but very friendly upload procedure... so I go on.

sharpshot · « **Reply #10 on:** June 07, 2007, 12:37 »

31 downloads now, with 1 EL. Half way to a payout. What keeps me going is knowing that istock got off to a slower start than Lucky Oliver. I just hope they keep ahead

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #11 on:** June 07, 2007, 18:25 »

Only 20 sales total for life at LO... and no EL..... fact is, I'm still an EL virgin.....everywhere. Someone mentioned FP, never had a sale, of course I've only a few dozen pix there too... not much to chose from...
Got a couple places sales are bad for me... 123rf, not one sale in May and so far none in June....I'm about ready to bail out there.
Thank goodness for SS, IS, DT & BigStock, sales are very brisk there.
peace-tom

fleitao · « **Reply #12 on:** June 07, 2007, 19:12 »

I only had 8 sales since i joined, late last year. One of them has been an EL tough, so that's not so bad.

But my feelings are still rather undefined about this one... i like the style, but they don't seem to take off anymore.

Karimala · « **Reply #13 on:** June 08, 2007, 11:15 »

62 sales, no ELs, and halfway to payout. Like everyone else, I saw my sales drop in the first part of May, but they came back with a vengeance after they tweaked the search engine in the middle of the month to bring forward some older images (I've been there almost a year). I had 11 sales between May 14 - 30, zero sales between May 1 - 13.

As for FeaturePics, I haven't had a sale since March 1 with a portfolio of 1000 images. I keep asking myself how they are ever going to have the money for marketing, if they are paying a 70% commissions, 1.5% referral bonuses, and whatever they pay their reviewers and staff. I'd rather receive less commission and have that portion of the funds go into marketing for my images and site upgrades.

leaf · « **Reply #14 on:** June 08, 2007, 11:21 »

sales are still meager for me as well but defiantly getting better - have also had a few good sales in their 'sideshow' thing so it seems like it is working (6 of the last 17 sales which came in may and june). Not sure how long we should wait, but I am holding out a while longer. Their upload is really one of the best, and i like their site so they have my support.

bryan_luckyoliver · « **Reply #15 on:** June 08, 2007, 12:03 »

I'd like to thank all the artists that have supported us this past year (and even those that have challenged us!)...it's been a fun ride so far. It's enjoyable to work with such a motivated group of people.

We're still taking baby steps, but I think our growth will accelerate over the next year. It might be hard to see for individual artists, but we have weekly sales growth. I talk with customers on a daily basis- the response we've been getting is extremely encouraging.

We're still laying down the foundation and we're aware of the risks of spending too much time trying to grow this business. We'd love to catapult sales, but we want to make sure every sale, customer and artist gets the attention they deserve. We've made up huge ground on the competition - the next year is about taking out the boxing gloves

.

Our marketing right now is focused on conversations. We've got a lot going on (http://www.luckyoliver.com/blog/222/rally_time). I'll continue to ask Carnies to be patient- things are working. We're now leading the charge in midstock and the margins on images will continue to go up as we push forward (http://www.luckyoliver.com/blog/230/sideshow_results).

Thanks again! Bryan

And Steve, we'll see you at the How Design Conference!

steve-oh · « **Reply #16 on:** June 08, 2007, 12:12 »

Bryan,

Look forward to meeting you! Guess I need to pack my boxing gloves and Rocky soundtrack.

leaf · « **Reply #17 on:** June 08, 2007, 18:29 »

wow, wish i could be there to see the two of you duke it out. it might make some great stock shots.

bryan_luckyoliver · « **Reply #18 on:** June 08, 2007, 19:06 »

Yeah, might look something like this

perkmeup · « **Reply #19 on:** June 09, 2007, 02:23 »

The one thing I have been trying hard to get to...is the 100dL's before LO starts charging for the side show feature. It would be nice to get the extra exposure....but with sales as slow as they are right now....I can't see paying for this feature......

How many people have over 100 DL's on LO

......it can't be too many....maybe a couple dozen.

I think LO should extend this offer for a couple more months at least....as a way of rewarding the people that are contributing many many photos to the site....I scratch your back and you scratch mine.....

I may or may not make the deadline...it will be close..

Tom

Karimala · « **Reply #20 on:** June 09, 2007, 04:36 »

I'd love to see an extension, too.

I've been working my tail off building up my portfolio in order to stay on the front page of the Top 50 contributors list, which also translates to mean I've been working extremely hard to achieve those 100 sales before the July 19th deadline. Somehow I've managed to say in the Top 50, but I don't think I'm going to make the deadline (it'll be close). It would be pretty awesome if LO could reward the top contributors who don't quite make 100 with an exemption or an extension or something.

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #21 on:** June 09, 2007, 23:35 »

At my current rate... it'll be over 4 years before I hit 100... LOL
I'm hanging in there and still uploading. Hoping it takes off for me soon.

