The SXP Experiment - 1st Month

Karimala · #1 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 10:59 AM

On April 1, I opted out of subscriptions at SXP for one month as an experiment to see if it would have an impact on my sales.

Great news! Opting out did not negatively impact my earnings in any substantial way, mostly because of the recent introduction of new image sizes. April turned out to be my highest earning month of 2008, and when calculated for how much I earn per work day on a five-day work week, I earned only 2 cents less per day than my 2008 high in March. What's interesting to note is I actually had 21% fewer credit sales this month than I did in March, and yet I still earned more money in April.

Overall, April was my second highest earnings month since subscriptions were implemented in October, and was actually #5 on my all-time SXP totals list (I've been with them for 26 months now). Had I remained opted in, my earnings probably would have come close to a BME, but the difference between April and my BME isn't large enough to make much difference in the overall scheme of things.

What I think I'm going to do next is create a breakdown of my sales both pre- and post-option so I can see whether there was a difference between the sizes being sold. I had noticed that the majority of my subscription sales were for larger sized images, and I'm curious to see if opting out made any difference on the sizes that sold...and if the buyers really are purchasing mostly larger sizes with subscriptions. Should be an interesting analysis.

I'm going to remain opted out for May, and then let everyone know how it goes. So far though, I'm pretty optimistic about staying out of the subscription program. IMO, all of the subscription sites need to start implementing IS's method of charging by the size instead of just the image itself, and wherever possible I'm opting out or walking out the door. I'm at a point in this journey where if I don't see the sites supporting their contributors with fair earning methods and solid marketing plans, I'm leaving. The other day I realized that I have paid IS over $14,000 for their services over a period of 26 months. Considering that out of my 20% I still have to pay for an accountant/bookkeeper, attorney, assistant, business consultant, models, and equipment, plus have money leftover to pay my own wages, IS had better be doing everything in its power to generate excellent sales for the kind of money I'm spending on them every year. And that goes for all of the other sites, too. If any site implements a program that negatively impacts my sales, like SXP's subscription program did, they aren't getting my business. I'll find somewhere else to sell my images.

sharpshot · #2 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 11:12 AM

I am opted in and last month was a BME with SXP. The previous month was also a BME. The subscription sales don't seem to be a big proportion so I don't think opting in or out makes much difference.

Karimala · #3 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 12:46 PM

Subscription sales had a huge impact on my income. Two out of the five months I was opted in, my earnings were down 37% from my BME while the total number of overall DLs remained the same.

That's what prompted me to try opting out. I want to see if buyers who wanted an image badly enough, especially at the larger sizes, would purchase it at the higher and more fair credit price. It's still too early to tell, and I still need to do a breakdown analysis to see if there are any changed patterns, but I do believe some buyers will especially when it comes to my specialty subjects, like blind people. I'll probably lose out on the more generic subjects to other photographers, but all it takes is just a few XL sales to make up for the loss.

jimiking · #4 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 01:25 PM

I don't know but I would suspect that if you are a subscription client you only get shown the images that are available under subscription once you're logged in.

That's certainly the way I'd do it if I were running a microstock site. No sense in doing it any other way really.

pichunter · #5 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 01:28 PM

I opted out 6 or 8 weeks ago, partly because I read a post from someone saying that since opting into subscriptions, they had not had an XL download in a long time. When I reviewed my sales, I had not had an XL for 3 months. Since opting out (reluctantly), I had an XL within the first week, now I have daily ones.

If only stock sites would graduate the price of larger files in their subscription model, more Contributors would opt in and feel we are being treated better. Why give away an XL file for the same income as a blog size file?

ajn · #6 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pichunter

I opted out 6 or 8 weeks ago, partly because I read a post from someone saying that since opting into subscriptions, they had not had an XL download in a long time. When I reviewed my sales, I had not had an XL for 3 months. Since opting out (reluctantly), I had an XL within the first week, now I have daily ones.

If only stock sites would graduate the price of larger files in their subscription model, more Contributors would opt in and feel we are being treated better. Why give away an XL file for the same income as a blog size file?

I am opted in and have XL sales every day. There's no formula for this, I believe.

e-person · #7 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karimala

On April 1, I opted out of subscriptions at SXP for one month as an experiment to see if it would have an impact on my sales.

I am not on SXP, although I am hoping to start selling on Alamy so that I can delete my SS account. I could potentially submit lots of travel images (I live in Rome, after all...) and can't certainly do it for a few cents per downloads. Not even worth the time to get out and shoot.

I agree that IS model right now sounds as the best one around.

I think in the end, of those at my reach, I will only stay with IS and Alamy.

sharpshot · #8 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karimala

Subscription sales had a huge impact on my income. Two out of the five months I was opted in, my earnings were down 37% from my BME while the total number of overall DLs remained the same.

That's what prompted me to try opting out. I want to see if buyers who wanted an image badly enough, especially at the larger sizes, would purchase it at the higher and more fair credit price. It's still too early to tell, and I still need to do a breakdown analysis to see if there are any changed patterns, but I do believe some buyers will especially when it comes to my specialty subjects, like blind people. I'll probably lose out on the more generic subjects to other photographers, but all it takes is just a few XL sales to make up for the loss.

I think that is just ebb and flow. The month I opted out (January) was one of my worst for a while and now I am having BME's after I opted back in. This is probably nothing to do with subscriptions, just the normal highs and lows.

louoates · #9 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 07:49 PM

I'm looking at the numbers also and I don't like what I'm seeing. It seems with my images that subscriptions are increasing each month with the credits shrinking. Yet subs are still only about 10% of my revenue.

I've decided to opt out but I can't see a way on the site to do so. Can I opt out all images at one time? Anyone...?

Karimala · #10 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 11:07 PM

Go to My Account/Edit Profile. The enable/disable checkbox is located towards the bottom of the page. It affects all of your images.