MicrostockGroup
Agency Based Discussion => Shutterstock.com => Topic started by: stocked on July 23, 2014, 04:47
-
Shutterstock is very down for me this month, much more than the usual summer slowdown. I checked previous years and I never had such a slow July anyone else?
-
SS is actually performing very well for me this month. It won't be a BME, but it's definitely picked up from what was (for me) a slow June.
-
SS is actually performing very well for me this month. It won't be a BME, but it's definitely picked up from what was (for me) a slow June.
Performing very well as the number of sales or revenues?
-
This month sales: equal
This month money -50%
-
I checked closer and I don't have any ELs this month, normally I have every month at least a couple of them never had a month without ELs in the last years, already feeling the DPC-effect?
-
5% down in downloads and 23% down in $. So pretty normal. At the beginning of the month it was a bit slow and I was afraid of huge summer stop. But now it's ok. I like to look at download numbers not in earnings. If downloads are stable you can predict a stable minimum payout every month.
-
Almost certainly a BME for me.
-
Average month, until today only one "70$ plus" sale.
SS rulz.
-
normal for me ;)
-
Absolutely normal for me.
Already better than May…
I can't lament.
-
SS is actually performing very well for me this month. It won't be a BME, but it's definitely picked up from what was (for me) a slow June.
Performing very well as the number of sales or revenues?
Both, actually.
-
Probably only a little down for me this month, but I got only 1 download last weekend which means my first 0 download day there in I don't know how long and a 1 download day is pretty unusual too, but I think I had one last year.
-
Still very strangely cyclic for me, $8 one day $50 the next....and this on weekdays.
-
I'm seeing slower sales this month, but isn't that normal for July?
-
considering that this is summer and vacation time for many of us,
personally, SS has been performing stellarly...
since Spring. i am surprised too, that others are finding a significant shift . maybe my work is not
seasonally inclined.
as for this month, it is slow, but still nothing out of the ordinary. but in my case , almost all the time,
i always get a few slow start at the beginning of each month... much like a sleepy horse..
and then at the end of the month, it suddenly springs to life and surprises me with a "stellar" performance.
fingers crossed . anyway, only a month left before the clients come back to work. so based on what it is
to date, i cannot complain.
then again, as i said, my portfolio is not heavy weighting on anything in particular, so perharps i am
not affected as much as my other colleagues.
-
Looking a tad under last July both in # DLs and $$ (lots of 0 & 1 image days, fewer ODDs and S&O's etc than usual) but the past week it's picked up with more normal multiple image days and sales so can't really be sure. Just uploaded 6 new abstract backgrounds yesterday and had them approved today so hoping at least one will catch on & it'll pick up more. Port is 20% larger than last July. A couple of ELs can make a difference for me as I have a small port (220 images), though I have had some good months even without an EL. July is slow everywhere for me this month except Alamy. Not unexpected.
Interesting run of sales for me this week on SS are editorial pix from the NYC marathon which is coming up again in November. One or more customers in Spain (all same dot on the map) downloaded the whole series over a couple of days and a few in other parts of Europe too this past week. (I have a nice one of a Spanish family with the flag rooting on the runners on Alamy- maybe they'll find that too?). The entire series has actually done nicely for me for the past couple of years. My husband had a business meeting in NYC, it was our anniversary, so I shot some pix while he was at the meeting and then we met up for dinner. It was totally unplanned and turned out to be a fun day. Put my favorites on Alamy but I really like all the photos I uploaded to both Alamy and the micros. (went for very different pix on each since Alamy editorial has to be RM).
-
having BME on SS while most of the others are stagnant and have had over 800 new images accepted there (about 50% acceptance -- mostly since I score high on their LCV charts)-- I dropped FT for putrid performance & reviewing of these same images
DT is moribund, pond & fotoarabia doing ok
-
Down 40% on last month and 70% for the same days of July 2013
If the trend continues, it will be our worst July since 2008. Download numbers are similar to 2013, but I am significantly down on OD, EL's & SOD's
-
having BME on SS while most of the others are stagnant and have had over 800 new images accepted there (about 50% acceptance -- mostly since I score high on their LCV charts)-- I dropped FT for putrid performance & reviewing of these same images
DT is moribund, pond & fotoarabia doing ok
800 new images accepted since when? This month? If so that account for the good sales.
My sales are not great anywhere this month but I expect it in July. Nothing out of ordinary at SS.
-
SS just fell off a cliff for me the last three months. May, June and now July are all down 50% or more from last year. My earnings in all three months are lower than for the same months in any year since 2007. It's mostly the lack of ODs and high-value SODs that are making the difference. Those sales have dropped dramatically during those three months. Makes me wonder what's going on...
-
having BME on SS while most of the others are stagnant and have had over 800 new images accepted there (about 50% acceptance -- mostly since I score high on their LCV charts)-- I dropped FT for putrid performance & reviewing of these same images
DT is moribund, pond & fotoarabia doing ok
800 new images accepted since when? This month? If so that account for the good sales.
My sales are not great anywhere this month but I expect it in July. Nothing out of ordinary at SS.
nope, only about 10% of sales are from new images -- my images usually take awhile to catch on, then have long tails; the images that have been selling have been with them for years.
the big reason for such discrepancies is that few of us have steady enough sales to be able to predict from month to month. one or 2 ELs can really distort things. too many people are treating reported sales like statistically 'normal' events when they're not. with such randomness, there are going to be hot & cold months for different folks each month. for me several months up or down hardly matter as long as my long term trend is upwards.
