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Author Topic: Its ALL! about SS, isnt it?  (Read 6402 times)

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Lagereek

« on: June 03, 2012, 02:10 »
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For some time now I have been toying with the idea of just concentrating on a few micros, leaving myself much more time for RM, simply because the current state of micro affairs is just beyond the joke.
FT has started to juggle around their search and its dissaster, DT, keeps plodding on, some good days some bad days, IS and 123, well, they are simply beyond repair, joke!.
Micro-exclusivity with SS, all of a sudden seems a very, very welcome solution. Fair enough, they also have their small shortcomings but on the whole they do not f**k up, just about everywhere.
I have been dead against exclusivity in any form in any Micro business but frankly its got to the point where you simply have to take a stand and realize that we are belittled to supply places who really dont care one bit, on the contrary they by a flick of a switch, kill off thousands of ports just because they "think" it will generate more in their own pockets, ofcourse it doesnt but then the irreparable damage is done.

I sincerely hope that, SS, or whatever, can muster up some genial stroke here and offer some sort of a deal to contributors who are willing to support them and take a stand.
I am definetely considering cutting down my micro outlets and just remove the entire ports.

Now if youre a neewbie with 5 sales in a month and think thats great, please refrain from posting in this thread. :)
« Last Edit: June 03, 2012, 02:20 by Lagereek »


« Reply #1 on: June 03, 2012, 02:53 »
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You're not related to Wut by any chance? :D


« Reply #3 on: June 03, 2012, 03:03 »
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Might as well wait and see if SS actually offer RF exclusivity in the future.  Image exclusivity is looking more appealing but I would still be very wary of complete RF exclusivity.  I don't have a nice RM income, I rely too much on RF.  If SS were taken over by a hedge fund or do what FT have done with the search, being exclusive would be a nightmare.

wut

« Reply #4 on: June 03, 2012, 03:08 »
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You're not related to Wut by any chance? :D

His brilliant mind and ideas would suggest so ;D

« Reply #5 on: June 03, 2012, 03:20 »
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Everything is fine in my microstock world these days.. I don't see reason for drastic measurements!

« Reply #6 on: June 03, 2012, 03:51 »
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My percentages for microstock are

IS = 31%
SS = 27%
DT = 20%
FT = 4%
123rf = 5%
The rest = 11%

I can't see how any angency can come up with an arrangement that would end up with more money for me.

For some people exclusivity is / would be better but numbers don't add up for me.   

Personally I hope shutterstock doesn't offer exclusivity as I'd prefer not to be bumped in the seach by exclusive images

Wim

« Reply #7 on: June 03, 2012, 04:16 »
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I am definetely considering cutting down my micro outlets and just remove the entire ports.

That's what I'm already doing atm, and only after one year into stock.
I have already stopped uploading to agencies that do not bring a steady income (BS, CS, PM) and quit YAY and CreStock for the complete lack of sales, don't know why I went with those agencies in the first place.
Still 10 agencies on my list though (exluding macro) which is still a few too many.

The keepers so far are SS, IS, DT, FT and 123RF. Sales were good at Veer, PD and DP but have slowed down a lot lately so I don't know if I will stick around. Maybe keep DP just because they hold most of my work, I hate those daily 0,30 subs though, doesn't add up much at the end of the month. We'll see about 123RF next year, if my commission drops I'm probably out too.
So that will leave me with only the top tiers, who I probably should have gone with in the first place!

SS exclusivity? hmm dunno, if they get their reviewers in check, yes, otherwise, fat chance, I'm losing too much of my good sellers because of their poor reviews.

Borg, I hope you were joking mate  ???

Lagereek

« Reply #8 on: June 03, 2012, 04:22 »
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Well I am not exactly refering to the present stage I am thinking ahead, I cant see how anybody unless lobotomized can avoid to see where this is all going. Gone are the days of just sour-grapes, etc, thats one thing,  reallity is another.
Besides, unless you have a port of at least 1500 images, you cant really get a perspective on this situation. Ofcourse some are happy with their earnings, so am I, but this is far from just a question of earnings.
Besides:  who wants to sit around in say a years time, getting 0.10c, per sale? and thats exactly where its heading.

Lagereek

« Reply #9 on: June 03, 2012, 04:23 »
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You're not related to Wut by any chance? :D

Bros, actually. I thought this was common knowledge around here? ;D

« Reply #10 on: June 03, 2012, 05:20 »
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Notwithstanding I dont have the 1500 images that qualifies for an opinion, a few observations:
Why would SS introduce exclusivity, they have good coverage of subject matter, the simplest model out there and are doing very nicely as they are?
Other sites still generate a lot of sales, IS in particular gives good return per image and closing doors / burning bridges simply reduces options.
For those that have marketable images rejected, other sites provide a market place.
In this forum, there have been quite a few threads about accounts being suspended / deleted by SS.  Im sure this is justified in some cases but there does seem to be a lack of due process (an accusation of wrongdoing seems to be enough) and no appeal.  Anyone who depends on MS income and finds himself in this situation would be f***ed.

