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Author Topic: Shutterstock sales is sinking deeply...  (Read 100702 times)

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« Reply #75 on: January 28, 2015, 07:20 »
-10
This thread is about as useful as the Doom and Gloom thread over at SS....all problems and no solutions. Then again, most of us know it is unwise to offer solutions in business until you've milked the opportunity dry yourself.


Unfortunately all solutions are at SS management side. Not at all in contributors hands... I'd say that the most significant problem in this diminishing sales is overabundant crap images acceptance. And, stupid search which gives advantage to cheaper images from newbies who are in 25c or 33c tiers. Established contributors have to deal with wall which comes up to doubling portfolio size if they want to keep their earnings pace.

[EDIT] Just to add some link to some greenish pastry : http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-246725053/stock-photo-fresh-artisan-sourdough-olive-bread-on-the-table.html?src=-_6k8tYpZfIefSpkYd9ExQ-5-85&ws=1
Who needs that kind of photo?
« Last Edit: January 28, 2015, 07:25 by Albert Martin »


Semmick Photo

« Reply #76 on: January 28, 2015, 07:25 »
+1
This thread is about as useful as the Doom and Gloom thread over at SS....all problems and no solutions. Then again, most of us know it is unwise to offer solutions in business until you've milked the opportunity dry yourself.

Unfortunately all solutions are at SS management side. Not at all in contributors hands... I'd say that the most significant problem in this diminishing sales is overabundant crap images acceptance. And, stupid search which gives advantage to cheaper images from newbies who are in 25c or 33c tiers. Established contributors have to deal with wall which comes up to doubling portfolio size if they want to keep their earnings pace.
Do you have anything to share with us that proves that theory?

« Reply #77 on: January 28, 2015, 07:29 »
+2
This thread is about as useful as the Doom and Gloom thread over at SS....all problems and no solutions. Then again, most of us know it is unwise to offer solutions in business until you've milked the opportunity dry yourself.

Unfortunately all solutions are at SS management side. Not at all in contributors hands... I'd say that the most significant problem in this diminishing sales is overabundant crap images acceptance. And, stupid search which gives advantage to cheaper images from newbies who are in 25c or 33c tiers. Established contributors have to deal with wall which comes up to doubling portfolio size if they want to keep their earnings pace.
Do you have anything to share with us that proves that theory?

Added edit in my previous post. About the wall? Well... Mostly all what I can tell you about it is what I've heard. Search has changed when EX iStock exclusives come to SS. Many of people have very hard times to maintain their earnings if they don't upload on regular basis. New images don't sell as they sold before. You might get one or two sales in week after upload and that is it. So, there is a constant burying of new images...

« Reply #78 on: January 28, 2015, 07:33 »
+14
Oh come on guys - my comment was not meant to spark a debate over which countries/cities and more expensive than others or, indeed, the reasons for that.

I will reiterate my point and simply state that falling Shutterstock sales can have a bigger impact on some people than others, and that can be relative to where you are based in the world.

A 50% drop on monthly sales of $100 will probably have less financial impact than a 30% drop on sales of $1000 a month. Similarly, that same 30% drop on $1000 will affect people differently, depending on the cost of living where they are based.

Regarding, whether this occupation should be for money or passion? Again, that depends on each contributors circumstances. If you have a talent and a passion, and use these to run a business, then surely this is an occupation that is both for the love and the money? It certainly is in my case, and I prefer to do this than flip burgers in McDonalds 40 hours a week for minimum wage, even though that may end up paying more per hour, if stock sales continue to sink. To state that you shouldn't be in this business for the money is somewhat simplistic and is, again, dependant on the individual circumstances.

My Shutterstock income for the last two months is down by about $650 on the same period last year - where I live, that's a months rent. So, to get back to the thread topic, my Shutterstock sales are sinking deeply.

I wish I had the answers as to why sales are sinking but, as is the case with everyone else, I can only speculate that search changes/global economy/saturated market, etc. etc. are to blame.


« Reply #79 on: January 28, 2015, 07:41 »
+2
Oh come on guys - my comment was not meant to spark a debate over which countries/cities and more expensive than others or, indeed, the reasons for that.

I will reiterate my point and simply state that falling Shutterstock sales can have a bigger impact on some people than others, and that can be relative to where you are based in the world.

A 50% drop on monthly sales of $100 will probably have less financial impact than a 30% drop on sales of $1000 a month. Similarly, that same 30% drop on $1000 will affect people differently, depending on the cost of living where they are based.

Regarding, whether this occupation should be for money or passion? Again, that depends on each contributors circumstances. If you have a talent and a passion, and use these to run a business, then surely this is an occupation that is both for the love and the money? It certainly is in my case, and I prefer to do this than flip burgers in McDonalds 40 hours a week for minimum wage, even though that may end up paying more per hour, if stock sales continue to sink. To state that you shouldn't be in this business for the money is somewhat simplistic and is, again, dependant on the individual circumstances.

