MicrostockGroup
Agency Based Discussion => Shutterstock.com => Topic started by: Shelma1 on November 02, 2016, 07:16
-
Please sign.
https://www.change.org/p/jon-oringer-eliminate-spamming-on-shutterstock (https://www.change.org/p/jon-oringer-eliminate-spamming-on-shutterstock)
-
::) ::) ::)
-
done
very sad we need to sign petitions to have something that is destroying agency as well as contributors fixed.
-
So nice of one of the spammers to stop by here and give us the old flip of the bird on the petition. ;)
-
Hahaha, well, we appreciate his constructive input.....
-
Buyers are signing. ;) Well, at least one so far.
-
I don't think he's a spammer. At least the couple of images I checked weren't.
Great to see buyers are also interested!
-
I don;t think he's a spammer. At least the couple of images I checked weren't.
Great to see buyers are also interested!
Of whom do you speak? The guy who said FU in two languages?
-
Oh sorry, they must have been deleted. Is it the same one with the emoticons now?
-
I get it, on the petition not here right?
-
Done,
thank you Shelma1!
-
Oh sorry, they must have been deleted. Is it the same one with the emoticons now?
I guess they deleted their comment on the petition...FU in Croatian and English. Not sure it's the same person with the rolling eyes. ;)
-
its still there
-
So I see. I didn't realize there were so many comments. I'm new to this petition thing.
-
Done, thanks Shelma
-
Oh sorry, they must have been deleted. Is it the same one with the emoticons now?
I guess they deleted their comment on the petition...FU in Croatian and English. Not sure it's the same person with the rolling eyes. ;)
Not me. I agree what you're doing.
-
I didn't think so that's why I was confused, sorry about that.
-
Done. I hope Shutterstock takes it seriously.
-
50 signatures! Let's get 100!
-
Maybe open this topic also on SS forum?
-
Have family members affected by your loss of income? They can sign too. ;)
-
Maybe open this topic also on SS forum?
And on their Facebook page?
-
Maybe open this topic also on SS forum?
And on their Facebook page?
Someone already did that.
Shutterstock the work delayed, I unhappy. 6 - 7 months ago you can not disband account of spam.
why not? Because spam account they make money for you.
Thank You
link port of spam / please disband account.
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/ancientone (https://www.shutterstock.com/g/ancientone)
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/BestVector083 (https://www.shutterstock.com/g/BestVector083)
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Olha+Chernova (https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Olha+Chernova)
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/meawnamcat (https://www.shutterstock.com/g/meawnamcat)
SS reply:
Hi there! We understand how frustrating this spam is. Thank you for your patience as we work on a solution to fix it.
-
Spam and it sold really well??
-
Spam and it sold really well??
Cannot say it sold really well or not but I have seen many spam images in popular list.
-
Spam and it sold really well??
Cannot say it sold really well or not but I have seen many spam images in popular list.
so that looks like it is the answer.
if they went to popular it means they sell
btw. only 2 left for 100, very good
-
111 and growing.
-
Done.
-
I signed - let's hope it has an effect!
-
Good luck. Hope it persuades. :)
-
Done,
Thank you shelma.
-
111 and growing.
Will hit 200 soon and I'm in. I hope it gets to 2000.
-
SUCCESS, people!
Paul Brennan, VP, Content Operations reached out to me about the petition and we had a pleasant telephone conversation. He explained that they have been going port by port and giving deadlines to people to change their titles and disabling ports that don't comply.
I said this is too little and too slow, and they also stuff the keywords with spam, so they retain their search positions. I tossed out some ideas, and we brainstormed solutions, but most of all I said we need to HEAR from Shutterstock because they've been silent on this issue and we think they don't care.
He says someone from SS (I suggested him) will be reaching out to the community tomorrow on their forums (I suggested they also reach out here) to offer some possible ways to solve the problem and to ask for our ideas, feelings and input.
HOORAY FOR US!
-
Great Job
-
Nice work, let's just hope they are sincere and fix the problem.
-
Just as long as they don't lock down on keyword and title editing like those dear people in iStock :(
I wonder why everyone is "reaching out" these days instead of contacting, writing, calling, talking or just plain old speaking ???
-
Done.
-
Just as long as they don't lock down on keyword and title editing like those dear people in iStock :(
I wonder why everyone is "reaching out" these days instead of contacting, writing, calling, talking or just plain old speaking ???