I've dumped 5 or 6 sites this year so far & still on track for BYE
-
It seems, that people NOT uploading to zillion agencies are reporting consistent or growing sales on SS.
-
It seems, that people NOT uploading to zillion agencies are reporting consistent or growing sales on SS.
Good observation, Les. I have a feeling you're right.
I've pulled back and now only upload new stuff to the two most-productive agencies for me (SS and DT), plus my own Symbiostock site.
Still have older images left on a few others, but I'm completely out of IS, FT, and Veer. That feels good, to be honest.
-
It seems, that people NOT uploading to zillion agencies are reporting consistent or growing sales on SS.
Good observation, Les. I have a feeling you're right.
I've pulled back and now only upload new stuff to the two most-productive agencies for me (SS and DT), plus my own Symbiostock site.
Still have older images left on a few others, but I'm completely out of IS, FT, and Veer. That feels good, to be honest.
This is the case for me, also. Although I don't know why there would be a connection between consistency on SS and uploading to only a few places. Coincidence most likely.
I upload to SS and Macrografiks, that's it for RF. Tried Getty, iStock and DT but they weren't good fits for me. Now directing my efforts to my own RM site (via Photoshelter) and hope to leave micro behind for good in the next year or so.
-
It seems, that people NOT uploading to zillion agencies are reporting consistent or growing sales on SS.
Good observation, Les. I have a feeling you're right.
I've pulled back and now only upload new stuff to the two most-productive agencies for me (SS and DT), plus my own Symbiostock site.
Still have older images left on a few others, but I'm completely out of IS, FT, and Veer. That feels good, to be honest.
This is the case for me, also. Although I don't know why there would be a connection between consistency on SS and uploading to only a few places. Coincidence most likely.
I upload to SS and Macrografiks, that's it for RF. Tried Getty, iStock and DT but they weren't good fits for me. Now directing my efforts to my own RM site (via Photoshelter) and hope to leave micro behind for good in the next year or so.
There is some logic to it.
If you have the same image on SS and also on many rock-bottom price sites, many buyers will buy it from the cheapest site, thus reducing your SS income. Not only you are hurting your combined revenue, but you are also encouraging the cheap sites to continue the downward price spiral.
-
SS just fell off a cliff for me the last three months. May, June and now July are all down 50% or more from last year. My earnings in all three months are lower than for the same months in any year since 2007. It's mostly the lack of ODs and high-value SODs that are making the difference. Those sales have dropped dramatically during those three months. Makes me wonder what's going on...
you have one ore more specific competitors.
-
for me July is about 70% of May and June.
-
It seems, that people NOT uploading to zillion agencies are reporting consistent or growing sales on SS.
Good observation, Les. I have a feeling you're right.
I've pulled back and now only upload new stuff to the two most-productive agencies for me (SS and DT), plus my own Symbiostock site.
Still have older images left on a few others, but I'm completely out of IS, FT, and Veer. That feels good, to be honest.
This is the case for me, also. Although I don't know why there would be a connection between consistency on SS and uploading to only a few places. Coincidence most likely.
I upload to SS and Macrografiks, that's it for RF. Tried Getty, iStock and DT but they weren't good fits for me. Now directing my efforts to my own RM site (via Photoshelter) and hope to leave micro behind for good in the next year or so.
There is some logic to it.
If you have the same image on SS and also on many rock-bottom price sites, many buyers will buy it from the cheapest site, thus reducing your SS income. Not only you are hurting your combined revenue, but you are also encouraging the cheap sites to continue the downward price spiral.
Isn't SS one of the cheapest sites? I wonder how many buyers spend the time (time is money) to try and find the same image on several different agencies for price comparison purposes just to save a few bucks (or less).
-
I wouldn't say that SS is one of the cheapest sites. Here is a look from the buyer side:
A few months ago, I needed some images, and was contemplating purchasing a one-month subscription at SS. Coincidentally, DT ran a promotion with a 30% discount for their subscription, so I bought their one-month subscription and got all my images from them. The discount amounted to $75, so it was not just a few bucks.
I didn't need to spend time to try and find the same images on several agencies. As it happened, many of the images I previously put into my SS lightbox were available also on DT, and I was quite satisfied with what they had to offer. However, I took time to look for images from fellow Symbiostockers, and bought quite a few images from them. I got my discount and they still received their regular royalties. Thank you all!
-
SS just fell off a cliff for me the last three months. May, June and now July are all down 50% or more from last year. My earnings in all three months are lower than for the same months in any year since 2007. It's mostly the lack of ODs and high-value SODs that are making the difference. Those sales have dropped dramatically during those three months. Makes me wonder what's going on...
That's identical to what I'm seeing. The drop of for me was the night of May 17th (yes it was that sudden and obvious). Since then my total numbers are down a bit but it's the near complete lack of ELand high value SODs hugely reducing the income. Even ods are lower. Nearly all my sales from the last 2.5 months are subscription.
I went from two record months in a row to two of the worst in years literally overnight.
Other sites are fairly stable and unchanged from average. 123 and IS slightly up.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
-
it looks like volume will be 7-8% lower than june, still better than may, OD will probably be higher ( suprises when i compare now), el is much better then june, sod is much lower.
