MicrostockGroup
Agency Based Discussion => Shutterstock.com => Topic started by: gostwyck on May 17, 2010, 05:39
-
Just noticed that new images have received a big promotion in the 'Most Popular' sort order on SS. Instead of first appearing roughly in the middle of the search results and then having to work their way up, they now appear on the first page. It seems to be very similar to FT's default algorithm.
Of course this does mean that older popular images will be demoted down the sort order to make room for the new stuff. Another consequence I've noticed is that badly keyworded new images are cluttering search results with spam and there are some truly horrific examples. I wish they would ban contributors who quite deliberately add irrelevant keywords.
-
Thanks for the headsup. Looking at my downloads over the past few days, it does appear new images are doing much better than they had been, but with some tried-and-true older ones still selling too.
I am sure this new sort will hurt people who aren't uploading regularly, but since I am it is kind of nice to see new images selling well. That sort of instant gratification is rewarding, and it also gives a useful window into which new images from a series are likely to do well on other sites. :)
-
I noticed the same thing, but I thought it was just a coincidence.
-
I noticed the same thing, but I thought it was just a coincidence.
+1 - I uploaded a bunch my Sunday noon (Taiwan time, GMT + 8hrs); they were accepted 1 hr later (US West Coast time 10pm Saturday) and got 2 downloads from there apparently in the following 2 hrs, since registered on Saturday. Time zones can be tricky. It never happened before though, I got downloads that fast. Half of the batch has been downloaded already. The beast is certainly very hungry.
-
I am already at double the previous highest number of downloads for the month.
I thought I was finally getting somewhere!
Rgds
Oldhand
-
The images appear in search result almost instantly, as opposed to how they used to (1-3 days). That's why we get downloads of the images freshly approved.
-
Hasn't it always been this way? A handful of new images pop onto your most popular for a week and then settle back in with the pack.
-
Hasn't it always been this way? A handful of new images pop onto your most popular for a week and then settle back in with the pack.
Not exactly. The difference is that in the past the photos could be found in search results after 1-3 days since approval. But right now everything approved goes into search engine instantly. I had a batch of files approved yesterday and after about 1 hour I had several sales from my newest files. This is happening since about two weeks ago. You can check, after you get the email with approved batches from SS - search for your new files, you should find them.
-
Not exactly. The difference is that in the past the photos could be found in search results after 1-3 days since approval. But right now everything approved goes into search engine instantly.
This is great! I hadn't realized that changed. :)
Shutterstock is really on the ball if they can manage to get new images in the search so fast. Smart move to help them have the freshest content.
-
Dang. I thought I'd finally hit the bullseye with an image that rocketed as soon as it hit the shop window. Now I realise it was just lucky timing. :D
-
Well whatever the change, it looks like its only a couple of days old. Have been checking my latest upload which went straight to #1 on my images, but wasn't turning up in the search at a reasonable ranking until today. Now its on pg 1 for the relevant search - will be interesting to see how it goes.
Have uploaded a bigger batch as well - will be interesting to see how review times have progressed!
-
Have uploaded a bigger batch as well - will be interesting to see how review times have progressed!
Around 24h for me.
-
Either mine haven't hit the search yet or got buried really quickly. Only 1 sale of 17 new images. Everything else have been older files selling. I'm hoping for a turn around tomorrow.
-
I think they change the most popular algorithm on a regular basis. I can always tell when the pattern for very popular images changes significantly in the number of downloads they get.
-
Not exactly. The difference is that in the past the photos could be found in search results after 1-3 days since approval. But right now everything approved goes into search engine instantly.
This is great! I hadn't realized that changed. :)
Shutterstock is really on the ball if they can manage to get new images in the search so fast. Smart move to help them have the freshest content.
I started noticing this change 2 wks ago. Then a couple days ago I got a download on an image before I even got the email saying that it had been accepted. :D
-
I do no
I have sales for image which is approved by email and I dont see it on my newest list???
Maybe they want to confuse copycats. Who knows...
-
Not exactly. The difference is that in the past the photos could be found in search results after 1-3 days since approval. But right now everything approved goes into search engine instantly.
This is great! I hadn't realized that changed. :)
Shutterstock is really on the ball if they can manage to get new images in the search so fast. Smart move to help them have the freshest content.
I started noticing this change 2 wks ago. Then a couple days ago I got a download on an image before I even got the email saying that it had been accepted. :D
Got the received notice with the same time on the email as the accepted email, background shot sold three times first day. Since I don't know of any way to see past the date of the sale, or can't see the time and day the image went active, I can't see how long it took after acceptance to first sale.
I don't see sales reported until the day after and since SS has no stats for views and downloads on the images, I can't get much closer than sales the first day? Am I missing something? Mine seem to report around Midnight.
-
Unless I am misunderstanding, Race, you ARE missing something. SS stats are updated each hour. I am also seeing sales of uploads on the same day uploaded.
And, by the way, since starting an editorial portfolio, about 40% of my downloads are editorial images.
-
Unless I am misunderstanding, Race, you ARE missing something. SS stats are updated each hour. I am also seeing sales of uploads on the same day uploaded.
And, by the way, since starting an editorial portfolio, about 40% of my downloads are editorial images.
See I was right... I'm wrong! :)
Maybe it's when I check, but it seems that my sales come through in batches, all at one update. But I don't check every hour! :o
Yes I have had sales the same day as uploaded, but the upload was made and approved at 4:45 AM, and the sales were during the day. The end of day figures showed a total and I can't see what exact time they were downloaded. What I pointed out was the receipt of images and approved notice came email at the identical time stamp. That would mean that the message server ran a batch of outgoing at that time.
ps I haven't commented before but yes I do find my Editorial going through review faster than the common RF snapshots.
Also someone pointed out that a new image with one sale will go to the front of Most Popular. It's been that way for as long as I can remember. The equation is similar to IS (guessing) Downloads/Time online, DLS/Mo but with a twist. I've had one download and the average shows 4 per month, based on being online less than a week, but the default is four weeks. (for example) Then the next week, it drops to 2 downloads Per Month Average and by the end of the month, it's at the correct number.
It would be nice to see what time the sales were made and that's what I'm missing. I only see totals, no times, or views or anything else. Is there some notification that I don't have turned on?
What SS lacks in data they make up in sales. ;D