« Reply #11 on: June 03, 2012, 05:26 »
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I have too much time and work invested in uploading to a big amount of other sites, so I'm not goint to stick exclusive with any agency.

But it SS would introduce exclusive image-option (with better search placement and bigger royalties) I might try with some images.

Lagereek

« Reply #12 on: June 03, 2012, 05:29 »
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Notwithstanding I dont have the 1500 images that qualifies for an opinion, a few observations:
Why would SS introduce exclusivity, they have good coverage of subject matter, the simplest model out there and are doing very nicely as they are?
Other sites still generate a lot of sales, IS in particular gives good return per image and closing doors / burning bridges simply reduces options.
For those that have marketable images rejected, other sites provide a market place.
In this forum, there have been quite a few threads about accounts being suspended / deleted by SS.  Im sure this is justified in some cases but there does seem to be a lack of due process (an accusation of wrongdoing seems to be enough) and no appeal.  Anyone who depends on MS income and finds himself in this situation would be f***ed.

Why not?  nobody is twisting any arms to join in exclusivity!  it sure wouldnt be like IS policy, slaughter of the ones who dont want to participate. Anyone whos paticipating in micro, seems by the look of it to be f***ed anyway in a few years time. Whats the differance? to get swcrewed by one or to get screwed by many?
Same outcome.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #13 on: June 03, 2012, 05:43 »
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In this forum, there have been quite a few threads about accounts being suspended / deleted by SS.  Im sure this is justified in some cases but there does seem to be a lack of due process (an accusation of wrongdoing seems to be enough) and no appeal.  Anyone who depends on MS income and finds himself in this situation would be f***ed.

Why not?  nobody is twisting any arms to join in exclusivity!  it sure wouldnt be like IS policy, slaughter of the ones who dont want to participate.
How could you persuage people to become exclusive, even image exclusive, if there weren't some distinct advantage, which would almost certainly mean the disadvantage of other contributors or files? The advantage of getting more $$ might mean these files would have to sell for more, so would have to be placed better to have a reasonable chance of selling against cheaper similars. If the file was unique, the higher price wouldn't matter, but if it was you and the file was that unique, you'd have it in macro, surely.

Quote
Anyone whos paticipating in micro, seems by the look of it to be f***ed anyway in a few years time.
Seems that way, and sooner rather than later.
The goose that laid an unsustainable Golden Egg.

wut

« Reply #14 on: June 03, 2012, 07:05 »
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The biggest problem in micro is volatility. A search engine change, sometimes even coupled with insane rejections, can screw you over night or makes the future look grim. My SS sales are still great, missed a BME by 5$. BUT! New files don't sell, at least the great majority (I mean as they used to only a few months ago), 75% of the new stuff gets rejected, while I'm getting 95%+ AR from the same series at the other top 4 sites.

If they introduced exclusivity, none of that wouldn't matter, just like ShadySue explained. We'd probably get our own inspectors as well, just as exclusives have it at IS. So no nonsense rejections, bumped prices and better search positions. No other sites to deal with. Sounds perfect. Except nothing is perfect, especially not in micro. But I'd be willing to try. OTOH, as I said, I'd even consider IS exclusivity if there was no SS option and sales kept on rising at IS like they do, I'd just be sorry to loose so many 1st row images (quite a few first page too). Because they stay there as long as they sell, at IS, you just never know.

« Reply #15 on: June 03, 2012, 07:43 »
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My percentages for microstock are

IS = 31%
SS = 27%
DT = 20%
FT = 4%
123rf = 5%
The rest = 11%

I can't see how any angency can come up with an arrangement that would end up with more money for me.

For some people exclusivity is / would be better but numbers don't add up for me.   

Personally I hope shutterstock doesn't offer exclusivity as I'd prefer not to be bumped in the seach by exclusive images

Amen to that!!

wut

« Reply #16 on: June 03, 2012, 08:01 »
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My percentages for microstock are

IS = 31%
SS = 27%
DT = 20%
FT = 4%
123rf = 5%
The rest = 11%

I can't see how any angency can come up with an arrangement that would end up with more money for me.

For some people exclusivity is / would be better but numbers don't add up for me.  

Personally I hope shutterstock doesn't offer exclusivity as I'd prefer not to be bumped in the seach by exclusive images

Amen to that!!