My Shutterstock income for the last two months is down by about $650 on the same period last year - where I live, that's a months rent. So, to get back to the thread topic, my Shutterstock sales are sinking deeply.

I wish I had the answers as to why sales are sinking but, as is the case with everyone else, I can only speculate that search changes/global economy/saturated market, etc. etc. are to blame.
Just remember that GL stock images stopped to accept uploads before last year end. Why? Possibly they figured out that there is some lack of buyers happening. So, they stopped accepting new uploads until they recover in buyers numbers. Shutterstock on the other way is growing on more than microstock branch and there might be our problem. While they grow offset or venturing new acquisitions they possibly have less stable buyers base for microstock images (I mean creative images for example). They grow music, video, editorial... But, what do they do with market which made them who they are? In all what I've heard and read they are failing in sales to basic creative stock images.

Semmick Photo

« Reply #80 on: January 28, 2015, 08:08 »
-2
This thread is about as useful as the Doom and Gloom thread over at SS....all problems and no solutions. Then again, most of us know it is unwise to offer solutions in business until you've milked the opportunity dry yourself.

Unfortunately all solutions are at SS management side. Not at all in contributors hands... I'd say that the most significant problem in this diminishing sales is overabundant crap images acceptance. And, stupid search which gives advantage to cheaper images from newbies who are in 25c or 33c tiers. Established contributors have to deal with wall which comes up to doubling portfolio size if they want to keep their earnings pace.
Do you have anything to share with us that proves that theory?

Added edit in my previous post. About the wall? Well... Mostly all what I can tell you about it is what I've heard. Search has changed when EX iStock exclusives come to SS. Many of people have very hard times to maintain their earnings if they don't upload on regular basis. New images don't sell as they sold before. You might get one or two sales in week after upload and that is it. So, there is a constant burying of new images...
No not about the wall, about the part I bolded

« Reply #81 on: January 28, 2015, 08:10 »
-4
This thread is about as useful as the Doom and Gloom thread over at SS....all problems and no solutions. Then again, most of us know it is unwise to offer solutions in business until you've milked the opportunity dry yourself.

Unfortunately all solutions are at SS management side. Not at all in contributors hands... I'd say that the most significant problem in this diminishing sales is overabundant crap images acceptance. And, stupid search which gives advantage to cheaper images from newbies who are in 25c or 33c tiers. Established contributors have to deal with wall which comes up to doubling portfolio size if they want to keep their earnings pace.
Do you have anything to share with us that proves that theory?

Added edit in my previous post. About the wall? Well... Mostly all what I can tell you about it is what I've heard. Search has changed when EX iStock exclusives come to SS. Many of people have very hard times to maintain their earnings if they don't upload on regular basis. New images don't sell as they sold before. You might get one or two sales in week after upload and that is it. So, there is a constant burying of new images...
No not about the wall, about the part I bolded

Try it for yourself! Just use search for exactly the same image today. And, try it again in a day. And then try the same search in 2 days! All will be clear to you!

Semmick Photo

« Reply #82 on: January 28, 2015, 08:19 »
+1
Sorry Albert, that doesnt prove anything in relation to favouring lower royalty images. I reached 38 cent a while back and didnt notice a drop in income. I had BME after my promotion to the highest tier.

Semmick Photo

« Reply #83 on: January 28, 2015, 08:21 »
+13



[EDIT] Just to add some link to some greenish pastry : http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-246725053/stock-photo-fresh-artisan-sourdough-olive-bread-on-the-table.html?src=-_6k8tYpZfIefSpkYd9ExQ-5-85&ws=1
Who needs that kind of photo?


Doesnt look greenish to me to be honest, maybe your monitor needs to be calibrated ? It looks like normal yellowish dough color to me.

PZF

« Reply #84 on: January 28, 2015, 08:39 »
+1
 I reached 38 cent a while back and didnt notice a drop in income. I had BME after my promotion to the highest tier.

I had a different experience. My sales have plummetted.

« Reply #85 on: January 28, 2015, 08:41 »
+4



[EDIT] Just to add some link to some greenish pastry : http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-246725053/stock-photo-fresh-artisan-sourdough-olive-bread-on-the-table.html?src=-_6k8tYpZfIefSpkYd9ExQ-5-85&ws=1
Who needs that kind of photo?


Doesnt look greenish to me to be honest, maybe your monitor needs to be calibrated ? It looks like normal yellowish dough color to me.

+1
just a little bit green in shadows...nothing dramatic to call this a useless image :)

« Reply #86 on: January 28, 2015, 08:51 »
+14
I wish fellow microstockers would stop pointing at other people's work or a person's earnings level/age in the business as a reason for deterioration in their own sales.