-
well, i never expected much for summer months, assuming most everyone's on vacation ( EU, USA, Canada)... but Australia, Japan, if i am not mistaken is having a different season.
as a result, at month's end, last week of May, June, i got a big surprise and a single big payoff
transformed a slow month into a very impressive payout .
so, we still have 4 days left next week. anything could happen and miracles do come in threes, right???
-
It seems, that people NOT uploading to zillion agencies are reporting consistent or growing sales on SS.
Im hearing the same Les.
-
In $$$
-30% from May and June
-20% from last July
was surprised as SS had been growing for me in '14 until this month.
-
It seems, that people NOT uploading to zillion agencies are reporting consistent or growing sales on SS.
Im hearing the same Les.
But are the increases enough to make up for not uploading to, say, 7-10 other sites?
-
Severe website problems yet again currently. For most peoples ports anything except popular produces a database error.
-
Severe website problems yet again currently. For most peoples ports anything except popular produces a database error.
I'm seeing that, too. At least it's the weekend although occasionally weekends turn out to be pretty good.....
-
It seems, that people NOT uploading to zillion agencies are reporting consistent or growing sales on SS.
Im hearing the same Les.
But are the increases enough to make up for not uploading to, say, 7-10 other sites?
There are no guarantees, and of course, it depends on each portfolio and the individual agencies, but I believe that not only there will be increases (or more realistically, a reduction in decreases), but personally, it saves me uploading efforts to the marginal sites, and also it makes me will feel much better that those images were denied to the most exploitative agencies whose only distinguishing features are the rock-bottom prices.
-
It seems, that people NOT uploading to zillion agencies are reporting consistent or growing sales on SS.
Im hearing the same Les.
But are the increases enough to make up for not uploading to, say, 7-10 other sites?
There are no guarantees, and of course, it depends on each portfolio and the individual agencies, but I believe that not only there will be increases (or more realistically, a reduction in decreases), but personally, it saves me uploading efforts to the marginal sites, and also it makes me will feel much better that those images were denied to the most exploitative agencies whose only distinguishing features are the rock-bottom prices.
again, good read.
in response i can only speak from my own side. as LesPalenik said "makes me feel much better..iamges denied to agencies rock bottom prices". it was exactly this denial which made me look into other possibility 2 months ago. as i said in the other thread by paulie (profitable), looking much closer to home which i have long neglected.
upon denial, i said, Ok FINE, YOU MAY NOT WANT THEM, BUT SOMEONE AT HOME MIGHT.
and after 2 months of hard work of pushing my wares here, i am finally finding results
. does it mean i have to get dressed again and commute, etc... since i work in my pjs as a stock photographer for years, never needing to leave home, and just working where there is an internet cafe abroad,etc..
i guess we get pushed out, and perharps the best thing that has happened to some of us...
only thing is we have to wake up and get dressed all over again, instead of working whenever we feel like it , in my case midnight till sunrise,lol.
but it could be a good change of work method to go back to the "old ways" with new people...
3 generation new.
-
I don't see how there could be a link between limiting the number of sites and the return on SS unless the site is deliberately promoting images with limited exposure. I suppose it's possible but I think it is more likely that these anecdotes (seems mostly to be "I'm hearing from other people" rather than "I;m seeing in my results") are unreliable. Maybe people wanting to limit competition or to justify their own decisions.
-
If such observations are unreliable, is the denial of them more reliable?
-
If such observations are unreliable, is the denial of them more reliable?
like all polls and reports,etc.. one would take it with a grain of salt as look at who is the "advertiser".
u r right in looking at it laterally, that perharps there is a self-interest in telling newbies u r not doing well, or getting a lot of aggression and volatility with your bottom line suffering shortfalls,etc..
as goofy pointed out in the other thread, how Yuri had everyone's cousin producing clones of his work.
who wants to come in here and go woo yea i am doing really really well.
and conversely, like u say , i am really doing shittily, so quite honestly, u r better off tossing burgers.
i would say, it would be 50 50 mix of denials and observations. the super sellers will wish you think she he is not doing well as they are, so you stop looking at their work and flooding it with even more clones, which your cousins have already saturated.
good point !
-
It's looking like WME for me on SS.
-
If such observations are unreliable, is the denial of them more reliable?
For the observations to be meaningful (whether reliable or not) it would require people who find an image on SS to go searching other places where they can get it cheaper. That is pretty much impossible for anyone with an active subscription, so the extra sales would all have to come in the form of SODs - but if these are image buyers with accounts elsewhere, then they will, presumably, have checked the place where their accounts are and found that they can't get an image for their needs there, so they will then have started looking at the other agencies.I suppose that may happen once in a while, but it doesn't seem credible to me that it happens often enough to make any detectable difference to the monthly income.
So, to answer your question, I would say that the denial of an implausible claim probably is more reliable than the unsupported claim itself. Even if the claim happen to be true, it is extremely unlikely that the link being made between not uploading elsewhere and doing better than average at SS is valid. It's more likely that there is some other factor at play (type of subject, quality etc)
-
Sorry folks but Shutterstock just exceeded expectations this month again!