He mentioned locking down editing but he felt that would be punishing the good contributors, and they like giving us the ability to do that; it's something they feel is unique about SS. But one option might be doing that temporarily until the spam issue is solved. I said it was important to solicit feedback about something like that because a lot of people would be upset. Honestly, I think tweaking the algorithm is the way to go. Just don't let redundant keywords affect search results and you level the playing field instantly. Then there's no incentive to spam.
-
Just as long as they don't lock down on keyword and title editing like those dear people in iStock :(
I wonder why everyone is "reaching out" these days instead of contacting, writing, calling, talking or just plain old speaking ???
He mentioned locking down editing but he felt that would be punishing the good contributors, and they like giving us the ability to do that; it's something they feel is unique about SS. But one option might be doing that temporarily until the spam issue is solved. I said it was important to solicit feedback about something like that because a lot of people would be upset. Honestly, I think tweaking the algorithm is the way to go. Just don't let redundant keywords affect search results and you level the playing field instantly. Then there's no incentive to spam.
Thank you so much Shelma1 for putting this petition together. I also hope they tweak the algorithm rather than locking down editing (even temporarily). I would feel punished as he mentioned. Plus, I currently am going through all my old images and updating keywords and titles (from when I started and did not know as much as I do now). I would not be able to do that, and I've gotten sales on some of those images from the updated keywording I've done, with some of the keywords I've updated recording in the image gallery stats.
Again though, THANK YOU!!! :)
-
Done.
-
Great work by you all! 8)
-
Hello from Thailand. Just seen the post. I'd signed and will tell my fellow contributor to sign as well. Thank you Shelma.
-
signed - let's hope we do hear from SS
-
I'm late getting here, but I've just signed too.
Great work, Shelma!
-
Signed.
-
signed. Great job and thx for that!
Another example of how important it is to be united!
-
signed. Great job and thx for that!
Another example of how important it is to be united!
Amazing, I signed too.
I also think we all should be united against all those illegal gfx websites who gives our work for free.
-
signed. Great job and thx for that!
Another example of how important it is to be united!
Amazing, I signed too.
I also think we all should be united against all those illegal gfx websites who gives our work for free.
Next Petition should have the name: Contributors will STOP GETTY by demanding a minimum price! 8)
-
Great! :)
Just to say, cotributors Allxnet and icanFly continued to upload images with spam titles and keywords. They fix several titles, but they left keywords :D this is funny :)
Link:
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/oleksiik (https://www.shutterstock.com/g/oleksiik)
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Allxnet (https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Allxnet)
-
And also, check this tool, type contributors name, and you will see high rank of these contributors. This is the answer whether it is profitable to be a spammer....
http://m-rank.net/?search=allxnet#top1/ (http://m-rank.net/?search=allxnet#top1/)
-
Great! :)
Just to say, cotributors Allxnet and icanFly continued to upload images with spam titles and keywords. They fix several titles, but they left keywords :D this is funny :)
Link:
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/oleksiik (https://www.shutterstock.com/g/oleksiik)
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Allxnet (https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Allxnet)
Yes. I specifically brought that up during the conversation.
-
I have to say thank you Shelma! Great work!
-
Wow! More than 500 signatures as of this morning! Thanks, everyone!
-
Well those aren't the worst offenders. Don't get me wrong they are a bit spammy but most of their keywords are different word combinations (look at where the commas are) not simply repeated words. I haven't checked their whole portfolios so maybe there are worse images in there.
-
compare to https://www.shutterstock.com/g/A+B+R+A+C+A+D+A+B+R+A (https://www.shutterstock.com/g/A+B+R+A+C+A+D+A+B+R+A)
Whole portfolio is full of repeats and here's an example:
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-500887075/stock-vector-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-ban.html? (http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-500887075/stock-vector-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-ban.html?)
Description:
Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner.
-
compare to [url]https://www.shutterstock.com/g/A+B+R+A+C+A+D+A+B+R+A[/url] ([url]https://www.shutterstock.com/g/A+B+R+A+C+A+D+A+B+R+A[/url])
Whole portfolio is full of repeats and here's an example:
[url]http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-500887075/stock-vector-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-ban.html?[/url] ([url]http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-500887075/stock-vector-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-banner-ban.html?[/url])
Description:
Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner. Banner.
I am sure there are lot many spammy contributors in the list.
It is difficult for us as well as for shutterstock to do a deep search and pull them out. Maybe SS should build any tool which can track them down.
-
700 signatures! You guys rock.
-
Signed and shared through FB. :)
-
no news from shutterstock yet?
-
They just posted a very disappointing announcement in their forums. Basically a rehash of what they said months ago. No new news, no requests for input, nothing discussed yesterday on the phone.
