pancakes

MicrostockGroup Sponsors


Author Topic: Pond5 membership program experience. Share you income changes after joining it.  (Read 27703 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

« on: January 25, 2018, 07:25 »
0
Almost two years passed after membership program launch.
Yesterday i received letter from Pond5 that ~2000 of my files was chosen for this program.

Selected files:
- Is over 3 years old
- Has never sold in the Marketplace
- Is priced under $100

How you sales and income changed after you joined this membership program?
I got ~10% income grow on P5 last year compared with 2016 without participating in this program.
Please share your experience.


« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2018, 14:53 »
+1
We had 10% drop in sales compared to 2016 and we weren't in the Membership program. And we were also invited this year. Hope to gain back what we lost.

« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2018, 04:24 »
+1
Hello, I also had a remarkable drop in sales with the membership program last year. This year I am invited, but I'm not very clear how they will cash me in, because the 50 cents per selected footage is not anymore the pond5 way. Do you understand how the income might grow, how we will be paid based on new membership program?

« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2018, 09:41 »
0
It will be a percentage share only so no upfront $0.50.  just % of total membership royalties earned per month split down per artist depending what % their downloads contributed.

« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2018, 10:33 »
+1
So, if your material will be bought more from membership collection, more you will earn; if you have bad luck and sell very few material you can earn nothing in some months from membership. Basically is the same system as is on pond5, but instead of gaining 50% from a bigger price, you will earn a smaller percentage from a much smaller footage price.

Is that correct?

« Reply #5 on: January 29, 2018, 12:10 »
0
Has anyone received sales data?

If you could see how often your files sell and you know that pond5 is offering them for around 4-8 dollars a clip - wouldnt you make a lot more money if you offered them yourself for 10 or 20 dollars and kept 50%?

SpaceStockFootage

  • Space, Sci-Fi and Astronomy Related Stock Footage

« Reply #6 on: January 29, 2018, 20:45 »
0
If you could see how often your files sell and you know that pond5 is offering them for around 4-8 dollars a clip - wouldnt you make a lot more money if you offered them yourself for 10 or 20 dollars and kept 50%?

You'd make more per sale, yes... but not necessarily more overall.

« Reply #7 on: January 31, 2018, 04:06 »
0
The new membership collection with about 400 members will be launching on Feb 15th. Got list of my selected files.
Here is some answers to my questions from P5:
   
I didn't see exact information what percentage i'll earn joining your membership program. How my revenue will be calculated?
Whatever Membership revenue is gathered by Pond5 in a given pay period (from selling Memberships) is first split 50/50.  Then the remaining amount is distributed among the participating Artists based on downloads.  If you received 10% of the Membership downloads that month, for example, you'd receive 10% of that revenue pot.
   
Is there any statistics about membership program influence for contributor income after joining it?
Yes, we have been running Membership for two years now with about 200 Artists.  We have seen zero evidence of any cannibalization of the regular sales.  We've been watching very closely as we don't want to see that happen, so it should only be positive for you.
   
How many members participate in this program?
Currently about 200 video artists, raising to about 400
   
Can i opt-out at any time?
Yes, but we need 90 days notice of opt-out to remove the content
   
Can you pre-select more my clips to membership collection without notice?
No, we will always notify you.  And remember that anything in the membership is also available in the marketplace for non-members.
   
How i can see downloads and other statistics of these clips?
Right now we have not built a reporting mechanism on the site.  But any time you email our Support team ([email protected]) they can give you a list of your membership downloads.  Any royalties you make in the program will go straight to your preferred payment method on a monthly basis starting with the March payout.

I think i'll give it a try.
Still interested in opinions of already participating members!

« Reply #8 on: January 31, 2018, 06:04 »
0
Hi Sauletas,

I have had a few thousand in the membership scheme since the beginning.
Up to now it's been brilliant.
I agree with P5 - as far as I can tell it hasn't impacted on my regular P5 sales; membership clips sell just as well outside the membership program.
Everything is changing on 1 March so it's now new to everyone as far as how membership earnings will go.
They've just chosen a few more 1000 of mine - I'm happy about that and reckon it's better to be in than out.

