MicrostockGroup
Agency Based Discussion => Shutterstock.com => Topic started by: hatman12 on March 04, 2015, 14:33
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I'm finding that I get a sequence of good days at Shutterstock (for sales) followed by a sudden unexplained drop for a day (or two), then the good days return. Today is an example of a sudden bad day - as if my portfolio has become invisible to buyers. Surprising, as yesterday was a record for sales.
Has anyone else experienced these sudden 'bad days'? Is it just a standard thing with Shutterstock?
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Nope. I'm pretty steady at half of what I was making in the fall, with the occasional large kick from an EL.
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I actually have a lot more variation on iStock. Shutterstock can vary 10-20%, but on iStock my credit sales take really wild swings from one day to the next.
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I too get pretty broad cycles on SS. Sometimes so big that i get desparate for a big sod. Just in the last 6 months i have had $450-$500 in monthly variance. Thats big.
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Last month, not weekends, my worst weekday was below $10 and the top day was above $90. Today is a slow day, I hardly ever have a week on all cylinders. There is always a fart of day in between.
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It's small-sample statistics. There are 50 million images, only a fraction of which sell on any particular day. Your fraction is a tiny proportion of overall sales, so the number of your images that sell on any particular day is going to vary considerably unless you have some that are in very high demand. I sold more than normal on SS yesterday, mainly because one buyer seemed to want images of a particular place that I have quite a few of. Today I had multiple sales from a slightly different theme on DT. Tomorrow I might not have much on either - it's just statistical variation. Monthly totals are much more informative, but probably still pretty variable for those of us with small PFs. I imagine it smooths out a bit once you have a few thousand images.
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Same here, very different week days (weekend is another thing)
I have also noticed very longer times of review, specially for the vectors.
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same like everyone here... but conspiracy theory or not, i still find that as soon as i reach payout suddenly like you say hatman ...it is as if my portfolio become as invisible.
for that i mean especially quote (sean locke photography) if i get a large kick from EL (unquote)
suddenly the rest of the month is like fuse-box flipped off... or once i reach my monthly average download numbers...
but really, as once i said before as someone else pointed out too repeatingly
if you deducted the EL, sales are down all over.
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good days, bad days
Sounds like a Led Zep song.
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Well, another bad day at Shutterstock, as if all my work is invisible. Even new uploads seem to be disappearing into a black hole of invisibility.
I know I've only been non-exclusive for just over a month, but I know what's commercial and attractive, and I know what sells. At other agencies I'm making good progress, but at Shutterstock it seems that those same files get uploaded and just disappear without even a single download. For me, SS just seems to be a place where I upload and files die. There's clearly something wrong, but what that is I've no idea.
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Well, another bad day at Shutterstock, as if all my work is invisible. Even new uploads seem to be disappearing into a black hole of invisibility.
I know I've only been non-exclusive for just over a month, but I know what's commercial and attractive, and I know what sells. At other agencies I'm making good progress - at FT I've already reached bronze and I'm selling 20 or more files per day. Great. At Shutterstock those same files get uploaded and just disappear without even a single download. Today I sold 22 files at FT, and only 14 at SS. It should be the other way round - SS should be massively outselling FT, but that just isn't happening. For me, SS just seems to be a place where I upload and files die. There's clearly something wrong, but what that is I've no idea.
But that goes completely against the theory and believe that newbies are being favoured. You should see great sales, because the theory is that SS favours 25 cent royalty images.
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I know I've only been non-exclusive for just over a month, but I know what's commercial and attractive, and I know what sells. At other agencies I'm making good progress - at FT I've already reached bronze and I'm selling 20 or more files per day. Great. At Shutterstock those same files get uploaded and just disappear without even a single download.
While I agree with your overall statement, you might underestimate the element of randomness... My best selling image at Shutterstock has made over 1,000 downloads but rarely any on Fotolia. My best selling images on Fotolia are rarely being downloaded on Shutterstock. And my long time best sellers on iStock never made any big numbers anywhere else.
