MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => Shutterstock.com => Topic started by: beketoff on September 20, 2016, 07:05

Title: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: beketoff on September 20, 2016, 07:05
Does anybody experience a significant drop in their sales at SS in September? I had relatively good sales during the summer season which was quite unusual considering the seasonal holidays people usually take, but I definitely didn't expect almost a 50% drop in sales in September, one of the busiest month. Despite the fact that there's still 1.5 weeks in September left, taking into account the current meager daily sales, I'm still on course for a 50% drop month-on-month and the worst month in 2016.

Would be nice to know others' experience to see if it's individual or mass.

(http://s16.postimg.org/brt6tiy0h/Capture.png) (http://postimg.org/image/brt6tiy0h/)
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Pauws99 on September 20, 2016, 07:27
My September is OK after an awful August
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Stockmaan on September 20, 2016, 07:38
Does anybody experience a significant drop in their sales at SS in September? I had relatively good sales during the summer season which was quite unusual considering the seasonal holidays people usually take, but I definitely didn't expect almost a 50% drop in sales in September, one of the busiest month. Despite the fact that there's still 1.5 weeks in September left, taking into account the current meager daily sales, I'm still on course for a 50% drop month-on-month and the worst month in 2016.

Would be nice to know others' experience to see if it's individual or mass.

([url]http://s16.postimg.org/brt6tiy0h/Capture.png[/url]) ([url]http://postimg.org/image/brt6tiy0h/[/url])


My are up for 100%! Wish you better second half of september.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: increasingdifficulty on September 20, 2016, 07:42
If it continues like this for the next 10 days, yes, it will be about 50% of August. But you never know when those 4k sales appear and save the day...
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: AlexRvan on September 20, 2016, 08:30
I'm down 70%. Same on FT this september.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: garth11 on September 20, 2016, 08:53
I am down more than 50%. It seems that new contents do not sell at all
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: John W. on September 20, 2016, 09:13
I count only the working days (Mo-Fr). That means there is still 40% left of this month. So seeing your graph I think it will be OK.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: gyllens on September 20, 2016, 10:14
In talking to some people with large ports they are all down about 30% including myself. Seems that the larger port you have the more down. FT/Adobe OTOH is way up.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Rinderart on September 20, 2016, 11:29
Huge august, back to crap sept. DT is showing A lot of movement after being asleep a Long time. FT is still very hot. Buyers Leaving SS? or other sites search better and Images not so diluted and better curated??
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Pauws99 on September 20, 2016, 11:46
Huge august, back to crap sept. DT is showing A lot of movement after being asleep a Long time. FT is still very hot. Buyers Leaving SS? or other sites search better and Images not so diluted and better curated??
you reckon a load of buyers joined last month and left this. You are constantly telling us how long your  experience  is so where's your sense of perspective? Its not even a whole  month yet.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: samwagner10 on September 20, 2016, 14:23
Was a very slow summer (my 2nd summer in stock photo/video), September has picked up with more timelapse sales and photo sales than previous months.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Dumc on September 20, 2016, 14:31
My sales are OK. I had also one 60$ SOD (biggest so far) so I'm pleased...
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Rinderart on September 20, 2016, 16:39
Huge august, back to crap sept. DT is showing A lot of movement after being asleep a Long time. FT is still very hot. Buyers Leaving SS? or other sites search better and Images not so diluted and better curated??
you reckon a load of buyers joined last month and left this. You are constantly telling us how long your  experience  is so where's your sense of perspective? Its not even a whole  month yet.

Ya know what. why don't i just shut up. it's all yours. tell us all about it ...your way. Let me give ya a hint My friend who I'll never really Know as everyone here is hiding.....I will Post what I want and when I want. Your job is to agree or discuss or ignore. and Im sorry I've been around the block a long time does that intimidate you? It shouldn't...

And the way It's going , My observation about "MY PORT" and work Is My Observation. regardless of when it is. It's gonna take a LOT to come up to August, and that ain't gonna happen. My point. and your Point  on this topic is or ya just wanna excuse to diss me. Go ahead. the best have and means Nothing.

Im so Glad your Pleased. Im not!! and I will tell you. and also when it's good...I will also tell you no matter what day during the month it is. Good and Bad Months for everyone that posts is total nonsence really and based on a hundred factors My Worse Month ever could be someones best ever. So what.? Just killing time here during Uploads.Have fun. Looking forward to a unique topic.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Desintegrator on September 20, 2016, 19:50
September is pretty normal so far (but missing some big single and enhanced sales..)

July was a disaster, worst month in many years. You can say it's summer, but I've never seen such drop in the last few years.
August was in between, recovering.

