Author Topic: SS off to a rapid start out the blocks in 2012 for anyone else? (Read 26025 times)

RacePhoto · « **Reply #75 on:** January 17, 2012, 12:53 »

Quote from: lagereek on January 17, 2012, 11:12

You guys should know this! buttered scones with whipped cream, a pot of tea, some jam toppled with plenty of Lagavulin and the dls will simply come in thousands.

Im serious, try it out.

Sounds about right. The British equivalent of a "chill pill" (or Scottish?)

Say what happened to the thread starter Cogent Marketing? Suddenly the name turned black and he's gone.

Phadrea · « **Reply #76 on:** January 17, 2012, 13:08 »

Ok, so i'm panicking a bit too much. I get passionate as it's a living I am earning and not playing around. I will try and refrain from further comments until things have settled.

KB · « **Reply #77 on:** January 17, 2012, 13:11 »

Quote from: RacePhoto on January 17, 2012, 10:56

You really averaged $2 a download on IS? Then maybe you shouldn't have left, because all it would have taken was figuring out what you just did. It takes 8 downloads on SS to equal that.

I've read lots of posts here where people say they are averaging over $0.50/DL on SS (with PPD, ELs, etc., figured in).

Also, $2/DL as an IS exclusive would be terrible. My sales average well over that, and I'm on the very low end of the scale from what I've seen.

stockmarketer · « **Reply #78 on:** January 17, 2012, 14:49 »

I can't be bothered with what each site earns me per download. I simply can't control that.

I track how much each image earns me, or Return Per Image (RPI). And I track it in aggregate, rather than per individual image, which would be impossible at a high volume of sales per day. I simply take the day's total and divide by number of images I have created. (No, not every image is accepted at every site, but the point is that I took time to create the pictures, and an unaccepted image should bring down the RPI as a sign that something needs fixing.)

RPI tells me whether what I'm uploading is connecting with buyers. If RPI is rising, then I'm doing a better job of figuring out what buyers (and the agencies) want... uploading less crap and more valuable stuff. If RPI is falling, well, there's a problem that needs addressing.

For the record, my daily RPI started around 9 cents per day four years ago, and it's hovering around 11.5 cents per day today. I take a few nuggets of info from that: my sense of what will sell is gradually getting better, and my old stuff continues to do well. If you figure your RPI and it falls over time, you need to step back and quickly figure out what buyers want, and you need to upload images with lasting appeal... not pictures that will sell OK right out of the gate and then sink into the abyss.

I just scratch my head when people debate RPD. What does return per download tell you, except to give you something to get upset over and feel powerless to fix?

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #79 on:** January 17, 2012, 15:27 »

^^^ Excellent post. Good info.

cthoman · « **Reply #80 on:** January 17, 2012, 15:53 »

Quote from: stockmarketer on January 17, 2012, 14:49

I just scratch my head when people debate RPD. What does return per download tell you, except to give you something to get upset over and feel powerless to fix?

Funny. I've never put much stock in RPI. I track it, but it's not a big deal to me if it is falling. As long as my income is rising. I make a lot of images that compete with each other, so it is only natural that my RPI would dip as my library grows. I also like to experiment, so not every image is a great seller. But, it may lead to something else. Possibly even freelance work.

I track RPD too. I think it's nice to get a feel for what sells on a site and for what size and price. Also, to track raises and cuts in royalties or price. I've really been monitoring my RPD at DT because I'm trying to get my levels up. I've actually been wondering if I could make more by deleting images. It's a strange thought, but I'm not sure that it's an unrealistic one.

Every stat has a use, but it really depends on how you use it and/or what you are focusing on.

gostwyck · « **Reply #81 on:** January 17, 2012, 16:45 »

Quote from: stockmarketer on January 17, 2012, 14:49

For the record, my daily RPI started around 9 cents per day four years ago, and it's hovering around 11.5 cents per day today.

Those are incredible figures that could probably only be matched by the top 10 or so microstockers in the world. At those rates a medium-sized portfolio of 5000 images would be generating nearly $210K per annum.

Are you vectors, photos or what?

stockmarketer · « **Reply #82 on:** January 17, 2012, 19:54 »

Quote from: cthoman on January 17, 2012, 15:53

Funny. I've never put much stock in RPI. I track it, but it's not a big deal to me if it is falling. As long as my income is rising. I make a lot of images that compete with each other, so it is only natural that my RPI would dip as my library grows. I also like to experiment, so not every image is a great seller. But, it may lead to something else. Possibly even freelance work.

I think we're actually in agreement here about repetition being something to keep in mind. I also tend to make images that could compete with each other, though I try to keep it to a minimum when thinking of what to create. I see creating redundant images as a negative if I want my income to rise, and RPI is the measurement I use to tell me if I'm competing with my own stuff. If RPI dips, that's a sign that I'm just cannibalizing my own sales and I need to be more original.

