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Author Topic: StockFresh - from Peter Hamza and Andras Pfaff  (Read 275846 times)

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RacePhoto

« Reply #675 on: November 07, 2010, 01:06 »
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The real fun is going to start when people do get in and they don't get any sales for the fist few months.
Then we're going to see all the usual "I'm pulling my portfolio what a waste of time" threads from the same people complaining about not getting in.
Sites like SF and GL deserve our backing and understanding, they treat us like partners and payout 50%. People need to have a serious think about how much time and energy it takes to get a library of the ground and market it. And that the clock doesn't even really start ticking till you have enough decent content to start effectively marketing it!

Too funny and too true.  ;D

Hey, I resemble that remark!  :P

What's funny to me, is all the same people, uploading all the same images, that are already on sale at every site and, every time some new offering comes along, it repeats itself as, one more copy of everything goes up for sale as "Me Too" agencies pop up.

Not to put down these guys and I wish them the best, but just a general repeating story to go with the not getting sales in the start, waiting for marketing for sales to improve, (promises that, soon... just be patient) and the same story that repeats over and over, as each new agency tries to break into the market.

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Albert Einstein


Hey look a new microstock agency... 
;D


« Reply #676 on: November 07, 2010, 04:11 »
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^^^ This one is different because the owners have had a big previous success with StockXpert.  Its still a gamble, as that might not make a huge difference but the upload is so easy, I'm not going to waste much time uploading there.

People told me it was a waste of time using Snapvillage but that was changed in to Veer and I am pleased I gave them a go.  Graphic Leftovers has proved to me that new sites can still make it, despite people not giving them a chance.

There are lots of different shops selling the same products, why should we be limited to just a few that will then have control over how much they pay their suppliers?

rubyroo

« Reply #677 on: November 07, 2010, 05:36 »
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Well at this point I agree with both you.

I do agree that new sites with no history 'in the game' are a big gamble.  But since these guys ran StockXpert, and StockXpert was my third highest earner (after SS and iStock), I have a certain amount of faith in them that I wouldn't have in an agency with no track record.

Only time will tell, but I'm willing to give them a chance.

I do feel a bit 'left in the dark' at the moment though, and would very much like to have some clue as to when their marketing drive will begin in earnest.
« Last Edit: November 07, 2010, 05:38 by rubyroo »

« Reply #678 on: November 08, 2010, 09:25 »
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all the stocks are not fresh anymore, it is just some leftovers.  ;)

« Reply #679 on: November 08, 2010, 10:15 »
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@Peter - Is there an estimated date when StockFresh will officially be launched to the public? Or any marketing efforts planned for the near future? Just wondering when we might see some action from SF in terms of getting the word out to buyers.

The site was officially launched in June, but of course with a small collection of files. We are spending a minimal amount of money on marketing at the moment. This will gradually increase but there's no point in shoveling too much money into advertising when you have a relatively small collection compared to everyone else on the market. It's very easy to burn money on the internet if you're not running things efficiently. We're over 400,000 pics now so we're starting to have a reasonably nice collection, but I think we need at least a million files to be diverse enough and to be taken seriously. It also takes a while to saturate Google which is also important for growth. So to sum it up, we have plans and we have the money, but we want to spend it wise. :)

« Reply #680 on: November 08, 2010, 10:22 »
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^^^ This one is different because the owners have had a big previous success with StockXpert.  Its still a gamble, as that might not make a huge difference but the upload is so easy, I'm not going to waste much time uploading there.

Exactly. We can't promise success to anyone. I mentioned this in every single email when I invited a couple of people to join. It is a gamble, but I believe that there are a number of reasons why a service like this can work and it is worth a try. If we fail, it's going to be our money and your time wasted. The goal is to make submitting files as effortless as possible, so you don't risk much.

helix7

« Reply #681 on: November 08, 2010, 10:29 »
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@Peter - Sounds good, thanks for the update.

gbcimages

« Reply #682 on: November 08, 2010, 10:47 »
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@Peter - Is there an estimated date when StockFresh will officially be launched to the public? Or any marketing efforts planned for the near future? Just wondering when we might see some action from SF in terms of getting the word out to buyers.
so why not let in more  contributors and have  more images on the site ? I've been waiting since June. THANKS