Also, I believe Shutterstock is more of a long term project with the benefit of staying stable in the long run, images need some time to get established in the searches and then keep selling consistently. Fotolia has far more focus on new files but they might disappear from searches in a few months or a year. At least that's what I believe without being able to prove that with hard facts.
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..., images need some time to get established in the searches and then keep selling consistently. ...
I agree with that. I experienced the same. New images wouldnt get traction and then all of a sudden they would pick up. As if they need to get settled in, collect views, mature in the search and then started to get downloaded. Happened like that with many of my good selling images.
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Well as of last week I started getting 15 sales a day regular as clockwork each consecutive day 15. Weekend arrives and the new week starts and back to 15 a day.
And you tell me that they aren't manipulating sales. ::)
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Well as of last week I started getting 15 sales a day regular as clockwork each consecutive day 15. Weekend arrives and the new week starts and back to 15 a day.
And you tell me that they aren't manipulating sales. ::)
Maybe you are posting in the wrong thread ?
http://www.microstockgroup.com/shutterstock-com/very-high-level-conspiracy-theories-here-read-at-your-own-risk/ (http://www.microstockgroup.com/shutterstock-com/very-high-level-conspiracy-theories-here-read-at-your-own-risk/)
;)
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from my point of view as vector contributor there is a jump in sales, I attached a chart with data from multiple users vectors. It is clear that there is a jump in the evolution of sales. new files has not sales and down quickly
(http://onevectorstock.com/tmp/rank.jpg)
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Also, I believe Shutterstock is more of a long term project with the benefit of staying stable in the long run, images need some time to get established in the searches and then keep selling consistently. Fotolia has far more focus on new files but they might disappear from searches in a few months or a year. At least that's what I believe without being able to prove that with hard facts.
Fully agreed upon. My bestsellers on SS are still selling one or two times each day after 5 or more years online, while sales of the same files on FT and IS have declined significantly after having had a peak after 6-24 months online. Interestingly, the decline on FT was even faster than on IS
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But back to the OP, I'm only having good days after good days at SS ;)
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Usually having 15-20 sales and today nothing at all ! Looks like my portfolio is invisible !
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Yes me too, I have sales with old files, but new ones has a few sales and sometimes a new one has many sales after some weeks, it is some extrange
But back to the OP, I'm only having good days after good days at SS ;)
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I donīt like it.
Very little sales on files that are 3 months old or newer.
Only files that sells are the old ones.
I get few downloads on just approved photos, but then pics just vanish.
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I donīt like it.
Very little sales on files that are 3 months old or newer.
Only files that sells are the old ones.
I get few downloads on just approved photos, but then pics just vanish.
Good days?....far and few between.
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Last month was wme for me. February. First time ever I barely passed payment threshold. And that was on the last day, a sale that made my payment possibile. I have over 2500 video clips and have +-$100 months during the year. But february was awful. I was on the verge of calling and asking them are they mad at me :))) Pond and the rest of the agencies were as usual (video) but SS sales plunged. And Dissolve had a bme for me.
Anyways, that's not the topic. I have a series of days without sales at SS. Don't know how and why. I stopped thinking about it. Added almost 600 new files last year and the sales stayed the same. Somehow I always get +-$100 the same amount of money. New year, summer, spring... it's the same for me. I have one file over 10 dl's and the rest are 9, 8, 7, etc... Ebb and flow? Didn't wrote that a long time. I don't know. And I don't have a "bestseller" file :)
Good days-bad days? In February I had six days of sales. Usually I have 15+ days with sales.
That's my 2 cents on this.
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Well as of last week I started getting 15 sales a day regular as clockwork each consecutive day 15. Weekend arrives and the new week starts and back to 15 a day.
And you tell me that they aren't manipulating sales. ::)
Maybe you are posting in the wrong thread ?
[url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/shutterstock-com/very-high-level-conspiracy-theories-here-read-at-your-own-risk/[/url] ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/shutterstock-com/very-high-level-conspiracy-theories-here-read-at-your-own-risk/[/url])
;)
Nah Ron just stating a fact that sales are bad and that the limit is 15 per day ;D
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The fact is your 15 sales a day, not that they are manipulating your sales, thats a theory.
