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Author Topic: Shutterstock photo sales revenue only 1/20 of Adobe Stock's.  (Read 19643 times)

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« on: January 17, 2024, 02:45 »
+22
So far this month in January 2024.  This is sad.  It's on pace for only 1/2 the January 2023 sales.  Shutterstock used to be the King.  Whatever gone wrong there. 
Shutterstock used to pay us $0.38 minimum for subscription sale like Adobe Stock does.  Since they introduced wonderful $0.10 photo sub commission, contributor enthusiasm seem eroded.  Probably Shutterstock nowadays doesn't get as many quality photos or videos as Adobe Stock does.  They still own Pond5 now.  So, they get the best stock videos on Pond5.  But for the photos, Adobe Stock is the King now, no question.  They totally had a wrong approach toward contributors belittling us while Adobe Stock is trying to work with us.  Big mistake.
« Last Edit: January 17, 2024, 08:41 by blvdone »


« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2024, 06:38 »
+6
Yeah, Adobe Stock is so hot right now. Customers who are buying subs are definitely choosing AS over SS.

« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2024, 07:01 »
+4
Video on SS is in the same boat.

Crazy how fast things can turn.

« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2024, 07:10 »
+5
The greediness of their management has no limit. So here are the consequences...and when the numbers talk all the rest does not matter.

« Reply #4 on: January 17, 2024, 07:11 »
0
If you different portfolios how you can even compare them, I have exactly the same portfolios on AS and SS, for me SS is 3x the number of downloads of AS.

jar

« Reply #5 on: January 17, 2024, 08:28 »
+4
If you different portfolios how you can even compare them, I have exactly the same portfolios on AS and SS, for me SS is 3x the number of downloads of AS.
SS 99% are only 0.10 USD per download, for me.
For me SS would need to sell 100 times more then AS.
But AS sells 100 times more then SS.
My case.. AS wins clearly.

« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2024, 08:29 »
0
If you different portfolios how you can even compare them, I have exactly the same portfolios on AS and SS, for me SS is 3x the number of downloads of AS.

Do you make 3x on SS as well?

« Reply #7 on: January 17, 2024, 08:33 »
+1
Video on SS is in the same boat.

Crazy how fast things can turn.

Wow, that's sad.  At SS's peak years like 5-6 years ago, SS video sales were sometimes on par with Pond5 video sales.  Video sub drastically and quickly decreased SS video sales revenue.  So, I stopped selling videos on SS.  I see many contributors doing the same.

« Reply #8 on: January 17, 2024, 08:46 »
0
If you different portfolios how you can even compare them, I have exactly the same portfolios on AS and SS, for me SS is 3x the number of downloads of AS.

Do you make 3x on SS as well?

Usually more than double.

« Reply #9 on: January 17, 2024, 09:47 »
+1
If you different portfolios how you can even compare them, I have exactly the same portfolios on AS and SS, for me SS is 3x the number of downloads of AS.

Do you make 3x on SS as well?

Usually more than double.

Good for you!!

« Reply #10 on: January 17, 2024, 10:19 »
+5
The greediness of their management has no limit. So here are the consequences...and when the numbers talk all the rest does not matter.

Yeah, you can only screw people over so long before it catches up with you. By people I mean contributors - who they actually need to look after otherwise we go somewhere better, like Adobe stock. I have zero loyalty now towards S/S. Karma is a biatch.

« Reply #11 on: January 17, 2024, 10:28 »
0
The greediness of their management has no limit. So here are the consequences...and when the numbers talk all the rest does not matter.

Yeah, you can only screw people over so long before it catches up with you. By people I mean contributors - who they actually need to look after otherwise we go somewhere better, like Adobe stock. I have zero loyalty now towards S/S. Karma is a biatch.

It's business and loyalty doesn't come into it. I don't expect SS (or Adobe for that matter) to be loyal to me and I'm certainly not loyal to them. I will continue to contribute to SS just so long as it's is in my interests. If the terms or circumstances change so that it is no longer in my interests then I will walk away.

wds

« Reply #12 on: January 17, 2024, 10:47 »
+2
While not perfect, I also see that the "poll results" seem to indicate AS leadership. SS used to almost always be the leader.

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #13 on: January 17, 2024, 15:08 »
+4
If you different portfolios how you can even compare them, I have exactly the same portfolios on AS and SS, for me SS is 3x the number of downloads of AS.

Do you make 3x on SS as well?

Usually more than double.

Not to disagree or be argumentative, but that also depends on what images and what kind of subjects. It's possible that your talents are more in line with what SS buyers want. Nice going.

I have 5,450 images on SS now and 984 on Adobe. I make easily 3X on AS what I do on SS. But, unlike you and many others, the images are different. Adobe doesn't take what SS does and for the most part, SS doesn't take what Adobe does. I'd be unfair to expect that someone else would have identical results as mine.

The only thing I can say, aside from bottom line, how much did I make last year, would be RPD. If that was identical, I'd be happy, but nowhere close. SS is less sales and for less commission. 3X the money for 1/5th the images, and I only joined Adobe after they bought FT. I'm impressed.  :)

You are doing very well, congratulations.

« Reply #14 on: January 18, 2024, 11:36 »
+4
The greediness of their management has no limit. So here are the consequences...and when the numbers talk all the rest does not matter.

Yeah, you can only screw people over so long before it catches up with you. By people I mean contributors - who they actually need to look after otherwise we go somewhere better, like Adobe stock. I have zero loyalty now towards S/S. Karma is a biatch.

