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Сообщения - DanPadavona

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16
General discussion / Re: Demystifying Shutterstock's Search
« : Февраля 29, 2008, 04:29:24 pm »
Definitely.  Now I just need some of those real good pictures...   :joker:

17
General discussion / Re: Demystifying Shutterstock's Search
« : Февраля 29, 2008, 03:16:43 pm »
Part 2 of 2

So the search we are most interested in is "Most Popular." This search choice is possibly the most simple in the entire industry. As far as I can tell, "Most Popular" is simply determined by the # of Downloads, divided by time online. No community ratings added, nothing else. If you want to verify this for yourself, do a "Most Popular - descending" sort on your own portfolio. Then compare each ranked image to the number of downloads it has had per day online. I have done this several times, and it seems to sort perfectly. A few times I noticed two files were reversed in the order I expected them to be in, but this could be the result of a rounding error. Regardless, I think it can safely be stated that Downloads per days online is at least 95% of the sort. My belief is it is 100%.

I wanted to test if new uploads actually brought older files "back to life," as so many claim they do. For my portfolio, I compared how images performed after being online for 3 months or more when I was uploading, or dormant. I crunched the numbers in Excel and even ran a regression analysis, and I could find no statistical link whatsoever. One obvious caveat - if you are uploading new images, they have a great chance of being seen. If a designer loves your image, he/she may decide to view your portfolio and buy something old. But does this account for more than 10% of an "average contributor's" sales of older files? Probably not.

So why do New Images destroy Old Images in terms of overall performance, provided they are of similar quality? First of all, the "Newest First" search option will keep your new uploads selling for several days on its own. However New Images get a double whammy from the "Most Popular" search feature. Let's say your new image gets downloaded 4 times on its first day online. Your image now averages 4 downloads per day, which translates to 120 per month, etc. You may have a proven older image with 200 sales in 200 days, but your new image is considered 4 times more popular by the search function. So it is at the top of the two main searches - "Newest First," and "Most Popular." Eventually your image will not be downloaded so frequently, and it will quickly begin to fall down the "Most Popular" search. But that first month can be pure magic!

Once again, if you question whether this is true, test it on your own portfolio. After an image has been online for a day or two, and has been downloaded 5-10 times, do a "Most Popular" sort on your portfolio. I bet that new image is near the top, even though the rest of your portfolio probably has many times more sales.

I can't prove any of this, but it certainly appears to me to be valid. It also means it takes a very strong image to stand the test of time at Shutterstock. You want an image to be downloaded at the same pace next year as it was in its first week online? Not going to happen. But images can and do keep up a good download pace if they are of strong enough quality to keep the DLs/time ratio high.

Next time someone tells you to "feed the beast" to keep your old images selling, just smile knowingly and nod in agreement.   ;)

18
General discussion / Demystifying Shutterstock's Search
« : Февраля 29, 2008, 03:16:17 pm »
Part 1 of 2

In the first year I have been involved with microstock, I have become fascinated with how the various search engines work. After all, the results they return have a huge impact on our individual results at microstock sites.  Perhaps the most fascinating of all, maybe even more so than iStock's Best Match, is that of Shutterstock.

I love breaking open black boxes to see how they operate. Shutterstock, unlike any other site in existence, is an amazing volume producer. Therefor it is wonderful for studying which subject matters sell best, how strong a contributor you are, and even how your images move within the Search Results.

One thing I have seen written over and over on message boards, including Shutterstock's official message board, is that one has to "feed the beast" if sales are to continue. In terms of selling new images, of course this is true. But does "feeding the beast" have a strong effect on your older uploads being sold on a continuous basis?  I don't think it does.

There are 3 ways for designers to search for our images at Shutterstock besides physically browsing the categories. Their choices are to search by "Newest," "Random Order," and "Most Popular."  The first two choices are quite obvious and straight forward. The newest uploads are always placed front and center under "Newest," which explains why images take off so fast.  I'm not certain of the advantage of searching by "Random," but I do like that the option exists.  So the search function we need to study is sort by "Most Popular."


