MicrostockGroup

Hello all!

This is my first post here.  I've been reading for a few months, finding lots of insightful information, and figured it was time to "enter the fray."

I've been uploading to several microstock sites since late in 08, and it's been a fun, rewarding experience.  Every month until July 09 has been a "BME."  I've been steadily uploading about 50-60 images a month, with the goal of 2 a day, so I imagine that helps keep the portfolio fresh and my pics  near the top if the buyer is searching by newest first.  (It's worth noting that I've been striving to create a diverse portfolio, mixing up my subject matter so I'm not cannibalizing my own sales.)

So things were going great until July hit, and my growth stopped.  No complaints... July was flat to June, which I guess I expected.  But then August rolls in and my downloads are taking an even bigger hit.

Since I have yet to go through an entire 12-month cycle, I'm wondering if this is common, or if this is an indication that my "beginner's growth" is running out. 

Please share your:

1. Best months
2. Worst months
3. Did you have a "beginner's growth" period that noticeably tailed off after a number of months, and if so, after how many months did it happen?

Thanks!

This is my 2nd year and I can say there isn't really a big summer slump.

But If you have to choose a worst month I would choose August.

This month so far has been slower than last year's August. All the other months are good for me, I don't think there is a noticable difference apart from august.

I post my stats on-line since June 2007 at http://microstockexperiment.blogspot.com/
I did not really experienced a summer slowdown but I upload regularly so it might explain. Also small portfolios are more susceptible to variation

IS took over SS three months ago as number 1 , looks like I reached  a plateau at SS a long time ago

Also, out of curiosity, do you track return per image (RPI)?  I'm finding that to be an effective way to identify trends.  As you add to your portfolio, you would expect your revenue to go up, but only if your return per image holds steady.  

I track a daily and monthly RPI.  I had been holding steady at about $.11 daily RPI, allowing me to predict my revenue growth as I added new images, but that has taken a hit these past few months, knocking me down to about $.085 RPI today.  Not sure what to think about how the next several months will go.

Without a crystal ball, I guess the best plan is to just keep steadily uploading!

I don't track RPI and don't consider it a useful metric.  Two reasons: first, some images age, either because of improvements in resolution and quality (I've been submitting for four years, and the technical requirements have changed dramatically in that time) or because the subject itself starts to look dated; and second, because the number of images I can get from a shoot varies dramatically with the subject. 

A day of shooting architecture or landscapes or isolated food may yield a half dozen submitted images, where a studio shoot can produce up to a hundred different poses in different outfits with different backdrops.  Those hundred may give me considerably more sales than the half dozen, even though the RPI tells a different story.

Instead of RPI, I track a moving twelve month sales period: September 08 - August 09 vs. August 08 - July 09.  That reduces seasonal variables and shows me how my growing portfolio is really doing.  That shows a steady increase in sales, although it does of course require a full year of data before you can compare.

I think this shows that everyone finds their own ways of tracking progress.  Whatever gives you insight on how to create the most marketable images is what you should do.

I also track moving averages -- 14-day to show short-term trends and 120-day to show the long-term -- but for my forecasting, I think RPI is the single number that matters most to me.  My short term goal is to earn $100 a day, and if I know I'll earn an average of $.10 daily RPI, I need to have a portfolio of 1,000 images to do $100/day.  If I upload 3 images a day, I will have 1,000 images after just under a year, and will be at my desired $100/day level... but only if my RPI holds steady. 

So for me, it all boils down to two numbers: my uploads (which I control) times my RPI (which I don't control but watch like a hawk) = my goal.