Author Topic: Storyblocks revenue collapse by 90%? (Read 4363 times)

blvdone · « **on:** March 01, 2024, 07:25 »

I don't contribute to Storyblocks because of their unlimited download model that's dangerous for mass theft, but one long-time contributor is reporting 90% drop in revenue in recent months since Storyblocks changed how to calculate contributor payout. Anybody seeing the same trend there?

This is the video of the contributor reporting revenue collapse.
https://youtu.be/QfjeJWJs1ag?si=8ABhb7qj1WncwEub&t=77

SuperPhoto · « **Reply #1 on:** March 01, 2024, 09:19 »

A couple of things...

(a) That is rather unfair of him to make a bit of a smear video by not comparing apples to apples (i.e., 'final numbers'). Sometimes they have issues with their "projection" system, and the only "fair" comparison would be "actual" earnings. Like - right now - it's the start of the month with "motionarray" - for most people it says "estimated revenue $0" because it is day 1, and revenue has yet to be calculated. So - it would then be like making a video saying "OMFG OMFG OMFG! MOTIONARRAY HAS PROJECTED REVENUE of $0!!!" totally out of context, extremely unfair. I would even say a bit dishonest of him - designed to get clicks. That is wrong of him to do.

(b) What is his actual portfolio? I'd like to see what he was submitting. Quite possibly he was spamming certain types of content, or - from time to time - certain content is underperfoming and storyblocks removes it. Perhaps he had also figured out a way to "game" the search results (keyword stuffing, title stuffing, etc) - and then that was 'fixed' affecting his results - if indeed they are accurate in the first place.

(c) I also find it a bit odd he is making a course if he is doing that well. Generally speaking it's been my experience the only time people make courses - is when what is working for them isn't working any longer - or, if they aren't actually doing as well as they are saying in the first place. It's possible he falls into this category as well. (I've personally witnessed things over the years where people have 'gone on record' saying "OMFG! LOOK HOW I MAKE $10k/month, so E-Z!!! just buy my course!" - and then when they were in private groups with other 'entrepreneurs' and 'felt safe' - they were asking how they could make $1k/month... so - they were publicly selling a "make $10k/month course", and yet didn't even earn $1k/month themselves)... It's possible he is not being honest with the numbers.

stoker2014 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 01, 2024, 09:26 »

blvdone · « **Reply #3 on:** March 01, 2024, 09:51 »

Quote from: SuperPhoto on March 01, 2024, 09:19

A couple of things...

(a) That is rather unfair of him to make a bit of a smear video by not comparing apples to apples (i.e., 'final numbers'). Sometimes they have issues with their "projection" system, and the only "fair" comparison would be "actual" earnings. Like - right now - it's the start of the month with "motionarray" - for most people it says "estimated revenue $0" because it is day 1, and revenue has yet to be calculated. So - it would then be like making a video saying "OMFG OMFG OMFG! MOTIONARRAY HAS PROJECTED REVENUE of $0!!!" totally out of context, extremely unfair. I would even say a bit dishonest of him - designed to get clicks. That is wrong of him to do.

(b) What is his actual portfolio? I'd like to see what he was submitting. Quite possibly he was spamming certain types of content, or - from time to time - certain content is underperfoming and storyblocks removes it. Perhaps he had also figured out a way to "game" the search results (keyword stuffing, title stuffing, etc) - and then that was 'fixed' affecting his results - if indeed they are accurate in the first place.

(c) I also find it a bit odd he is making a course if he is doing that well. Generally speaking it's been my experience the only time people make courses - is when what is working for them isn't working any longer - or, if they aren't actually doing as well as they are saying in the first place. It's possible he falls into this category as well. (I've personally witnessed things over the years where people have 'gone on record' saying "OMFG! LOOK HOW I MAKE $10k/month, so E-Z!!! just buy my course!" - and then when they were in private groups with other 'entrepreneurs' and 'felt safe' - they were asking how they could make $1k/month... so - they were publicly selling a "make $10k/month course", and yet didn't even earn $1k/month themselves)... It's possible he is not being honest with the numbers.

