Drop in sales due to algorithm change?

Yes mate, that's how we are, I've spent 4 years setting up my store, trying to learn the algorithm and understand the plataform, and I finally got to earn good money every month, but since April sales have plummeted and now the 2 weakest months to sell are coming ... This was going to be my year, but it looks like it won't be.

I would not have commented anything if the comments I read in this other forum had not coincided with the April date with the drop in sales in general, that confirms this algorithm change, but I do not quite understand how it benefits them, and if it does not benefit them because they are still determined to maintain it... a mystery lol

No change in the rate of sales for my models. In fact, there is a slight increase in my sales for this month, over the last two months.

It's funny how some people think that CGT (or someone else) need to offer explanation why their sales are low or non existent, condemning the algorithm change. In my opinion CGT search was always "promoting" models of those artist who have high number of rep points when it comes to the most selling categories, no matter does their model/s justify customer search query. Just to be clear the number of uploaded models were decisive in order to get sales (rep points), as its mentioned here on this forum for milion times. I think that search is more fair/precise now, wich will save buyers time in order to find exactly what suit their needs and at the same time encourage small artists to be more productive wich will create even a bigger offer here on cgt.

So why would one sales drop after some search algorithm changes?
Are you suspecting the order of your products has changed?

You can test this out yourself right?
If you type the keywords to your products, do you now find them way in the back or something?

For me I notice no change at all in the position of my products (as easily to find as ever) and jet see a steep drop in sales.

If your products are in the store at same position and as easily to find as ever, the reason for drop in sales must be something ells right?

By the way, when searching by keywords "spacecraft", "spaceship", "starship" (for example) models author this discussion in the first positions.
The fact that even sci-fi models, like any others, may just someday lose demand for reasons unrelated with CGT Team, conflicts in the world, etc., are not considered?

And as for the demand for explanations, how do you imagine it?

Hey, yes, we really decided that it was time for fat studios to lose some weight and therefore changed the algorithm.
Fat will lose a little weight (this is useful) and thin designers who have previously sat with 20$/month will be able to gain weight.

In any case, assuming that small designers with pretty good models now really have a better chance for sales, what's wrong with that?

Curious fact - i noticed that cgtrader silently withdrew at least one of recently introduced magic AI improvement from search algorithm. I can only guess the reasons behind this decision, but maybe almighty AI is not such gift from heaven, like some are keen to think?

Someone of course might argue that demand can't fall so fast. But considering for example that on some freelance platforms such a "profession" as an AI artist has already appeared while a person doesn't have any skills in classical, digital painting, modeling or sculpting, he simply writes text requests, there is no doubt that anything can change, and much faster than expected.

Among the thousands of artists, there must be a hundred who had a bad month. For example, these hundred people change every month. Here, too, there are complaints about sales every month. The sales of different artists will decrease in the next month and the topic will be opened again here. My sales have also dropped, but it's not about this site. There are the same models on other sites and the situation is the same. Therefore, the graph does not always go up or steady. That's a problem if your sales drop for a year. But you're only talking about a few months.

Hm, interesting. You enter "Sophia" but search changes keyword to "Sophium": https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-models?keywords=sophia

It turns out that through the search for this keyword it is impossible to find either the original https://www.cgtrader.com/free-3d-models/character/woman/sophia-003-animated-idling-casual-woman or stolen duplicate https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-models/character/other/sophia-animated-001-idling (which of course will be deleted tomorrow).

If someone tries to find a Ford Ghia or a Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia by keyword "Ghia" he will not find anything either: https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-models?keywords=Ghia.

It is possible that such a bug is also present with other keywords.

Indium, medium, mafium, nostalgium, morium. Well, just perfect.

Just for interest I'm joined for a moment today modern trends: https://ibb.co/Ns49mGx

Of course AI generators are different and maybe the most popular of them (whose names cannot be spoken) have already learned how to sculpt anatomically correct hands. But despite this, I think that various bugs are possible, which, like the shape of the hands, distort the search keywords and models view in search results.

By the way, returning to Sophia. When following from the model page via tags all is ok: https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-models/sophia i.e. distorted only search query.

Well, of course some strange autocorrecting, though...maybe there's something to it. : D

If (for example) I search for a frog but accidentally make a mistake https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-models?keywords=frug CGT doesn't fix keyword but offers me pills, cannabis, mushrooms and marijuana.

Of course this is only assumption but still if these words "Search with AI describing what you looking for" mislead buyers and they enter incorrect, inaccurate, too long queries, believing that search with AI is something much more smarter than simple search with tags and (for example) instead of writing "voldemort" they are looking for "bald man without nose" and as result don't find what they need.

FYI for those interested, I have spoken to support and they said:

"Our team is currently investigating the issue and we hope to have a resolution soon.

Regarding the recent change in our search engine, indeed, it's possible that it may have affected the sales. However, I can assure you that we are constantly working to improve our algorithms and we will do our best to ensure that your products are visible to potential buyers.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, we really hope to get this sorted asap."

Good to know it hasn't fallen on deaf ears, lets see if there is an upwards change in the coming months :)

Quote: "and that several people have already noticed a drop in sales since this date"

No Sir!

Most of us noticed a MAJOR drop in sales directly already after the "Pfizer Shots".

Next, after beginning of the Russia-Ukraine BS.

After digital thiefs could hack stuff on Sketchfab with all kinds of cheap hacking scripts with Utube instructions and upload them virtually to every marketplace.

And lastly, after CGT implemented a new search alogorythm that seems indeed to decrease sales for many.

PS: soon we will also experience a new layer of "drops in sales" when;
1. 50% jabbed potential buyers do the "Pfizer Drop"
2. indies go cold with development and big tech including big pubs reach monopols also within causal games areas
3. nobody cares anymore about "nice BG graphics" and puts just rainbow styled XLGBT flags for backgrounsds

A?

AS

Artificial Stupidity.

Thieving beggars ukrainians are stealing models again. Here comes the drop in sales.