Halloween spam still pours in, as I'm sure it does in every search term.
Let's hit 1,000 signatures and start tweeting at Oringer once we do.
https://www.change.org/p/jon-oringer-eliminate-spamming-on-shutterstock (https://www.change.org/p/jon-oringer-eliminate-spamming-on-shutterstock)
-
Just signed - now at 771 :)
ETA Also Tweeted the link to over 1k followers.
-
Just signed.
Shutterstock staff and directors should sign this petition too. I guess we all play for the same team.
Btw, great job Shelma. Thank you.
-
Signed too
-
Better late than never
Signed
Just saw the official response from SS on their forums - it is just a rehash of what was previously posted
But thanks Shelma - at least this has gotten their attention
-
Shelma's petition has over 800 sigs now. Keep 'em coming, folks!!!
-
SS reports its quarterly earnings tomorrow. I bet they're great, since spammers with low royalty rates were allowed to commandeer so many page 1 search results. Think how much extra money they kept by paying out those lower royalties. ;)
I guess this is how long-term iStockers feel.
http://baseballnewssource.com/markets/shutterstock-inc-sstk-to-release-earnings-on-friday/197390.html (http://baseballnewssource.com/markets/shutterstock-inc-sstk-to-release-earnings-on-friday/197390.html)
-
Ok, so they do not really want to eliminate spam. Let them at least tell us that everyone is allowed to use it. Rules should be the same for everyone, right? ;D
-
Ok, so they do not really want to eliminate spam. Let them at least tell us that everyone is allowed to use it. Rules should be the same for everyone, right? ;D
It is a bad way to rule a business. I think this is the moment when fotolia will become a leader. I'm not a big player and I've just started with fotolia, but I couldn't not notice that they have a better site and policy. On long term, I see sites like Fotolia (and why not Dreamstime) on the top.
-
Which would be more fun today...tweeting Oringer the word "spam" repeated 30 times, or creating quick photos and illos of spam to tweet? (We could always do both.)
-
Quick word cloud. People who've signed the petition have my permission to use it. Otherwise you'll have to license it. ;)
(https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56b2709f2fe131534952700e/581c87bbb3db2bd6d984e269/581c87e6d2b857cd8304566f/1478265384021/spam.jpg?format=750w)
-
I hope hope hope hope hope hope hope hope the petition petition petition petition petition petition petition petition petition petition petition petition petition petition petition petition petition petition petition petition inspires inspires inspires inspires inspires inspires inspires inspires inspires inspires inspires inspires inspires inspires inspires inspires management to fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix fix the problem.
-
Nearly close to 1000 petitions.
Though, I don't see much updates from spammy contributors.
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-430556296/stock-vector-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-co.html (http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-430556296/stock-vector-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-cog-co.html)
I hope shutterstock will take proper action against these spammers and remove all their content from the popular list giving them strict warning, let them do hard work and genuinely be popular.
-
still nothing done about it.
Maybe google punish SS for that (of ss didnt really punished spammer because of google)
did anyone try to find those ss spamming images on google searches and how are they doing there?
SS have been suspending account for much less then this, so...
I have stopped uploading my best files for a few weeks now, new files doesn't sell as well, no new followers for a long time and gallery views are zero for last few months (it was about 10+ weekly)
How can agency so quick from great to feed with new contest become an agency to avoid sending new files to?
Adobe/FT or others aren't the reason, they will just need to use this situation in their favor.
-
And also, check this tool, type contributors name, and you will see high rank of these contributors. This is the answer whether it is profitable to be a spammer....
[url]http://m-rank.net/?search=allxnet#top1/[/url] ([url]http://m-rank.net/?search=allxnet#top1/[/url])
You say that popular rank means sales. I windered why my new files no sales are ranked 1 - 12 first week, and old files that haven't sold in a month are 2 or 6 on mine now.
You mean you have discovered that popular means sales? You're the first to figure this out.
Popular doesn't mean sales. It means popular and nobody knows what that means. The rank is only using popular which we know spam makes popular. We don't know if it means sales. Or do you?
How does SS determine popular? I'd like to know that secret.
-
OK...we're only 50 away from 1,000. Let's tweet to Oringer...we should hit 1,000 this afternoon.
@JonOringer
Petition URL: https://www.change.org/p/jon-oringer-eliminate-spamming-on-shutterstock (https://www.change.org/p/jon-oringer-eliminate-spamming-on-shutterstock)
-
And also, check this tool, type contributors name, and you will see high rank of these contributors. This is the answer whether it is profitable to be a spammer....
