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rixie
Joined: 29 Dec 2007
Posts: 3432
Location: Hampshire, UK
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ruxpriencdiam
Joined: 07 May 2009
Posts: 26259
Location: Third Stone from the Sun
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Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 4:06 pm
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Here is more.
| ruxpriencdiam wrote: | Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 1:17 pm
| VincentJansen wrote: | Hi everybody,
The search results in "Popular" are based on one of Shutterstock's most complicated algorithms. This algorithm takes many different variables into account, including, but not limited to, the total number of downloads. If an image has more downloads than others it does not always mean it will be placed higher in "Popular". It is also very normal for images to move up and down "Popular" regardless of the number of times that image has been downloaded.
We are focused on making sure that customers are satisfied with their search results, that they can find the content that they are looking for every single time they visit our site. We understand the importance of relevant/accurate search results and constantly monitor, test and review our search engine. Rest assured that we will continue to review it and make corrections whenever we have an indication that there is an issue.
Please read this blog post to learn more about our work on Shutterstock's search system:
http://www.shutterstock.com/buzz/what-our-improved-search-system-means-for-contributors-part-2
Best regards,
Vincent Jansen
Manager, Contributor Relations
Shutterstock |
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mcfields
Joined: 07 Aug 2007
Posts: 1868
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Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 4:10 pm
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| cpaulfell wrote: | | rinder99 wrote: | | ...They don't need us anymore... |
Very true. All in all you are just another brick in the wall. If the top 5 contributors on this forum had to suddenly take their business elsewhere SS would probably not even feel the little bump in the road.
A photograph of bread posted years ago did really well when there was not as much competition. Do a search now for bread and you get a search result of ~192,500. Nothing stays a "best seller" forever and it is not realistic to expect it to.
It might be time to read http://www.whomovedmycheese.com/
Times change, are changing and, changing fast. If we cannot manage that change then we will fail falling victim to "future shock". |
agreed... except for the fact that my bread image continues to sell on a regular basis. Even sold 3 x today with it down farther on the page. The other bread image that I have which shows up high on the first page has only sold 450 times and doesn't seem to show up as often on my stats page although it was uploaded a few years later than the first.
I'm not saying that my bread image is the BEST bread shot available. It isn't. It was one of my first 10 images and I know I could edit it much better now, plus the lighting is a little flat ;) still,... it seems that it should be able to remain highly visible in some search mode simply because of the track record. I can't even find it in the Relevant or the Random searches so if it disappears from the Popular search, then it will obviously stop selling.
Those of us with small ports that have counted on quality rather than quantity (not that you can't have both...but I'm just too slow to have both! lol!) are at the mercy of the search modes and at being able to maintain high rankings in the Most Popular mode to remain visible.
I just think that if the Popular mode is going to be changed so drastically then perhaps it would be nice to have a Most Downloaded mode as well.
but as for right now and the reason that I brought it up, that image is showing up only intermittently as the last image on page one. It's really strange. If I search for bread, it doesn't come up at all... I go to page 2 and I notice that the first image at the top row is the same as the last image on p.1 so I click the back arrow. Then and only then, does my image appear as that last image on p.1 You have to use the back arrow to find it as it is right now. |
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woodyone
Joined: 24 Sep 2009
Posts: 430
Location: Here
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Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 5:16 pm
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[quote="mcfields]
... I know it has to do with the keywords, but I have accurate keywords so I'm at a loss......
[/quote]
Your keywords may be accurate but much of the stuff appearing between the buyer and your image may not have such accurate keywording perhaps?? |
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mcfields
Joined: 07 Aug 2007
Posts: 1868
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Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 5:18 pm
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| woodyone wrote: | [quote="mcfields]
... I know it has to do with the keywords, but I have accurate keywords so I'm at a loss......
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Your keywords may be accurate but much of the stuff appearing between the buyer and your image may not have such accurate keywording perhaps??[/quote]
very true! |
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Susan
Joined: 06 May 2005
Posts: 6268
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Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 6:58 pm
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| ruxpriencdiam wrote: | Here is more.
| ruxpriencdiam wrote: | Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 1:17 pm
| VincentJansen wrote: | Hi everybody,
The search results in "Popular" are based on one of Shutterstock's most complicated algorithms. This algorithm takes many different variables into account, including, but not limited to, the total number of downloads. If an image has more downloads than others it does not always mean it will be placed higher in "Popular". It is also very normal for images to move up and down "Popular" regardless of the number of times that image has been downloaded.
We are focused on making sure that customers are satisfied with their search results, that they can find the content that they are looking for every single time they visit our site. We understand the importance of relevant/accurate search results and constantly monitor, test and review our search engine. Rest assured that we will continue to review it and make corrections whenever we have an indication that there is an issue.
Please read this blog post to learn more about our work on Shutterstock's search system:
http://www.shutterstock.com/buzz/what-our-improved-search-system-means-for-contributors-part-2
Best regards,
Vincent Jansen
Manager, Contributor Relations
Shutterstock |
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One indication that an image has relevant keywords is the number of downloads that image has as a result of those accurate keywords as well as the quality of the image.
If you hide those images from buyers the accuracy of the search will suffer from a buyer's perspective.
