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Author Topic: Feeding the beast  (Read 14449 times)

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« on: August 19, 2010, 08:40 »
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When "The Beast" is hungry how long will it feed off my fresh meat before hunting for a new carcass? ??? For example, if I upload a batch of 10 and get downloads on the day it is accepted, the following day and the next.... how many days is it before the downloads from new search results goes?

I hear that this beast doesnt seem to like carrion.


« Reply #1 on: August 19, 2010, 08:46 »
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It all depends on what type of meat you are feeding the beast.

If you are feeding the beast a general type of hotdog that everyone else is feeding it, you will see the beasts interest drop off on your hotdog very quickly... probably within a few days simply because there are newer hotdogs to be had

if you are feeding the beast rare caviar that no one else is feeding it, you will keep the beasts attention for much longer.  If no new caviar comes to replace yours, then yours is always the freshest.

That said, I found that sales drop off pretty gradually and then sit around 80% of top (with a decent portfolio size)

lagereek

« Reply #2 on: August 19, 2010, 09:14 »
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Yep!  this is the problem with this beast! and if you dont feed it as often as possible your earnings will slump. Frankly, this together with their new editing policy, well I simply dont know if its worth it anylonger and for 0.38c.

« Reply #3 on: August 19, 2010, 09:18 »
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Ditto lagereek; Im getting pretty fed up with the beast and feeding it.
Its so disencouraging to see a new picture sell 10ish times aday the first couple of days (must mean its a good picture with a market for it); and then see it die off completely the next week burried deeply somewhere in the oversupply.

« Reply #4 on: August 19, 2010, 09:46 »
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I don't seem to get many sales with new images on the other sites.  Isn't it nice to have one that is different and gives instant gratification?  They also do more than $0.38 subs now with PPD and sell more EL's than any site for me.  I would like to see them come up with a way to make more money from older files but I have been waiting for that for a few years now and I am starting to think it will never happen.

« Reply #5 on: August 19, 2010, 10:00 »
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Ditto lagereek; Im getting pretty fed up with the beast and feeding it.
Its so disencouraging to see a new picture sell 10ish times aday the first couple of days (must mean its a good picture with a market for it); and then see it die off completely the next week burried deeply somewhere in the oversupply.

Yes, that happens to me very often. My thoughts are that buyers are making their own libraries. I am not so sure about the license, if it is still valid after a couple of years.

Cheers

« Reply #6 on: August 19, 2010, 10:03 »
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At least Shutterstock give you instant sales and your work is visible. Don't care if 25 cents or more, at least you know the treatment is fair. I cannot say the same for other sites . OK I must feed beast, but the beast feed me too. That is why it is the best beast. The other beast only chew your b--ls and give nothing back.

« Reply #7 on: August 19, 2010, 10:09 »
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If you have to keep 'feeding the beast' to maintain sales then it just means that your images aren't good enough to compete with the best in their subject matter. Images that attain a prominent position in the default sort order can enjoy regular and sustained downloads over many years. Don't blame 'the beast' but instead try to improve the saleability of your work.

« Reply #8 on: August 19, 2010, 10:27 »
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It all depends on what type of meat you are feeding the beast.

If you are feeding the beast a general type of hotdog that everyone else is feeding it, you will see the beasts interest drop off on your hotdog very quickly... probably within a few days simply because there are newer hotdogs to be had

if you are feeding the beast rare caviar that no one else is feeding it, you will keep the beasts attention for much longer.  If no new caviar comes to replace yours, then yours is always the freshest.

I'm hungry.

« Reply #9 on: August 19, 2010, 10:28 »
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If you have to keep 'feeding the beast' to maintain sales then it just means that your images aren't good enough to compete with the best in their subject matter. Images that attain a prominent position in the default sort order can enjoy regular and sustained downloads over many years. Don't blame 'the beast' but instead try to improve the saleability of your work.
Agreed, up to a certain level (i do believe truly outstanding work will keep floating above).
It's critical to have your pictures raise up in the most popular before they die out in the newest first. That's become increasingly difficult because of the fierce competition + the ones up in "most popular" keep strengthening their position as well because of their improved visibility. Not for nothing the top 50 ever is barely changing anymore.

« Reply #10 on: August 19, 2010, 10:40 »
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If you have to keep 'feeding the beast' to maintain sales then it just means that your images aren't good enough to compete with the best in their subject matter. Images that attain a prominent position in the default sort order can enjoy regular and sustained downloads over many years. Don't blame 'the beast' but instead try to improve the saleability of your work.
Agreed, up to a certain level (i do believe truly outstanding work will keep floating above).
It's critical to have your pictures raise up in the most popular before they die out in the newest first. That's become increasingly difficult because of the fierce competition + the ones up in "most popular" keep strengthening their position as well because of their improved visibility. Not for nothing the top 50 ever is barely changing anymore.

Agree statement 1
Agree statement 2
But to be sellable must be visible. Only Shutterstock make you visible on day 1 .
That is why same day same hour on approval get download.
Other sites you are invisible so like or not your outstanding work is not outstanding because
buried under higher rating contributors. Shutterstock field is more level . Proof is instant downloads
on many new approved images for even newbies.