[url]http://m-rank.net/?search=allxnet#top1/[/url] ([url]http://m-rank.net/?search=allxnet#top1/[/url])
You say that popular rank means sales. I windered why my new files no sales are ranked 1 - 12 first week, and old files that haven't sold in a month are 2 or 6 on mine now.
You mean you have discovered that popular means sales? You're the first to figure this out.
Popular doesn't mean sales. It means popular and nobody knows what that means. The rank is only using popular which we know spam makes popular. We don't know if it means sales. Or do you?
How does SS determine popular? I'd like to know that secret.
I smell sarcasm :) I do not know... But, in few categories I have images in first or second line in popular, and they sell like crazy. Contributor Allxnet (example) have many spammy images in corresponding category in first or second line and I think (I am convinced!) that they sell very well (see category Halloween). And, I do not know how popular search work, but the fact is that
images in first lines sells very well in popular categories.
-
Anyone tweet? I only see 3 or 4 tweets.
-
Anyone tweet? I only see 3 or 4 tweets.
I just revived my twitter account which I never ever used.
But how do I tweet? :) Should I go to Oringer page and press "tweet to Jon Oringer"? Or should I just tweet and include @jonoringer into my message?
Besides I'm not seeing any spam related tweets on his page, maybe I'm looking in the wrong place? ???
-
Anyone tweet? I only see 3 or 4 tweets.
I just revived my twitter account which I never ever used.
But how do I tweet? :) Should I go to Oringer page and press "tweet to Jon Oringer"? Or should I just tweet and include @jonoringer into my message?
Besides I'm not seeing any spam related tweets on his page, maybe I'm looking in the wrong place? ???
@jonoringer and @shutterstock but you can go to his page and tweet him or just reply to one of his tweets about how great his guitar collection is paid for with money made from our images ;D
-
Ummm ... As I understood this, it was about showing how many people are actually concerned about the spamming issue and letting Jon Oringer *know* about the petition. Doesn't it speak for itself? I mean, couldn't it be a little counterproductive to get on the person's nerves we'd like to ask to do something in our favor by massively spamming his Twitter account?
I'm pretty sure he's aware of the petition now and honestly, if I were him, I'd rather get huffy than think about how to help us, if hundreds of people would @mention me and post this over and over again. Just saying.
-
>:( After climb up to the top. Spammer edited it back to normal. so depressed. T T
-
>:( After climb up to the top. Spammer edited it back to normal. so depressed. T T
all of us who aren't using spamming are fools
-
Signed!
-
>:( After climb up to the top. Spammer edited it back to normal. so depressed. T T
all of us who aren't using spamming are fools
No, we are cowards. These guys risk consciously. Smart and brave.
-
>:( After climb up to the top. Spammer edited it back to normal. so depressed. T T
all of us who aren't using spamming are fools
No, we are cowards. These guys risk consciously. Smart and brave.
Im sorry but what? Cowards? I would die of shame if I had anything like that in my portfolio! I signed the petition with my full name. But - I dont believe Shutterstock wants to deal with it. They had enough time. For some reason it is beneficial to them and maybe the number of buyers who complain about the practice is not as high as we think. But so be it. Even if every contributor puts the effin spam in their decriptions, I wont.
-
>:( After climb up to the top. Spammer edited it back to normal. so depressed. T T
all of us who aren't using spamming are fools
No, we are cowards. These guys risk consciously. Smart and brave.
Fools or cowards? No, some us just have good business ethics and consciences. The day I have to become a liar and a cheater just to sell images, then my images are coming down because I don't want to emulate liars and cheaters or deal with companies who support liars and cheaters.
-
>:( After climb up to the top. Spammer edited it back to normal. so depressed. T T
all of us who aren't using spamming are fools
No, we are cowards. These guys risk consciously. Smart and brave.
Fools or cowards? No, some us just have good business ethics and consciences. The day I have to become a liar and a cheater just to sell images, then my images are coming down because I don't want to emulate liars and cheaters or deal with companies who support liars and cheaters.
yes, you and me will have good business ethics and consciences, others will have good business.
-
>:( After climb up to the top. Spammer edited it back to normal. so depressed. T T
all of us who aren't using spamming are fools
No, we are cowards. These guys risk consciously. Smart and brave.
Fools or cowards? No, some us just have good business ethics and consciences. The day I have to become a liar and a cheater just to sell images, then my images are coming down because I don't want to emulate liars and cheaters or deal with companies who support liars and cheaters.
yes, you and me will have good business ethics and consciences, others will have good business.
