Author Topic: Slow start to the year? Or signs of a downward trend? (Read 5175 times)

StockPerformer.com · « **on:** February 25, 2020, 05:50 »

"One of the best indicators of contributors’ health is how much they upload. If they are optimistic, they will put the time and money into producing new content. If they are pessimistic they will wind down their production and upload less."

We just wrote a new article with some insights into user uploading behaviour and how it has evolved between last January and this January.

See our data and analysis here:
https://www.stockperformer.com/blog/slow-start-to-the-year-or-signs-of-a-downward-trend/

Brasilnut · « **Reply #1 on:** February 25, 2020, 06:03 »

Interesting.

Would be useful to cross-reference the respective contributors' uploading habits with their average Return per Download and see if there's any correlation.

jonbull · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2020, 06:29 »

considering that stock performer is more a service for professional and high end producer...it-s clear that new upload dnt- see enough to create the wish to upload...it-s the big problem now...or agency eliminate bestseller and top performer and use only new and maybe another category as chosen by staff or similar, so customer are forced to look through new images or nobody soon will upload....the new upload in most cases come from new contributor or spammers.
agency should beogn clearing database and add a system that give recognition to those that work hard, not those that uploaded then years ago and still earn a lot due to the database biased towards bestseller....if not they will soon lose ons of customer who will directly go to unsplash or other free site.

StockPerformer.com · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2020, 06:54 »

That is true, that this sample does not represent the industry as a whole. It only focuses on a set of contributors. The nice thing is that the data compares the same contributors both in January 2020 as in January 2019. So instead of saying everybody is uploading more (there might be new photographers joining the market), this data analysis focuses on the same people and whether they upload more or not. By the way, this sample uploaded about 730,000 files in January 2019 and about 420,000 in January 2020. I believe this change is too large to be a random chance. There must be a business decision behind.

jonbull · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2020, 07:03 »

Quote from: Stock Performer on February 25, 2020, 06:54

That is true, that this sample does not represent the industry as a whole. It only focuses on a set of contributors. The nice thing is that the data compares the same contributors both in January 2020 as in January 2019. So instead of saying everybody is uploading more (there might be new photographers joining the market), this data analysis focuses on the same people and whether they upload more or not. By the way, this sample uploaded about 730,000 files in January 2019 and about 420,000 in January 2020. I believe this change is too large to be a random chance. There must be a business decision behind.

it would be nice to see the % of uploading for country...i suspect the bulk of upload in micro comes from less rich country like ukraine serbia thiland indisa...while in most western country the number upload has fall down completely due to the fact that cost of living is so high to due micro stock as profession...while odin country where pid is low and pro capita is less than 8k dollar year is still a great job.

MxR · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2020, 08:33 »

I have been very unmotivated for a long time. I stopped investing in models and locations and I am retiring from premium agencies.

charged · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2020, 08:56 »

10 years ago my RPD was $10, now it is a tiny fraction of that. So less motivating to upload. I still upload photos, but I haven't uploaded vectors in years, those extreme low prices makes me not want to spend any time on vectors. Like everyone else, I've thought the entire business of stock images have been slowly approaching unsustainability for years now. I did sort of prepare for it by investing elsewhere. I've invested in a real estate business and a local restaurant brand. Depending on the year, the income from both those investments pull in more passive income than my stock income.

StockPerformer.com · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2020, 05:52 »

We will be looking at these metrics again once the first quarter is over to see if our opt-in customers are uploading more or less than they did last year. We will then be sharing tips with them on how they can counter the curve. When everybody pulls back, it might actually be an opportunity to enter the market with strength and reap the rewards

wds · « **Reply #8 on:** February 26, 2020, 22:07 »

Actually, could be a good thing if contributors are uploading less. The agencies may change their tune if they see that the quantity and quality of new images is decreasing...they know that will ultimately affect their (the agencies) bottom line and they may feel they can't keep giving contributors less and less.

Snow · « **Reply #9 on:** February 27, 2020, 05:21 »

Quote from: wds on February 26, 2020, 22:07

Actually, could be a good thing if contributors are uploading less. The agencies may change their tune if they see that the quantity and quality of new images is decreasing...they know that will ultimately affect their (the agencies) bottom line and they may feel they can't keep giving contributors less and less.