They accounted for 80.2%of the sales value ;D
Sadly the other sites are just appallingly bad at selling the same files. :-[
So for this month it was SS all the way followed oddly by Bigstock at 5.1% and the rest are nowhere to be seen (i.e. less than 15% of overall July sales combined.). >:(
-
Sorry folks but Shutterstock just exceeded expectations this month again!
considering , SS still produces enough sales for a low month... ie better than 2013, and 2013 better than 2012,etc.. for July.
so like Teddy, it still flies, although i would have loved an 80 dollars surprise on the last day of the month. well, there's still three more days to that.
-
Sorry folks but Shutterstock just exceeded expectations this month again!
considering , SS still produces enough sales for a low month... ie better than 2013, and 2013 better than 2012,etc.. for July.
so like Teddy, it still flies, although i would have loved an 80 dollars surprise on the last day of the month. well, there's still three more days to that.
It ain't over until the fat lady sings ;D
I picked up a nice $17.50 SOD today.
-
It ain't over until the fat lady sings ;D
I picked up a nice $17.50 SOD today.
nice one. 3 days left, and i see a big fat shadow coming on stage... ;D
-
Hello everyone,
I'm new here. But I'm not new in shutterstock.
You can see my portfolio: newbielink:http://www.shutterstock.com/g/ngaga35?rid=474871 [nonactive]
I have more then 10 000 vectors, illustrations and photos, and small amount of videos. Well my sells going down for couple of mouth. Now is almost half then last year in July. A don't now what is going on but I'm very concern.
What do you think about that?
-
Reached BME at SS yesterday. All other sites flat.
-
It's looking like WME for me on SS.
Same here and that worries me a lot :-\
-
Best month ever! But I sold one single picture for ~50$. Without this it was a normal month.
-
SS hasn't been good for me the last year. Still the best of my agencies, but have seen a remarkable reduction in earnings following the whole search algorithm change a while back. I'm at 60% what I used to earn, yet I've increased my portfolio considerably.
-
you have a little too much similar images, try to add more themes
-
I upload to SS and Macrografiks, that's it for RF. Tried Getty, iStock and DT but they weren't good fits for me. Now directing my efforts to my own RM site (via Photoshelter) and hope to leave micro behind for good in the next year or so.
Really like your portfolio. BTW, how is Macrografiks going? is it good?
-
Just checked Shutterstock's own forum and read that some are getting a big crash in sales this month. Then you hear that others are having their downloads switched off "like it is invisible".
Nice work S-S, and we were just expecting another last-day big sale like in the previous months . But maybe we opened our mouth a little too large. Seems like they are targeting those who are doing well, and they turn the switch off on you.
Go figure ! With friends like this at Shutterstock ,who needs enemies like the Big G.
-
I upload to SS and Macrografiks, that's it for RF. Tried Getty, iStock and DT but they weren't good fits for me. Now directing my efforts to my own RM site (via Photoshelter) and hope to leave micro behind for good in the next year or so.
Really like your portfolio. BTW, how is Macrografiks going? is it good?
Thanks, 60D.
As for Macrografiks I think the general consensus is that the buyer wants more than just a niche macro/closeup agency.....more along the lines of a one-stop shopping experience but what's the point of that with the likes of iStock and Shutterstock and all the rest?
So, there's been a change in direction and they are now accepting more than just macro work.
Time will tell as to whether things will work out but it's really tough for startups in today's marketplace.
I've been doing this for about 25 years now and have worked with several different agencies and their owners. I can honestly say that the Macrografiks ownership is the best I have ever dealt with....very open to suggestions, very communicative, just good nice people. It will be a big shame if things end up not working out for them (and us).
-
I agree. nice people with good ideas and I've sold stuff there. trouble is. good ideas are tough without huge dollars.
-
Please give some comments on "Macrografiks may use the Content as provided herein without obtaining any additional consents or permissions or the payment of additional fees to third parties;". Sounds confusing to me.
-
Please give some comments on "Macrografiks may use the Content as provided herein without obtaining any additional consents or permissions or the payment of additional fees to third parties;". Sounds confusing to me.
Why not post this in the Macrografiks forum http://www.microstockgroup.com/macrografiks/ (http://www.microstockgroup.com/macrografiks/) :)
-
Well SS July sales are up by 31% compared to June for me :)
and June was 34.5% up on May 8)
-
Shutterstock ROCKS!
Gotta LOVE Shutterstock.
Thanks Guys Another Awesome month.
:)
-
up 104% from last July thus a fair month for me as well - Someday I will catch up to you Mike! Someday... 8)
-
50% up from July 2013. 9% up from June. 15% down from BME.
-
july was not bad at all, 2% down from june , but june was bme. i was on holidays , i made only 75 % mounthly quota :)
very good ,very good, better than expected.
go go SS
-
Up 3% from last month, BME...but still not the same pace like year ago, even doing more submissions, even with more quality and care...waiting for a super excellent aug-sep-oct....to reach goal of the year. >:(
-
:o
did u read about the blackouts on the other thread? maybe that's why such a bad month for some.
-
July was a really bad month for me at SS, even CS outperformed SS :-\
-
July: best month ever in Shutterstock since 7 years.
-
Funny how we get a tread like this and when I look up to the upper right hand corner of the screen I see Shutter the top dog! Hands down!
-
July was great wth plenty of OD, but this month is ridiculously low... hope it's just the weekend.