I am ok with that. I only have to live with myself. ;)
-
>:( After climb up to the top. Spammer edited it back to normal. so depressed. T T
all of us who aren't using spamming are fools
No, we are cowards. These guys risk consciously. Smart and brave.
Fools or cowards? No, some us just have good business ethics and consciences. The day I have to become a liar and a cheater just to sell images, then my images are coming down because I don't want to emulate liars and cheaters or deal with companies who support liars and cheaters.
yes, you and me will have good business ethics and consciences, others will have good business.
I am ok with that. I only have to live with myself. ;)
if only majority of people thinks like that, world would be better place.
I am guessing (because of your signature) that you are not just very young/green... so, very nice.
unfortunately, there is "but" :D
in my experience, nobody cares of your ethics (in business), if you are not getting companies (and yourself ) money, ethics do not pay bills. business competition just love to crush people who are not adaptive because of their morals.
-
in my experience, nobody cares of your ethics (in business), if you are not getting companies (and yourself ) money, ethics do not pay bills. business competition just love to crush people who are not adaptive because of their morals.
Sad, but true - that is why a psychopath could be elected president of the US in only a few days. Those without a conscience have a distinct advantage over the rest of us, at least when it comes to business or getting ahead - they can do anything to promote themselves with no regard to who may be hurt along the way. I assume they are not happy and that is what drives them - more and more is never enough if you are trying to fill a deep pit of unhappiness. We need to change the standards of society so that those with no ethics are all punished rather than rewarded but unfortunately I don't see that happening any time soon. If the psychopath gets elected on Tuesday then reform will become nearly impossible.
-
in my experience, nobody cares of your ethics (in business), if you are not getting companies (and yourself ) money, ethics do not pay bills. business competition just love to crush people who are not adaptive because of their morals.
Sad, but true - that is why a psychopath could be elected president of the US in only a few days. Those without a conscience have a distinct advantage over the rest of us, at least when it comes to business or getting ahead - they can do anything to promote themselves with no regard to who may be hurt along the way. I assume they are not happy and that is what drives them - more and more is never enough if you are trying to fill a deep pit of unhappiness. We need to change the standards of society so that those with no ethics are all punished rather than rewarded but unfortunately I don't see that happening any time soon. If the psychopath gets elected on Tuesday then reform will become nearly impossible.
Trust me when I say this, a psychopath will be elected as president on Tuesday regardless.
-
in my experience, nobody cares of your ethics (in business), if you are not getting companies (and yourself ) money, ethics do not pay bills. business competition just love to crush people who are not adaptive because of their morals.
I dont care whether you or anyone else cares about my ethics. I care about my ethics. Business can go ahead and crush me then...I will find other ways to make money and do business with people who arent interested in "crushing" people. I have done well so far, with my morals intact. :)
Adaptive...so contributors here who are willing to accept 2 cents for an image because its "better than nothing at all"...is that the definition of being adaptive? Morals or no morals...businesses who love "crushing" people are going to find ways to do it to get what they want, no matter what.
-
>:( After climb up to the top. Spammer edited it back to normal. so depressed. T T
Would you mind sharing the name of the tool/service which allows seeing the asset's (photo, illustration, etc.) position, like in the screenshot above? Thank you!
-
in my experience, nobody cares of your ethics (in business), if you are not getting companies (and yourself ) money, ethics do not pay bills. business competition just love to crush people who are not adaptive because of their morals.
I dont care whether you or anyone else cares about my ethics. I care about my ethics. Business can go ahead and crush me then...I will find other ways to make money and do business with people who arent interested in "crushing" people. I have done well so far, with my morals intact. :)
Adaptive...so contributors here who are willing to accept 2 cents for an image because its "better than nothing at all"...is that the definition of being adaptive? Morals or no morals...businesses who love "crushing" people are going to find ways to do it to get what they want, no matter what.
dont get offended, I'm also on your side, trying to do my best without spamming or any kind of using advantage on other people or things. My english is not best you will read here, but we understand each others.
this topic is not about 2 cents per image so when I say adaptive I weren't talking about that. Adaptive photographer with good business sense are no longer on microstock.
your quote: "business can go away and crush me". ok, it will happen, sooner or later.
microstock where whole world can contribute, many stealing other people works, copying ideas and concepts from most popular, spamming for better search results etc is not world for people wearing rose tinted glasses. (it isn't your name here but you know what I mean)
-
I'm not into SEO, SEM, IT, or whatever this problem is about. I have no idea why writing a single word ten times instead of once affects search position.