Hope that helps your decision.
 

« Reply #9 on: January 31, 2018, 06:05 »
0
Hi Sauletas,

I have had a few thousand in the membership scheme since the beginning.
Up to now it's been brilliant.
I agree with P5 - as far as I can tell it hasn't impacted on my regular P5 sales; membership clips sell just as well outside the membership program.
Everything is changing on 1 March so it's now new to everyone as far as how membership earnings will go.
They've just chosen a few more 1000 of mine - I'm happy about that and reckon it's better to be in than out.

Hope that helps your decision.

How many millions of clips do you have?  ;)

« Reply #10 on: January 31, 2018, 06:42 »
+1
Hi Sauletas,

I have had a few thousand in the membership scheme since the beginning.
Up to now it's been brilliant.
I agree with P5 - as far as I can tell it hasn't impacted on my regular P5 sales; membership clips sell just as well outside the membership program.
Everything is changing on 1 March so it's now new to everyone as far as how membership earnings will go.
They've just chosen a few more 1000 of mine - I'm happy about that and reckon it's better to be in than out.

Hope that helps your decision.

How many millions of clips do you have?  ;)

I do this full-time but so far haven't hit anything close to 1,000,000 clips.  8)  I'll let you know when it happens - but don't hold your breath as it won't be this century.

« Reply #11 on: July 11, 2021, 01:17 »
0
can anyone share their recent membership earning at pond5

marthamarks

« Reply #12 on: July 11, 2021, 16:27 »
0
can anyone share their recent membership earning at pond5

No.

« Reply #13 on: July 12, 2021, 05:38 »
0
I've only been really active with Pond5 since the fall of 2020. Exclusive.
And since then I also always registered all my clips for membership. From less than 100 videos in fall 2020 to almost 4000 videos today.
Today all my videos in the Exclusiv portfolio are unlocked for membership.
Since a few days I start filling a new portfolio for non-exclusive videos.

The revenue for videos via membership sales is about the same for me as the regular revenue. But the total fluctuates a lot. Once it was double and once it was only a third of the amount for regular sales, usually a little less.

My portfolio grew, my regular income became more and my income via membership also became more.

I think it is a good thing to offer your media for membership, otherwise you would just be giving money away.
You can't lose anything by joining this program, you can only earn extra. All videos unlocked for membership are always available to non-members as well.

Unfortunately, subscription sales are not visible in the portfolio. But maybe that will come in the future. I didn't know the membership program was so new.
I ask every month by mail for my sold clips in the month before and then I get the item numbers. And what I have earned, I can only see by the payout. There is no more info, but you can actually live well with that.

Those who offer their media at SS know that there is especially much sold via membership. The income of many DL's via membership is only slightly lower than the income of a few DL's via 'On demand' 'Enhanced' and 'Single & Other'. But the two sums are almost identical.

It is similar with Pond5.
« Last Edit: July 12, 2021, 05:43 by Findura »

« Reply #14 on: July 15, 2021, 11:32 »
0
I've only been really active with Pond5 since the fall of 2020. Exclusive.
And since then I also always registered all my clips for membership. From less than 100 videos in fall 2020 to almost 4000 videos today.
Today all my videos in the Exclusiv portfolio are unlocked for membership.
Since a few days I start filling a new portfolio for non-exclusive videos.

The revenue for videos via membership sales is about the same for me as the regular revenue. But the total fluctuates a lot. Once it was double and once it was only a third of the amount for regular sales, usually a little less.

My portfolio grew, my regular income became more and my income via membership also became more.

I think it is a good thing to offer your media for membership, otherwise you would just be giving money away.
You can't lose anything by joining this program, you can only earn extra. All videos unlocked for membership are always available to non-members as well.

