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Author Topic: Shutterstock sales is sinking deeply...  (Read 100760 times)

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« Reply #200 on: February 09, 2015, 18:54 »
+3
Yuri could have easily done this with his platform and the sites knew it. I think this is one of the reasons he got the deal he did.

I would be in if we collaborated to build a site of equal caliber.




You may have misunderstood me, I did not mean in conjunction with this site and I am not at all surprised that leaf is not interested.

I am talking strictly about Yuris sales platform http://peopleimages.com/

The sites knew that he could have turned his site into a cooperative site that included the ports of hundreds of micros top contributors.


Rinderart

« Reply #201 on: February 09, 2015, 23:05 »
+18
OK........We do nothing , were screwed. Period. Fast forward 2 years and folks still complaining. Im soooooooo Not into that.And Im so not into More complaining and not doing anything about it and the sites giving us crumbs and getting rich doing it because we do NOT STAND UP!!!! * . Boy am I getting tired. Newbies or semi Newbies. WAKE THE F ---UP. Because WE didn't.

It's on you guys now. they don't want us Old timers that cause trouble. They want you who go "WHOO HOO" I got 25 cents. Trust me on that. You are gonna be here soon. saying the same Chit.We are at a turning Point My friends and if we don't so something.......Anything, were screwed and the generations after us will Look and say why didn't they do something....They had the power and blew it. And if any of you doesn't think we have the power....Your dead wrong.
« Last Edit: February 10, 2015, 00:21 by Rinderart »

« Reply #202 on: February 10, 2015, 00:55 »
-1
OK........We do nothing , were screwed. Period. Fast forward 2 years and folks still complaining. Im soooooooo Not into that.And Im so not into More complaining and not doing anything about it and the sites giving us crumbs and getting rich doing it because we do NOT STAND UP!!!! * . Boy am I getting tired. Newbies or semi Newbies. WAKE THE F ---UP. Because WE didn't.

It's on you guys now. they don't want us Old timers that cause trouble. They want you who go "WHOO HOO" I got 25 cents. Trust me on that. You are gonna be here soon. saying the same Chit.We are at a turning Point My friends and if we don't so something.......Anything, were screwed and the generations after us will Look and say why didn't they do something....They had the power and blew it. And if any of you doesn't think we have the power....Your dead wrong.

Rinder, Your post will soon have tons of AGREE pluses.


« Reply #203 on: February 10, 2015, 00:58 »
+3
Old timers have been trying to get fair deal from the agencies for years since the agencies got greedy, but in the end here we are anyway.  Not sure what newbies can hope to change if the biggest sellers weren't able to do it. 

« Reply #204 on: February 10, 2015, 01:03 »
+4
In my opinion the system got too big for its little elements/contributors to be able to change it. There are nowadays too many contributors. Each one with their own goals and agendas. I truly believe that only the market laws will be able to shape this industry in the future.

« Reply #205 on: February 10, 2015, 04:48 »
+1
I'm afraid to disappoint, but I won't be setting up an agency :)

It is an incredible amount of work and very risky, and not what I dream of doing the next 10-20 years.  There are people much better than me which would much better suited for the task.  MicrostockGroup is what it is (I feel) because it is a neutral stand-point between all the agencies.  If it was an agency or part of an agency then the neutrality would be gone.  Just look how emotional every Stocksy thread gets.

If I were to set up an agency, I think Stocksy would be exactly what I'd want to set up.  No sense reinventing the wheel.

Leaf, just find people to do that except you, and live after from some percentage...
Don't lose our good will from this forum... This is an opportunity, for sure!

If your so hot to see this happen, why don't you do it instead of badgering Leaf when he already said he isn't interested?

I'm not bothering him, how only one message could be bothering?
It is just my suggestion, because I think he has enough knowledge for that, together with our good will...

P.S.
I remember, how everybody here were thrilled when Yuri announced his new stock agency...Many of us needed more than few days to realize that it was not his invitation to contributing to his new stock agency, just his bragging... ;D ;D ;D ;D
« Last Edit: February 10, 2015, 04:58 by borg »

Semmick Photo

« Reply #206 on: February 10, 2015, 05:40 »
+3
Els and footage sales are masking the truth, SS downloads are decreasing. Not sure what to do at the moment. I think I need to go RM, but I am on the fence. I want to get my photos out there, at least a 1000 photos I am sitting on, just dont know where to go with them! On my HD they make me nothing thats for sure.

« Reply #207 on: February 10, 2015, 05:59 »
+2
Old timers have been trying to get fair deal from the agencies for years since the agencies got greedy, but in the end here we are anyway.  Not sure what newbies can hope to change if the biggest sellers weren't able to do it.

hope not take us any further.