-
July was great wth plenty of OD, but this month is ridiculously low... hope it's just the weekend.
this is only the 3rd day of august ;)
-
July was great wth plenty of OD, but this month is ridiculously low... hope it's just the weekend.
this is only the 3rd day of august ;)
I know but I usually sell about 4x more on regular weekends...
-
July was great wth plenty of OD, but this month is ridiculously low... hope it's just the weekend.
come back around the 28th of August and see if you feel the same 8)
-
Absolutely terrible for this month so far. Like someone flicked a switch after a decent July.
-
Well, at least I have people to commiserate with. :'(
Terrible weekend. But hey, August is a long month
and we all know how quickly things can change. ;D
-
August also started with a weekend and it's only the 4th !
-
I got another 0 day (Aug 3rd). July was my WMY. Other than July I can't remember when my last 0 day was there. probably 2008 or before. The $ total is very dependent on non sub sales these days, and July wasn't so good for those plus less total DL than 2011 and 2012 too.
-
I got another 0 day (Aug 3rd). July was my WMY.
i got 8 dollars or so on Aug 3, which is a sunday. which is odd for me, i never get anything on a sat or sunday, mostly pennies if ever. i wonder if they r making up for those blackouts last month.
still, i don't judge to jump until i see the end of the month and something much larger in single downloads.
the only shortfall i got in the past 5 months was april vs last year. so maybe it 's not so bad 4 me to grumble, but i am a total ingrate 8)
-
so huge portflio and zero downloads? i have half of that and i made 10-15 dl on saturday or sunday. in june was 20 per saturday, 25 per sunday
i got 8 dollars or so on Aug 3, which is a sunday. which is odd for me, i never get anything on a sat or sunday, mostly pennies if ever. i wonder if they r making up for those blackouts last month.
still, i don't judge to jump until i see the end of the month and something much larger in single downloads.
the only shortfall i got in the past 5 months was april vs last year. so maybe it 's not so bad 4 me to grumble, but i am a total ingrate 8)
-
so huge portflio and zero downloads? i have half of that and i made 10-15 dl on saturday or sunday. in june was 20 per saturday, 25 per sunday
i got 8 dollars or so on Aug 3, which is a sunday. which is odd for me, i never get anything on a sat or sunday, mostly pennies if ever. i wonder if they r making up for those blackouts last month.
still, i don't judge to jump until i see the end of the month and something much larger in single downloads.
the only shortfall i got in the past 5 months was april vs last year. so maybe it 's not so bad 4 me to grumble, but i am a total ingrate 8)
i think the quote was misnamed, and your reply was meant for pancake tom.
my portfolio is not BIG big, but honest, i never get anything for sat and sun.
but i do get 84.67$ , 105$ single download enough for a good june and may 1.76% 1.89% respectively but july was a sad 1.02% without any BIGBIG single sale 8)
-
12264 active clips and images
Shutterstock Rocks!
-
super slow august start :(
-
12264 active clips and images
Shutterstock Rocks!
Dayum you are a stock god!! :D
-
man of many words ,not good here.
-
12264 active clips and images
Shutterstock Rocks!
Dayum you are a stock god!! :D
YES, yes I am
Thank you
:)
-
Same here. July BME and then August with miniscule number of sales so far.
-
Only a 3rd of my earnings compared to this time last month. Appalling drop for so called the top microstock site.
-
12264 active clips and images
Shutterstock Rocks!
Make that 12298 as of this update!
-
This is disaster!!! As someone turn off my portfolio!!!
The earnings has dropped for more then 33% in last year!!!
And still rapidly dropping down. Where is the end?!!
-
This is disaster!!! As someone turn off my portfolio!!!
The earnings has dropped for more then 33% in last year!!!
And still rapidly dropping down. Where is the end?!!
u might find some answers below ;)
http://www.microstockgroup.com/shutterstock-com/shutterstock-reports-q2-2014-financial-results/msg390201/?topicseen#new (http://www.microstockgroup.com/shutterstock-com/shutterstock-reports-q2-2014-financial-results/msg390201/?topicseen#new)
-
Still an abysmal month. The worst in a long long time.
-
Worst month for years.
-
Very very bad month if it continues like this. 50% down from BME
-
I was having a good month - until today. It's as though someone turned the tap off at midnight. The only things that have been selling are really old files that haven't seen the light of day for a while. Very curious...
-
any yoghurt?
maybe this will help
http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/most-crazy-or-funny-portfolio!/msg390578/?topicseen#new (http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/most-crazy-or-funny-portfolio!/msg390578/?topicseen#new)
:D
-
any yoghurt?
maybe this will help
[url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/most-crazy-or-funny-portfolio[/url]!/msg390578/?topicseen#new ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/most-crazy-or-funny-portfolio[/url]!/msg390578/?topicseen#new)
:D
Ahhh, right...that's where i've been going wrong..!
-
So far so good-560dl. Can't complain :)
-
I got now more sales this month on SS than IS ! IS is sinking and SS going up :)
-
So far so good-560dl. Can't complain :)
How many files on Shutterstock do you have if I may ask? Just so I can compare with my number of DLs.
Thank you.
-
So far so good-560dl. Can't complain :)
How many files on Shutterstock do you have if I may ask? Just so I can compare with my number of DLs.
Thank you.
6940 active clips and images
-
Thank you !
-
Tanked. Utterly depressing :-\
-
Average month so far in dls~200 for a port of less than 400, that's OK. Usually get 400+ dl's/month.
