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Messages - sgoodwin4813
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826
« on: June 16, 2015, 12:30 »
SS still pays more. 38 cents compared to 25 cents. I am only a little touched by the generosity 
No that's not correct - you are comparing the top tier at SS to the bottom at FT. They both start at 25 cents, and FT ends with diamond at 40 cents while SS stops at 38 cents. So they pay the same at the lowest levels while SS pays less at the highest - your statement is dead wrong. It has been harder to advance at FT in my experience but with subs now counting as a full DL that is changed. With the new method I should be up a level but they still have me listed at the old one with a negative number of DLs required to go up - hope they get that sorted out soon.
FT diamond needs 1.000.000 downloads!!! How many contributors are diamond? Come on please. Stay realistic.
OK, but it is still not reasonable to compare the highest tier at one agency with the lowest at another. To allow for a direct comparison, my lifetime average RPDL at SS is $0.67. Based on that you would need to have about 750 DLs to get to 0.33, 4500 DLs to get to 0.36 and 15,000 DLS to get to 0.38. Those correspond to FT levels bronze, silver and gold which pay 0.27. 0.29 and 0.31. So at SS it is much easier to get to higher levels - at the first raise you are already above the gold level at FT and actually at the minimum subs guarantee for emerald. If FT consistently pays above the minimum guarantee then the levels don't matter too much. I would say probably 30-40% of my subs DLs at FT the past few months have been above the minimum. So far today only one and it was the minimum for the level I used to be - I should go up a level with the new changes but that hasn't occurred yet.
827
« on: June 16, 2015, 10:05 »
It was a normal Monday for me and so far today is starting off with ODs so no complaints
828
« on: June 16, 2015, 10:04 »
SS still pays more. 38 cents compared to 25 cents. I am only a little touched by the generosity
No that's not correct - you are comparing the top tier at SS to the bottom at FT. They both start at 25 cents, and FT ends with diamond at 40 cents while SS stops at 38 cents. So they pay the same at the lowest levels while SS pays less at the highest - your statement is dead wrong. It has been harder to advance at FT in my experience but with subs now counting as a full DL that is changed. With the new method I should be up a level but they still have me listed at the old one with a negative number of DLs required to go up - hope they get that sorted out soon.
829
« on: June 16, 2015, 07:42 »
Interesting. For me the average monthly RPI on SS increased every year from 2009-2012 then stayed the same for the next three years. So far this year it has dropped a penny compared to the last three due to the last two months, where it has been back to where it was in 2009. So far this month it also is low. Hmmm. Of course it is still three times higher than at iS but the drop is worrisome. If the new changes at FT lead to positive buzz there then maybe it will cause the other agencies to consider contributors as well - we can hope.
830
« on: June 16, 2015, 07:26 »
I am still at the same rank but now need -491 to get to the next one. If they really make this retroactive it will be great although obviously they still have a few bugs to work out of the system. I would also like to see for sure what the minimums are, but in general this sounds like positive news where an agency actually listened and thought about contributors. I haven't had any DLs since the announcement but am looking forward hopefully to an increase in revenue and this makes me want to start submitting again.
831
« on: June 16, 2015, 07:12 »
Yes, I have noticed the same - ODs have almost completely stopped since the beginning of the month. Most months I have one OD every 12-14 DLS, and 1 every 9-10 in a good month, but so far this month it is one every 19 DLs which is a much lower rate. SODs are hanging in there but also slow. Not much incentive to continue uploading.
832
« on: June 15, 2015, 21:40 »
For me RPI across all the sites I am on has dropped by about a third since 2009-2011 - large but not as dramatic as you show (probably because I never did as well as you). In the same period for iS alone RPI dropped around 75% compared to only 30% for all agencies and it increased by around 35% for SS. What a dramatic change. I assume the iS story will be a model for business schools for the next several years to demonstrate the effects of poor management decisions and how easy it is to take a successful business and kill it. Too bad.
I don't like to encourage the competition but if I were you I would be reconsidering that whole exclusivity thing - doesn't look like it's working out to your benefit.