Other thing never discuss here too.
Shutterstock no view on download next to image. Does not bias buyer decision
I think why newbies do more successful with Shutterstock for that big factor.
Picture stand on picture quality not the number download to sway buyer decision.
« Last Edit: August 19, 2010, 10:47 by lefty »

vonkara

« Reply #11 on: August 19, 2010, 10:54 »
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If you upload a girl with headset, it might take about 1 day to get buried in the search. If you upload a rare subject, it will take longer. If it sell as soon as it's accepted, I had images that kept selling on a long term on SS, the same way as a flame image at Istock.

« Reply #12 on: August 19, 2010, 11:54 »
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I don't think it matters anymore. The beast is so fat and bloated it doesn't care. I used to see big spikes after a busy week of uploads, but that doesn't really happen anymore. I can't tell the difference between a week I uploaded 100 images or a week I uploaded none. I'm not sure what would happen if I stopped uploading for a while though. I did it a few years ago, and sales went down but hit a baseline. I'm not sure if the same thing would happen now though. A lot has changed.

lagereek

« Reply #13 on: August 19, 2010, 12:00 »
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I don't think it matters anymore. The beast is so fat and bloated it doesn't care. I used to see big spikes after a busy week of uploads, but that doesn't really happen anymore. I can't tell the difference between a week I uploaded 100 images or a week I uploaded none. I'm not sure what would happen if I stopped uploading for a while though. I did it a few years ago, and sales went down but hit a baseline. I'm not sure if the same thing would happen now though. A lot has changed.
[/quote

Totally agree!  fact is,  none of them cares anymore, not about search problems nor contributors,  its become a mugs game.

« Reply #14 on: August 19, 2010, 12:33 »
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The other beast only chew your b--ls and give nothing back.

I dont like the sound of those other beasts.

WarrenPrice

« Reply #15 on: August 19, 2010, 12:40 »
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I keep looking for someone to put a number on "feeding the beast."  Is it 5, 10, 20 per week?  Or, would it be more like a percentage of your port?

PS:  I've had consecutive really bad days.  Starting to worry about making a payout?  Anyone care to console me?   :P
« Last Edit: August 19, 2010, 12:42 by WarrenPrice »

« Reply #16 on: August 19, 2010, 13:37 »
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I keep looking for someone to put a number on "feeding the beast."  Is it 5, 10, 20 per week?  Or, would it be more like a percentage of your port?

PS:  I've had consecutive really bad days.  Starting to worry about making a payout?  Anyone care to console me?   :P

Hey Warren,

I try to stay at 40 per week.

All the best.


« Reply #17 on: August 19, 2010, 16:00 »
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All I can say is that the trend can be bucked.

I haven't uploaded anything in the last 6 months and yet my sales are as good as last year.

« Reply #18 on: August 19, 2010, 17:22 »
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@Warren - I'll console you. I was rejected twice, trying my third time, and procrastinating it until I'm in a better mood. Better? At least you are in to feed the beast  ;D

PaulieWalnuts

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« Reply #19 on: August 19, 2010, 23:07 »
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A beast eating caviar sounds like a niche that isn't well covered.

« Reply #20 on: August 20, 2010, 02:35 »
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I keep looking for someone to put a number on "feeding the beast."  Is it 5, 10, 20 per week?  Or, would it be more like a percentage of your port?

PS:  I've had consecutive really bad days.  Starting to worry about making a payout?  Anyone care to console me?   :P

For me it varies from none to around 10 a week.  I hadn't given them much in the past too weeks due to being really busy with other stuff.  I finally uploaded a few days ago saw a few sales.  Sales for me didn't start to drop off until this week.  Picked up yesterday and my new stuff hadn't been accepted yet.  My port is still under 400 so I don't get many dl's compared to others that have twice the port.  I consider a good day 10-15.  I would like more but I have to put the work into doing things that buyers will want (which I still have no idea on any given day what that could possibly be) and stuff that stands out from everybody else.  Still struggling with both of those but I give you this...Shutterstock is the ONLY site I've ever reached payout on.  Yeah .25 isn't much but it adds up.

« Reply #21 on: August 20, 2010, 07:01 »
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@Warren - I'll console you. I was rejected twice, trying my third time, and procrastinating it until I'm in a better mood. Better? At least you are in to feed the beast  ;D

Keep going Blufish. Its worth contacting them if you are rejected again - if you have 7 accepted images across previous batches then they are likely to be understanding and reset your account to review mode so that you can upload your best batch.

If you feed the beast what comes out the other end? :-[

cmcderm1

  • Chad McDermott - Elite Image Photography
« Reply #22 on: August 20, 2010, 10:23 »
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I feel like the Morlocks in THE TIME MACHINE (HG Wells) marching to be eaten by those underground beasts, or do I have it backwards??

Chad

WarrenPrice

« Reply #23 on: August 20, 2010, 10:43 »
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Consoling made me feel better.  Thanks all.  Anita: Our ports are similar size.  I think you also do graphics?  More than 5 images a day is still good for me. I do get a few OD and a single EL.  Just $10 from another payout and sweating these last 10 days. 

For blufish ... don't be discouraged. SS is worth the effort. 

« Reply #24 on: August 20, 2010, 12:52 »
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I don't know if it was the OP's specific question or not, but I am curious about the logic/strategy of uploading a specific body of work (not just uploading whatever image is available) in whole or in parts to keep images high in the search results.  I am talking about a group of images that are selected for upload--say, 40 images.  What is your strategy?

a. getting all 40 images up as quickly as possible
b. 10 images per day for 4 days.


 

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