Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic

linma · Joined: 23 Jun 2011 Posts: 29

I can't believe such bad situation, there was dl within 1 or 2 days normally, is SS change the search mechanism？

hhltdave5 · Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 6:16 am

This has been a question that has come up several times. Shutterstock has mentioned that they were working on a new search system that was being tested. Several people have mentioned that sales dropped dramatically for a few days then seemed to go back to normal.

I for one saw this happen. My sales dropped about 30% for about 3 days then came right back to normal and even above normal. Can't say for sure if this is what is happening to you.

adigrosu · Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 7:31 am

It is happening again.

linma · Joined: 23 Jun 2011 Posts: 29

andreiuc88 · Joined: 29 Oct 2008 Posts: 39 Location: Romania

It is happening to me too. There is a saying: if it ain't broken, don't fix it. I think Shutterstock should leave things as they were.
It is really frustrating. We contributors are relying on the money earned from here. So they really should be careful when making changes. For them it's just playing with the search engine, for us it could be a matter of life and death.

adigrosu · Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 4:07 am

There are some contributors reporting BME, so at least somebody is celebrating. No reasons to celebrate here, my entire month is 30% down.

nadger · Joined: 13 Sep 2009 Posts: 259 Location: God only knows

Overall, May hasn't been too bad for me (mainly due to ODDs and SDs) but the last week has been very slow.

darla · Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Posts: 891

There are naturally variations in activity, so it can be hard to tell if it's just a normal dip, or an actual change in traffic.

I trust that shutterstock, wanting to sell as many images as possible, and able to see the whole picture, will do what it takes to accomplish that.

balounm · Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 17

Is that new search algorithm active for everybody already or is it just being tested with some small group of contributors? I had very good sales in May but as of the 1st of June they have dropped dramatically.

bennyart · Joined: 28 Sep 2011 Posts: 9

Yep same for me June has been really bad I have a really smal port but usually have between 2-6 sales a day. I noticed my sales declining since the captcha was taken out from login. Nature of the beast I guess.

iggy1965 · Joined: 15 Jun 2011 Posts: 114

It is a misunderstanding to think that SS wants to sell as many images as possible.

SS wants (an IPO is on their agenda) to maximize their net income = cashin minus cash out Or in normal words. Sell as many subscriptions as possible and deliver as little as possible photos. The photos they have to deliver are best among the less succesfull contributors to make the profit even better because the less succesfull contributors get a less percentage or fee per image.

It is quite normal for a company to look after their own Their customers are on the 2nd place and the contributors on the 3rd place.

The sound way of thinking in business is:

Buy low..... Sell high and maximize

At least that is what I as a contributor and businessman do.

Thank God there is competition and you are free to make your own thoughts.

Microstock is Capitalism to the MAX

Just my 2 cents.