When I started doing stock years ago I was told to write keywords in Keywords field. I asked why and I was told That's how search engine works, it looks for keywords in that field.
If somebody told me to write a caption ten times instead of once, because that's how a search engine works, well, I would write it ten times.
It is not about ethics at all. To argue ethics of this is a waste of time.
Some people obviously know how search engines work these days and they adapted.
Shutterstock has to make it clear to us - is it legal or not.
-
Well, in an email SS said it wasnt acceptable, and we all know it is gaming the search engine...in other words cheating (or as some keep defending it, calling it "adapting"). People who cheat = no ethics. And if SS continues to do nothing about it after they said it wasnt acceptable, they are sanctioning cheaters = no ethics.
I guess it all depends on how your parents raised you as to whether you see it as adapting or cheating. :)
-
Ethics is the perfect word in here! I care about it too and that is why I will never be rich ;D
I would hate my customers to ever see me spamming my port this way..
-
I totally agree with Picone, this has nothing to do with ethics and so much sanctimonious claptrap has been spouted here. I have never repeated keywords in my captioning, not because I’m saintly but because I couldn’t believe any organisation would be so technically backward as to deploy search technology that could not cope with filtering keywords.
In terms of internet technology this is nothing new. It used to be possible to promote the position of web pages in search engines either by repeating keywords in body text, metatags or having, say, a white bar at the foot of a web page with white text repeating phrases. What I couldn’t remember was when search engine algorithms started getting wise to this and penalising it and still can’t date it precisely but a 1996 article warned about Infoseek and Lycos (remember them?) penalising this type of spamming and AltaVista (RIP) disallowing URL submissions of pages with spam. This was the year Google began as a Stanford research project.
Search engines blocked spamming metadata and the use of ‘invisible’ text not because it was immoral but because their customers did not get the quality of result they needed. Twenty years later Shutterstock will do well to learn that lesson or its customers will search elsewhere also. I look at the antiquated software of SS (search, map breaking, uploads failing, outages) and wonder firstly how it can describe itself as a technology company and secondly how conspiracy theorists on this forum can believe it is capable of implementing algorithms worthy of the Matrix to penalise or promote the position of their images for given periods of time.
-
Sanctimonious claptrap...LOL! ;)
-
Well, in an email SS said it wasnt acceptable, and we all know it is gaming the search engine...in other words cheating (or as some keep defending it, calling it "adapting"). People who cheat = no ethics. And if SS continues to do nothing about it after they said it wasnt acceptable, they are sanctioning cheaters = no ethics.
I guess it all depends on how your parents raised you as to whether you see it as adapting or cheating. :)
+1
-
Ethics is one thing, some people may mock it.. But for me it is more about my followers. I have over six hundred followers on SS and even though my port is not that big, my income is decent and has been decent for a couple of years now, most probably thanks to them.
I care for my port and how it is presented to customers. I have my vector files neatly organized, I name all objects and groups, I keep the anchor points number minimal for maximum editability. I dont want my buyers to think that I went full retard by repeating the same word in the description field 50 times like those image factories squirting out hundreds of vectors a day - which include the same simple icon in a hundred colour combinations..
-
If you want to see how far the "Title-Spamming" goes, should enter "pattern" in the search. And then go to "best match".
And I wonder that I do not sell anything anymore! :(
-
... Twenty years later Shutterstock will do well to learn that lesson or its customers will search elsewhere also. I look at the antiquated software of SS (search, map breaking, uploads failing, outages) and wonder firstly how it can describe itself as a technology company ...
Someone here said there are 300 IT specialists working for SS. Are they all idiots? I do not think so. If they (IT engineers) do not fix it they just do not have an order from their CEO.
-
... Twenty years later Shutterstock will do well to learn that lesson or its customers will search elsewhere also. I look at the antiquated software of SS (search, map breaking, uploads failing, outages) and wonder firstly how it can describe itself as a technology company ...
Someone here said there are 300 IT specialists working for SS. Are they all idiots? I do not think so. If they (IT engineers) do not fix it they just do not have an order from their CEO.
Agree, maybe CEO himself never wanted to.
-
>:( After climb up to the top. Spammer edited it back to normal. so depressed. T T
Would you mind sharing the name of the tool/service which allows seeing the asset's (photo, illustration, etc.) position, like in the screenshot above? Thank you!
Here's the link http://www.m-rank.net/ (http://www.m-rank.net/) This site made by Russian contributor, very useful info but rank is only for vector portfolio. Not for photo/video.