Probably facing a normal but not spectacular month this month...had the spectacle in July with a super-SOD and 3 EL's so, by the laws of averages, August will be average!
-
For now it is my BME great sales
Inviato dal mio iPhone utilizzando Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1)
-
So far so good-560dl. Can't complain :)
560dl in one day?????wow
-
I have sudden drop of sales in the last three days. Very strange, anybody else?
-
To me the last month (july) was the best month ever. The current month is going well also.
-
I had great July, too. But, something is wrong now.
Thanks for the info!
-
I have sudden drop of sales in the last three days. Very strange, anybody else?
Me too. Getting half my daily average.
-
I was having a good month - until today. It's as though someone turned the tap off at midnight. The only things that have been selling are really old files that haven't seen the light of day for a while. Very curious...
Same here. Worst friday since...don't know when ???
-
I was having a good month - until today. It's as though someone turned the tap off at midnight. The only things that have been selling are really old files that haven't seen the light of day for a while. Very curious...
Same here. Worst friday since...don't know when ???
any of u reached payout? my tap was turned off the night i reached pay-out early this month.
>:(
-
My total sales are down a little. Almost at 900 total sales. At this pace, I won't quite hit the 1,844 sales I had last month.
-
A drop here too. I am a long time contributor. But it is not surprising with the kamikaze strategy they drive.
I stopped buying there too since they refuse any raise or improvement for contributors....
-
A drop here too. I am a long time contributor. But it is not surprising with the kamikaze strategy they drive.
I stopped buying there too since they refuse any raise or improvement for contributors....
Aesop Fable
A man has a very special goose. Every day the goose would lay a golden egg, which made the couple very rich. "Just think," said the man's wife, "If we could cut up this goose and take out all the golden eggs inside the goose, we could be richer much faster , and not have to wait for the goose to lay her egg every day."
*insert sub sales for golden egg*
alas, no more sub sales >:(
-
I had a bme last month mostly due to 3 EL. the last 6 months have kept pretty steady at about 15-20% over last year
plus they've made their editorial policy more consistent so my acceptance rate has gone up
-
BME after only 12 days. MY portfolio is growing rapidly which may explain it.
-
I am interested in SS now.
-
My total sales are down a little. Almost at 900 total sales. At this pace, I won't quite hit the 1,844 sales I had last month.
I wish that was all i had as my problem, not hitting 1,844 sales for 900. Still absolutely soul destroyingly depressing free fall of sales.
-
BME after only 12 days. MY portfolio is growing rapidly which may explain it.
Yes, that DOES explain it. The ONLY people experiencing good sales these days are contributors who are new to this and rapidly growing their portfolio. That's because you're comparing your sales to a month ago, when you may have only had a fraction of what you have in your port today.
The moment your rate of growth in uploads falls behind the rate of growth in available images at the agencies, you will start making less money each month. It's an unavoidable truth in microstock, and everyone jumping into this today needs to understand that while things seem rosy today as you start out, your sales will reach a point of falling behind and never catching up.
See the point above me from Herg, who has been at this for some time...
"absolutely soul destroyingly depressing free fall of sales."
That pretty much sums it up for everyone.
-
Very slow here too, likely will be the worst month of the year so far.
-
I had great July, too. But, something is wrong now.
Thanks for the info!
Since I don't want to be the one who only writes when things go wrong, I'm informing you that my sales at SS are back to normal today.
I guess it was summer slowdown, or maybe some sort of Best match experiment.
I don't agree with people saying that only newcomers can expect growth of income. It is true that my income stopped increasing for a year now, but only after six years of constant growth, and only after I hit 10k portfolio size. But, I reached the level of income that I'm satisfied with, it doesn't have to grow anymore.
Hope this info helps someone.
-
BME after only 12 days. MY portfolio is growing rapidly which may explain it.
Yes, that DOES explain it. The ONLY people experiencing good sales these days are contributors who are new to this and rapidly growing their portfolio. That's because you're comparing your sales to a month ago, when you may have only had a fraction of what you have in your port today.
The moment your rate of growth in uploads falls behind the rate of growth in available images at the agencies, you will start making less money each month. It's an unavoidable truth in microstock, and everyone jumping into this today needs to understand that while things seem rosy today as you start out, your sales will reach a point of falling behind and never catching up.
See the point above me from Herg, who has been at this for some time...
"absolutely soul destroyingly depressing free fall of sales."
That pretty much sums it up for everyone.
that's for speaking for ALL of us -- but as is always the case, such statements fall flat
if you said 'most' or 'many' your blanket statements might have some validity -- but ALL contributors are not seeing the results you claim everyone is experiencing -- several of us have gone away for many weeks with NO LOSS of sales
"your sales will reach a point of falling behind and never catching up. " and in the long run we'll all be dead. but again, there are many who have not seen this happen after many years of doing MS. my sales have increased every year since I started 6 years ago and 2014 is doing better % wise than 2013 did
a lot depends on what you shoot, and how long your subjects are in demand
-
Sales aren't 'terrible' but I've certainly seen better.
If I held SSTK stock though I'd certainly be thinking of selling before they announced the results for Q3 2014. Difficult to believe that the greater company is still growing strongly despite my own numbers (and those that other contributors are reporting).
-
Sales aren't 'terrible' but I've certainly seen better.