This is already happening but in certain (more expensive) parts of the world which is also a good thing. The quality and quantity of new images will still be there but buyers will have to look elsewhere for unique or location specific content. These agencies think they can keep thriving on cheap contributors. I mean just look at who they promote with trends and such. And who's on top in search. To me it can't get more obvious then this. I have nothing against those contributors but everywhere I look it's Thailand or Ukraine.

People saying "oh it's good leave then more sales for us" or "10 new contributors will replace one old leaving" are totally wrong because you cannot replace unique content.
This is something rarely mentioned but most important to me. Each individual has their own experience, culture, style, expression, etc... which cannot be replaced even by a thousand others.

Our main problem is we get hooked to creating and uploading to these places even though our earnings are declining. The more we upload the less we earn these days which makes sense. If we can get over that and move on for the time being then things might change more rapidly.

StockPerformer.com · « **Reply #10 on:** February 28, 2020, 05:37 »

Quote from: wds on February 26, 2020, 22:07

Actually, could be a good thing if contributors are uploading less. The agencies may change their tune if they see that the quantity and quality of new images is decreasing...they know that will ultimately affect their (the agencies) bottom line and they may feel they can't keep giving contributors less and less.

It behaves strongly like a free market. If contributors upload less, and reduce their offer, but demand remains high on the agency side, then contributors will become more important and have a higher negotiating position. If however contributors reduce their offer but the demand also reduces (due to economic crisis, etc...), then nothing will change for the contributors.

At the end of the day, each contributor makes decisions in his or her own best interest. There is no collective bargaining or photographer unions, so if the market demand increases chances are contributors will start uploading more again.

jonbull · « **Reply #11 on:** February 28, 2020, 07:26 »

Anyway check ss site... 311 million images 1560000 and coin uploaded this week
... its only contriboutor who use this service who stopped uploading, probably they are high end or prpfessional who shoot less to cut cost and shoot less cause new file have nargibal inpacr... in general contribouto in ss are uploading more... garbage but more of it.

StockPerformer.com · « **Reply #12 on:** March 03, 2020, 09:04 »

We were told by a customer that Shutterstock has tightened its inspection standards. Is that true? Do they accept less content? That could explain the reduction of uploads on Shutterstock. Although it wouldn't explain the reduction on the other agencies.

Happy to get any input on that. Thanks!
Luis

Pauws99 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 03, 2020, 10:32 »

Quote from: Stock Performer on March 03, 2020, 09:04

We were told by a customer that Shutterstock has tightened its inspection standards. Is that true? Do they accept less content? That could explain the reduction of uploads on Shutterstock. Although it wouldn't explain the reduction on the other agencies.

Happy to get any input on that. Thanks!
Luis

They appear to for some contributors or some inspectors have...the Inspection process seems more random than ever. They did "offically" change the policy on similars a while back.

pics2 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 03, 2020, 12:05 »

Quote from: Stock Performer on March 03, 2020, 09:04

We were told by a customer that Shutterstock has tightened its inspection standards. Is that true? Do they accept less content? That could explain the reduction of uploads on Shutterstock. Although it wouldn't explain the reduction on the other agencies.

Happy to get any input on that. Thanks!
Luis

Most of the contributors send their files to all of the agencies by default, so I don't see a reason to skip Shutterstock once the content is produced. The only ones to be skipped are low earners with time consuming upload process.
In my opinion, I don't think contributors who seriously invest in productions (like you, for example) would stop producing content because a reduction in revenue. The first step would be to lower production cost by producing simpler and lower level content (less models, less expensive models, no expensive interiors, themes that can be produced with minimal costs) . On the other hand if they have to let go their retouchers, keyworders, assistants, producers, then it is a huge difference in the number of files produced.
By the way, what is your experience as istock exclusive contributor with professional content?

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Author Topic: Slow start to the year? Or signs of a downward trend? (Read 5175 times)

StockPerformer.com

Brasilnut

jonbull

StockPerformer.com

jonbull

MxR

charged

StockPerformer.com

wds

Snow

StockPerformer.com

jonbull

StockPerformer.com

Pauws99

pics2

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