833
« on: June 13, 2015, 08:04 »
Alamy allows you to have multiple pseodonyms with different content so would be an option - you could put your personal work there and sell it RM. I don't know if the agencies would let you have different accounts under the same TIN but if they had different e-mail addresses then maybe.
Setting up an LLC is not that expensive depending on the state. Probably not worth it in California but for an internet-based company you could do it in any state - the initial filing fee is not that high and yearly fees also are low. In some states you don't even have to disclose the owners so there would be no way for an agency to find out it was yours. You would have to pay for a registered agent in that state but that would probably be $100 or so per year, maybe less if you shop around. I have not done it for photography but would consider it for a situation like yours, or if I was photographing a lot of models to minimize liability issues. I recently set up an LLC in Virginia and it was easier and cheaper than I was expecting.
834
« on: June 12, 2015, 07:28 »
My last sale there was in March - it's been all downhill since 2012. It's really too bad they are sticking with this CV nonsense - you'd think iStock would have proven beyond a doubt that it doesn't work, it is just not possible to make a new language. SS has shown that an efficient search algorithm is the road to success. I hope Veer can turn things around because RPDL is usually very good there but will not be holding my breath.
835
« on: June 11, 2015, 10:40 »
Didn't you just post in another thread that stock video is over saturated? If that's the case then why bother?
In response to your question, I would try some of both and see what sells better. I suspect most of us try to make our clips look as good as possible before uploading. Counting on a buyer to see potential doesn't seem like a great approach to me.
836
« on: June 10, 2015, 09:21 »
It's probably because I like their business idea a lot, so I'm actually talking about them a lot with friends, and even ended up buying some shares earlier this year.
Yet again, I apologise if my post sounded a bit too enthusiastic or like an "ad" as some claimed. I'm definitely not associated with Newzulu in any way, I'm just an enthusiast.
Sorry, but if you've bought some shares then you are associated with them. Your OP said you were thinking of signing up with them but if you already own shares then you are already much more involved than that. You should have just announced that there is a new company that you like a lot and own shares of that others might be interested in joining. The way you said it in your OP was dishonest and that's why others reacted the way they did. Full disclosure at the beginning is always the best policy.
837
« on: June 10, 2015, 09:13 »
I think Canva is doing something different - they are not just a "browser-based app". They also seem to have a vision and a plan for how to get there. They have identified a need and their rapid growth is proof that they are on to something. I would invest in them if I could. No way to predict whether they will be successful ultimately but they have a shot and I think that is why Lee has gone with them in a big way.
838
« on: June 08, 2015, 15:42 »
I had over $100 in earnings before the end of May, but the amount has not yet been removed from my balance. I thought it was supposed to happen on the 5th day of the month?
And you expected iStock computer systems to work efficiently why, exactly? It's iStock - wait a few days and it may (or may not) get sorted out.
839
« on: June 06, 2015, 08:58 »
If you're already on 12 then that might be enough. Like others have said, if uploading is expensive then the low earners won't be worth it, but if it is free then it might be worth the small amount of extra effort. Nobody else can tell you what is best for you - whether your particular images will sell depends on many unknown factors. What I do is upload a few hundred images to a new agency and see what happens - if they get decent sales then they go on the regular upload list, if not then I might upload occasionally or probably will just stop.
Based on my experience, I would not bother with Crestock, Panthermedia, Cutcaster, YAY or Veer. The latter used to be good but nowadays has died unfortunately. GL no longer takes uploads so that's not an option. I like featurepics - sales are very slow, but they pay 50% and I do get the occasional payout. I've signed up for several others but could never be bothered to actually submit anything so have no practical experience.
840
« on: June 02, 2015, 08:05 »
DT is hanging in there for me. They have the largest variance month to month. May was below the usual but the three months before that were decent. I hate that they now are mostly subs but at least the subs sales advance images in levels so the rare credit sales usually are for more.
841
« on: May 28, 2015, 14:17 »
Im thinking yes. Anyone notice anything. Im having HUGE days from stuff that is so far Buried I can't tell ya. Like BDE in 10 Years kinda days since last tues. anyone? Not complaining one bit But WOW!! whatever there doing...PLEASE keep it up. Im Talking stuff that I didn't even recognize as Mine there so Old. And not just a random few Like always But the vast majority.... Maybe Im Part of a test?? Dunno.