I think one of the reasons buyers liked the old most popular search was for exactly those reason. |
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ruxpriencdiam
Joined: 07 May 2009
Posts: 26259
Location: Third Stone from the Sun
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Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 7:15 pm
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And the rest.
| moderator wrote: | | ruxpriencdiam wrote: | Ok so here is what another Moderator said about how the Popular works!
| moderator wrote: |
Popular looks primarily at the number of times an image has been downloaded. Relevant is a more sophisticated algorithm that considers a mix of factors. |
So which one is right?
| VincentJansen wrote: | Hi everybody,
The search results in "Popular" are based on one of Shutterstock's most complicated algorithms. This algorithm takes many different variables into account, including, but not limited to, the total number of downloads. If an image has more downloads than others it does not always mean it will be placed higher in "Popular". It is also very normal for images to move up and down "Popular" regardless of the number of times that image has been downloaded. |
Forums are dead time to stir the pot. |
--
Hello ruxpriencdiam,
The quote you reference was accurate at the time of posting. The newer post is also accurate, at this time.
Stay transparent with your posts.
Sincerely,
Anthony Correia
Director, Content Operations
Shutterstock|Bigstock |
| ruxpriencdiam wrote: | | moderator wrote: | | ruxpriencdiam wrote: | | Thank you Anthony so i take it this is normal then. |
--
Hello ruxpriencdiam,
If you are referring to how we do our best to ensure your portfolio gets in front of as many customers as possible, then the answer is yes, this is quite normal. Stay relevant and accurate with your keywords/titles and we will do the rest.
Sincerely,
Anthony Correia
Director, Content Operations
Shutterstock|Bigstock |
Thanks again now we know it isn't a bug like some of us including me thought.
And we can put this to rest. |
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mcfields
Joined: 07 Aug 2007
Posts: 1868
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Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 11:35 pm
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Thanks for testing it out, Susan and Rob. My bar graph is still showing zero gallery visits for Thursday so now at least I know it simply isn't functioning properly. I suppose that's better than finding out that no one has actually been dropping in? |
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Susan
Joined: 06 May 2005
Posts: 6268
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 12:35 am
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| mcfields wrote: | | Thanks for testing it out, Susan and Rob. My bar graph is still showing zero gallery visits for Thursday so now at least I know it simply isn't functioning properly. I suppose that's better than finding out that no one has actually been dropping in? |
Your welcome Marie... it looks to me like they are working on the site. I think will I give them a bit more time to hook things back up again before I report the missing keyword issue in the darkroom app. |
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mcfields
Joined: 07 Aug 2007
Posts: 1868
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 8:53 am
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I'm sure you're right about them working on the site, Susan. btw, I had noticed the same thing about the keywords on the first couple of pages of the Darkroom feature a few days ago. I do have lots of zeros on those pages but the ones that have sold were all listed as None for keywords. Today, however, it has changed and keywords are showing up. |
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mavrick
Joined: 20 Dec 2005
Posts: 2819
Location: colorado
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 8:58 am
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what i find odd is that my most popular -which the same 10-12 have been for years (with a few new additions over the past year) have now suddenly changed and very old images -6+ years- are appearing. so SomeThing has changed dramatically.
what ever. if it's selling, great. i'll be back in the canyon tmmw where the flow of the river soothes the soul. and none of this matters.
carry on. 2 strokes forward... |
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canalenes
Joined: 21 Mar 2008
Posts: 2205
Location: Orygun
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:32 am
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| mcfields wrote: | | I'm sure you're right about them working on the site, Susan. btw, I had noticed the same thing about the keywords on the first couple of pages of the Darkroom feature a few days ago. I do have lots of zeros on those pages but the ones that have sold were all listed as None for keywords. Today, however, it has changed and keywords are showing up. |
Hurray!! Keywords used are showing today in my Beta, too, that weren't there before! Thank you for mentioning it, as I don't often check that list. I was wondering how buyers could be finding some of my pictures that aren't the most popular and without using keywords. Turns out they were using specific words. I'm s'happy to see them show up!!
Also, the order of my photos is an ever-changing scramble of popular (by my measures) and wallflowers that sell less or never. I figured they were working on things............as you and Susan discussed above. ;-) |
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Susan
Joined: 06 May 2005
Posts: 6268
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 10:49 am
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Are you seeing a slight delay in your stats #'s... mine are behind on the monthly page and accurate in the daily page. |
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mcfields
Joined: 07 Aug 2007
Posts: 1868
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 12:47 pm
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| Susan wrote: | | Are you seeing a slight delay in your stats #'s... mine are behind on the monthly page and accurate in the daily page. |
I noticed that a few days ago but it didn't seem to be happening this morning. Unfortunately my sales stopped dead a couple of hours ago and nothing is coming in right now. I'm hoping the server is just backed up or something? I can't believe what a slow day/ week I'm having. :( |
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Susan
Joined: 06 May 2005
Posts: 6268
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2012 1:40 pm
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| mcfields wrote: | | Susan wrote: | | Are you seeing a slight delay in your stats #'s... mine are behind on the monthly page and accurate in the daily page. |
I noticed that a few days ago but it didn't seem to be happening this morning. Unfortunately my sales stopped dead a couple of hours ago and nothing is coming in right now. I'm hoping the server is just backed up or something? I can't believe what a slow day/ week I'm having. :( |
Thanks for the feedback Marie, I start to worry when the different applications are not receiving the same info.
On a positive note my keywords are showing up in the darkroom now and up until noon I was receiving decent sales. I think they must still be making changes and all the servers are not in sync yet. |
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