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The fact is your 15 sales a day, not that they are manipulating your sales, thats a theory.
Yes they are manipulating my sales... Oh hang on yes that's a conspiracy theory off I go :D
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This has been talked about many times but since it's come up again I have another datapoint that supports SS auto-control turning down (or controlling) sales. My first 2 days of March were low ($15 ish per day) based on my daily average (avg-$30), then day 3 was a monster day, well over $100, then the next 4 days NO OD's, NO VIDEO SALES, NO SOD's and low subs. No days over $13 since my big $100+ day. This happens ALL THE TIME TO ME.
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This has been talked about many times but since it's come up again I have another datapoint that supports SS auto-control turning down (or controlling) sales. My first 2 days of March were low ($15 ish per day) based on my daily average (avg-$30), then day 3 was a monster day, well over $100, then the next 4 days NO OD's, NO VIDEO SALES, NO SOD's and low subs. No days over $13 since my big $100+ day. This happens ALL THE TIME TO ME.
Mine sounds the same except no $100 days in months.
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My last post,
I don't know what's going in this business anymore, it feels like one big charade to me. I can honestly say that I don't trust these agencies nor most of my fellow contributors for that matter but I don't need them to get payed anyway.
Just watch out when you complain to agencies or how you present yourself on the forums because it can probably make or brake you.
Some people have the luxury to pass reviews quick and easy while others with better quality/concept are being blocked.
Some and mostly the same ones receive the extra exposure in galleries or get other vip treatments with consistent sales and up while others doing the same or have better quality/concept get inconsistent sales and struggle to survive.
After 4 years (it took me long enough) I'm starting to think if it's all rigged then why even bother anymore? What makes you certain uploading another couple of thousand is going to have any positive effect on your income?
I believe most are being affected by search manipulation, say when someone has an EL or SOD the total dl's for the day are lower then average, maybe the next day a bad day and by the end of the month you still come out average or down. Maybe one month will be amazing and the next a complete disaster. Do they throw in the occasional EL or SOD to make us think all is well and continue uploading? It would probably do the trick for most of you right?
It would be easy for them to implement a criteria in search that whenever a contributor reaches a certain amount of money (or a period of time during the day) his port rotates out of sight for a while so everyone gets a piece of the pie. It sure feels that way doesn't it? I even believe it goes much further then that but I will not go into that here.
I also noticed that those who try to prove others wrong barely make 500 with 2k images, that's far from doing well. 1k would be average while 2k or more would be doing well. I have noticed that most of us that complain are doing far better then the groupies out there trying to lecture us.
Alright, I'm going to take Batman's advice, he's a fine example btw!
Don't let us stop you, please leave now, and MSG to. Good luck.
All the best!
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This has been talked about many times but since it's come up again I have another datapoint that supports SS auto-control turning down (or controlling) sales. My first 2 days of March were low ($15 ish per day) based on my daily average (avg-$30), then day 3 was a monster day, well over $100, then the next 4 days NO OD's, NO VIDEO SALES, NO SOD's and low subs. No days over $13 since my big $100+ day. This happens ALL THE TIME TO ME.
Wrote about this a while back on the SS forum and was hounded down by the establishment, just dismissing the argument without any info to back up their claims, while I had posted graphs and examples. The one person who did agree with me, had analysed his own data and came to the same conclusion
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My last post,
I don't know what's going in this business anymore, it feels like one big charade to me. I can honestly say that I don't trust these agencies nor most of my fellow contributors for that matter but I don't need them to get payed anyway.
Just watch out when you complain to agencies or how you present yourself on the forums because it can probably make or brake you.
Some people have the luxury to pass reviews quick and easy while others with better quality/concept are being blocked.
Some and mostly the same ones receive the extra exposure in galleries or get other vip treatments with consistent sales and up while others doing the same or have better quality/concept get inconsistent sales and struggle to survive.
After 4 years (it took me long enough) I'm starting to think if it's all rigged then why even bother anymore? What makes you certain uploading another couple of thousand is going to have any positive effect on your income?