Unfortunately, subscription sales are not visible in the portfolio. But maybe that will come in the future. I didn't know the membership program was so new.
I ask every month by mail for my sold clips in the month before and then I get the item numbers. And what I have earned, I can only see by the payout. There is no more info, but you can actually live well with that.

Those who offer their media at SS know that there is especially much sold via membership. The income of many DL's via membership is only slightly lower than the income of a few DL's via 'On demand' 'Enhanced' and 'Single & Other'. But the two sums are almost identical.

It is similar with Pond5.

I knew about that membership thing, but was not interested in it in the past.
But now - after I changed my strategy and read your experiences - I am interested to try it out, too.
I asked pond5 about it and they told me, I should create a collection and then tell them that all medias in that collection will be offered from me for the membership program.
You (Findura) seem to registered ALL media right?
I am curious now and do not know if I should tell pond5 that I want just all uploaded media will be offered from me to the membership program or should I try out a few items first. But then which?
Should I offer good ones but not the best ones? So, the buyer might see the best one under similar medias and buy it instead of using the free one via membership? Does that happen often enough to get buyers to my membership media and then also to my usual offered media?

#Since a few days I start filling a new portfolio for non-exclusive videos.[Findura]#

may I ask you why you start now with a non exclusive portfolio? which media you want to offer there? In my eyes the exclusive including partner like Adobe is the best. Or do i miss something (a good alternative agency)?

Non exclusive also for membership included?

Just curious to know.

« Reply #15 on: July 15, 2021, 18:13 »
+2
Quote

You can't lose anything by joining this program, you can only earn extra. All videos unlocked for membership are always available to non-members as well.



wrong....you can lose regular sales if your clips are available on the membership program which sell your clip at much lower price....

« Reply #16 on: July 16, 2021, 06:33 »
0
Quote

You can't lose anything by joining this program, you can only earn extra. All videos unlocked for membership are always available to non-members as well.



wrong....you can lose regular sales if your clips are available on the membership program which sell your clip at much lower price....

For artists who are non exclusive and offers the same videos/photos on SS and iStock, they would not loose.

Exclusive artist: well, maybe you both are right. But I am closer to Findura, because the buyers who have a membership want to safe money and will not care about your non membership files as long they could find a good enough one in the membership area. So, I guess, it will be increase revenue at least.

« Reply #17 on: July 16, 2021, 15:50 »
0
I am curious now and do not know if I should tell pond5 that I want just all uploaded media will be offered from me to the membership program or should I try out a few items first. But then which?
If you were to ask me, I would say : Of course, all of them.
I was thinking about SS when I made my decision. All media are offered there for individual purchases and membership purchases. And from experience with my photos, I know that very many buyers purchase via membership.
That's why I didn't hesitate to make all my media available for membership at Pond5.


may I ask you why you start now with a non exclusive portfolio? which media you want to offer there?
All the videos I create from now on.
I want to know how to sell to other agencies. That's why the new non-exclusive account with Pond5.


Non exclusive also for membership included?
Yes, of course. Also these media should be offered for membership.

« Reply #18 on: July 16, 2021, 16:09 »
0
- - -
« Last Edit: August 16, 2021, 04:31 by Findura »

« Reply #19 on: July 16, 2021, 17:27 »
0
wrong....you can lose regular sales if your clips are available on the membership program which sell your clip at much lower price....
I can't see myself losing anything.
But I can see additional income in my bank account.
There are two payouts every month. Not just one.
just a question??why a buyer should buy your clip at "regular" price if this clip has a stamp on it that says that it's included in the membership program??
i can understand put some clips(not best seller) in the membership program to have a side income but all the clips it's like to compete against your self...you can have even 2 payouts but if those don't make up for one it's useless...