If I held SSTK stock though I'd certainly be thinking of selling before they announced the results for Q3 2014. Difficult to believe that the greater company is still growing strongly despite my own numbers (and those that other contributors are reporting).
In a discussion on Shutterstock in a thread with answers from Shutterstock, they mention that they are seeing steady growth, selling more images than ever, and paying out more earning to contributors than ever. Although I accept that is true, it does draw a skewed picture. Yes, Shutterstock is paying out more earnings than ever, but they have also almost doubled their contributor base since 2012. I think they have gone up from 35,000 contributors to 66,000 contributors. So it is not weird to see a decline in earnings on personal level, against growth on corporate level, as I am sure they have not doubled their pay outs since 2012. I don't why Shutterstock keeps making the argument, as the complaint is that we earn less, which is true. It seems like smoke and mirrors to me. And without wanting to offend anyone, it seems disrespectful to the contributors in that thread, thinking that they might not cop on.
-
Sales aren't 'terrible' but I've certainly seen better.
If I held SSTK stock though I'd certainly be thinking of selling before they announced the results for Q3 2014. Difficult to believe that the greater company is still growing strongly despite my own numbers (and those that other contributors are reporting).
In a discussion on Shutterstock in a thread with answers from Shutterstock, they mention that they are seeing steady growth, selling more images than ever, and paying out more earning to contributors than ever. Although I accept that is true, it does draw a skewed picture. Yes, Shutterstock is paying out more earnings than ever, but they have also almost doubled their contributor base since 2012. I think they have gone up from 35,000 contributors to 66,000 contributors. So it is not weird to see a decline in earnings on personal level, against growth on corporate level, as I am sure they have not doubled their pay outs since 2012. I don't why Shutterstock keeps making the argument, as the complaint is that we earn less, which is true. It seems like smoke and mirrors to me. And without wanting to offend anyone, it seems disrespectful to the contributors in that thread, thinking that they might not cop on.
Not shocked to see top level contributors reporting a significant drop in earnings in that thread.
However the drop some older contributors are experiencing does not correlate to the gap between the increased downloads shutterstock is reporting vs the increase in new images.
The reported data boils down to a 29.62% increase in downloads and a 42.12% increase for images in the collection creating a 12.5% catch up gap for contributors.
Shutterstock had a 8.15% increase in Revenue Per Download
SOURCE Shutterstock, Inc. Q2 2014 Financial Results
- Second quarter revenue increased 41% from prior year, to $80.2 million
- Adjusted EBITDA increased 25% to $16.8 million
- Quarterly paid downloads increased 30% to a record 31.5 million
- Collection grew 42%; currently exceeds 40 million images
http://tinyurl.com/mowfcp8 (http://tinyurl.com/mowfcp8)
-
Slow month but I reached payout last week and my sales are continuing - even had sales over the weekend. I don't think they "turn off the tap."
The huge growth of their collection and contributor base acting to dilute sales of individual contributors is a more reasonable explanation than some conspiracy theory IMHO. I'm holding on to my SSTK stock 8)
-
BME after only 12 days. MY portfolio is growing rapidly which may explain it.
Yes, that DOES explain it. The ONLY people experiencing good sales these days are contributors who are new to this and rapidly growing their portfolio. That's because you're comparing your sales to a month ago, when you may have only had a fraction of what you have in your port today.
The moment your rate of growth in uploads falls behind the rate of growth in available images at the agencies, you will start making less money each month. It's an unavoidable truth in microstock, and everyone jumping into this today needs to understand that while things seem rosy today as you start out, your sales will reach a point of falling behind and never catching up.
See the point above me from Herg, who has been at this for some time...
"absolutely soul destroyingly depressing free fall of sales."
That pretty much sums it up for everyone.
that's for speaking for ALL of us -- but as is always the case, such statements fall flat
if you said 'most' or 'many' your blanket statements might have some validity -- but ALL contributors are not seeing the results you claim everyone is experiencing -- several of us have gone away for many weeks with NO LOSS of sales
"your sales will reach a point of falling behind and never catching up. " and in the long run we'll all be dead. but again, there are many who have not seen this happen after many years of doing MS. my sales have increased every year since I started 6 years ago and 2014 is doing better % wise than 2013 did
a lot depends on what you shoot, and how long your subjects are in demand
Hmm... if this is true, you would be the only microstock vet with a large port and significant income reporting gains. Based on everything I've seen and heard, everyone who is in the upper income range in this business is voicing grave concern about microstock's future, and in particular, the very troubling changes at SS that began in early 2013.
When you combine SS's changes to search and other tinkerings behind the scenes, with the fact that it now has about 40 million images in its collection vs about 25 million a year ago, and it's clear that the serious players are, by and large, finding it impossible to grow revenue and in fact are seeing STEEP declines.
Is there a single vet in the upper income tier that disputes this?
-
I don't know if I'm in this group, but it may be ( around position 80 at Fotolia).
My revenue at SS stays the same in the last year or so. At that time it stopped growing. You are right there. But it doesn't decline neither.
In my opinion, we can't expect the revenue to grow forever. It is just mathematically impossible.
But, if it happened to all people at the same time, there is something, you are right there, too.
-
In my opinion, we can't expect the revenue to grow forever. It is just mathematically impossible.