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #22 on:** June 10, 2007, 00:39 »

After uploading around 100 more images, I increased my download rate to 3/month

So with this rate I might make it to a 100 dls on October 2009

However, probably LO will improve. But I would be interested to know how it is on LO. What increases faster, the number of images getting online or the number of downloads?
I do not doubt a weekly growth in sales, but I also do not doubt a weekly growth of the image database at LO

sharpshot · « **Reply #23 on:** June 10, 2007, 02:19 »

Bryan did put up a graph and the number of images online is increasing more than the number of sales. I think that a high percentage of those new photos wont sell for a long time, so having more sales will help images that are more likely to sell. It wont be long though before the site is swamped with images that don't sell. That can't be good and I hope the push for sales improves soon or photographers might decide LO is not worth uploading to. Perhaps it is time for a few big adverts in the designer magazines. That seems to work for the big sites. Waiting for the perfect site before advertising seems risky in a market that can change quickly.

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #24 on:** June 11, 2007, 17:57 »

There's probably a thread for this, but I didn't find it in a quick search... so I'll ask it here anyway.
I occassionally do a google search on myself or on a keyword imbedded in one of my pix somewhere on a stock site. Usually I can get a couple, few dozen of my pictures come up in the images section on the first several pages of Google. LO, IS, FT, SS and others... the majority of them are always IS and LO.
Under the LO hits, my pictures were displayed, but when I clicked on some to establish a link, ...........it went to some other photogs portfolio. I'd estimante that about 40% of them went to another's pix even though mine was displayed.

Is this to be expected? I'm not a mastermind of the internet. Any comments would be apprecitated.

-tom

Karimala · « **Reply #25 on:** June 11, 2007, 21:31 »

Quote from: a.k.a.-tom on June 11, 2007, 17:57

There's probably a thread for this, but I didn't find it in a quick search... so I'll ask it here anyway.
I occassionally do a google search on myself or on a keyword imbedded in one of my pix somewhere on a stock site. Usually I can get a couple, few dozen of my pictures come up in the images section on the first several pages of Google. LO, IS, FT, SS and others... the majority of them are always IS and LO.
Under the LO hits, my pictures were displayed, but when I clicked on some to establish a link, ...........it went to some other photogs portfolio. I'd estimate that about 40% of them went to another's pix even though mine was displayed.

Is this to be expected? I'm not a mastermind of the internet. Any comments would be apprecitated. -tom

Man, I wish my memory was what it used to be! LOL I actually talked to Bryan about this, and if I remember correctly he said that's normal, because Google is also picking up the collage of photos at the bottom of the page and their related keywords. Something like that.

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #26 on:** June 11, 2007, 22:02 »

Quote from: Karimala on June 11, 2007, 21:31

Man, I wish my memory was what it used to be! LOL I actually talked to Bryan about this, and if I remember correctly he said that's normal, because Google is also picking up the collage of photos at the bottom of the page and their related keywords. Something like that.

Hey, Karimala, Thanks!!! That makes sense. I appreciate the fast response and help!!

-tom

Karimala · « **Reply #27 on:** June 11, 2007, 22:45 »

Quote from: sharpshot on June 10, 2007, 02:19

Bryan did put up a graph and the number of images online is increasing more than the number of sales. I think that a high percentage of those new photos wont sell for a long time, so having more sales will help images that are more likely to sell. It wont be long though before the site is swamped with images that don't sell. That can't be good and I hope the push for sales improves soon or photographers might decide LO is not worth uploading to. Perhaps it is time for a few big adverts in the designer magazines. That seems to work for the big sites. Waiting for the perfect site before advertising seems risky in a market that can change quickly.

Sharpshot's post brings Fotolia to mind. They jumped right out of the gates with big advertising and a sloppy website, drummed up lots of sales overnight, and then proceeded to neglect the site for a year now. That decision has left a ton of disgruntled buyers and sellers, and I am so thankful that LO isn't following that path.

Everyone at LO is working incredibly hard towards building a solid reputation and a reliable, multi-functional user interface that will work when the big print ad campaign comes. They did an outstanding job developing a site that makes us, the contributors, want to come back and upload. Now we just need to wait a bit while they work the same magic for the buyers.

perkmeup · « **Reply #28 on:** June 18, 2007, 09:34 »

Boy....after posting on this thread last week and wondering if I'd make the 100 DL's for the free sideshow.......sales have gone wild. I blew by the 100DL Saturday and got another 10 DL's on Sunday...So I time to pick out the images for the sideshow.

I hope this is a trend...and not a fluke. I'm sure alot of the photos were bought by the same person since they were all Educational shots that sold on the one day....but maybe they will be back.... hope so......

Tom

Pixart · « **Reply #29 on:** June 18, 2007, 13:54 »

I know Bryan was making a few "appearances" recently, and every time he does a trade show etc. there seems to be a jump in sales for a while. One of these days I think they are really going to sprint ahead of FT, BigStock. Their $ per sale is one of the best, so just a few sales = close to or better than FT for me at the end of the month. (But I must admit, I was very lazy ordering my keywords at FT and on my list to fix.)

madelaide · « **Reply #30 on:** June 18, 2007, 16:59 »

Quote from: perkmeup on June 18, 2007, 09:34

Boy....after posting on this thread last week and wondering if I'd make the 100 DL's for the free sideshow.......sales have gone wild. I blew by the 100DL Saturday and got another 10 DL's on Sunday...