Although September sales seem to be OK, new content doesen't sell at all. And I have lots of images uploaded with big expectations... and nothing.
Seems like something was cut of after spring. Images uploaded until the spring of 2016 sell. Since then, nothing..
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: PigsInSpace on September 21, 2016, 00:12
My number of files sold is right about where it should be, but they've almost all been Subscription sales, so my dollar amount is down.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: increasingdifficulty on September 21, 2016, 03:01
For me, image sales are normal (even a bit higher) with more On Demand sales than usual, but footage sales are down which makes a much bigger difference in the $$$ amount...
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: gyllens on September 21, 2016, 03:18
Rinderart is actually correct in his statement believe it or not but I even personally know a few very large contributors with portfolios of over 10.000 files that left some time in August.
I suppose they try out other ways of making their pictures pay or they don't relish the idea of being stuck among 100 million files. There are quite a few joining up with the macro agencies although I cant see how that can generate more income.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Svetlana on September 21, 2016, 08:42
Could the new DepositPhotos' "DollarPhotoClub" (http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/new-dollarphotoclub/) have anything to do with lower sales (especially fewer ODs) on SS?
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Sebastian Radu on September 21, 2016, 08:56
I also see a sudden drop in sales in the last two months  :(
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: fritz on September 21, 2016, 09:05
I also see a sudden drop in sales in the last two months  :(

Same here but so far means nothing! Someone is up other is down.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Dumc on September 21, 2016, 10:18
Could the new DepositPhotos' "DollarPhotoClub" ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/new-dollarphotoclub/[/url]) have anything to do with lower sales (especially fewer ODs) on SS?


Even if that was true, you wouldn't notice that in just a weekor two.. My September is good, my second best month for $$$....thanks to EL and SOD. In terms of number of sales it's about my average....
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: increasingdifficulty on September 21, 2016, 10:23
Could the new DepositPhotos' "DollarPhotoClub" ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/new-dollarphotoclub/[/url]) have anything to do with lower sales (especially fewer ODs) on SS?


I have more ODs.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: ccbcc on September 21, 2016, 10:31
August was my best month this year, September probably second best. Not much new stuff, can't put my finger on it.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: etudiante_rapide on September 21, 2016, 12:16
Rinderart is actually correct in his statement believe it or not but I even personally know a few very large contributors with portfolios of over 10.000 files that left some time in August.
I suppose they try out other ways of making their pictures pay or they don't relish the idea of being stuck among 100 million files. There are quite a few joining up with the macro agencies although I cant see how that can generate more income.

ya, me too!!! the numbers as who??? shelma??? says won't make a dent in ss shareholders-carrot bolstering inventory numbers, but personally, they are the smart ones .
remember we learn nothing from history... viz istock... when only a handful left
while the rest, like here today with ss, we keep hanging on... grumble... hoping oringer will
listen and change ss to shift backwards to the old days!!!

i don't think that is ever going to happen. deja-vu is what's going to happen..
istock all over again, and by the time the man leaves laughing with money in his big large oversize
wallet, we will all once again like istock-ers, be left holding the bags of nothing !!!

the smart ones left a long time ago...already, like you said!!!
i like to be with them, but my position is not life-threatening, micro is just a tiny portion
of my income, and it is not a priority, other than to chuck the moon
and cuss like everyone here ...
as rinderhart says..just killing time here... between glasses of wine !!!
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Dumc on September 21, 2016, 12:29
Rinderart is actually correct in his statement believe it or not but I even personally know a few very large contributors with portfolios of over 10.000 files that left some time in August.
I suppose they try out other ways of making their pictures pay or they don't relish the idea of being stuck among 100 million files. There are quite a few joining up with the macro agencies although I cant see how that can generate more income.

ya, me too!!! the numbers as who??? shelma??? says won't make a dent in ss shareholders-carrot bolstering inventory numbers, but personally, they are the smart ones .
remember we learn nothing from history... viz istock... when only a handful left
while the rest, like here today with ss, we keep hanging on... grumble... hoping oringer will
listen and change ss to shift backwards to the old days!!!

i don't think that is ever going to happen. deja-vu is what's going to happen..
istock all over again, and by the time the man leaves laughing with money in his big large oversize
wallet, we will all once again like istock-ers, be left holding the bags of nothing !!!

the smart ones left a long time ago...already, like you said!!!
i like to be with them, but my position is not life-threatening, micro is just a tiny portion
of my income, and it is not a priority, other than to chuck the moon
and cuss like everyone here .
..
as rinderhart says..just killing time here... between glasses of wine !!!