The site was officially launched in June, but of course with a small collection of files. We are spending a minimal amount of money on marketing at the moment. This will gradually increase but there's no point in shoveling too much money into advertising when you have a relatively small collection compared to everyone else on the market. It's very easy to burn money on the internet if you're not running things efficiently. We're over 400,000 pics now so we're starting to have a reasonably nice collection, but I think we need at least a million files to be diverse enough and to be taken seriously. It also takes a while to saturate Google which is also important for growth. So to sum it up, we have plans and we have the money, but we want to spend it wise. :)

« Reply #683 on: November 08, 2010, 11:55 »
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@Peter - Is there an estimated date when StockFresh will officially be launched to the public? Or any marketing efforts planned for the near future? Just wondering when we might see some action from SF in terms of getting the word out to buyers.

The site was officially launched in June, but of course with a small collection of files. We are spending a minimal amount of money on marketing at the moment. This will gradually increase but there's no point in shoveling too much money into advertising when you have a relatively small collection compared to everyone else on the market. It's very easy to burn money on the internet if you're not running things efficiently. We're over 400,000 pics now so we're starting to have a reasonably nice collection, but I think we need at least a million files to be diverse enough and to be taken seriously. It also takes a while to saturate Google which is also important for growth. So to sum it up, we have plans and we have the money, but we want to spend it wise. :)

You'd have a MUCH larger collection if you actually spent time approving artists...  4 months for approval is ridiculous.

helix7

« Reply #684 on: November 08, 2010, 13:13 »
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You'd have a MUCH larger collection if you actually spent time approving artists...  4 months for approval is ridiculous.

Only if StockFresh took on more image inspectors. For a startup, it's not so easy to just add more people, so quickly approving more artists without adding more inspectors would only increase the wait time in the image review queue. Then you'd probably just be complaining about image review times instead.

« Reply #685 on: November 08, 2010, 15:56 »
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I should start to upload...

Are people experiencing subs or credit sales (or both)?

« Reply #686 on: November 08, 2010, 17:39 »
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No sale so far (accepted a few months ago)

« Reply #687 on: November 08, 2010, 17:42 »
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The site was officially launched in June, but of course with a small collection of files. We are spending a minimal amount of money on marketing at the moment. This will gradually increase but there's no point in shoveling too much money into advertising when you have a relatively small collection compared to everyone else on the market. It's very easy to burn money on the internet if you're not running things efficiently. We're over 400,000 pics now so we're starting to have a reasonably nice collection, but I think we need at least a million files to be diverse enough and to be taken seriously. It also takes a while to saturate Google which is also important for growth. So to sum it up, we have plans and we have the money, but we want to spend it wise. :)

Great, that will bury my piddly little portfolio.  ::)

madelaide, I've had one sale for $.50 a couple of days ago, it was an extra small. I'm guessing that's a regular sale, not a sub. Didn't find a way to tell if it was a sub or not.
« Last Edit: November 08, 2010, 17:45 by cclapper »

« Reply #688 on: November 08, 2010, 18:48 »
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Sold 8 so far for $7, all PPD.

reckless

« Reply #689 on: November 08, 2010, 20:11 »
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When my first submission is inspected for quality, will I be notified by email if I am accepted or should I continue to check the website each day?

« Reply #690 on: November 09, 2010, 05:49 »
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When my first submission is inspected for quality, will I be notified by email if I am accepted or should I continue to check the website each day?

Everyone gets notified in email. No need to check the site.

« Reply #691 on: November 09, 2010, 07:39 »
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madelaide, I've had one sale for $.50 a couple of days ago, it was an extra small. I'm guessing that's a regular sale, not a sub. Didn't find a way to tell if it was a sub or not.

As far as I know no one pays 50 cents for SUB downloads, so that has to be a PPD one. :)

molka

    This user is banned.
« Reply #692 on: November 09, 2010, 08:05 »
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madelaide, I've had one sale for $.50 a couple of days ago, it was an extra small. I'm guessing that's a regular sale, not a sub. Didn't find a way to tell if it was a sub or not.

As far as I know no one pays 50 cents for SUB downloads, so that has to be a PPD one. :)

Just a quick question, are estimate on the number of current buyers available? and how is that expanding...?