I have nothing on the sideshow, but I'm jealous of your numbers. Today I sold the first image this month.

Regards,
Adelaide

iofoto · « **Reply #31 on:** June 18, 2007, 17:28 »

I would highly recommend trying images in the Lucky Oliver Sideshow. Here's a post regarding the potential for really good sales: http://www.microstockgroup.com/index.php?topic=1915.0

maunger · « **Reply #32 on:** June 18, 2007, 19:02 »

Quote from: perkmeup on June 18, 2007, 09:34

Boy....after posting on this thread last week and wondering if I'd make the 100 DL's for the free sideshow.......sales have gone wild. I blew by the 100DL Saturday and got another 10 DL's on Sunday...So I time to pick out the images for the sideshow.

Tom

Congrats tom! I'm soooo jealous!

Mitch

madelaide · « **Reply #33 on:** June 18, 2007, 21:03 »

Quote from: iofoto on June 18, 2007, 17:28

I would highly recommend trying images in the Lucky Oliver Sideshow.

I haven't read anything about it lately, but as far as I can remember when it showed up, it's not a choice for mere mortals. Or don't we need 100 dlds to be able to have images in the sideshow anymore?

Regards,
Adelaide

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #34 on:** June 18, 2007, 21:29 »

Whoa... congrats Perk.....!!! I'll be at 100 dl's too.......... gee...... around.... 2011 or so.... LOL

-tom

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #35 on:** June 19, 2007, 22:09 »

Anyone else getting 'unexpected' rejections from LO recently?

monilu · « **Reply #36 on:** June 19, 2007, 23:58 »

Tom, a couple of weeks ago, I got several rejections in a row for images being too soft, or not in focus where they should have been (and the bouncer was probably right

. But overall, my acceptance rate has been pretty decent. I think it depends somewhat on who the bouncer is...some are just a little bit 'tougher' than others!

bryan_luckyoliver · « **Reply #37 on:** June 20, 2007, 17:35 »

Tom...always feel free to reply back to a bouncer review. We have no quotas.

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #38 on:** June 20, 2007, 20:15 »

thanks, bryan.

I'm not complaining, just asking. Wondering if I just had a bad run or... you folks raised the bar.
My acceptance rate with LO is very good. I was just surprised at a couple this week. In that same batch, I had no problem with the reason for rejection of others. The rejections were, as always, polite and encouraging.
Just throwing out a ballpark number (i have no stats to back it up) I would say that a good 90% of the time, I understand why my image was rejected by any of the 10 sites I am now on. Then, there's a 10% or so that leave one dumbfounded.. I think that can be said by every photog in the business.
Did not mean to offend or demean. It was actually nice to see a couple sales today.

-tom

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #39 on:** June 21, 2007, 06:40 »

Sales are still kind of modest. I just have reached 16 all time dls, BUT I got my first EL today

$25.
So I guess it was allready worth the work uploading to LO

Pixart · « **Reply #40 on:** June 21, 2007, 10:46 »

Is it just me, or are there a lot of EL's at LO? Not that I've had one... but it seems that I notice more comments from LO than anywhere? Or is that because everyone is so happy they've had a sale period?

In Bryan's other post: Well, from first hand experience, those artist that have larger files will have higher margins. Our xLarge and xxLarge sell for $10 and $20- a few of these sales will quickly add up.

We don't add the extra pixels to the largest size- instead it gets put into the extended license original size. I've seen many of these purchases made purely for the extra pixels.

This is something I did not know myself... I always wondered where my extra pixels went... so I doubt the buyers realize either. When you view a photo at LO you don't know that the EL is also a larger file because the dimensions are not there.

HughStoneIan · « **Reply #41 on:** June 21, 2007, 19:07 »

Wow! After several months of almost no sales at LO since I joined, this past week I've doubled my total downloads to 6. So the dl's seem to be starting to trickle in, for me at least. I sure hope they pick up momentum because I've gotten to like LO---to me they're the most fun site to visit, although it would be even more fun if there were a lot of sales. And they also got me my first EL ever

They definitely make me feel like I and my contributions are actually worth something to them, unlike several other sites that don't

.

Daneel · « **Reply #42 on:** July 01, 2007, 12:37 »

Hi!

They are slowest for me of all the agencies (I'm with all agencie supported by Microstock Monitor), but I will stick with them because I love the feedback of their bouncers.

All the best,
Michael

souper · « **Reply #43 on:** July 03, 2007, 04:46 »

the sales there are slower then sadated snails. (that would be much funnier if i spelt it correctly)

anyway they are the only micro with real heart and personality. (DT also has it but not anywhere neear LO)

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