Why are you complaining then in every single post you make?
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: FlowerPower on September 21, 2016, 14:39
Huge august, back to crap sept. DT is showing A lot of movement after being asleep a Long time. FT is still very hot. Buyers Leaving SS? or other sites search better and Images not so diluted and better curated??

Is this what you and Jon talk about when you phone him with your advise how to run SS?
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: alexzappa on September 21, 2016, 14:54
I'm just a newbie with a limited experience, but while SS sales were quite steady and encouraging through July and August, in September Fotolia is taking the lead and even Photodune and 123RF are very close to SS
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Stickystock on September 22, 2016, 02:45
SS is selling very well for me. I have had record number of sales there this month. Usually I don't get over ~75 sales on a saturday or sunday but I had 110 last sunday. I can't wait for Oktober witch is usually the best month of the year. FT is about 1/3rd of SS. I think I will get a very normal good month at SS. I do see more fluctuation than in the past. Weekdays were more predictable a few years back.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Pauws99 on September 22, 2016, 03:15
"My point. and your Point  on this topic is or ya just wanna excuse to diss me. Go ahead. the best have and means Nothing."v. Actually my point is you can't read too much into one month's figures and  that buyers have suddenly started leaving after one month is implausible in the longer term actually you might be right not that you care what I think anyway :-).
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Justanotherphotographer on September 22, 2016, 03:47
Could the new DepositPhotos' "DollarPhotoClub" ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/new-dollarphotoclub/[/url]) have anything to do with lower sales (especially fewer ODs) on SS?

No, DP is a tiny compared to SS
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Astonished on September 22, 2016, 03:52
For me SS has been surpassed by Fotolia and Dreamstime this month. Pretty sad.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: gyllens on September 22, 2016, 04:20
No of course nobody is leaving after one month that would be stupid. However they might have been toying with the idea for quite some time you know like better prices, sales and perhaps as I have heard some say. They don't want their portfolios swamped among 100 million files. This I can understand because as SS grows our chances of sales diminishes more and more and also once the quality factor is somewhat replaced by quantity it turnes into a very slippery slope.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Pauws99 on September 22, 2016, 04:51
No of course nobody is leaving after one month that would be stupid. However they might have been toying with the idea for quite some time you know like better prices, sales and perhaps as I have heard some say. They don't want their portfolios swamped among 100 million files. This I can understand because as SS grows our chances of sales diminishes more and more and also once the quality factor is somewhat replaced by quantity it turnes into a very slippery slope.
I was talking about buyers corrected post just after I posted....yes buyers might begin to migrate if they find it difficult to find what they are looking for because of the flood of poorer quality images.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: DrC on September 22, 2016, 05:07
I wonder how many contributors in the last tier of $0.38 are experiencing good sales compared with 2 or 3 years ago...
New contributors are signing in everyday and images sales are always guaranteed for SS.
You in the first tier, enjoy while it lasts.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: gyllens on September 22, 2016, 05:41
I wonder how many contributors in the last tier of $0.38 are experiencing good sales compared with 2 or 3 years ago...
New contributors are signing in everyday and images sales are always guaranteed for SS.
You in the first tier, enjoy while it lasts.

Gosh!  it doesn't even come close to three or four years ago. Not even close not to speak of five or six years back.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Stickystock on September 22, 2016, 07:01
I wonder how many contributors in the last tier of $0.38 are experiencing good sales compared with 2 or 3 years ago...
New contributors are signing in everyday and images sales are always guaranteed for SS.
You in the first tier, enjoy while it lasts.

I am in $0.38 tier and I see good sales. So thats one. ;)
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: etudiante_rapide on September 22, 2016, 08:57
No of course nobody is leaving after one month that would be stupid. However they might have been toying with the idea for quite some time you know like better prices, sales and perhaps as I have heard some say. They don't want their portfolios swamped among 100 million files. This I can understand because as SS grows our chances of sales diminishes more and more and also once the quality factor is somewhat replaced by quantity it turnes into a very slippery slope.
I was talking about buyers corrected post just after I posted....yes buyers might begin to migrate if they find it difficult to find what they are looking for because of the flood of poorer quality images.

 jo ann had the same impression coming back from her vacation...
it's probably not just the flood of poorer images in what's new
it's also the change of search to make  contributors port un-"find"-able
like the disappearing portfolios last month... with lots of zero days for many
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: etudiante_rapide on September 22, 2016, 09:02
For me SS has been surpassed by Fotolia and Dreamstime this month. Pretty sad.

if this is true for many contributors , that would be good news...
at least  both buyers and sellers will have a wider option to look elswhere
if they can't find what they want in the flood of bot approval at crappola-stock
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: etudiante_rapide on September 22, 2016, 09:20


Why are you complaining then in every single post you make?

LOL, because i know you have a fanny fancy for me showing you the moon
and cussing  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Minsc on September 22, 2016, 11:29
Both SS and FT are heading toward BMEs. Looks like 123RF is also on its way.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: THP Creative on September 22, 2016, 11:38
First time in 5 years that I am seeing a pattern of slow decline on SS. Not sure what to make of it yet - Adobe Stock taking sales? More people using free images? Or simply sheer amount of accepted images each week diluting sales?

Perhaps all of the above...
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Artist on September 22, 2016, 11:44
First time in 5 years that I am seeing a pattern of slow decline on SS. Not sure what to make of it yet - Adobe Stock taking sales? More people using free images? Or simply sheer amount of accepted images each week diluting sales?

Perhaps all of the above...

I am seeing good progress with fotolia as well as shutterstock too now.

And who said more people use free images? All news agencies, channels, good bloggers, entertainment sectors, professional companies, film makers etc. only go for a licensed image and not the free ones.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Pauws99 on September 22, 2016, 11:48
First time in 5 years that I am seeing a pattern of slow decline on SS. Not sure what to make of it yet - Adobe Stock taking sales? More people using free images? Or simply sheer amount of accepted images each week diluting sales?

Perhaps all of the above...
I suspect you are right a combination of the three. One of the few real facts we know is that the growth of images on SS  is outstripping the growth in demand therefore all things being equal income per image will go down. Sadly for an analytical person like me most of what we think we know is anecdotal as as far as I know SS are the only ones who report any hard facts.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: gyllens on September 22, 2016, 12:09
First time in 5 years that I am seeing a pattern of slow decline on SS. Not sure what to make of it yet - Adobe Stock taking sales? More people using free images? Or simply sheer amount of accepted images each week diluting sales?

Perhaps all of the above...
I suspect you are right a combination of the three. One of the few real facts we know is that the growth of images on SS  is outstripping the growth in demand therefore all things being equal income per image will go down. Sadly for an analytical person like me most of what we think we know is anecdotal as as far as I know SS are the only ones who report any hard facts.


Well said!!!  "supply outstripping the demand"  I think this is exactly whats happening right across the board.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: silksatsunrise on September 22, 2016, 15:03
September is normal for me. It's not a lack of customers, its that you do or don't have what they want. Simple as that.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: SpaceStockFootage on September 22, 2016, 15:53
BME for me on SS and still a week to go.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: angelawaye on September 22, 2016, 16:19
This is the first day in many many years I have had NO On Demand sales. I'm in the .38 club and September is not looking good for me ...

Cheers to everyone for having good sales but I feel very sad and frustrated ...
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: ferdinand on September 23, 2016, 00:27
...september - for  me - worst month in last 5 years
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Artist on September 23, 2016, 01:32
...september - for  me - worst month in last 5 years

c'mon, if this is the case, show me your stats
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Dodie on September 23, 2016, 01:39
September is normal for me. It's not a lack of customers, its that you do or don't have what they want. Simple as that.
Really? So, in August and July I had what they wanted and their preferences have changed all the sudden in September. It could be true though.
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: etudiante_rapide on September 23, 2016, 08:04
September is normal for me. It's not a lack of customers, its that you do or don't have what they want. Simple as that.
Really? So, in August and July I had what they wanted and their preferences have changed all the sudden in September. It could be true though.

LOL, no dodie, we have customers who bought other contributors work for 15 years
who suddenly all died in the same month of september
that explains why so many zero days suddenly appear

read the obituary ;)
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Dumc on September 23, 2016, 08:30
Looks like customers died only for some of you....ain't that weird
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: SpaceStockFootage on September 23, 2016, 08:37
I must have zombie buyers. 
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: Dodie on September 23, 2016, 10:03
Congratulations guys to your good month, enjoy it while you can. We all know how it works.
That still doesn't mean that other people's images are not needed (as stated above), that was my point.
Now it's your turn and tomorrow you may sing:
Quote
Wheels are turning
I remember when you were mine
Now just to reach you
Baby, I'd stand in line

But there's another world
.
.
                                                                                                                                 ~  The Killers
Title: Re: SS September sales down 50%
Post by: etudiante_rapide on September 23, 2016, 10:54
Looks like customers died only for some of you....ain't that weird

puppy chasing ballsmuch???
who says it was me i was referring to, dumc(koff)???
are you so obsessed with following my behind, LOL 8)

if you read in the other thread, ie. if you only can read beyond my shadow LOL, i said i already got paid off to my studio , equipment ,etc..
and anything else is just paying for my daily pint...

i was talking about the posting in general here and ss forum re zero days.
and stop following my b*tt ok? if you can smell me, you're driving too closely LOL