-
not only spammers, but now missing whole batches of new approved photos... 1 batch is online and searchable, other 2 approved in the same time not in portfolio and can't be searched, and when they get there, they will be on site 50 sorted by new.
sad, and it's only getting worst
-
According to their latest presentation to investors they're migrating over to a new system and are 80% there, so I wonder if that's the reason for all the glitches as they rewrite all their code?
-
According to their latest presentation to investors they're migrating over to a new system and are 80% there, so I wonder if that's the reason for all the glitches as they rewrite all their code?
thanks, didn't know that
can't they do anything that doesn't negatively affect us contributors in one way or another?
it's not question to you...
-
And yet another huge, multimillion dollar company rewriting the code for their site while it's live. They make so much money they apparently don't care how many $$ this is costing them in sales. ::)
-
There was a saying in the software business when I was in it: "Projects progress rapidly to 90% complete. They remain there forever."
:)
-
I see one of the admins popped up to remind everyone about the submission guidelines.
The hilarious thing is she has two identical images in her port and has used irrelevant keywords to describe her images too
Even SS own people can't be bothered to follow the rules ;D
-
Looks like spammers will never stop, I still see many files with spam titles on popular list.
-
Done :-)
-
Are there any news or signs of changes?
-
I think that Shutterstock has no intention to do something.
For them a sale is a sale, and the money coming from any kind of sale is always good to take…
Shareholders rule!
-
I think that Shutterstock has no intention to do something.
For them a sale is a sale, and the money coming from any kind of sale is always good to take…
Shareholders rule!
I think you are right. Sooo discouraging.
-
A medium or long-term oriented company must have an intention to change something. Then this distortion of competition among the contibutors prefers the dishonest to the honest suppliers. And no company can want that, unless it is only short-term oriented. (but is this here the case, it could mean in the worst case the management wants to plunder the cash registers soon and get rid of the dust. )
On the other side so many contibutors with big ports are cheating, that there is an danger of losing 5 - 10 percent of whole content, by suspending the ports.
-
I'm very far to be an IT expert but I see a simple and quickly solution for this problem: make impossible change caption after review. On Fotolia that is
-
They clearly don't give a f**k. The problem gets worse every day and they leave the vast majority of it up. They post the same bull about their policy every few months hoping we'll just go away and shut up and let them keep making more money by paying lower royalties to new spammers.
-
There is no way Shutterstock would disable or close accounts of those spammers... Many of them are image factories producing hundreds of images a week. SS worked hard to get to their lovely 100 million by approving every cr*p anyone submitted, now they are going for 150 million, then 200 million...
Who in SS cares that half of it are almost identical simple icons with 50 shades of grey background?... They will never remove the spammers, they NEED their images.
And of course if they wanted to at least remove their advantage in search results, they would have done it already months ago. How long is it, since June?........It is pathetic.
-
They clearly don't give a f**k. The problem gets worse every day and they leave the vast majority of it up. They post the same bull about their policy every few months hoping we'll just go away and shut up and let them keep making more money by paying lower royalties to new spammers.
Sadly, I think you are absolutely right. Now I am really struggling with myself on what to do. On one side, I really love doing this (creating for stock) but it's also the way I make a living (yes, I live in one of those "cheap" countries). I would hate to spoil my port with this kind of stupid, naive descriptions/keywording, but on the other hand if I go back to my original profession (schoolteacher) I would earn around 300 usd (and my rent only is 150 - one room, no luxury). I still prefer not spamming, but it is too obvious for me that they are not working on this, and they have absolutely no intention on fixing this ever. :'(
-
In supermarkets, each night the employees go around and "face" the shelves. They pull all the product to the front of the shelf, where it can be easily seen and bought. If they didn't face the shelves you might only see the "off" brands, because the top sellers are in the dark on the back of the shelf. You might reluctantly buy the mushy off-brand peas once or twice because you're hungry, but eventually you'll wonder where the heck the good Green Giant peas went, and one day in your travels you'll notice a different supermarket where they still face the shelves, and the Green Giant peas are front and center and cost the same as the off brands. And you'll switch supermarkets.
Shutterstock stopped facing the shelves. And Adobe is just a click away.
-
In supermarkets, each night the employees go around and "face" the shelves. They pull all the product to the front of the shelf, where it can be easily seen and bought. If they didn't face the shelves you might only see the "off" brands, because the top sellers are in the dark on the back of the shelf. You might reluctantly buy the mushy off-brand peas once or twice because you're hungry, but eventually you'll wonder where the heck the good Green Giant peas went, and one day in your travels you'll notice a different supermarket where they still face the shelves, and the Green Giant peas are front and center and cost the same as the off brands. And you'll switch supermarkets.
