MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => Shutterstock.com => Topic started by: Contemporary Dave on July 25, 2023, 12:37

Title: How many people hit Level 6 on earnings?
Post by: Contemporary Dave on July 25, 2023, 12:37
Curious to know how many people manage to hit Level 6 on image and / or video sales. Does anyone know? The highest I've managed to hit is Level 4 on images, and TBH, I think it's unlikely I'll hit Level 5.
Title: Re: How many people hit Level 6 on earnings?
Post by: JustAnImage on July 25, 2023, 12:54
I am actually lvl4 (photo, about 1300 downloads) and lvl2 (video, 37 downloads) and will maybe reach lvl5 (photo) in december and lvl3 video in september.

I think there might be some lvl6 (photo) but i don't think there is a lvl6 (video) - 25.001 videos are way too many.
lvl6 with 25.001 downloads would mean about 69 downloads each day, for video and photo.
Title: Re: How many people hit Level 6 on earnings?
Post by: gnirtS on July 25, 2023, 22:49
The gap between 5 and 6 is huge for both photo and video.

Suspect most on there are the big image farms or Blackbox etc.
Title: Re: How many people hit Level 6 on earnings?
Post by: Sebastian Radu on July 26, 2023, 01:11
It doesn't even matter. After all, most sales are still $0.10 (at least on the photo side).
 >:(
Title: Re: How many people hit Level 6 on earnings?
Post by: SuperPhoto on July 26, 2023, 06:54
It was a technique to steal more $$ from contributors, while making them think "ooh they could get more". Very few ever hit that, and if you "average" your earnings over the year (i.e., time it takes to reach that level), you are actually lower.

I.e., say for 6 months you are at 10%. Then remainder of the year you are at 20%. The "average" rate is actually 15% (not 20%, which some ppl 'forget' about).
Title: Re: How many people hit Level 6 on earnings?
Post by: mino216 on July 26, 2023, 11:19
I.e., say for 6 months you are at 10%. Then remainder of the year you are at 20%. The "average" rate is actually 15% (not 20%, which some ppl 'forget' about).

That is not entirely true. The fact is that the levels have different "size" (you jump very quickly in the beginning), therefore, you are in different levels for a different time period. In my case, I am at 15% approx. 3 weeks, than 5 weeks at 20 %, 8 weeks at 25 % and than remaining part of the year at 30 %. So, my average is around 27 %. Because of that, your average will be usually very close to the highest (or second highest) level achieved because you are going to spend the most time in it. Of course, there  are some exceptions, for example, if you barely achieve Level 2. And there is another catch, all these 10c sales which do not change with a change of level.
Title: Re: How many people hit Level 6 on earnings?
Post by: Uncle Pete on July 26, 2023, 11:30
It was a technique to steal more $$ from contributors, while making them think "ooh they could get more". Very few ever hit that, and if you "average" your earnings over the year (i.e., time it takes to reach that level), you are actually lower.

I.e., say for 6 months you are at 10%. Then remainder of the year you are at 20%. The "average" rate is actually 15% (not 20%, which some ppl 'forget' about).

I'm not going to do the whole chart thing again, but you are correct. The big subs, massive download limits, are still going to earn very little, no matter what level. The only reason we get a dime is the pay is so small that the SSTK minimum brings the value up to 10 cents for us. Add in less OD and EL or the rest, and we are getting a tiny percentage of very little.

Yes, the reset is a bunch of crap too. Who looks forward to getting the 10% again and working up to getting a fake 20%? Annual levels? Talk about a joke.
Title: Re: How many people hit Level 6 on earnings?
Post by: blvdone on July 26, 2023, 18:17
For video, it's very possible nobody reaches Level 6 with above 25,000 sales per year for 40% royalty.  It's ridiculously high hurdle.  Also, I suspect only up to 50 or so reaches Level 5 with 5,000 plus sales per year for 35% royalty.  So, the 99% plus of contributors got their revenue reduced by this scheme that was obvious to just prop up their profit and stock price.  It worked in 2021.
Title: Re: How many people hit Level 6 on earnings?
Post by: [email protected] on July 26, 2023, 22:50
hi any one got subscription download this month.
Title: Re: How many people hit Level 6 on earnings?
Post by: Brasilnut on July 27, 2023, 06:16
I'll probably reach it on December 31st
Title: Re: How many people hit Level 6 on earnings?
Post by: Stockmaan on July 27, 2023, 06:59
It doesn't even matter. After all, most sales are still $0.10 (at least on the photo side).
 >:(

And 0.25 on the video side
Title: Re: How many people hit Level 6 on earnings?
Post by: Stockmaan on July 27, 2023, 07:00
I'll probably reach it on December 31st

At least
Title: Re: How many people hit Level 6 on earnings?
Post by: gnirtS on July 27, 2023, 10:50
I'll probably reach it on December 31st

2 years running now ive reached Level 4 on videos after 6pm on the 31st December....

Also lost out of free Adobe all apps by roughly 3 downloads in the year.

Title: Re: How many people hit Level 6 on earnings?
Post by: yuriy on July 27, 2023, 11:06
i'm on pace to hit level 2 for sure.  can't wait for all those dimes to turn into $.12.
Title: Re: How many people hit Level 6 on earnings?
Post by: Uncle Pete on July 27, 2023, 11:36
i'm on pace to hit level 2 for sure.  can't wait for all those dimes to turn into $.12.

But they don't because of Subs from the largest licenses.

Level 4 and I still get 10¢ subs and 10¢ S&O. Levels make a difference on larger licenses, but for most of the subs and usual, it's still mostly dimes.

At Adobe it's 60% of the downloads, that are 90¢ or higher value. And even if It was 50¢ average that 5 SS downloads to equal 1 AS download?

Then: Lifetime
(https://i.postimg.cc/7L6g0jNm/ss-earnings-table-2018.jpg)

Now: Resets every year
(https://i.postimg.cc/TPMCqz8y/ss-large-pack-subs.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/ZKv8rT8y/ss-earnings-breakdown-2023.jpg)

30% of something that would be less than a dime, is now a dime. And only at level 6 is the pay, equal to entry level, with the old system.
Title: Re: How many people hit Level 6 on earnings?
Post by: flywing on July 27, 2023, 12:09
i'm on pace to hit level 2 for sure.  can't wait for all those dimes to turn into $.12.

Are you new? In case you've never been at other levels, it doesn't get really better at higher levels because the vast majority (55-60%) of sales are still $0.10, IME.

(https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:2000/1*iLtZmYW2mOL3ESQy0nqI1A.png)
Title: Re: How many people hit Level 6 on earnings?
Post by: peppi183 on July 27, 2023, 13:40
The best level for me is 5. But I think for me is not so important, my shutter stock income is down.
Title: Re: How many people hit Level 6 on earnings?
Post by: yuriy on July 27, 2023, 15:21
ahh, i see, dimes it is forever then (yes i'm new)
Title: Re: How many people hit Level 6 on earnings?
Post by: MotionDesign on July 28, 2023, 03:48
level 4 illustrations (level 5 should be around october)
level 4 videos
Title: Re: How many people hit Level 6 on earnings?
Post by: elliottcowand on July 28, 2023, 23:15
Level 4 is an easy reach, but doubt I'll ever enter level 5.
Title: Re: How many people hit Level 6 on earnings?
Post by: Justanotherphotographer on July 30, 2023, 07:44
I had made it to 6 by this time last year. Still 5 for this year and don't know if I will make it to 6 at all before Jan. The drop in earnings this year have been unbelievable.