It's business and loyalty doesn't come into it. I don't expect SS (or Adobe for that matter) to be loyal to me and I'm certainly not loyal to them. I will continue to contribute to SS just so long as it's is in my interests. If the terms or circumstances change so that it is no longer in my interests then I will walk away.

Absolutely true.  But I don't think it's a smart corporate strategy. 

« Reply #15 on: January 18, 2024, 11:58 »
+6
I disagree that business does not reward loyalty.

The whole point why companies make such a great effort to have a fantastic reputation and great relationships with both producers and customers is to keep their business at the absolute top in the industry.

Can you imagine Adobe having the same bad reputation as SS?? Never ever!

Can you image Adobe closing the producer forums and refusing to interact with their customers directly?

Because the producer community directs the customers. Many graphic designers recommend an agency to clients. If a company treats you badly, refuses to talk to you...why would anyone recommend them??

Companies invest crazy money into their branding and having a reliable reputation and a great way to communicate is worth equally as much as the products or services you are trying to sell.

Even more important if your business is about selling subscriptions. You want people to keep renewing forever.

SS  is a media company, their products are used for communication.

How can a communication company not know how to communicate and interact??

The upload flows by producers go to the companies that give them a reliable income, ideally an increasing income.

SS still has fantastic video, but if you look how the sales of video are dropping, especially for the fantastic exclusive content on pond5...what are they doing with these jewels they have?


« Reply #16 on: January 18, 2024, 13:49 »
+1
The greediness of their management has no limit. So here are the consequences...and when the numbers talk all the rest does not matter.

Yeah, you can only screw people over so long before it catches up with you. By people I mean contributors - who they actually need to look after otherwise we go somewhere better, like Adobe stock. I have zero loyalty now towards S/S. Karma is a biatch.

It's business and loyalty doesn't come into it. I don't expect SS (or Adobe for that matter) to be loyal to me and I'm certainly not loyal to them. I will continue to contribute to SS just so long as it's is in my interests. If the terms or circumstances change so that it is no longer in my interests then I will walk away.

You do you  :)


« Reply #17 on: January 18, 2024, 13:49 »
+2
I disagree that business does not reward loyalty.

The whole point why companies make such a great effort to have a fantastic reputation and great relationships with both producers and customers is to keep their business at the absolute top in the industry.

Can you imagine Adobe having the same bad reputation as SS?? Never ever!

Can you image Adobe closing the producer forums and refusing to interact with their customers directly?

Because the producer community directs the customers. Many graphic designers recommend an agency to clients. If a company treats you badly, refuses to talk to you...why would anyone recommend them??

Companies invest crazy money into their branding and having a reliable reputation and a great way to communicate is worth equally as much as the products or services you are trying to sell.

Even more important if your business is about selling subscriptions. You want people to keep renewing forever.

SS  is a media company, their products are used for communication.

How can a communication company not know how to communicate and interact??

The upload flows by producers go to the companies that give them a reliable income, ideally an increasing income.

SS still has fantastic video, but if you look how the sales of video are dropping, especially for the fantastic exclusive content on pond5...what are they doing with these jewels they have?

Well said  :) :)

« Reply #18 on: January 21, 2024, 06:16 »
+5
Well for the first time since 2011 looks like I'll not reach the minimum $35 payout for January.  Even subscription sales have died to zero for days just the occasional "single and other" sale.

In Jan 2018 I made over $318 and in 2019 $212 this Jan maybe $20. :'(

Glad I don't rely on them anymore  :)

« Reply #19 on: January 21, 2024, 06:40 »
+1
Well for the first time since 2011 looks like I'll not reach the minimum $35 payout for January.  Even subscription sales have died to zero for days just the occasional "single and other" sale.

In Jan 2018 I made over $318 and in 2019 $212 this Jan maybe $20. :'(

Glad I don't rely on them anymore  :)
There is still time until the end of the month; there is a high probability that you will have sales.  ;D

« Reply #20 on: January 21, 2024, 06:41 »
+1
Where is the representative from shutterstock here on the forum? Maybe we should invite them. Let them tell you why video sales and video income began to decrease.

« Reply #21 on: January 21, 2024, 08:01 »
+2
SS is well aware of these pitiful results, as they lowered their payment threshold to $25. Enough said!

« Reply #22 on: January 21, 2024, 09:14 »
+2
Where is the representative from shutterstock here on the forum? Maybe we should invite them. Let them tell you why video sales and video income began to decrease.

They closed their forums and made it clear they dont want to talk to us.

They used to have great team, not anymore.

In their financial statements they keep promoting how they are turning the company to be a data licensing company and are already making 20 million a quarter with ai licensing versus 80 million for stock sales which have not increased.

wds

« Reply #23 on: January 21, 2024, 09:40 »
0
You almost have to wonder if they seriously cut back on their stock marketing ads and such.

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #24 on: January 21, 2024, 12:19 »
+1
You almost have to wonder if they seriously cut back on their stock marketing ads and such.

I don't see the side spam as often as I used to, but that's just me. Maybe they have changed to new sites. When they had that, it was always humorous because one or two of my own images would always show up, on top. I don't know if that was an error or so we'd get excited that SS was actually promoting our work. It was just reading cookies from our own systems, and not what the rest of the world would see.

I did notice that recently, when I look at an image, I get an email saying "did you forget something". They are reminding people who search, that they looked at something.


 

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