Perhaps my shares will paint a better picture, so my opinion will be a bit easier to understand for some ppl (besides getting rid of the hassle with dealing with multiple agencies, better said, standards). It's a rough approximation, since I'm guessing PP royalties, I used the average for the last 3 months:

SS=43%
IS=33%
FT=6%
DT=4%
Alamy+pathetic little agencies=14% (Alamy as the biggest contributor to the share)

As you see the gaps/differences are huge

ETA

To take it a step further, I'm going to put my numbers in the MSG poll results format:

SS 100
IS 77
FT14
DT 9

So, do you see it now? :)
« Last Edit: June 03, 2012, 08:06 by wut »


Lagereek

« Reply #17 on: June 03, 2012, 10:22 »
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Its pointless to start showing us figures, etc, good money bad money, doesnt matter the slightest,  this goes further then just revenues. The whole business is falling apart.
Now anybody wants to back a sinking ship, be my guest.
I am not trying to promote exclusivity at all, its up to each one to make that decision. All I am saying is and Im sure everyone agrees, micro is going through a hellish time, when agencies in the big 4, clearly show they cant handle it, its pretty bad.

No need to worry though, I am sure SS, got better things in mind then offer exclusivity to a bunch of half-asssed photographers, so? well, theres always the option to go exclusive with FT, IS or DT, right. Or, remain independant, backing all horses and then slowly fade away into oblivion. :)

« Reply #18 on: June 03, 2012, 12:35 »
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I have too much time and work invested in uploading to a big amount of other sites, so I'm not goint to stick exclusive with any agency.

But it SS would introduce exclusive image-option (with better search placement and bigger royalties) I might try with some images.

agreed - it would be too much trouble to cross check across all agencies, but i woulkd consider image exclusivity on SS, esp'ly since i always ipl to them 1st anyway - it would just mean waiting a few more days to upl to the others.

wut

« Reply #19 on: June 03, 2012, 12:40 »
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I have too much time and work invested in uploading to a big amount of other sites, so I'm not goint to stick exclusive with any agency.

But it SS would introduce exclusive image-option (with better search placement and bigger royalties) I might try with some images.

agreed - it would be too much trouble to cross check across all agencies, but i woulkd consider image exclusivity on SS, esp'ly since i always ipl to them 1st anyway - it would just mean waiting a few more days to upl to the others.

What about older, good performing files, those that sell best at SS? You'll have to go through all that if you'll want to do that. If I was looking forward only to image exclusivity, that would be my strategy. You can only guess about sales of the new files (in my case quite a few sell better at IS)

« Reply #20 on: June 03, 2012, 18:20 »
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Everything is fine in my microstock world these days.. I don't see reason for drastic measurements!

I pretty much agree, I have worked 6 days in May, when I say have worked is basically the days I have edited pics and keyword, not uploading or shooting.. that said what concerns me is what income I will have on the following months and that is quite hard to predict despite bme etc...

« Reply #21 on: June 03, 2012, 19:09 »
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it's not about SS. They simply are the agency that hasn't taken drastic measures.  Doesn't mean they wont.

« Reply #22 on: June 03, 2012, 19:28 »
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SS just went public.  That means within a year they'll be in chaos, management will be a revolving door - it will be one crazy scheme after another, trying to hit impossible profit goals to placate new investors.  "Today we are excited to announce" followed by the latest stink-bomb from some new MBA manager du jour.  

I could be wrong.  But this is not the time to put all your eggs in their basket.
« Last Edit: June 03, 2012, 19:49 by stockastic »

RacePhoto

« Reply #23 on: June 06, 2012, 15:16 »
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Might as well wait and see if SS actually offer RF exclusivity in the future.  Image exclusivity is looking more appealing but I would still be very wary of complete RF exclusivity.  I don't have a nice RM income, I rely too much on RF.  If SS were taken over by a hedge fund or do what FT have done with the search, being exclusive would be a nightmare.

Thank You. One person comes up with some off the wall hypothetical (and I don't mean Lagereek either) and then it becomes a topic. When the fact is, SS has stated over and over, why they are against anything exclusive! So OK, if I win the lottery tomorrow and find a gold mine in the back yard, yes I'll probably go on vacation...  ;)

If SS offered exclusive, I'd be one of the first to jump into it. But (oops, sorry it's a call from Maddona, she needs to talk to me)... Darn so busy here some days. Last night it was Charlize Theron asking for a date, I was just too busy. You know it's just about the same as SS exclusive, except, I'm not counting on Charlize because she's just too darn popular, and I can't stand the crowds and constant fan attention.  :D

Oh yes, It is all about SS and I might become a RF exclusive with no contract or benefits. Just getting tired of the revolving door of price cutting and me too agencies trying to butt in and steal sales from myself.

« Reply #24 on: August 01, 2012, 19:51 »
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completly argree in your thoughts.


 

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