He already had this January with 90% down yoy on Storyblocks. So, it's just a continuation of the new royalty structure on Storyblocks. Honestly, I think they just overpaid in the past. It just doesn't make sense he made $10k/month with his portfolio size on Storyblocks with their cheap monthly unlimited download business model. https://youtu.be/Q1wtKL-hago?si=IGN970CkGs6uyw1b&t=162

For the Storyblocks to give $10k/month to a contributor, with their $30/month unlimited download subscription, that's 333 subscribers' total amount. If Storyblocks takes 50% to pay for their expense, they need 666 subscribers to pay $10k/month to a contributor. That's a lot. Math just doesn't add up to me.

SuperPhoto · « **Reply #4 on:** March 01, 2024, 10:05 »

Quote

He already had this January with 90% down yoy on Storyblocks. So, it's just a continuation of the new royalty structure on Storyblocks. Honestly, I think they just overpaid in the past. It just doesn't make sense he made $10k/month with his portfolio size on Storyblocks with their cheap monthly unlimited download business model. https://youtu.be/Q1wtKL-hago?si=IGN970CkGs6uyw1b&t=162

For the Storyblocks to give $10k/month to a contributor, with their $30/month unlimited download subscription, that's 333 subscribers' total amount. If Storyblocks takes 50% to pay for their expense, they need 666 subscribers to pay $10k/month to a contributor. That's a lot. Math just doesn't add up to me.

Yes, I agree with you... looking @ some of his (youtube) videos he says he was a "marketer", and usually when someone says that (not always, but many times) - it means they've figured out a creative way of keyword stuffing/spamming/"loophole", etc... so if he knowingly did one of those to artificially get more sales, he shouldn't really be sad. Just means that particular loophole is no longer effective - and if his numbers are accurate (and he's not just making them up to sell a course, as I've seen many people do before, people do lie about sales figures) - then perhaps that is it.

blvdone · « **Reply #5 on:** March 01, 2024, 10:07 »

Actually, it started last year in July according to him.
https://youtu.be/Z1OwnVlltFA?si=RZ1PTGxML80fYH18&t=250

It seems like some were hit hard while others weren't based on another Storyblocks contributor I know who didn't report this kind of earnings collapse.

SuperPhoto · « **Reply #6 on:** March 01, 2024, 10:18 »

Quote from: blvdone on March 01, 2024, 10:07

Actually, it started last year in July according to him.
https://youtu.be/Z1OwnVlltFA?si=RZ1PTGxML80fYH18&t=250

It seems like some were hit hard while others weren't based on another Storyblocks contributor I know who didn't report this kind of earnings collapse.

It's interesting/strange to note that seems to be about the same time he made his youtube channel (7 months ago). And then made a course on how to "get rich quick" with microstock, which he is selling for $15 USD to share all the secrets. (It's been my experience that most "get rich quick" course authors only create a course on how to "get rich quick" when what they were doing no longer works, or has become difficult to do. Of course not everyone - but many).

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #7 on:** March 01, 2024, 23:50 »

I'm down about 10% on Jan/Feb 2024 compared to Jan/Feb 2023.

Pacesetter · « **Reply #8 on:** March 02, 2024, 00:24 »

I watch his videos quite regularly and while he does spruik his course as a means for purchasing customers to make money in microstock, he does actually tell about the more adverse developments in the industry - which is quite the antithesis of what many "make-$10k-a-month-with-no-effort" Youtubers are putting up. I think he's being quite honest with his claims.

The thing that does bother me about it though is that this industry is really difficult for any beginner in microstock to make a decent income without an existing large collection of photos or videos ready to upload or a specialized in-demand niche of professional photography - typically produced from an experienced photographer / videographer that is already earning well from their profession.

Selling a course to beginners / novices in microstock is really selling false hopes in my opinion. I get some might say well it's possible if you work hard enough and upload quality content in demand and so on.... yes but if you're savvy enough to learn this and develop your craft along the way, you'll reach a level of success without the need to buy a course.

poco_bw · « **Reply #9 on:** November 29, 2024, 16:20 »

Quote from: stoker2014 on March 01, 2024, 09:26

I saw that video some time ago, must be content from a content farm, he is not sharing his user ID, weird numbers, always the same advice mostly pointing to take my course, most probably he is just the face for the content farm