The price makes the market.
If we do not have to pay the exorbitant commissions  we could offer unbeatable prices.
We need a cheap and good platform which is tailored to our needs not to the shareholder.
We have the product not the agencies.
The agencies need us. Not the other returned.

« Reply #208 on: February 10, 2015, 09:20 »
+1
i am not even sure the reviewers know what is LCV or what is HCV. that is all subjective.

So how come there are images that outsell whole ports form other people? And ports with the same image number that make 20 times more money? The commonplace line about subjective this & that is such obvious nonsense I don't even understand why people keep repeating it. But they do. They keep up this mantra, while reality and the numbers it presents just annihilate it instantly. It's most apparent and dumb when it comes to human attractiveness. People keep repeating it's all different tastes among the sexes and individuals.... so how come Nick Bateman gets no less than 200 000 likes in 24 hours for any selfie he posts, while my balding, pear faced buddy has exactly got 0 for his several years on-line profile pic? :)) Same apllies to LCV / HCV.

« Reply #209 on: February 10, 2015, 09:29 »
+7
Well my month improved slightly in earnings, due to a few late Els and a rather large SOD, so I ended about $100 down on last January, which was not so harsh as I thought it was going to be.

However, my downloads were down 25% on January 2014, despite increasing my portfolio by approx 15% over the last year.

Maybe this could have something to do with it?

'408,315 new stock images added this week'

That's an insane number


...and it's pointless too. Just type some basic keyword combo and arrange by date, it's almost all very amateurish junk, awkward shots, inept, unattractive models, etc, that never-ever-never gonna be downloaded. I don't know why people bother, also why SS bothers to let them thru.

The good news is that those simply won't bother your downloads, if you do somewhat more pro stuff. (yes there is definitely pro stuff too among that 400 000, just extremely small percentage. I wouldn't be surprised that if we cut the numbers down to stuff that actually makes a difference because it sells, that weekly upload number for that wouldn't even hit 15 000. Still not a diminutive number tho.

If the higher quality images never see the light of day in the search, buyers will never see or have access to those images.

Shutterstock makes more money on the new LCV images and that is why they accept them and also recruit the new photographers who produce them. Have you noticed how many new contributors are showing up here lately?

If that was true buyers would have been leaving SS in droves because of a severely dysfunctional search for years now, which is obviously not true, since the company is doing well.

SS doesn't make anything on LCV images since they hardly ever get downloaded. That's why they are called LCV. Actually there should be a category called NCV. No Commercial Value - at least 60% of SS stock.


SS lets thru junk because the storage cost is so low it's a non-issue, and boasting about the numbers is usually effective marketing.

Rinderart

« Reply #210 on: February 10, 2015, 12:43 »
-1
+1000

« Reply #211 on: February 12, 2015, 18:38 »
-1
SS lets thru junk because the storage cost is so low it's a non-issue, and boasting about the numbers is usually effective marketing.

well yes and no. as i said in the other thread, it's like the rental guy trying to sell his bldg. new rentors and full occupancy = effective marketing. but if with the annual report, new images increase is not followed by the same percentage of downloads increase, that is not effective marketing.
that is telling shareholders we are letting in more unsellable crapola.

Phadrea

    This user is banned.
« Reply #212 on: February 16, 2015, 17:18 »
0
Soul destroying sales and the uploading process is a complete mess, it's been broken for some time and nobody seems to be fixing it. What more can I say ?

« Reply #213 on: February 16, 2015, 17:41 »
+2
I also agree about the uploading process. Today it is very slow and all the images are not registering where they should be.  Seems like someone in the"tech" dept could at least pick this up.  It has been like this for days and nothing has been done about it.

« Reply #214 on: February 16, 2015, 18:00 »
0
u know, looking at the other adjacent thread (envato, 500 px, ) ss can do no wrong just letting the other new hopefuls screw things up in their own way. but the IT at ss is a total f* head to flip switches and play with the search . and now this email thing , no doubt has alot of sh*t flying around in ss these days.
why they mess thing up in ss , this is a mystery. they must either think ss is invincible or some new kid off the old block is being given free rein to eff things up for all of us...let the goon(s) play around like this. and we all still think the other next 11 should smart up and give ss some competition.
not unlikely .

