Author Topic: Microstock search engine? (Read 5354 times)

Wildstyle · « **on:** March 20, 2012, 05:53 »

I was wondering yesterday about a search engine that search all the agency sites for a keyword.
Is there any search engines like this?

I have some programming knowledge, and I waa thinking about writing a little search engine that searchs all the sites.

A search engine like this should been authorized by the agencies? Can I display prices and comparisions (i mean if an image is found on different agencies)?

What do you think about such a site?
Anyway, it is possible legally without permission from the agencies?
Worth it? Would it be usefull?

ShadySue · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2012, 09:03 »

About 18 months ago there were at least two of these comparison sites announced to much fanfare.
I haven't heard anything about them since, so I have no idea if they still exist. I'm sure you can search around.
You're obviously not going to get much encouragement from stock sellers for that idea.

ThomasAmby · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2012, 09:17 »

SpiderPic does it..

http://www.spiderpic.com/

I believe it hurts our business.

microstockinsider · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2012, 20:09 »

I know direct from istock that they prohibit the use of their API for searching images and displaying them in any kind of comparison with images from other microstock agencies.

cyclo.ps was one of them that has now died, http://shotspy.com seem to still seems half working

I think one problem is that the agencies don't like these sites comparing images to their competitors (hence they block IPs from scraping etc - and I don't blame them!) leaving only browser plugins as a solution, the second is that none of them ever seem to work all that well in practice - they make for an awkward buying experience.

when it comes down to it you tend to buy from one main agency, and have a couple of others that you have accounts with that you use if you 'cant find it' on your chosen main agency. None of them ever supported the advanced search features you actually use when looking for a hard to find photo, they only support 'easy searches' - and by their nature they're easy to find anywhere!

have a look at http://www.stockphotofeeds.com (seem to be having problems with that too - might be just me) tho it's a different take on things, it makes RSS feeds of new image matching a certain subject)

Wildstyle · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2012, 09:52 »

What if the search engines doesn't compare prices? That would be a legal way?

I don't see the point why the agencies would prohibit to advertise their images. A search engine like that would make extra sales for them without spending a bucks. They have apps and widgets for that, the only problem is that those are working just for a single gallery and without search feature.

Microbius · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2012, 09:57 »

There are quite a few of these about, I stumble upon a new one every few months or so

ShadySue · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2012, 10:01 »

Quote from: Wildstyle on March 21, 2012, 09:52

What if the search engines doesn't compare prices? That would be a legal way?

I don't see the point why the agencies would prohibit to advertise their images. A search engine like that would make extra sales for them without spending a bucks. They have apps and widgets for that, the only problem is that those are working just for a single gallery and without search feature.

And I don't see why you'd imagine that image sellers would be remotely interested in a system that encourages even lower prices.
Also it's impossible to do anyway, because there is no one price - it can depend on a lot of things, e.g. at iStock it depends on the size of the credit bundle bought, or whether it's sub or payg, so it's always going to mislead buyers.

fb · « **Reply #7 on:** May 17, 2013, 17:57 »

Quote from: Wildstyle on March 20, 2012, 05:53

I was wondering yesterday about a search engine that search all the agency sites for a keyword.
Is there any search engines like this?

Hello,

I made such a tool : www.microstocker.net [nofollow] allows to search on over 8 banks in one time... The tool is not perfect yet but works pretty well, and it's free

Thanx for testing ; feedbacks welcome too (please type them here, until I put a form on the site).

regards

MicrostockGroup Sponsors

Author Topic: Microstock search engine? (Read 5354 times)

Wildstyle

ShadySue

ThomasAmby

microstockinsider

Wildstyle

Microbius

ShadySue

fb

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