I believe most are being affected by search manipulation, say when someone has an EL or SOD the total dl's for the day are lower then average, maybe the next day a bad day and by the end of the month you still come out average or down. Maybe one month will be amazing and the next a complete disaster. Do they throw in the occasional EL or SOD to make us think all is well and continue uploading? It would probably do the trick for most of you right?
It would be easy for them to implement a criteria in search that whenever a contributor reaches a certain amount of money (or a period of time during the day) his port rotates out of sight for a while so everyone gets a piece of the pie. It sure feels that way doesn't it? I even believe it goes much further then that but I will not go into that here.
I also noticed that those who try to prove others wrong barely make 500 with 2k images, that's far from doing well. 1k would be average while 2k or more would be doing well. I have noticed that most of us that complain are doing far better then the groupies out there trying to lecture us.
Alright, I'm going to take Batman's advice, he's a fine example btw!
Don't let us stop you, please leave now, and MSG to. Good luck.
All the best!
I agree with some of your points and not with others, but sorry you have let some rudeness or bad attitudes chase you away. The more smart and sincere posters we lose, the more the forum will be controlled by the loudmouths and know - nothings.
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It's always a shame. Thats the way with forums. I've been Posting On Photo chat rooms since they called it the Usenet, Nothing has changed. In the end, It's all Just Opinions, Some of you should have been around Years and years ago. All out wild, wild west and flame wars were very common. Sorry to see anyone leave. It's all just One big Pile of anonymous folks that Im sure if anyone of us actually Knew each other we would find we have a lot More in Common than you think. The thing that always blows me away is when we do workshops and 15 or so show up that we've talked to or read for years thinking we know them somehow...NOTHING could be farther from the reality of who they are.Always 100% opposite.....Always.
Be well Snow.
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We dont need to be in photography to be on a forum. I posted on forums since the start of the public internet. Please dont assume that today's kids dont know what happens in a forum. I dont think they need you to tell them how the internet was in 1990, they all know and probably more about it. ;)
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Good example of my post.lol.
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I am not seeing it
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This has been talked about many times but since it's come up again I have another datapoint that supports SS auto-control turning down (or controlling) sales. My first 2 days of March were low ($15 ish per day) based on my daily average (avg-$30), then day 3 was a monster day, well over $100, then the next 4 days NO OD's, NO VIDEO SALES, NO SOD's and low subs. No days over $13 since my big $100+ day. This happens ALL THE TIME TO ME.
Wrote about this a while back on the SS forum and was hounded down by the establishment, just dismissing the argument without any info to back up their claims, while I had posted graphs and examples. The one person who did agree with me, had analysed his own data and came to the same conclusion
Have link to your discover, graphs and examples?
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This has been talked about many times but since it's come up again I have another datapoint that supports SS auto-control turning down (or controlling) sales. My first 2 days of March were low ($15 ish per day) based on my daily average (avg-$30), then day 3 was a monster day, well over $100, then the next 4 days NO OD's, NO VIDEO SALES, NO SOD's and low subs. No days over $13 since my big $100+ day. This happens ALL THE TIME TO ME.
Wrote about this a while back on the SS forum and was hounded down by the establishment, just dismissing the argument without any info to back up their claims, while I had posted graphs and examples. The one person who did agree with me, had analysed his own data and came to the same conclusion
Have link to your discover, graphs and examples?
That gets tricky with SS because they do not allow you to share financial data without fear of an account warning or closure.
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Just bad days for me now. Some days just .33 cents. Absolutely soul destroying.
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Yadayada I am not allowed to share those details anymore. It's all still on the SS forum for everyone to read.
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Yadayada I am not allowed to share those details anymore. It's all still on the SS forum for everyone to read.
Okay the SS forum search is broke. Link please?
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LOL, if its broken for you, its broken for me. ;)
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LOL, if its broken for you, its broken for me. ;)
That's your proof?
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ky7dpYNrAso/T-3iiML38bI/AAAAAAAABWs/TlaUUzSiDmU/s1600/Dog+Newsletter.jpg)