Could be just one customer has gone through your port and downloaded lots of things they like. Now the the daily download limits are gone it could be more likely to happen I guess.
That's a good point - if they get to your port and like the images they might download a lot at once. I haven't noticed that any more than previously but we can always hope.
842
« on: May 28, 2015, 14:13 »
It's down, it's up, it's down - now up again, but for how long? I know they get tons of traffic and it's got to be a nightmare managing 50 million files but with all the money they rake in you'd think they could spend a little more to make sure the site keeps working properly. The previous microstock leader didn't spend enough on their site and we know where they are now. Hope SS will fix the problems soon.
843
« on: May 28, 2015, 10:56 »
It's back up for me and even had some sales.
844
« on: May 28, 2015, 08:24 »
It was working for me yesterday but definitely down this morning. Buyer side seems to be working at least. I hope sales will still get credited correctly...
845
« on: May 23, 2015, 13:55 »
I think if it's government property then it is more or less public and can be commercial. However, as you know it is up to each agency - I bet SS and DT might let it slide, but BS and 123 will require it to be editorial. If you submit commercial let us know what the reviewers say.
846
« on: May 22, 2015, 22:28 »
They are accepting too many images - in some cases.
They are rejecting too many images - in some cases.
All in all their review process is broken.
That's what it is about.
Just keep resubmitting they will eventually accept everything. 
I do think that is true.
but then what would the few have to whine about?
a completely useless waste of time.
Sort of like this thread?
847
« on: May 22, 2015, 17:02 »
This really is a 3-day weekend in the U.S. it's Memorial Day Monday, many people have a half day today, and it's the unofficial start of the summer season.
Yes, this will be a very slow weekend for sales. With only 4 normal sale days left in the month this looks to be the lowest month since my first year at this. Not just SS too. IS, DT, and FT are all down.
Me too, unfortunately. Today turned out pretty well on SS, especially for a Friday right before a big US (and apparently UK also) holiday, with even decent sales from the US. But almost nothing from other sites and I expect it to be dead over the weekend through Monday. Unless things pick up dramatically I'm on track for my worst month in a couple of years. Good thing I'm keeping my day job.
848
« on: May 22, 2015, 16:57 »
It's getting totally ridiculous. Is it some kind of obscure strategy to hide the content from buyers?
They certainly have no desire to hide content from buyers - I assume it was a misguided attempt to make things better. I can think of no reason to strip out scientific names - my guess is that they automatically remove or remap any word that is not in their controlled vocabulary. I have no idea how they are doing as an agency, but for me sales have pretty much dried up - this year they are averaging about a third of what it was last year, which was less than half the year before, which was only 75% of what it was in 2012. So far my monthly average sales in 2015 are about 12% of what they were in 2012. It is not a fair comparison because I had ELs that year but none so far this year but it is still a huge drop. It is too bad because Veer used to have good sales per image online but now it has dropped to next to nothing. Of course I am small potatoes so my stats don't say anything about their overall health but I can't imagine that messing with keywords is helping sales or drawing in customers. You would think with the iS CV nonsense that agencies would realize that an efficient search algorithm is the way to do it - that is why SS is tops right now. I hope Veer can bring back customers as they were good in the past. They did make reviewing faster so fixed one problem from the contributor side at least, and they do read and respond in these forums which is better than almost every other agency these days. I'll keep hoping for better sales but won't be holding my breath.
849
« on: May 21, 2015, 08:32 »
They definitely redesigned the site and rolled it out a few days ago. I get sales there every month - not many, but I like the 50% cut for us. I hope the redesign leads to better sales - they have always treated contributors well and are one of the sites I would like to see increase.
850
« on: May 20, 2015, 09:31 »
I only wonder why review times have slowed down so much. I have files in the queue from the 28th of April.
Maybe they just don't have enough people. It's a relatively small company compare to P5 or SS. Plus, maybe everybody started sending their clips in April.
After you posted how good your sales were!
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