Need some guidance

Hi, I’m a relatively new author here on VideoHive.. Just want to ask for some guidance on how to improve myself. Or at least know what’s the problem.

I’ve been uploading some files now (four, to be exact) over the past two/three months here. The thing is, my first item, had zero sales. I actually had high hopes that at least it would make a few sales. Not expecting anything much from it, just maybe a few sales on the first file to give me a little morale boost. Weeks went by, still 0. I don’t know about you guys, but it’s pretty demoralizing to see your first file to have 0 sales. So I told myself not to give up and just continue making files.

So I made my second one, uploaded it, got approved. Then I waited again. Of course, there were the usual comments of encouragement. Appreciated it. But, still no sales at all, for a very long time (after a very long time it finally got one sale). So, till now, my second file had only one sale.

Then, I uploaded my third file. Finally it got like, 5 sales. I got encouraged and made my fourth file. Uploaded, approved. Now it’s been around 2~3 days and it’s moved past the front page already. Still zero sales. I see most of the files uploaded around the same time as mine were getting at least 1 sale.

I deleted my first and second files because they were not generating anything at all and also their views were really low. My first file’s page views were so low that I feel embarassed to disclose it. Also, it was at the top of the list for projects arranged according to sales (logo sting category), in ascending order. Meaning, it’s practically the last project in it’s category. Also, I see other people (new authors, newer than me) getting more followers, whereas I only have 3, up to now. And two of them are from audiojungle, one of them followed me because I used their audio in my projects and told them about it.

I’m seeing some simple extruded logos with some simple camera movements getting much sales (not the top ones). Although I know my projects currently are not the top notch projects produced by some of the very talented authors here, I believe they are still worth something? I did not copy my projects from others and also I spend more time on my projects compared to the more experienced and professional authors due to the fact that I’m not as experienced yet. Also, I have done some of the marketing tips suggested by people in the forum, such as uploading my previews on sites like YouTube and Vimeo and linking them back to VideoHive.

Finally, I’m sorry for the long post, but it’s getting quite frustrating to experience the same thing over and over again. And also to see other new authors getting much more followers and also sales. I’m being honest here. I try my best to improve the quality of my work. I watch the top files and try to learn, pick up and experiment with some of the aspects of their work that I currently do not know or do yet. Stuff like good colour combinations, reflections, gloss, good camera movements, etc. Those small quality things that make their project files extra good. I need some guidance or something to improve the state that I’m in. Opinions and suggestions (even encouragement) are very much appreciated.

Thanks a lot, guys.

Hi, I will not be able to comment about your projects since I have not much experience but one thing I want to tell. I think deleting files with no sales after just few month is really wrong direction. With this deleting you comprimise your work done as well as work done by reviewers. If you don’t value your items and delete it then people also will not value it.

Per my observations sometimes items start selling after several month and sells good. Also if items are good even no sales it will help to deversify and enrich your portfolio. Of course if you constantly develop your skills and improve and have rich portfolio it may be good idea at some point to delete something old and ugly with no sales but deleting 2 out of 4 files after just few month does not make sence for me.

Just visited your profile page and now you have 4 followers.

Best Regards, Andrey

I’m not really someone who has much experience but I definitely understand how you’re feeling. If I were you, I would keep pumping out files and uploading them here; the more files you have the more sales you get. Also a good thing to do is to be active on the forums, this will gain you followers and exposure, feel free to start threads if you have questions etc. I wouldn’t recommend deleting files either because even if they’re not getting crazy amounts of sales they’re not harming your portfolio in any way. My last bit of advice for making files is always asking yourself: “How could someone use this?” and if you can’t think of a good answer then you probably need to change the file. I like the projects you have now by the way! Keep up the good work and be patient I guarantee you will get sales. -Graham

TyrProductions.do not give up, just make more items, but high technique.

Thanks for the suggestions guy

what i would like to say is here its a slow process but idea of deleting the file is very stupid my advice would be just keep on creating the projects it will sell don’t expect to get elite author batch in a month time it takes time so be patient.

keep all, never know:)

Neither of your files are bad.

I would suggest some little tidy ups and more attention to detail. On the longer file, the text Media 8, 9, 10 is not readable against the image. This is a design no-no and in the face of stiff competition from other files may be a deciding factor. You’ve also just cut the music off at the end. As the first thing to do, I would edit the music to length and include that edit in your project (or choose a track that’s the right length). Also, you’ve got an image in there back to front.

I would also suggest that you tell a little story. Maybe invent a presentation, rather than just having Media 1, Media 2 etc. It keeps viewers engaged and fires their imagination. And choose some images to suit. You’ll even learn something about your own template and how buyers think. Maybe when you try to insert a 12 word sentence into your Media 4 placeholder, you’ll start to think like a buyer. Or maybe when you try to decide what text to use to fill up all those unreadable lines of little text. What are they actually there for? Anything? Or maybe when you choose a different image and find it doesn’t fit the box so well.

I think very specific elements, like the posable wooden dolls are not in keeping with the rest of your concept. Can you imagine a client saying: “I’ve got a great product. I want to show it off in a really good light. It needs to have wooden dolls sitting next to it”?

Although you haven’t copied anyone, both of your files are files of which there are many similar types and I would say yours are not the best examples (that’s not meant badly – it’s just that there are some absolute killer ones out there these days at approximately the same price). If your concept were completely original, then you’d have no direct competition.

With the disintegrating logo, I’d make a similar suggestion. Ask yourself how many business want to see their logo disintegrating. If you had described it as glowing or energizing, you may have had more luck. Just a guess…

Also think about your thumbnails. This is what most people will see of your file… and what should entice them to click on it. Your “Inside the Box” thumbnail is the Envato Logo on white. Not good.

In terms of name, you could come up with something more positive or descriptive too. Since “outside the box”, means original and clever, “inside the box” might not come over the best. You could have called it “Fun Image Gallery” or “Box of Delights” or for the logo “Energizing Logo”, “Glowing Logo”.

Hope that helps.

Wow, you gave me a lot to think about. Didn’t realise those things before but now that you mention it I begin to see some of it.. Thanks a lot!

That’s the thing about becoming a good designer – you’ve got to have the eyes to see it. That comes with experience.