19
Off topic / Re: What music do you listen to when creating your master piece?
« : Февраля 29, 2008, 12:21:00 pm »
Domencolja -

Very similar here.  I love to listen to Nightwish when doing photography.  If hard rock is a bit too much at the time, I may listen to Enya or Clannad.

20
Off topic / Re: Where do you live?
« : Февраля 29, 2008, 09:12:51 am »
You can find me in Vestal, NY  USA

21
General discussion / Re: Goal Setting in Microstock
« : Февраля 28, 2008, 07:33:36 pm »
Yes.  Istock, Shutterstock, Dreamstime, Fotolia, StockXpert, BigStockPhoto, and 123RF.  All provide monthly income for me.

Also testing out the waters at Lucky Oliver and FeaturePics, but no luck whatsoever.

22
General discussion / Re: Goal Setting in Microstock
« : Февраля 28, 2008, 05:45:09 pm »
Oh yes, I indeed read ABC.  Thank you for providing it Lev.

I chose Dreamstime for my first goal because it was my first microstock agency, and because I have a good relationship with Serban/Achilles.  They are #3 for me in earnings, slightly ahead of Fotolia. 

Actually I did not choose Dreamstime as a pure success indicator, because I acknowledge volume is too low to draw a fast conclusion.  I wanted to increase my downloads at a site I love, plain and simple.  The new Shutterstock goal is a true success indicator.

I decided it was time to set a goal for Shutterstock because I consider them to be the industry leader.  Most important, I think they are the #1 "Proving Ground."  Images get a fair shake, and good images always have a strong chance of being instant successes.  Due the volume differential between SS and everyone else, they are a wonderful laboratory for testing out ideas and finding out where one stands skill-wise.

Most of my work has been done either outside, or shooting with window light.  To be a serious contributor, I believe it was time for me to step up to a strobe kit.  I ordered a 1220 series Flashpoint kit from Adorama this morning.  Within days I will be able to work on my lighting skills, which everyone seems to agree is by far the most important part of the equation.

23
General discussion / Goal Setting in Microstock
« : Февраля 28, 2008, 02:01:34 pm »
This is my first post to this fine forum.  I certainly want to thank Lev for sharing so much information for others to benefit from.  I recognize a lot of names here from microstock boards.  My username is usually "DanP68," and sometimes simply "DJP".  It's good to see a lot of familiar faces.

I've been working toward a goal of 50 downloads in 1 month at Dreamstime.  I hadn't taken anything but casual snapshots before last summer, so this is a challenging goal for me.  I've used goal setting throughout my life, whether it be career related, fitness related, or anything else.  It works if you work it.  So now I am using it to become a successful microstock artist.

You can find my Dreamstime Blog on Goal Setting at: http://blog.dreamstime.com/2007/12/25/goal-setting-for-results_art25095.

I've increased my production and my Dreamstime goal is actually within sight, but my results are still very pedestrian. I need to create much better, more relevant work. And I humbly ask whomever is willing to participate, to help me get there.

In trying to determine a measurable indicator of success, I decided to review my individual image sales at Shutterstock.  The most downloads I have had in the initial month at Shutterstock from 1 image is a mere 50, and that was a seasonal image apparently uploaded when demand was high. A "successful" image for my portfolio generally sells 25 to 35 times in the first month at Shutterstock.

So I settled upon "75 downloads" for one image in the first month at Shutterstock as a challenge for me.  But I would like some feedback first before I set anything in stone.  Am I aiming too high, or too low?  I've grown my total sales to approximately 240-300 per month at Shutterstock, with a BME of 361.

In order to get this many downloads from image, it would have to be relevant, eye catching, and generally much stronger than my previous work. The idea I had was to create a set of images and offer them up to the board for critique, with my goal in mind.  Would anyone be willing to help me with my progress, or provide a little coaching?   8)

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