SpaceStockFootage

  • Space, Sci-Fi and Astronomy Related Stock Footage

« Reply #20 on: July 17, 2021, 00:52 »
0
just a question??why a buyer should buy your clip at "regular" price if this clip has a stamp on it that says that it's included in the membership program??

Because if they're not a member then they'd have to shell out a minimum of $199 to subscribe so they can download it as part of their membership.

« Reply #21 on: July 17, 2021, 07:30 »
0

[/quote]
just a question??why a buyer should buy your clip at "regular" price if this clip has a stamp on it that says that it's included in the membership program??
i can understand put some clips(not best seller) in the membership program to have a side income but all the clips it's like to compete against your self...you can have even 2 payouts but if those don't make up for one it's useless...
[/quote]

You compete with yourself only in case of the buyers with membership. And then we have to think first, if we offer our best videos only regulary and others for membership.

All buyers who have no membership have to pay what you set yourself.

With other words: Most buyers WITH membership might never reach to your regular files. but MAYBE sometimes getting to your best regular set files, if you offer less good files in membership.

Especially in case of photos, where I chage my strategy dramaticly to: Upload EVERYWHERE and let the buyers decide, if they buy cheap on SS or high on Alamy. So, if I already offer them now everywhere, I think, I could offer ALL my photos via membership. If buyers searching for cheapest, they will find! but membership price on pond5 will be still higher than on SS, right?

And videos: Well, I just started with it and upload everything I had and just tried to record: Quality still like a beginner. So, I I guess, I will also not loose anything, if i offer them for membership price. I even never upload videos to SS or iStock, so also in this case, I would make more revenue via membership than via SS. Exclusive on pond5 with videos PLUS partner like Adobe, hey, in that way I offer my videos on the both most best agencies and just have to upload ones. If Adobe does not accept a big part of my beginner videos, I do not care and cannot see either.

My way now: Photos: Wirestock, (just for fun: Zoonar, photocase and eyeEm, sa long I do keywording myself.
Videos: pond5 + partner.
Thats it.

« Reply #22 on: July 17, 2021, 07:32 »
0
I am curious now and do not know if I should tell pond5 that I want just all uploaded media will be offered from me to the membership program or should I try out a few items first. But then which?
If you were to ask me, I would say : Of course, all of them.
I was thinking about SS when I made my decision. All media are offered there for individual purchases and membership purchases. And from experience with my photos, I know that very many buyers purchase via membership.
That's why I didn't hesitate to make all my media available for membership at Pond5.


may I ask you why you start now with a non exclusive portfolio? which media you want to offer there?
All the videos I create from now on.
I want to know how to sell to other agencies. That's why the new non-exclusive account with Pond5.


Non exclusive also for membership included?
Yes, of course. Also these media should be offered for membership.

Findura: Thx for your answers!

« Reply #23 on: July 17, 2021, 10:54 »
0
just a question??why a buyer should buy your clip at "regular" price if this clip has a stamp on it that says that it's included in the membership program??

Because if they're not a member then they'd have to shell out a minimum of $199 to subscribe so they can download it as part of their membership.
ok...that makes sense...

« Reply #24 on: July 17, 2021, 11:00 »
0






Exclusive on pond5 with videos PLUS partner like Adobe, hey, in that way I offer my videos on the both most best agencies and just have to upload ones.
[/quote]


i would upload to both agencies because if you upload only at pond5  every sales through adobe partnership you lose the pond5 cut...

« Reply #25 on: July 17, 2021, 12:06 »
+1
For comparison, the following situation from real life:

In a city there is a store (the 1) that sells expensive goods under a name known for best quality.
This store (the 1) gives its goods to another store (the 2), which mainly sells food.
(There are huge crowds in food stores almost every day. It's a gigantic marketplace.).
The store (the 2) sells the goods of store (the 1) for half the price and under unknown name.
This is standard in real life. I assume that this is known to everyone.
Does store (the 1) compete against itself when it gives its goods for sale to another store (the 2), which sells these goods much cheaper?