Right, to me it's clear there are two things driving me down:
1. The simple math of increased collection sizes of the agencies growing at a faster rate than my own potfolio. For instance, if SS' collection went from 25 to 40 million in one year, I have to grow my port at a similar rate (60%) or else my sales will decline. That's the inevitable math part.
2. Shenanigans at the agencies. Whatever SS did to negatively impact large, top-selling contributors in early 2013. FT's punishing of top sellers. FT's introduction of DPC. The endless tomfoolery at iStock.
Put these two causes together and you have a recipe for stagnation and decline that not even the best contributors can overcome.
-
My revenue at SS stays the same in the last year or so. At that time it stopped growing. You are right there. But it doesn't decline neither.
Out of curiosity, how much did your port grow in the past year? Math would suggest you would have needed to increase your port by around 60% to be treading water at SS a year later. If your port grew by well under that rate, you are likely in a great niche, or a smarter ms'er than the rest of us.
-
It didn't grow that much, not even close. I really don't know what the reason is.
But, it's only SS that's performing good for me. The others are just the way you described it - horrible.
-
Math would suggest you would have needed to increase your port by around 60% to be treading water at SS a year later. If your port grew by well under that rate, you are likely in a great niche, or a smarter ms'er than the rest of us.
Or in the first stage where income growth stops, then after that it begins decline. If Dook manages to still not drop over next year then he may have a magic secret.
-
WOW, today was HORRIBLE. Only around 10 sub downloads. Really cyclic sales. The worry I have is that these kind of days become more common.
-
WOW, today was HORRIBLE. Only around 10 sub downloads. Really cyclic sales. The worry I have is that these kind of days become more common.
Yeah, today was one of those days that crop up every couple of weeks. Woke up to zero sales, which doesn't even happen on a weekend, but always heralds a lousy day. Slightly better than a weekend now, and the worst weekday in months.
-
In my opinion, we can't expect the revenue to grow forever. It is just mathematically impossible.
Right, to me it's clear there are two things driving me down:
1. The simple math of increased collection sizes of the agencies growing at a faster rate than my own potfolio. For instance, if SS' collection went from 25 to 40 million in one year, I have to grow my port at a similar rate (60%) or else my sales will decline. That's the inevitable math part.
2. Shenanigans at the agencies. Whatever SS did to negatively impact large, top-selling contributors in early 2013. FT's punishing of top sellers. FT's introduction of DPC. The endless tomfoolery at iStock.
Put these two causes together and you have a recipe for stagnation and decline that not even the best contributors can overcome.
I don't see or agree with your conclusions.
I’ve been with SS since late 2005. Currently have around 5400 images - all photos. So I could be considered one of the old-timers.
Since then I have had only one month that did not beat the same month previous year (July 2010 was less than July 2009 by $53).
I have been at the top tier at SS since 2009 and I don’t see SS turning off my port and certainly didn’t see the drop off that everyone complains about last March, and I don’t see the dead zone some complain about.
Year to year sales have increased.
(My spreadsheet begins comparisons with 2008 not earlier)
2008 +120% $$$ +81% DL’s (kinda when I think I figured this business out, to a degree, sort of…)
2009 + 61% $$$ +20% DL’s
2010 + 19% $$$ + 11% DL’s (off year with a sick kid and ailing parents, not a lot of effort put in)
2011 + 38% $$$ +19% DL’s
2012 + 35% $$$ +21% DL’s
2013 + 33% $$$ + 29% DL’s
2014 + 28% $$$ + 18% DL’s (YTD)
Typically my portfolio grows by about 10-15% each year.
I’ve also noted significant increases each time I got a new camera 2008 moved from 6mp to 12mp
And mid-2013 a new 24mp camera. Most of my Large SOD sales are from the 24mp camera
I don’t have a niche but a well balanced portfolio that I try to keep up-to-date. I have food, people, wildlife, objects, travel, editorial, medical, sports, seasonal… you name it.
I don’t consider myself a great photographer just adequate, I understand my place and try to provide useful images that can be used commercially. I also think you have to reinvent yourself all the time in this business, keeping you portfolio fresh doesn’t mean feeding the beast by uploading more of the same stuff. If you’ve plateaued its time to do something else photographically. Too many of the people that complain the most have one dimensional portfolios. If all you’ve got is travel images you are only appealing to one sector of the market, and if your portfolio is full of food or pretty girls on white the same applies - there is only so much demand for any given thing. Branch out.
I don't want to dismiss or make light of the problems some are facing. There are problems in the industry like DPC and DP's 3%, and yes I'd like a raise and more transparency from all sites, and better communication and fewer Shenanigans but I don’t see the doom and gloom that seems to be so pervasive in the forums.
-
30% drop for me. Worst month in this year. January was better.
-
30% drop for me. Worst month in this year. January was better.
For me too. It was instant, as well so prob another search adjustment that certainly didn't favor me. :'(
-
Unfortunately same for me as well :'(
-
Me to!!! :-(
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Have you guys seen the new SS search today?
Now they only show 3-4 files per row (at least in my computer) where it used to be 6-7.
Files in the first few rows will benefit and all the rest will be punished.
This will favor sale concentration, bad move if you ask me.
Edit: and it's back to normal 8)
-
Yesterday was a bit better than the last week or so but today has dropped off again. I am still finding a lot of my images coming up in the search, some on the first page but i cant see why the decline.