« Reply #215 on: February 16, 2015, 18:21 »
0
My D/L's have been pitiful since last Thursday...things don't pick up soon, I may not make a payout for the first time in 6 years. I usually reach payout before the 10th of the month, this is awful.   :'(

« Reply #216 on: February 16, 2015, 18:47 »
+8
Ron is right. Overall sub downloads and OD's are down. Subs are down 50% for me but when I get a video sale or SOD it pushes me back into "the norm". Once SOD's, EL's and OD's die for good, that's it.  We are now relying on "miracle-type downloads" to make the month.

As far as Rinder's comments, they are true but shouting it out on the form is not going to work as we probably make up .01% of all contributors.  To regain control you either leave, find other outlets to sell, accept being taken advantage of (most of us do this now, I do) or influence 90% of contributors who the agencies are relying on to pull their content. That is next to impossible.....unfortunately.

For microstock, my bolded statement is the only solution.


Phadrea

    This user is banned.
« Reply #217 on: February 16, 2015, 18:55 »
0
Absolutley. Having a freak footage sale this month after months of no footage it has given me hope to reach payout in $3 time but now even that is looking bleak. It is truely awfull.

Snow

« Reply #218 on: February 17, 2015, 04:57 »
+7
Ron is right. Overall sub downloads and OD's are down. Subs are down 50% for me but when I get a video sale or SOD it pushes me back into "the norm". Once SOD's, EL's and OD's die for good, that's it.  We are now relying on "miracle-type downloads" to make the month.

As far as Rinder's comments, they are true but shouting it out on the form is not going to work as we probably make up .01% of all contributors.  To regain control you either leave, find other outlets to sell, accept being taken advantage of (most of us do this now, I do) or influence 90% of contributors who the agencies are relying on to pull their content. That is next to impossible.....unfortunately.

For microstock, my bolded statement is the only solution.

I think you can speak for many of us Mantis and we probably have totally different portfolio's so there is a pattern, no doubt about it.
My subs and od's are down but now and then an EL or big SOD drops in to make the month somewhat bearable.
Their way of saying "hey, here's something to chew on for the rest of the week, now shut the f.ck up and continue uploading or be gone"
Again, we still keep up with it because despite all this the money is still good but that is changing rapidly since we are finding new ways to make money or we pick up our old ways again and will eventually be able to leave micro. We deserve a lot better, for some it takes a while to get that, others are too naive and will never get it.
I know a lot of people hate Yuri for whatever reason but I went "Finally" when he made that bald move. He made a better deal somewhere and kicked all the others because he was fed up with it. We don't see him celebrating (oh right one post in 5 years promoting his business?) or venting about his success or downfall, he just adapts to the situation and that is how we should all act. While some of you love to take him down you should actually applaud what he did. He treats this a business, treats agencies the way they treat us, goes for the money just like they do by making deals. If we don't follow his example we are doomed in this business.
Disagree or not, bragg about how well you are doing and what I said is horsesh.t, if that gets you trough the day then be my guest just don't be surprised when you wake on day being on the other side and experience what many of us do. Over the years I've seen plenty of people cheering about their success one year while screaming about their downfall the next.

We are lucky to work whenever and wherever we want, but at what cost?

« Reply #219 on: February 17, 2015, 05:01 »
+3
Well said Snow, I agree across the board.

Snow

« Reply #220 on: February 17, 2015, 05:14 »
+7
Just this last bit before I go, this isn't related to Shutterstock only, on the contrary, the other top and middle tier agencies are treating us far worse. The reason I discuss this in SS forum is because I always thought there was still hope for SS and frankly it's the only agency I still care about. False hopes though and if they don't get their act together they will end up like the rest of them.

« Reply #221 on: February 17, 2015, 05:31 »
+5
Ron is right. Overall sub downloads and OD's are down. Subs are down 50% for me but when I get a video sale or SOD it pushes me back into "the norm". Once SOD's, EL's and OD's die for good, that's it.  We are now relying on "miracle-type downloads" to make the month.

As far as Rinder's comments, they are true but shouting it out on the form is not going to work as we probably make up .01% of all contributors.  To regain control you either leave, find other outlets to sell, accept being taken advantage of (most of us do this now, I do) or influence 90% of contributors who the agencies are relying on to pull their content. That is next to impossible.....unfortunately.

For microstock, my bolded statement is the only solution.


