Author Topic: New stuff doesn't sell.. (Read 10077 times)

Lana · « **on:** May 01, 2017, 22:19 »

Just wondering does it even make sense to upload with such a terrible performance by the new content?
I normally don't submit a lot, maybe it'd be better to just hold off until they switch the search again and then submit all in bulk? $:-\$

UKstock · « **Reply #1 on:** May 01, 2017, 23:42 »

For me it's been like this for months. I've started to notice a few new images selling but not enough to make a difference. I'm with you. I'm going to slow down on submitting.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #2 on:** May 02, 2017, 00:58 »

Quote

I normally don't submit a lot, maybe it'd be better to just hold off until they switch the search again and then submit all in bulk?

I do like the range of your images of markets and local people. In particular, it's great that you are getting portraits of local people which is something I should be doing more. Keep doing that.

You didn't ask for a critique, but I just think that, in my humble opinion, many of the shots look like snapshots. I can see that often the crops are too tight and you're cutting out key elements.

sliper · « **Reply #3 on:** May 02, 2017, 01:58 »

Stop uploading to them too... It`s just tons of crap got approved those days, and good images are buried... They must change something, they will lose their good contributtors with this politics

Lana · « **Reply #4 on:** May 02, 2017, 01:58 »

Quote from: Brasilnut on May 02, 2017, 00:58

Quote
I normally don't submit a lot, maybe it'd be better to just hold off until they switch the search again and then submit all in bulk?

I do like the range of your images of markets and local people. In particular, it's great that you are getting portraits of local people which is something I should be doing more. Keep doing that.

You didn't ask for a critique, but I just think that, in my humble opinion, many of the shots look like snapshots. I can see that often the crops are too tight and you're cutting out key elements.

I don't mind the critique, but you're right, and I'm well aware of my level, kind of working on it

I just marked 2 years with Shutterstock and I know that when the new sells at SS my new stuff sells well too, then it's back to "old stuff" mode and hardly anything I submit sells quick enough...

Brasilnut · « **Reply #5 on:** May 02, 2017, 02:17 »

Quote

I don't mind the critique, but you're right, and I'm well aware of my level, kind of working on it

Me too, always improving is the key!

Do you post-process your images because many seem like they just came straight of the camera on JPEG. Some could do some with lighting adjustments, especially since the scenes are generally well-lit.

Lana · « **Reply #6 on:** May 02, 2017, 02:27 »

Quote from: Brasilnut on May 02, 2017, 02:17

Quote
I don't mind the critique, but you're right, and I'm well aware of my level, kind of working on it

Me too, always improving is the key!

Do you post-process your images because many seem like they just came straight of the camera on JPEG. Some could do some with lighting adjustments, especially since the scenes are generally well-lit.

I do post process them, it's just I suck in this too apparently

Brightontl · « **Reply #7 on:** May 02, 2017, 02:38 »

I only do video.
In the last 4 months SS has been stuck in "Old best sellers files only". I have 2.000 files, but over 95% of my sales come from just one file.
Last year this mode was on for about 3-4 weeks, then it would switch to a situation where all sort of files would be selling.
Very annoying for people like me who have been in this game for less than 2 years. Not too bad I suppose for older artists, who have many well-established files.
It is kind of funny though: every time I have a sale in SS I say: "it cannot be that file again". And indeed it is always that one

Brasilnut · « **Reply #8 on:** May 02, 2017, 02:39 »

Quote

It is kind of funny though: every time I have a sale in SS I say: "it cannot be that file again". And indeed it is always that one

Which one is it

Pauws99 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 02, 2017, 04:21 »

I don't think its search algorithms its more simple the current flood of new images means its very hard to anything new to get noticed and start to climb the ratings. The only way this could change is a stricter review policy or a reduction of contributors bored with low returns.....

Brightontl · « **Reply #10 on:** May 02, 2017, 04:42 »

Quote from: Pauws99 on May 02, 2017, 04:21

I don't think its search algorithms its more simple the current flood of new images means its very hard to anything new to get noticed and start to climb the ratings. The only way this could change is a stricter review policy or a reduction of contributors bored with low returns.....

For me and regarding video only it definitely is a change in algorithms.
As I said, last year I had about 3-4 weeks of selling just the same one file over and over followed by 3-4 weeks of selling all sort of files, including new ones. And so on and so forth.
This year they have forgotten to action the switch and we have been stuck for 4 months on "old files only" mode.
I am not saying that I am complaining, as sales are decent. But it is a bit frustrating selling always the same one file out of 2,000

qunamax · « **Reply #11 on:** May 02, 2017, 05:03 »

I have a tiny portfolio but some of the photos uploaded last month or so quickly became my best sellers, selling daily, so it does work. The only pattern I see is the subject/commercial value, gotta make it a habit not to upload photos that I already know will sell maybe once a month if at all.

derek · « **Reply #12 on:** May 02, 2017, 05:20 »

Haha! I had two sales last week and one of the pics was uploaded on the second day of being a member at SS over 9 years back. It was embarrassing.

Just to mention I uploaded 20 files three weeks back none of them show up anywhere I cant even find them.

angelawaye · « **Reply #13 on:** May 02, 2017, 09:13 »

There doesn't seem to be any point on uploading new work ... I'm saving mine until something happens or I'll try a Macro agency. Things are definitely changing.

Lana · « **Reply #14 on:** May 02, 2017, 09:30 »

Quote from: Pauws99 on May 02, 2017, 04:21

I don't think its search algorithms its more simple the current flood of new images means its very hard to anything new to get noticed and start to climb the ratings. The only way this could change is a stricter review policy or a reduction of contributors bored with low returns.....