Shutterstock stopped facing the shelves. And Adobe is just a click away.
I love your analogy, and I know it works like that, but I am not sure if I will survive this transition. I will try anyways. And yes, FT/Adobe is my new favourite, it's the one site that motivates me to create new images and keep going on the "honest" way.
-
It seems that SS has no interest in eliminating spam.
Vectors recently accepted....
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Paro1 (https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Paro1)
>:(
-
I'm very far to be an IT expert but I see a simple and quickly solution for this problem: make impossible change caption after review. On Fotolia that is
It seems that these spammy titles not build after review. they pass the review .... :(
-
Today Shutterstock has deleted many of the images with spam titles and banned the contributors. Obviously the whole topic is now in their focus of action. I bet that the remaining contributors who do image title spam are now in a hurry to change their titles before they get banned.
-
Today Shutterstock has deleted many of the images with spam titles and banned the contributors. Obviously the whole topic is now in their focus of action. I bet that the remaining contributors who do image title spam are now in a hurry to change their titles before they get banned.
Very very late, but still good news!
-
Surprised to see Oringer responding to ppl on Facebook. Don't know why "200" people (it's almost 1,300) signing a petition would slow them down, though.
Anyway, I believe they're really addressing the issue now.
-
Today Shutterstock has deleted many of the images with spam titles and banned the contributors. Obviously the whole topic is now in their focus of action. I bet that the remaining contributors who do image title spam are now in a hurry to change their titles before they get banned.
What's the source of information? Maybe search change has something to do against spammers, if they changed it indeed.
-
Today Shutterstock has deleted many of the images with spam titles and banned the contributors. Obviously the whole topic is now in their focus of action. I bet that the remaining contributors who do image title spam are now in a hurry to change their titles before they get banned.
I just took a look at some of the spammy ports mentioned in this post. None of these contributors are banned or images disabled. But at least they have changed the titles. Well, most of them...
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/ancientone (https://www.shutterstock.com/g/ancientone)
-
Today Shutterstock has deleted many of the images with spam titles and banned the contributors. Obviously the whole topic is now in their focus of action. I bet that the remaining contributors who do image title spam are now in a hurry to change their titles before they get banned.
What's the source of information? Maybe search change has something to do against spammers, if they changed it indeed.
The founder of Shutterstock responded to a posting on Facebook. That is the source.
You can find the link on the Shutterstock forum.
Interesting fact is that Jon said "if people don't keep their titles and keywords clean we will ban them one by one"
-
Today Shutterstock has deleted many of the images with spam titles and banned the contributors. Obviously the whole topic is now in their focus of action. I bet that the remaining contributors who do image title spam are now in a hurry to change their titles before they get banned.
What's the source of information? Maybe search change has something to do against spammers, if they changed it indeed.
wa didn't think i'd agree with dumc ;)
but you are correct. i too thought it was a change in search , in my comment to that topic thread here, but now i still see my daily earners getting dls,
so it's may not be a change in search but more the elimination of spammers
giving more exposure to proper keyworded image.
still it's only guessing.
but oringer saying anything is a good sign, as for months, years, he took a deaf ear blind eye to all the istock-y problems ss suddenly developed.
-
Here's the link to Jon O. on FB:
https://www.facebook.com/anja.kaiser.526/posts/1458841984130755?comment_id=1459093234105630 (https://www.facebook.com/anja.kaiser.526/posts/1458841984130755?comment_id=1459093234105630)
He is deleting some manually one by one, but also says the team is working on it algorithmically.
-
Today Shutterstock has deleted many of the images with spam titles and banned the contributors. Obviously the whole topic is now in their focus of action. I bet that the remaining contributors who do image title spam are now in a hurry to change their titles before they get banned.
What's the source of information? Maybe search change has something to do against spammers, if they changed it indeed.
The founder of Shutterstock responded to a posting on Facebook. That is the source.
You can find the link on the Shutterstock forum.
Interesting fact is that Jon said "if people don't keep their titles and keywords clean we will ban them one by one"
Thanks, I found it...
-
Surprised to see Oringer responding to ppl on Facebook. Don't know why "200" people (it's almost 1,300) signing a petition would slow them down, though.
Anyway, I believe they're really addressing the issue now.
Maybe responding to buyers who found it (look at the top comment on the petition) slowed them down. It seems the petition/people commenting on facebook made a difference in communication and perhaps speed for solving this problem. Maybe when they implement the "long-term plan" algorithm the petition should be deemed a "victory" on change.org?