I think you can speak for many of us Mantis and we probably have totally different portfolio's so there is a pattern, no doubt about it.
My subs and od's are down but now and then an EL or big SOD drops in to make the month somewhat bearable.
Their way of saying "hey, here's something to chew on for the rest of the week, now shut the f.ck up and continue uploading or be gone"
Again, we still keep up with it because despite all this the money is still good but that is changing rapidly since we are finding new ways to make money or we pick up our old ways again and will eventually be able to leave micro. We deserve a lot better, for some it takes a while to get that, others are too naive and will never get it.
I know a lot of people hate Yuri for whatever reason but I went "Finally" when he made that bald move. He made a better deal somewhere and kicked all the others because he was fed up with it. We don't see him celebrating (oh right one post in 5 years promoting his business?) or venting about his success or downfall, he just adapts to the situation and that is how we should all act. While some of you love to take him down you should actually applaud what he did. He treats this a business, treats agencies the way they treat us, goes for the money just like they do by making deals. If we don't follow his example we are doomed in this business.
Disagree or not, bragg about how well you are doing and what I said is horsesh.t, if that gets you trough the day then be my guest just don't be surprised when you wake on day being on the other side and experience what many of us do. Over the years I've seen plenty of people cheering about their success one year while screaming about their downfall the next.

We are lucky to work whenever and wherever we want, but at what cost?


+10

...and a reminder of what's been said in July 2013, imho still accurate! -

"I tried everything I could for three years to inspire our microstock partners to close the gab. I submitted plans, did projection forecasts, showcased examples that worked, presented solutions and had literally hundreds of meetings. I tried every kind of approach I could think of to get the micro agencies to raise prices just a bit and leave place for the kind of photographer both photographers and customers love. I spent literally months in airplanes. No Luck.
Thinking back I must admit, that my chances where low: when 20% of the CEOs where sleeping in the sun, 20% had no clue what the industry was actually about, 15% thought that the only food customers needed was burgers and if they did not eat it for breakfast we just needed to convince them. The 45% rest where paralyzed by the initial success and for all means did not want the change anything."

http://arcurs.com/2013/07/microstock-sees-its-first-major-setback-in-6-years-and-here-is-why/


« Last Edit: February 17, 2015, 05:45 by KnowYourOnions »

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #222 on: February 17, 2015, 06:10 »
+2
...and a reminder of what's been said in July 2013, imho still accurate! -

"I tried everything I could for three years to inspire our microstock partners to close the gab. I submitted plans, did projection forecasts, showcased examples that worked, presented solutions and had literally hundreds of meetings. I tried every kind of approach I could think of to get the micro agencies to raise prices just a bit and leave place for the kind of photographer both photographers and customers love. I spent literally months in airplanes. No Luck.
Thinking back I must admit, that my chances where low: when 20% of the CEOs where sleeping in the sun, 20% had no clue what the industry was actually about, 15% thought that the only food customers needed was burgers and if they did not eat it for breakfast we just needed to convince them. The 45% rest where paralyzed by the initial success and for all means did not want the change anything."

http://arcurs.com/2013/07/microstock-sees-its-first-major-setback-in-6-years-and-here-is-why/


Yeah, well sadly putting Yuri in to project-manage at iS seems just to have made things even worse for many over there.

Having just spent 3 days at GI in New York and today in Seattle with the IT exes I believe that very interesting things are in the pipeline for IS. Did I have a say in the upcoming changes... Yes - for sure. That being said. The GI top exe dev guys are highly competent and more flexible and agile towards change that I would have imagined. We are working on a set of core site improvements that will dramatically improve user experience and ultimately sales. Only thing that I can say now: Give IS three months and see the changes for yourself.

Shutterstock might be in for a bit more competition than they expected, especially if GI has me project managing the develoment team and we utilize the two things GI has that nobody else has: 1. The best images in the world. 2. The best editors in the world. The best images displays that the world has ever seen is just around the corner. Watch this space!


http://www.microstockgroup.com/istockphoto-com/can-istock-turn-midstock-sales-around/msg382833/#msg382833
That was nine months ago and many of us are way worse off than we were back then.
Maybe Yuri fixed it so that things were better for him alone.
Though if he were that good, he'd have made an unequivocal success of PeopleImages and would be out of micro altogether.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #223 on: February 17, 2015, 06:22 »
+1
Which begs the question ~
If many people are experiencing falling sales at iS over months
and
If at least 'some' people are experiencing falling sales at SS more recently ...

Is it just the 'ever decreasing share of the pie' because of more and more contributors; or are buyers going elsewhere en masse, or just spreading themselves more thinly over the sites?

« Reply #224 on: February 17, 2015, 06:36 »
+3
My photo and video sales are up at IS, last year was my best year ever and last week I had earned $605.00 in one day on IS alone which is the third highest day ever for me. I think IS is hurting SS. Only time will tell. I am not hear to sing praises to Getty. I feel 500px and others have taken sales from mico as well. Interesting times :-) Now back to my regular shooting schedule.


 

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