The flood started a while ago, but in winter the new files still sold pretty well until a couple of months ago, if i'm not mistaken. And like this every few months, so I'd say it's both

Fredex · « **Reply #15 on:** May 02, 2017, 10:51 »

The strange thing is that even old images that were never popular are selling better than new content which is far better quality. I had one terrible image that I'd forgotten about totally sell for the first time after sitting online for almost 2 years without a single sale yet new batches don't see anywhere near the amount of sales they used to.

It suggests to me that it's not just the huge influx of images burying uploads but also that buyers aren't actually using the new search as much as they used to. I can't blame them for that because you have to wade through so many sub-par images to find what you want since Shutterstock lowered the acceptance rate to 1/10.

I think everyone would benefit from SS bringing back an 'undiscovered' search... one that actually works this time. If things continue the way they are all those new contributors Shutterstock spent so much effort in trying to reel in are going to give up because of lack of sales, older contributors are going to stop uploading new content and buyers are going to look elsewhere to sites with better searches.

derek · « **Reply #16 on:** May 02, 2017, 10:54 »

Quote from: angelawaye on May 02, 2017, 09:13

There doesn't seem to be any point on uploading new work ... I'm saving mine until something happens or I'll try a Macro agency. Things are definitely changing.

Well SS was too good to be true for some and many of us so I was pretty sure some years back that this day would come. I have a very large portfolio with two macro agencies about twice the size then in micro-stock and it really pays off. No desperate sort-order changes but soft ones not slaughtering many ports.

sgoodwin4813 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 02, 2017, 16:50 »

I've had some new images sell - it seems to depend on the subject. Some others got noticed after a couple of months. I think it is probably better to have them online - they make you nothing on your hard drive.

dragonblade · « **Reply #18 on:** May 04, 2017, 12:37 »

I have a very small port on SS but I notice a lot of my recent sales seem to be new and relatively recent photos. My last sale was with a photo that sold about 24 hours after it was uploaded.

For those who are concerned about the lack of sales of new photos - remember that in time, new photos will become old photos. So there's nothing to worry about!

lightphoto · « **Reply #19 on:** May 08, 2017, 11:28 »

Well, the problem is, over the last two months, even the old stuff had stopped selling. April was my worth month since 2012, and May is even worse - on course to be less than $50 per month, when my typical month in 2014-2016 was $200-$300.

sigh

wordplanet · « **Reply #20 on:** May 08, 2017, 11:47 »

I uploaded 5 new images Friday after not adding anything at all since last year. They passed right away, my timing was poor to upload before the weekend, but one sold this morning.

Totally unscientific in terms of showing how things are working of course, but glad it wasn't a total waste of time, assume it'll keep selling now and hope it boosts the others since they are all related in terms of subject matter or destination. My best-sellers for some years now are still my best sellers (and they vary in concept, and place). A bump to the next level for earnings early last month does not seem to have changed this.

derek · « **Reply #21 on:** May 08, 2017, 14:02 »

I havent uploaded for a few months but forgot myself and like an idiot I uploaded 14 studio-shots, then I remembered this thread and quickly deleted them! they would just have been buried alive never to see daylight!

I really dont know whats going on at SS it never used to be this way. Just before Christmas you could upload and immediately some images were right up front and sold. Now they just disappear. You wait and see within a couple of weeks it will be the same with Adobe.

cascoly · « **Reply #22 on:** May 08, 2017, 14:31 »

Quote from: derek on May 08, 2017, 14:02

I havent uploaded for a few months but forgot myself and like an idiot I uploaded 14 studio-shots, then I remembered this thread and quickly deleted them! they would just have been buried alive never to see daylight!

....

?? deleting them changes a low probability to zero

the only way to add more old files is to upload new ones...

I've never had a great volume from new uploads, likely due to competition and topics, but overall sales are about 10% ahead of last year, due to consistent sales of older images

derek · « **Reply #23 on:** May 08, 2017, 15:21 »

Quote from: cascoly on May 08, 2017, 14:31

Quote from: derek on May 08, 2017, 14:02
I havent uploaded for a few months but forgot myself and like an idiot I uploaded 14 studio-shots, then I remembered this thread and quickly deleted them! they would just have been buried alive never to see daylight!

....

?? deleting them changes a low probability to zero

the only way to add more old files is to upload new ones...

I've never had a great volume from new uploads, likely due to competition and topics, but overall sales are about 10% ahead of last year, due to consistent sales of older images

I would have done but these were conceptual studio shots with MR's and I really dont want to lose them just like that. Then I rather put them in my macro agency at least there they will be seen.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #24 on:** May 09, 2017, 02:13 »

Quote

I would have done but these were conceptual studio shots with MR's and I really dont want to lose them just like that. Then I rather put them in my macro agency at least there they will be seen.

Yea, that makes sense. If they required significant time and expenses to create, why would you stick them in micros? At least with a macro agency they retain their value and in a worst case you just move them to another macro agency.

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Author Topic: New stuff doesn't sell.. (Read 10077 times)

Lana

UKstock

Brasilnut

sliper

Lana

Brasilnut

Lana

Brightontl

Brasilnut

Pauws99

Brightontl

qunamax

derek

angelawaye

Lana

Fredex

derek

sgoodwin4813

dragonblade

lightphoto

wordplanet

derek

cascoly

derek

Brasilnut

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