Some feed back on 123RF please - WARNING...this is a MIZ posted thread

[rjmiz]

I have been on 123RF for about 2 months now. I have about 400 images or so on site.
Without really making any comments about myself, I would be extremely interested in
knowing...(getting a feel) about how others are doing there.

I also would like to hear comments from people who refuse or will not upload there.

Are you happy with results you have had?
How long have you been with them?
Does the automatic payment method affect you in any negative way?
Have you noticed cookies in your browser require you to log in after a brief time away?
How does this site compare with some of your favorite sites?

Any input would be appreciated.

Cranky MIZ
The voice of reason

[ichiro17]

Not a fan of the site.  I stopped uploading a while back.  I've been at the site for over 2 years.

Results:  Never had more than 20 dollars in a month, but then again, like I just said, I have stopped uploading a while back and my newer stuff is much better than my older stuff.

From what I gather, some people have lots of success and some don't.  I probably fall into the "some don't" category.

[cdwheatley]

I have a little over 400 images and been there about 8 months. I see 123 about the same as bigstock, #6, and #7. Maybe these sites would be better if you had a huge port? The search placement at both of these sites is a mystery. It your images aren't visible, they probably won't sell that often. If I had better search placement, I might be singing a different tune.

I sell 4 times as many images on either dreamstime, fotolia, or stockexpert. If I was going to get rid of 2 sites, bigstock and 123 would be the first to go. On bigstock, I sell the same image over and over again because its the only one with good search placement, that same image has mediocre sales everywhere else.

[michealo]

Make sure and Fave 5% of your images, it makes quite a difference to sales.

It's very quick to upload to - no categories or anything, so if you already have IPTC embedded data its a no brainer to submit there.

They tend to accept alot for the most part

[Kngkyle]

I've only been on 123RF for about 15 days or so now. So far I have been very happy. My 2nd day I got an EL, and have had multiple other sales since then. So far it looks to be comparable to Fotolia, or at the very least Bigstock.

[Jimi King]

Up until a recent price change 123 was very good value for buyers as you could get an 800 pixel download for 1 credit. I used them in preference to iStock for that reason. Sales seemed to have dropped a bit since the price rise.

Like Michealo says, be sure to mark 5% of your portfolio as "faves" as they rank higher in searches and most definitely produce more sales.

[lisafx]

I have been there since the beginning of the site.  I have roughly 3500 pics on 123RF.  They are consistently around 3% of my sales. 

In spite of uploading like crazy and using all the tools they make available to improve portfolio exposure (faves list, donate to free section, fill out profile questions, etc.), I can't seem to get my monthly income there to rise significantly.

Michaelo is right, the upload process is very easy, and I manage enough DL's to get regular payouts so for me it is still worth uploading there. 

For those that are seeing sales increases, good for you!  Wish I knew the secret...

[Phil]

I dont know any secrets beyond faves but they are number 4 for me for micros this month (behind IS,SS,DT) and always around 4th-5th

[rjmiz]

I want to thank you all for your responses.
It was quite helpful in that it gave me perspective as to what I can expect.

I thank you all very much for the insight.

(you'll excuse me now, I have to go back to being cranky)

Cranky MIZ
The voice of reason

[Peter]

3000+ images. 50-60$ per month. Not bad for 123rf.

The only thing that annoys me is that I have to log in every time, it wont remember my login status, I hate I have to login every time.

[nicemonkey]

I found that donating my images for free made a big difference in sales, they doubled from one month to the next and putting on 10 or so free images a month they have stayed at that level.

[fotografer]

I've also got about 400 images and after 6 months make about 90$ a month with my best sellers from other sites. So worth it for an extra income especially with their ease of uploads. 
The faves really seem to work but haven't given anything away free and probably won't as I don't want to give something away free that I am selling or could sell elsewhere.
Saying that the only site that I have images at that does worse is crestock but I started uploading to them and then stopped because it was 90% sub sales.

[Microbius]

About $200 a month for me. Better than BS and much better than CS. Worth it for the easy uploads, I just whack 'em up there and forget about 'em.
Might start doing the 5% fave thing now that it's been recommended!

[hospitalera]

After SS and IS my third bestselling site. SY

[graficallyminded]

Love it - close to BigStock earnings, maybe a little less.  But it grows with the more images I dump in.  Awesome site, easy upload - I think more sales will come in the future.

[cphoto]

123rf has the best growth for me, my sales almost double every month, and it's now my #4 after SS, StockXpert, and IS.

Makes me 4 times more money than Fotolia, and 7 times more money than BigStock.

They have also a very fast/upload process.

I love this site!  And they do care about photogs.

[Pixart]

Slow, slow, slow.  I open 123 and when it is loading I can check status of 2 other sites.   Sales are the same.  I make about .09 RPI /month there. 

[shutterdrop]

I request cancellation off my account without an lucky. I have deleted most of the images that I uploaded.

I can describe 123rf in two words: MALFUNCTION JUNCTION!

[tan510jomast]

I am NEW to 123rf, so sales I haven't had any to report.
I do not have too many images there either...only 18.
 But this much i can tell you, alex is very communicative, and you can write him if you have any problem.

one thing also, you have a backup system with 123rf in that you can download your own images "free" if ever you lost your original.
something i discovered last night.
FREE is only for us contributors.

maybe not so important to others, but if your archives fail, i am sure
no one will be complaining it's irrelevant

[dullegg]

I request cancellation off my account without an lucky. I have deleted most of the images that I uploaded.

I can describe 123rf in two words: MALFUNCTION JUNCTION!

HOW did you delete your images? I don't see a delete feature
anywhere on the portfolio edit page?

[anonymous]

250 images
$25-$35 per month
uber-easy upload, fire and forget
...agree with Peter tho, having to log in everytime is a bit agrivating.

[madelaide]

123RF is like BigStock to me: steady and reliable income, staying around the 5th-7th positions for me.  Until recently, BigStock performed much better for me.  Lately 123RF showed some increase, but the subs sales make me mad.

Regards,
Adelaide

[CofkoCof]

123rf makes around 6% of monthly sales for me. It's ahead of IS (smaller portfolio due to 15 images per week rule) and close to DT (way ahead of BigStock). Faves really help, wish other images would sell as the faved ones do. Site works fine, downloads are steady, uploading is easy, reviewers are fair. Things I don't like: vectors can't be uploaded by ftp, percentage of sub sales is pretty high, you don't stay logged in and have to relog every time you visit the site. Overall I find 123rf a great site and hope it will continue to grow in the right direction.

[4seasons]

I'm a bit disappointed with 123.

Despite the fact that I'm uploading regularly and expanded my portfolio from ~2000 to ~3000 images last 10 month, my earnings are not growing and they are still on the same level they were a year ago.
Maybe it is general rule for all microstock in nowdays: you must work hard just to stay on the same level.

123RF is my 4-5 most earner together with Stockxpert. And this may be bright side, that earnings are steady and did not declined.

[DanP68]

123RF typically contributes about 4-5% of my overall earnings.  They have not yet caught Bigstock for my monthly earnings, but the gap has closed.

I like them.  I particularly like the ability to Fave images and personally control the images I want to showcase.  Not sure why other agencies haven't tried something like this, as it empowers the contributor.

The volume is much lower than the members of the Big 5, so it is hard to draw conclusions. But to me it does seem as though they are growing. Time will tell, good luck Miz.