« Reply #693 on: November 09, 2010, 09:36 »
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Just a quick question, are estimate on the number of current buyers available? and how is that expanding...?

I'm sorry, but we're not going to disclose any sales stats.

reckless

« Reply #694 on: November 09, 2010, 11:10 »
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When my first submission is inspected for quality, will I be notified by email if I am accepted or should I continue to check the website each day?

Everyone gets notified in email. No need to check the site.

Thanks

RacePhoto

« Reply #695 on: November 10, 2010, 02:59 »
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You'd have a MUCH larger collection if you actually spent time approving artists...  4 months for approval is ridiculous.

Only if StockFresh took on more image inspectors. For a startup, it's not so easy to just add more people, so quickly approving more artists without adding more inspectors would only increase the wait time in the image review queue. Then you'd probably just be complaining about image review times instead.

I suspect they want to have a tight control on the selection process and QC consistency. Everyone here knows what has happened at some other small agencies where the reviewers went wild and seem to have gone bizarro with rejections. That's also one thing that makes IS a better agency. They may take longer, but they have a more consistent reviews.

I'll make it clear that I have no criticism of this particular agency, I don't know anything about them or their progress, I don't even know if I've looked at it. I'm not going to contribute and that will probably make no difference to them, missing my crapstock!  :) 

The point is that every new agency, gets pretty much all the same photos, from pretty much all the same major micro photographers. So what's the big sales point for a buyer? Usually it's price and then that drives the prices down as each new agency tries to undercut the rest, and attract buyers by offering a better deal. It's a downward spiral. Photographers make less, agencies make less and the buyers are like pigs in the mud puddle, enjoying it and staying cool.

The other way to look at it is, every new agency attracts the same people with the same images, like piranhas to some fresh meat, tossed into the water. There's a feeding frenzy, then things calm down and they are hungry for more, but it's all gone. Which someone else pointed out as the second phase where people start complaining about low sales, after they just uploaded all their work to a new site.

Then the agency promises that when they get some more photos or some more money invested, they will do more marketing and then the sales will improve. But alas, if we look back, historically, they never do bring in the buyers and they never do improve past the new agency with potential and opportunity stages. (these guys may be the first to break that cycle. It would be nice.)

After two years the agencies go flat or dormant or out of business. Meanwhile another dozen or so will see the great untapped market and jump into the pond... at which time the same piranhas will swarm to eat up the promise of fresh meat all over again. :D

Personally slow reviews for new photographers and photos on a new site, would be an encouraging sign that they are being discriminating about what they are going to back and put up for their buyers in the first place. The same thing that the same people have been complaining about in the overall picture, about stale, old images, clogging up the search placement. Maybe they are doing something about that as well? Quality over quantity.

« Reply #696 on: November 11, 2010, 07:59 »
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I'm in! Thank you very much!

microstockphoto.co.uk

« Reply #697 on: November 11, 2010, 08:02 »
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I almost forgot about them... then I received an email today saying I'm approved - thanks

jbarber873

« Reply #698 on: November 11, 2010, 08:18 »
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Personally slow reviews for new photographers and photos on a new site, would be an encouraging sign that they are being discriminating about what they are going to back and put up for their buyers in the first place. The same thing that the same people have been complaining about in the overall picture, about stale, old images, clogging up the search placement. Maybe they are doing something about that as well? Quality over quantity.


     Your post was spot on. At this point, the only way a new agency can create a unique presence is to offer something not available elsewhere, which in this case could be a tightly edited collection that is easier to find images that work. The older agencies are clogged up with images that have been around so long they look like winners just from inertia. Starting from scratch is the chance to get it right. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt because I liked StockXpert so much. And as long as they accept MY pictures, they must be building a great collection!  ;)

helix7

« Reply #699 on: November 11, 2010, 09:47 »
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Your post was spot on. At this point, the only way a new agency can create a unique presence is to offer something not available elsewhere...

That's not so hard to do these days, with most of the major PPD agencies giving buyers an added headache with variable image pricing and credit pricing. I think StockFresh is wise to offer buyers a simpler system, where a credit really does cost $1 (or less) and every image is priced the same. It seems sort of silly to say this, but I think a stock agency can distinguish themselves in this crowded market by just being simple. SF is on the right track in that regard.


 

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