Hey All

very sad to read about the closure of iSyndica today, but hey, I like problems to solve

I'm considering setting up a simple service to replace iSyndica, and I need to know whether it's something worth my time away from other projects.

It will be a simpler tool, and work like this:

• You upload to a 'picNiche' FTP
• You login and review received images
• You set the destinations via unlimited 'custom FTP channels', and will add support for others via http upload in future
• You pay per task...

for example: each file transfer will be about 2-4 cents depending on file size, storage will be priced about 1-2 cents per day per file so you can use it as a backup if you want.

It will be primarily for microstock, though i may add 'social' stuff if there is a demand.

What do you think? Please let me know cos it's quite an upfront outlay I need to know if it's worth it.

Cheers

I voted yes but I only used isyndica for footage, so that's what interest me.

I only use the Analysis parts !  So they would need to be available cheaply !! 

The rest I may need later

For those who prefer analytics, the picNiche toolbar should be integrating with sites like Microstock Charts in future, would this be a suitable replacement to that part of their service?

If it's automated !  Yes !!  can't be doing with all that inputting data !!    lol

I�m in. As long as all the essential microstock sites is supported.

Also, iSyndica had some GUI issues. Iframes is a no no, and an upload button should be available directly after login.

I voted yes, but I will not be using your service, if it will be with the pricing structure suggested here. Isyndica was great not only for easy uploading, but also for keeping track of uploads. There need to be a way to keep track of the uploads for me to be interested. Also, I would not be willing to pay 1-2 cent per day per file in storage. If my math is not off, that would cost 3650-7300 USD pr year for a portfolio of 1000 images!  2 cent pr file tranfer is a bit high (isyndica was less than 1 cent as they always had rebates) and 4 is definately too much.

Good luck with the project!

I voted yes, but I will not be using your service, if it will be with the pricing structure suggested here. Isyndica was great not only for easy uploading, but also for keeping track of uploads. There need to be a way to keep track of the uploads for me to be interested. Also, I would not be willing to pay 1-2 cent per day per file in storage. If my math is not off, that would cost 3650-7300 USD pr year for a portfolio of 1000 images!  2 cent pr file tranfer is a bit high (isyndica was less than 1 cent as they always had rebates) and 4 is definately too much.

Good luck with the project!

I agree. If you can get the iSyndica pricing (and include all their features, especially for vector illustrators), then I think you can fill the void.

I am primarily interested in it for footage as well.  And I'll be honest, you need to seriously consider a flat fee.  $20 a month, $30 a month, something like that.

Find yourself a data center in the U.S. (there are many) that does not charge for bandwidth.  That was iSyndica's problem... The "price per upload" model for footage does not work.  If you can put together a package with unlimited transfers for a workable fee, the footage people will flock.

Some verry interesting questions and issues raised, it's looking like there is some interest, and I'm investigating what I do with it from here. Please keep the feedback coming

Illustrations, again same as footage, yes for certain, though maybe not day 1 (which if I decide to do it will be soon).

I can say with some certainty that it won't be based on a flat monthly fee or subscription, and footage is highly unlikely to work on that model.
Both of these are for the same reason: for it to be both reasonably priced, and cost-effective to run, setting a single fixed cost without regard for usage would mean that either one of these 2 conditions must be met:
a) People using it less pay more per file, and people using it more pay less per file.
or
b) The price would have to raise after the 'honeymoon period' when the realisation of how nearsighted that pricing structure was.
Either of the above would not be fair to anyone, and for those of you who've worked with me in the past you know I like to keep things as fair as possible
I will put in stone now, it will not be a fixed fee service. I may however offer discounted pricing for bulk purchase (which would be more relevant to high quantity producers and footage artists), this option offers more of a balance between a happy customer and a productive and long-term operation (if you see what I'm saying

The per-file pricing I mentioned is by no-means final, just envelope figures. and yes, my storage calc was off by a factor of 10 or more
It would also have a referral programme of course, though I'd be unlikely to have a substantial 'free trial' beyond maybe a couple of images to check out the control panel.

One of the very useful function of Isyndica was also the possibility of changing the pictures size by agency automatically.
For subscripton agencies it was very helpful to downsize from 21mpx to 8mpx...

Does anyone know why they are closing up shop?  Did they attempt to sell?

I hadn't even heard of them before reading the post about them closing and I've been around for 6 years.

Maybe someone could salvage the dying business and ramp up the marketing?

Sorry, to the OP - I didn't mean for this to hijack your attemps to make this work.  Have you had any communications with them - maybe you won't need to re-invent the wheel, so to speak, if they are open to some kind of arrangement?

I've spoken to Hugo (the iSyndica boss) several times in the past, he's a great guy. I was planning to add integration to the picNiche toolbar for iSyndica.

I've not heard specific details about why they are closing, though I'd be willing to venture a wild guess that it wasn't profitable enough for their investors, just in investigating the setup and running costs I'm finding it hard to see how they were running the service so well, and maintaining an excellent website when selling packages at that price, especially with a staff and board to worry about. Even with their popularity it's my view that it just can't have been making enough money to feed everyone long-term. < *disclaimer: total speculation AND my own opinion*

I've sent Hugo a query to see if he has any interest or objection in this replacement project though I'm not looking to buy since I'm not a big business here... everything I do is shoestring, sometimes it works well and sometimes it doesn't, but the only way to find out is to try

Please stay on topic in this thread

That's why I need everyone's feedback, if it's going to work well for everyone, I need all the info, suggestions & requests, issues and concerns I can get

Bottom line is that if isyndica couldn't make it work, who could?
Unless you come up with some sort of software breakthrough that makes a compelling case for using your service....

I have a history of bringing new ideas to the areas I work, not all of them work, but some do, and those are the ones I keep running
There are more ways to do anything than 'just' the way it's been done before, and thus I invite comparison, I do not fear it as a reason not to try