Quote from: cthoman on January 17, 2012, 15:53

I track RPD too. I think it's nice to get a feel for what sells on a site and for what size and price. Also, to track raises and cuts in royalties or price. I've really been monitoring my RPD at DT because I'm trying to get my levels up. I've actually been wondering if I could make more by deleting images. It's a strange thought, but I'm not sure that it's an unrealistic one.

I hear what you're saying about wanting to get levels up. But I think it goes back to the RPI question, and creating images that don't compete with each other. If you have ten images of, say, an elephant on a balloon, and they're each selling OK and are at level 1 or 2, wouldn't you be better off with just a few images like that, so you're not dividing your sales and the few you have on that subject are level 4 or 5 instead? I think trying to keep RPI high, or at least steady, is being proactive in meeting that goal... while doing something like deleting images after the fact is reactive. You would have been much better off devoting time to ten different subjects rather than 10 elephants on balls to begin with. Watching RPD just seems like a reactive, rather than proactive, strategy to me.

stockmarketer · « **Reply #83 on:** January 17, 2012, 19:56 »

Quote from: gostwyck on January 17, 2012, 16:45

Quote from: stockmarketer on January 17, 2012, 14:49
For the record, my daily RPI started around 9 cents per day four years ago, and it's hovering around 11.5 cents per day today.

Those are incredible figures that could probably only be matched by the top 10 or so microstockers in the world. At those rates a medium-sized portfolio of 5000 images would be generating nearly $210K per annum.

My port is not quite that large, but I'm hoping to scale up to that point.

Quote from: gostwyck on January 17, 2012, 16:45

Are you vectors, photos or what?

Yes. I try to dabble in everything... keeps my port varied.

Equus · « **Reply #84 on:** January 17, 2012, 20:09 »

Stockmarketer, if you are the photographer who created the elephant on the ball, then I believe every word you say. That person is brilliant.

cthoman · « **Reply #85 on:** January 17, 2012, 20:39 »

Quote from: stockmarketer on January 17, 2012, 19:54

I hear what you're saying about wanting to get levels up. But I think it goes back to the RPI question, and creating images that don't compete with each other. If you have ten images of, say, an elephant on a balloon, and they're each selling OK and are at level 1 or 2, wouldn't you be better off with just a few images like that, so you're not dividing your sales and the few you have on that subject are level 4 or 5 instead? I think trying to keep RPI high, or at least steady, is being proactive in meeting that goal... while doing something like deleting images after the fact is reactive. You would have been much better off devoting time to ten different subjects rather than 10 elephants on balls to begin with. Watching RPD just seems like a reactive, rather than proactive, strategy to me.

Makes sense, but I frequently sell all 10 elephants at once too.

Phadrea · « **Reply #86 on:** January 18, 2012, 06:45 »

Sorry but something is wrong. Sales have halted for the last 24 hours. This isn't right at all. I got sales with my first submission images BEFORE I had 327 files online. This is bad

heywoody · « **Reply #87 on:** January 18, 2012, 06:52 »

Quote from: Herg on January 18, 2012, 06:45

Sorry but something is wrong. Sales have halted for the last 24 hours. This isn't right at all. I got sales with my first submission images BEFORE I had 327 files online. This is bad

Someone already pointed this out but your "initial sales boost" that most of us experienced for the first week or so after joining SS may have passed you by while your files were inactive

Phadrea · « **Reply #88 on:** January 18, 2012, 07:27 »

So this is what to expect for normal sales then ?

cobalt · « **Reply #89 on:** January 18, 2012, 07:36 »

Want to sign back up with istock

?

gostwyck · « **Reply #90 on:** January 18, 2012, 07:55 »

Quote from: Herg on January 18, 2012, 07:27

So this is what to expect for normal sales then ?

My sales at SS are currently running at slightly more than 5x my sales at Istock which I imagine would be similar for most established independent contributors. However it takes time for your images to gain good position in the Popular sort order, assuming that they are worthy of doing so. The most critical time is clearly in the first week or two that they appear. If they don't attract the interest of buyers during that period then, unless they are in niche subjects, they may be swamped by later uploads.

ShadySue · « **Reply #91 on:** January 18, 2012, 08:03 »

Quote from: cobalt on January 18, 2012, 07:36

Want to sign back up with istock ?

Yeah, they might have sorted the acceptance rate bug by the time the six month waiting time is up.
Or they might not even exist / in the form that we know it in six months time.

These are exciting times in which to live.

@ Herg: if it's any consolation, my iStock sales have fallen off a cliff this week. They started 'reasonably for January' after the first three days.