The store (the 1) uses two markets to sell its goods. At least two.
That's the reality. So it has to be profitable. Otherwise it would not be a reality.

In the stock media business, there is also more than just one marketplace.

« Reply #26 on: July 18, 2021, 16:24 »
0
For comparison, the following situation from real life:

In a city there is a store (the 1) that sells expensive goods under a name known for best quality.
This store (the 1) gives its goods to another store (the 2), which mainly sells food.
(There are huge crowds in food stores almost every day. It's a gigantic marketplace.).
The store (the 2) sells the goods of store (the 1) for half the price and under unknown name.
This is standard in real life. I assume that this is known to everyone.
Does store (the 1) compete against itself when it gives its goods for sale to another store (the 2), which sells these goods much cheaper?

The store (the 1) uses two markets to sell its goods. At least two.
That's the reality. So it has to be profitable. Otherwise it would not be a reality.

In the stock media business, there is also more than just one marketplace.

there's also the case of selling identical products in 2 different markets with very different prices since we don't have an efficient market.   

eg, i sell a product on ebay for $5 since higher prices don't sell, but have sales of identical product for $25 on amazon.

« Reply #27 on: July 23, 2021, 12:38 »
0
For comparison, the following situation from real life:

In a city there is a store (the 1) that sells expensive goods under a name known for best quality.
This store (the 1) gives its goods to another store (the 2), which mainly sells food.
(There are huge crowds in food stores almost every day. It's a gigantic marketplace.).
The store (the 2) sells the goods of store (the 1) for half the price and under unknown name.
This is standard in real life. I assume that this is known to everyone.
Does store (the 1) compete against itself when it gives its goods for sale to another store (the 2), which sells these goods much cheaper?

The store (the 1) uses two markets to sell its goods. At least two.
That's the reality. So it has to be profitable. Otherwise it would not be a reality.

In the stock media business, there is also more than just one marketplace.

This comparison fails because in real life, there are also things like convenience and travel time to consider: will you go store 1 and pay the full price because it's only a 5 minute walk (short travel time), or will you go to store 2 because although it's a 20 minute drive, it's a huge marketplace where you can get everything you need at once (more convenience)?

In online market places, these factors are negligible. There is practically no real difference in terms of accessibility, so both markets can "visit" both stores and go for the cheapest option.

wds

« Reply #28 on: July 23, 2021, 13:27 »
0
You could actually extend the argument and say does a customer really need to have an exact specific image or would they just look for the cheapest image that satisfied their needs?

« Reply #29 on: July 24, 2021, 08:20 »
+1
You could actually extend the argument and say does a customer really need to have an exact specific image or would they just look for the cheapest image that satisfied their needs?
that's point...most of the people here think they are selling white paper...buyers are really picky because not every clip fits their project..composition,light,motion and so on...they have to satisfy their customer and this is more important than save 10$...

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #30 on: July 24, 2021, 09:48 »
0
You could actually extend the argument and say does a customer really need to have an exact specific image or would they just look for the cheapest image that satisfied their needs?
Depends on the customer. You can see in the end results, printed or online, that some go with the cheapest, or satisfice with one from the outlet where they have a subscription.
Or maybe time is money: for example some Alamy buyers only look at one page, some scroll through thousands of images to get what they want.
For higher end buyers, it's better to more closely match what they need, even if it means paying more.


 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
49 Replies
23843 Views
Last post March 05, 2016, 04:12
by KnowYourOnions
29 Replies
51530 Views
Last post March 08, 2016, 05:11
by KnowYourOnions
45 Replies
34961 Views
Last post May 18, 2016, 03:10
by increasingdifficulty
61 Replies
31329 Views
Last post June 03, 2016, 03:46
by Daryl Ray
8 Replies
8687 Views
Last post May 25, 2016, 00:57
by motionguy

Sponsors

Mega Bundle of 5,900+ Professional Lightroom Presets

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors