If you are brand new, and starting from nothing a couple of months ago, you pretty much have nowhere to go but up, and will probably see sales continue to increase through April.  I did my first year. 

But once you are established and have a year or two under your belt, sales stabilize and you will see the seasonal fluctuations more. 

And yes, sales generally do fall off some in April.  Over time some places have uncoupled spring break from Easter - they did here where I live - and people had spring break in March.  But I am sure there are still quite a few taking off this week, next, or both. 

If you are brand new, and starting from nothing a couple of months ago, you pretty much have nowhere to go but up, and will probably see sales continue to increase through April.  I did my first year. 

But once you are established and have a year or two under your belt, sales stabilize and you will see the seasonal fluctuations more. 

And yes, sales generally do fall off some in April.  Over time some places have uncoupled spring break from Easter - they did here where I live - and people had spring break in March.  But I am sure there are still quite a few taking off this week, next, or both. 

Thanks for sharing your experience Lisa. My sales are affected almost as your forecast says lol  and here i started my april with 3 ODs with other subs. It seems spring vacation gonna end there lol

Quote from: gemmy12 on April 02, 2012, 01:56

Thanks for sharing your experience Lisa. My sales are affected almost as your forecast says lol  and here i started my april with 3 ODs with other subs. It seems spring vacation gonna end there lol

Hope things get better for you Gemmy    Maybe it will work for all of us that Easter is so early in the month this year.  Perhaps people will get back to work and go on a buying frenzy for the rest of the month?  After all, the economic news seems to be good.

We can hope!

  ya. as april started for me i am hopeful... Good luck !

I think I figured it out. The few people who dropped, vs the many people who went up... we stole all their downloads. Sorry about that. 

March was clearly greater than Jan. and Feb. combined, also BME not counting ELs. April is already going along the same levels.

My latest triple cheeseburger, ona plate, isolated on white... hasn't sold once, but it was fun making it. (then eating it) As always I enjoy the concept and creation, the money comes after that fun. A few more weeks and I'm out and about at the races, camping and searching the back roads for interesting subjects in the evenings.

Invented Triple Cheeseburger Sandwich

Not the biggest or best but surprise it was accepted. If it ever gets 12 sales and it pays for itself? LOL (plate was either 49c or 99c at Goodwill, I stocked up this Winter)

Quote from: RacePhoto on March 27, 2012, 02:09

Quote from: rubyroo on March 27, 2012, 01:22

Now that the month's nearing it's close, I feel in a better position to respond to this thread.

It's been a very varied month at SS.  Sometimes a series of days with terrific sales, followed inexplicably by a series of exceptionally quiet days.  At this stage, iStock has overtaken SS in sales this month for me, which is not a situation I'm used to seeing (usually SS sales are at least three times the amount I make on iStock).  

This is just based on normal incomes, and doesn't include Thinkstock.

Here's what some others are saying: 

http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=121438

Congratulations to all of them. And congratulations to the buyers who used to pay $250 for an image but now can get 750 images for $250.

I wonder how long the sales volume can last to make BMEs out of peanuts? How much longer will subscription last before it kills the other sites and then itself?

applying to IS exclusivity this minute, thanks! 

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on April 03, 2012, 20:13

Quote from: RacePhoto on March 27, 2012, 02:09

Quote from: rubyroo on March 27, 2012, 01:22

Now that the month's nearing it's close, I feel in a better position to respond to this thread.

It's been a very varied month at SS.  Sometimes a series of days with terrific sales, followed inexplicably by a series of exceptionally quiet days.  At this stage, iStock has overtaken SS in sales this month for me, which is not a situation I'm used to seeing (usually SS sales are at least three times the amount I make on iStock).  

This is just based on normal incomes, and doesn't include Thinkstock.

Here's what some others are saying: 

http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=121438

Congratulations to all of them. And congratulations to the buyers who used to pay $250 for an image but now can get 750 images for $250.

I wonder how long the sales volume can last to make BMEs out of peanuts? How much longer will subscription last before it kills the other sites and then itself?

applying to IS exclusivity this minute, thanks! 

Wait, let me get my referral link for you.

At least IS is trying to raise prices.

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on April 04, 2012, 04:32

Quote from: luissantos84 on April 03, 2012, 20:40

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on April 03, 2012, 20:13

Quote from: RacePhoto on March 27, 2012, 02:09

Quote from: rubyroo on March 27, 2012, 01:22

Now that the month's nearing it's close, I feel in a better position to respond to this thread.

It's been a very varied month at SS.  Sometimes a series of days with terrific sales, followed inexplicably by a series of exceptionally quiet days.  At this stage, iStock has overtaken SS in sales this month for me, which is not a situation I'm used to seeing (usually SS sales are at least three times the amount I make on iStock).  

This is just based on normal incomes, and doesn't include Thinkstock.

Here's what some others are saying: 

http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=121438

Congratulations to all of them. And congratulations to the buyers who used to pay $250 for an image but now can get 750 images for $250.

I wonder how long the sales volume can last to make BMEs out of peanuts? How much longer will subscription last before it kills the other sites and then itself?

applying to IS exclusivity this minute, thanks! 

Wait, let me get my referral link for you.

At least IS is trying to raise prices.

yeah, they're great, aren't they?  Raise prices, cut commissions - that just makes them greedy *%*$*%

Not saying I agree with it, but I understand it. It's a business. Like most businesses the goal is optimizing revenue and profits. I'm not expecting them to place a priority on handing out hugs and smooches like so many other people.

Quote from: gostwyck on April 04, 2012, 04:45

yeah, they're great, aren't they?  Raise prices, cut commissions - that just makes them greedy *%*$*%

Not saying I agree with it, but I understand it. It's a business. Like most businesses the goal is optimizing revenue and profits. I'm not expecting them to place a priority on handing out hugs and smooches like so many other people.

Now I really can't get all your love for them...

That being said, yes, I'm glad they're raising the prices, but as gostwyck pointed out, they neutralize it with cuts. Neutralize really isn't the right word, since most ppl earn less, then they did

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on April 03, 2012, 20:13

Congratulations to all of them. And congratulations to the buyers who used to pay $250 for an image but now can get 750 images for $250.

I wonder how long the sales volume can last to make BMEs out of peanuts? How much longer will subscription last before it kills the other sites and then itself?

Well, subscriptions have been with us for well over 7 years on SS (with DT and FT not far behind) and they don't seem to have killed themselves or any others so far.

What you fail to acknowledge in your sweeping statement is that the growth in SS is almost entirely driven by OD's, EL's and Single Image sales. Funny that for a 'subscription site' that apparently is going to ruin it all for everyone.

This is absolutely true.  SS is moving things in the right direction, and not cutting royalties in the bargain. 

It's several years since Istock could fairly be said to be holding up industry standards and prices.  I really don't believe Istock can be taken as a single entity anymore.  Their absorbtion into Getty is pretty much complete, and Getty certainly has jumped onto the subscription bandwagon with both feet. 

Getty's subscription offerings, Photos.com and Thinkstock offer a far less appealing deal to contributors than SS does.  Not only are their commissions to a majority of their contributors far less than SS, they also do not credit contributors on the site, and offer no transparency whatsoever.   

The list of their shortcomings in comparison to Shutterstock is long and has been discussed here ad nauseum.  So please don't hold Istock/Getty up as any sort of example of moving the industry in the right direction.

Quote from: lagereek on April 04, 2012, 05:35

Yes!  there is no doubt, ODs and ELs, are more then plenty and in my books they represent a hell of a lot more revenue then subs.

So EVERYONE makes their money from EL's and OD's ......or just a select few?  Anyway, I can't stand the thought of selling anything for peanuts so I don't. That's the path I have chosen.

i completely support your position and encourage the rest of my competitors to follow your example

Quote from: cascoly on April 04, 2012, 15:39

Quote from: Noodles on April 04, 2012, 15:25

Quote from: lagereek on April 04, 2012, 05:35

Yes!  there is no doubt, ODs and ELs, are more then plenty and in my books they represent a hell of a lot more revenue then subs.

So EVERYONE makes their money from EL's and OD's ......or just a select few?  Anyway, I can't stand the thought of selling anything for peanuts so I don't. That's the path I have chosen.

i completely support your position and encourage the rest of my competitors to follow your example

Time will tell

Why people are complaining about less sales and lower income is kind of surprising. What did they think? Unlimited growth forever? No competition? And then those same people compete with themselves based on price, (driving value and income down further) by selling on every Fly-By-Night site that comes along promising more sales. It's nothing but self predation and the dilution of the market.

We have reached saturation, maybe over saturation, there's bound to be some kind of major market adjustment in the near future.

Yes, I do better with the ODs than I did with just subs. No I don't sell many ELs. But I don't have as good of a selection of good fresh or original market products as most of the people here. I don't shoot people, I have one model released image and it has never sold. I guess I should feel lucky it was accepted? 

My SS sales and income have continued to grow, while IS continues to drop. It's just fine with me.

Quote from: Noodles on April 04, 2012, 15:25

Quote from: lagereek on April 04, 2012, 05:35

Yes!  there is no doubt, ODs and ELs, are more then plenty and in my books they represent a hell of a lot more revenue then subs.

So EVERYONE makes their money from EL's and OD's ......or just a select few?  Anyway, I can't stand the thought of selling anything for peanuts so I don't. That's the path I have chosen.

Not in any way suggesting that exclusivity is the wrong move but, on the peanuts front, my RPD on DT is 40% higher than IS and I have never had a single digit (in US cents) download anywhere besides IS...

I looked at your port!  love it!  brillant stuff. How . do you do that? the sub under the iceberg is stunning.

Having said this, I recon you need a bigger port, I know its tough and timeconsuming but with stuff like this,  sooner or later the bucks will fly your way.

best.