Phadrea · « **Reply #92 on:** January 18, 2012, 09:06 »

[/quote]

Someone already pointed this out but your "initial sales boost" that most of us experienced for the first week or so after joining SS may have passed you by while your files were inactive

[/quote]

I have been told two different versions here. One that there is a sales boost when you start, and one that there isn't and it doesn't make any difference.

heywoody · « **Reply #93 on:** January 18, 2012, 11:42 »

Quote from: Herg on January 18, 2012, 09:06

Someone already pointed this out but your "initial sales boost" that most of us experienced for the first week or so after joining SS may have passed you by while your files were inactive

[/quote]

I have been told two different versions here. One that there is a sales boost when you start, and one that there isn't and it doesn't make any difference.
[/quote]

Yeah, I can't say whether it's an urban myth or not, hence the quotes $:-\$ I certainly got about 6 dls per day from my initial 10 files for about a week and reality took over after that

Phadrea · « **Reply #94 on:** January 18, 2012, 11:57 »

And what is reality for you now ?

I feel everyone in the SS pool was shouting "Come in the water is fine". When I jump it's freezing cold and my trunks have fallen off.

I am looking at Stock Cube's blog which is interesting as she hasn't got that many files up but making good revenue with most sites for the amount she has. I have nice images that are exclusive to my location so I hope they sell.

Zephyr · « **Reply #95 on:** January 18, 2012, 12:16 »

Quote from: Herg on January 18, 2012, 11:57

And what is reality for you now ?

I feel everyone in the SS pool was shouting "Come in the water is fine". When I jump it's freezing cold and my trunks have fallen off.

I am looking at Stock Cube's blog which is interesting as she hasn't got that many files up but making good revenue with most sites for the amount she has. I have nice images that are exclusive to my location so I hope they sell.

It doesn't matter what their reality is. You have to decide where you are going to sell your work based on how you think your agent(s) will perform in the future and will treat you as a supplier in the future.

Anonymous people on this website will say anything. There is good info and bad info. Good sales for one contributor would be a catastrophe for another and every portfolio is different.

On the brighter side and in light of recent events, you might have made the same decision at a later date anyway.

Phadrea · « **Reply #96 on:** January 18, 2012, 12:35 »

You may be right but IS images have averaged around $2.95 for me per download. SS for 11 downloads has only got me $2.75 so far. How can anyone say this is better than IS ?

Zephyr · « **Reply #97 on:** January 18, 2012, 12:55 »

Quote from: Herg on January 18, 2012, 12:35

You may be right but IS images have averaged around $2.95 for me per download. SS for 11 downloads has only got me $2.75 so far. How can anyone say this is better than IS ?

Before you uploaded 300+ pics to SS you didn't look at what they pay per download? Hmmm....Anonymous people will say anything around here. $:-\$

stockmarketer · « **Reply #98 on:** January 18, 2012, 13:22 »

Quote from: retrorocket on January 18, 2012, 12:55

Quote from: Herg on January 18, 2012, 12:35
You may be right but IS images have averaged around $2.95 for me per download. SS for 11 downloads has only got me $2.75 so far. How can anyone say this is better than IS ?

Before you uploaded 300+ pics to SS you didn't look at what they pay per download? Hmmm....Anonymous people will say anything around here. $:-\$

Microstock is a volume business. If you really care about doing well you have to consider the return on your time invested. I'm being a broken record here, but for me this is all about RPI. Who cares if IS is giving you 2.95 per download and SS is 2.75 per download if SS is selling 10 times more of your images? Here's what matters to me... I will spend an hour creating and uploading a new picture. I want to know that this image will start earning me $.XX every day after that. I don't care about whether it makes $2 per download on site X or $2.25 per download on site Y. Those aren't numbers I can take to the bank.

Yes, I know the argument... we have to support the sites that pay us the highest RPD. Then by all means, pull your ports from SS, DT, IS and FT and just sell on Graphic Leftovers which gives you 3.12 per download. Not to pick on Graphic Leftovers... I love them, and have my full port there which does fairly well... I see from from 1 to 5 downloads on most days... But if I just uploaded to Graphic Leftovers my return on that time invested to create my pictures would not justify my investment.

wut · « **Reply #99 on:** January 18, 2012, 13:25 »

Quote from: retrorocket on January 18, 2012, 12:55

Hmmm....Anonymous people will say anything around here. $:-\$

Below is an example what an average day at SS looks like, I mean the ratio between subs, ODs, SODs and ELs. RPD is 88c, if I got an EL (which I obviously haven't) results wouldn't be as realistic. So if you count in the occasional ELs and you have lots of ODs and SODs (procentually), you could get RPD over 1$. Not to mention the volume that's so much higher at SS.

DLs subs ODs SOD Daily earnings
32 9.36 13.50 - - - - - - - 5.32 $28.18

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Author Topic: SS off to a rapid start out the blocks in 2012 for anyone else? (Read 26025 times)

RacePhoto

Phadrea

KB

stockmarketer

WarrenPrice

cthoman

gostwyck

stockmarketer

stockmarketer

Equus

cthoman

Phadrea

heywoody

Phadrea

cobalt

gostwyck

ShadySue

Phadrea

heywoody

Phadrea

Zephyr

Phadrea

Zephyr

stockmarketer

wut

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