Besides which, the contributor highlighted has 50,000 images accepted and that says a lot about a work ethic which many of us (myself included) would do well to emulate.

« Reply #87 on: January 28, 2015, 21:54 »
0
37 photos sold today on SS, and only TWO of them SODs.   >:(

I've increased my port by 50% in the last 3-4 months, and the only result is more and more subs every day. 

 "If I can just get that 500 files on SS, I'll be making decent money".  "Ok, 800 should do it".  "Surely by the time I get 1000".....

Reality is starting to set in for me and it bites.

« Reply #88 on: January 29, 2015, 00:03 »
+1
This thread is about as useful as the Doom and Gloom thread over at SS....all problems and no solutions. Then again, most of us know it is unwise to offer solutions in business until you've milked the opportunity dry yourself.

Unfortunately all solutions are at SS management side. Not at all in contributors hands... I'd say that the most significant problem in this diminishing sales is overabundant crap images acceptance. And, stupid search which gives advantage to cheaper images from newbies who are in 25c or 33c tiers. Established contributors have to deal with wall which comes up to doubling portfolio size if they want to keep their earnings pace.
Do you have anything to share with us that proves that theory?

Added edit in my previous post. About the wall? Well... Mostly all what I can tell you about it is what I've heard. Search has changed when EX iStock exclusives come to SS. Many of people have very hard times to maintain their earnings if they don't upload on regular basis. New images don't sell as they sold before. You might get one or two sales in week after upload and that is it. So, there is a constant burying of new images...
No not about the wall, about the part I bolded

I think it is not the picture was cheaper. It is SS get more money from newbie,less left for contributor.

Dook

« Reply #89 on: January 29, 2015, 05:39 »
0
Is it possible than sales are slightly lower because of dollar(unusually high value)?

« Reply #90 on: January 29, 2015, 06:01 »
+6
The strong dollar is my friend now  :D.  An average 15% more income per image sale compared to last year at all the dollar based stock companies.

Semmick Photo

« Reply #91 on: January 29, 2015, 06:21 »
+1
This thread is about as useful as the Doom and Gloom thread over at SS....all problems and no solutions. Then again, most of us know it is unwise to offer solutions in business until you've milked the opportunity dry yourself.

Unfortunately all solutions are at SS management side. Not at all in contributors hands... I'd say that the most significant problem in this diminishing sales is overabundant crap images acceptance. And, stupid search which gives advantage to cheaper images from newbies who are in 25c or 33c tiers. Established contributors have to deal with wall which comes up to doubling portfolio size if they want to keep their earnings pace.
Do you have anything to share with us that proves that theory?

Added edit in my previous post. About the wall? Well... Mostly all what I can tell you about it is what I've heard. Search has changed when EX iStock exclusives come to SS. Many of people have very hard times to maintain their earnings if they don't upload on regular basis. New images don't sell as they sold before. You might get one or two sales in week after upload and that is it. So, there is a constant burying of new images...
No not about the wall, about the part I bolded

I think it is not the picture was cheaper. It is SS get more money from newbie,less left for contributor.
I know that, in fact, if someone uses up their 750 images per month, SS will lose money. But that is not what I am asking. I am just asking if there is proof that SS is favouring images from newbies? I am no newbie, I am on 38 cent, I dont see a decline. And I know more people with 38 cent ports still increasing their earnings.


Dook

« Reply #92 on: January 29, 2015, 08:42 »
0
The strong dollar is my friend now  :D.  An average 15% more income per image sale compared to last year at all the dollar based stock companies.
I know, mine too. But, does it affect sales? For example, I stopped buying on Ebay US in dollars. Waiting for things to change.

« Reply #93 on: January 29, 2015, 14:14 »
-11



[EDIT] Just to add some link to some greenish pastry : http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-246725053/stock-photo-fresh-artisan-sourdough-olive-bread-on-the-table.html?src=-_6k8tYpZfIefSpkYd9ExQ-5-85&ws=1
Who needs that kind of photo?



Doesnt look greenish to me to be honest, maybe your monitor needs to be calibrated ? It looks like normal yellowish dough color to me.



Someone's monitor needs calibration indeed - but also those who agree with your comment might need a medical exam... Never mind... Anyway that shot is pure crap... Ad that is what shutterstock accept lately!
« Last Edit: January 29, 2015, 14:20 by Albert Martin »

« Reply #94 on: January 29, 2015, 14:18 »
-5
This thread is about as useful as the Doom and Gloom thread over at SS....all problems and no solutions. Then again, most of us know it is unwise to offer solutions in business until you've milked the opportunity dry yourself.

