Significant Drop in Download Earnings - Is Anyone Else Experiencing This?

[Sunday39053484ky78]

Hello fellow Adobe Stock contributors,

I'm a relatively new contributor and I'm seeking some advice or shared experiences regarding a recent change in my earnings.

Until recently, I was averaging about $1 per image sale or download. However, since late last month, I've noticed a significant drop in my earnings. My download earnings have decreased to just $0.33 per sale or download.

While I've been fortunate to see an increase in the number of downloads lately, the lower earnings rate has significantly impacted my overall income from the platform.

I'm wondering:

1. Is anyone else experiencing a similar drop in earnings per download?

2. For more experienced contributors, is this a normal fluctuation or phase that new contributors go through?

3. Are there any steps I can take to improve my earnings?

Any insights, experiences, or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your help!

[Abambo]

This question comes up regularily. Fluctuations are normal. There may be multiple causes to a drop in your sales. The different royalties you get are caused by the different plans buyers have. The $1 sales are from a buyer who has a 10 assets per month plan. If you earn less, the buyer has a different plan. The number of sales can be improved by good keywording, and high quality assets, and continued submitting high quality assets.

[daniellei4510]

My royalty earnings have always been all over the place since day 1, from .33 to .99 and occasionally a little higher. If you've normally been paid the .99 rate, you've been lucky.

[Jill_C]

Same response that I posted on the Discord channel.

You have no control over the Buyer's subscription, therefore no control over the royalties that your assets earn. Even a $.33 sale is a good thing, though of course you'd rather have $.99, because the search algorithm favors assets that have been previously sold (unless the Buyer specifically filters for undiscovered content).

Best Place to Sell Photos Online, Footage Clips, Illustrations, & Vectors – Adobe Stock

My average for 2024 sales is ~$.87 each.

[Nancy OShea]

Your royalty rate remains the same regardless.

• 33% for photos, drawings, vectors, generative AI...
• 35% for videos

Your dollar rate fluctuates based on the type of license that was purchased and the type of plan the customer has. 

LICENSES:

• standard, enhanced or extended.

PLANS:

• 10 assets or 1 video/month; $3/asset or $30/video
• 25 assets or 3 videos/month; $2/asset or $16/video  
• 40 assets or 6 videos/month;  $2/asset or $12/video
• 750 assets or 25 videos/month; $0.26/asset or $8/video  (Teams & Enterprise users)

As a Contributor, there's nothing you can do about the customer's choices.  That's out of your hands.

But you can submit more videos, which earn more royalty fees.  And you can vary your assets to reach a wider customer base.

Hope that helps.

[Sunday39053484ky78]

Thanks so much. I really appreciate. Thanks you

[pixellicious]

I'm facing the exact same issue since October 2024. Has Adobe made any changes to the algorithm, i.e. the way how the search functions and throws up results? This is very strange and such a huge gap has never occured before. It's very strange and I'm just trying to understand if I need to make any changes to my titles, keywords, profile etc?

[daniellei4510]

No one here would know if Adobe has made changes to the algorithm, and it's doubtful that they have. Or maybe they have. We don't know. Not sure about October, but in November through January, there have been plenty of extended holidays, with some business shutting down entirely for a couple of weeks. And there are people taking vacations. And it's flu season. And Covid is making it's rounds again. There are so many factors that are or could be involved causing a slowdown in sales. I suspect things will pick up again sometime after January 1.

[Abambo]

Has Adobe made any changes to the algorithm, i.e. the way how the search functions and throws up results?

By @pixellicious

What has the amount of the royalties to do with any change in the search algorithm? OP is complaining in lower royalties, despite increased sales. You seem to complain about less sales. That is different.

The search algorithm may decide on the popularity of your assets, based on many factors. One factor may be the increased number of contributors and the slowing sales due to seasonal effects. That may be enough to slow down your sales. 

The best you can do is to contribute regularily, as that has been said to be the most influencial parameter on your sales, as new assets get an initial boost. Older assets fall down in popularity when they do not grab sales.

[pixellicious]

Didn't mention royalties amount. I am talking about number of downloads.

[Nancy OShea]

Didn't mention royalties amount. I am talking about number of downloads.
By @pixellicious

===========

The Original Poster asked about royalties. 

You've hijacked a 3-month-old discussion and taken it off-topic.  Next time, start a new topic of your own. 😉

[Nancy OShea]

Two unrelated issues.

The more you sell, the more visible you are in search results. If you're not selling as much, maybe you're not offering customers what they're searching for.  The left-hand washes the right & both hands wash the face.