4 Reasons why content creators might need a representation agency
Every day there are an increasing number of photo content creators, also known as microstockers, who are joining what is known as the microstock business channel. In essence, this involves the use of representation agencies that simplify the creation process and increases the profitability for content creators. After so many content creators joining this business channel, it is impressive to see that the sector has now reached a total turnover of about USD $3 billion in recent years, making it a very attractive option for thousands of graphic designers, photographers and illustrators, among others, around the world.
In this article, you will discover why joining a presentation agency for any type of content creator can be so useful, and how you can get started.
What is a microstocker and what is a representation agency for microstockers?
A microstocker is a digital content creator who distributes and monetizes their content on a number of sites and digital platforms. Traditionally, this was done by the microstocker themselves.
For several years now, however, representation agencies specializing in microstockers, have been able to negotiate and obtain better agreements for the content creators they represent, improving the profitability of their content.
How the microstock industry works
The microstock industry involves a number of online platforms that distribute and sell photographs, illustrations and videos to those that are looking for such content. Such online platforms include Getty Images, Shutterstock and others. Images and videos are sold at a lower price than in the traditional photo market, and can be downloaded and used digitally.
Content creators upload their images to microstock platforms, where they are available for buyers to download and use in their projects.
Each time a photo or video, for example, is downloaded, Microstock platforms typically charge a fee per download or for a monthly subscription, and the creator receives a percentage of the download price. The more a photo or video is downloaded, the more the content creator earns.
The main problems microstockers face
There are several problems that a microstocker faces on a day-to-day basis. These include:
- Payment problems
- Invoicing
- Negotiating with sites
- Procedures for uploading resources to each site
- Metadata configuration
- Dependence on a site in exclusivity
- Problems for the renewal or improvement of contracts
Each of these problems means the microstocker ends up spending large amounts of time dealing with them rather than focusing on what they do best, creating new content.
How representation agencies can help microstockers
To allow a microstocker more time to focus on their core business of creating great content, whether it be photos, videos, illustrations, or anything else, a microstocker representation agency primarily takes care of the below four aspects, that ultimately improves the profitability of the microstocker’s graphic resources:
- Promotion of the microstocker’s content
One of the main services offered by representation agencies is the diffusion, distribution and promotion of the microstocker’s content, making them reach a large number of sites, increasing the chances of signing new agreements and increasing their income.
- Financial intermediation
Once the microstocker becomes part of the agency, as a general rule, the agency will be in charge of negotiating with the sites the most favorable financial conditions for the microstocker so that the latter does not have to worry about getting the best financial conditions for their content.
- Incident management
While we would hope that everything is plain sailing, incidents between the platform and the microstocker often arise, sometimes even daily, that need dealing with. This is something the representation agency will take care of and resolve on behalf of the microstocker so they don’t spend lots of valuable time on administrative issues like these.
- Comprehensive advice
Due the broad experience agencies dealing with many content platforms, the agency’s team can provide comprehensive advice to the microstocker that will help the avoid common, and uncommon, pitfalls of their business. This advice can cover: new market trends, improvements in the management of their social networks, labor and / or tax advice, and more.
Optimize your work and maximize your profitability
Each microstocker is a specialist in the creation of a specific type of content, but sometimes, in order to manage it and maximize the profitability of their work, they need the help of professionals and specialists, who have the ability to negotiate with the most important sites, to get the best agreements and to solve all kinds of incidents.
For all this, and much more, there are representation agencies like Vecpho, which have agreements with the main sites in the world and manage more than 60 million graphic resources of all kinds.
Author: Álvaro García Copé, CEO of Vecpho
Álvaro García Copé is an entrepreneur and professional growth hacker as well as CEO of Vecpho, a representation agency that helps microstockers. Vecpho’s services bring profit, security, development and growth to microstock authors and was created to represent microstockers get the best conditions for their content on a variety of different microstock sites.