Unfortunately all solutions are at SS management side. Not at all in contributors hands... I'd say that the most significant problem in this diminishing sales is overabundant crap images acceptance. And, stupid search which gives advantage to cheaper images from newbies who are in 25c or 33c tiers. Established contributors have to deal with wall which comes up to doubling portfolio size if they want to keep their earnings pace.
Do you have anything to share with us that proves that theory?

Added edit in my previous post. About the wall? Well... Mostly all what I can tell you about it is what I've heard. Search has changed when EX iStock exclusives come to SS. Many of people have very hard times to maintain their earnings if they don't upload on regular basis. New images don't sell as they sold before. You might get one or two sales in week after upload and that is it. So, there is a constant burying of new images...
No not about the wall, about the part I bolded

I think it is not the picture was cheaper. It is SS get more money from newbie,less left for contributor.
I know that, in fact, if someone uses up their 750 images per month, SS will lose money. But that is not what I am asking. I am just asking if there is proof that SS is favouring images from newbies? I am no newbie, I am on 38 cent, I dont see a decline. And I know more people with 38 cent ports still increasing their earnings.


Formula for that is what? To upload thousand or two thousands photos a month? Do you claim that all of that photos are pure quality? Come on? Just wait and see the wall you hit in some time!

[EDIT] I see that you have blasting sales on other places... Dreamstime for example... Well dude, cut the crap! You are not in position to demand evidence. Evidence is for court!
« Last Edit: January 29, 2015, 14:40 by Albert Martin »

« Reply #95 on: January 29, 2015, 14:25 »
-6
I wish fellow microstockers would stop pointing at other people's work or a person's earnings level/age in the business as a reason for deterioration in their own sales.

Besides which, the contributor highlighted has 50,000 images accepted and that says a lot about a work ethic which many of us (myself included) would do well to emulate.

Indeed? So, crap photos allowed for those pursuing work ethic? come on! That is why good shots get buried and hard to find. I am against overabundant uploading of same sh*t in multiple variations. Yes, you might be right that microstock become crapstock if such ethic is what you call ethic.

[EDIT] Just to add. I am not whining about my sales - they are almost fine as they should be. But, I see some little minus regarding my earnings. So, that should be something to get worried about because I upload quality images and I do it in good quantities!
« Last Edit: January 29, 2015, 15:21 by Albert Martin »

CCK

« Reply #96 on: January 29, 2015, 14:28 »
+2
Well, I just had a look at my stats from the past: My January 2015 income from Shutterstock is about one quarter of that from January 2011, and one third of that from January 2010, 2009 and 2008. I then had a fraction of the photos I have online now.

« Reply #97 on: January 29, 2015, 14:33 »
-13
Disagree please! I love to see you don't like to see usual woohoo and wooyay posts here! Thank God that I think differently than most here. Group which is always ready to agree to disagree with someone who don't agree. But, most of you would sell your image for a dime if you can. I have better things to do than argue with some community which doesn't have any sense for future. Good Luck Suckers!

« Reply #98 on: January 29, 2015, 14:35 »
+4
The monster week i needed to make my average month isnt happening. Very strange but no video sales, no sod's and very few od's and subs are low--almost half the average volume.  Cant understand it. See how next month goes.

Semmick Photo

« Reply #99 on: January 29, 2015, 14:42 »
+3
This thread is about as useful as the Doom and Gloom thread over at SS....all problems and no solutions. Then again, most of us know it is unwise to offer solutions in business until you've milked the opportunity dry yourself.

Unfortunately all solutions are at SS management side. Not at all in contributors hands... I'd say that the most significant problem in this diminishing sales is overabundant crap images acceptance. And, stupid search which gives advantage to cheaper images from newbies who are in 25c or 33c tiers. Established contributors have to deal with wall which comes up to doubling portfolio size if they want to keep their earnings pace.
Do you have anything to share with us that proves that theory?

Added edit in my previous post. About the wall? Well... Mostly all what I can tell you about it is what I've heard. Search has changed when EX iStock exclusives come to SS. Many of people have very hard times to maintain their earnings if they don't upload on regular basis. New images don't sell as they sold before. You might get one or two sales in week after upload and that is it. So, there is a constant burying of new images...
No not about the wall, about the part I bolded

I think it is not the picture was cheaper. It is SS get more money from newbie,less left for contributor.
I know that, in fact, if someone uses up their 750 images per month, SS will lose money. But that is not what I am asking. I am just asking if there is proof that SS is favouring images from newbies? I am no newbie, I am on 38 cent, I dont see a decline. And I know more people with 38 cent ports still increasing their earnings.


Formula for that is what? To upload thousand or two thousands photos a month? Do you claim that all of that photos are pure quality? Come on? Just wait and see the wall you hit in some time!
? This wasnt about the wall but about your claim that images of newbies on 25 cent royalties are favoured in the search. No one attacked you, just disagreeing, no biggie.


 

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