123RF Top Tier - Big 5?

[maigi]

Isn't it time to move 123RF to Top 5 sites on MS classification? It's clearly above Middle Tier agencies for months already.
What do you think?
Or is this classification somehow automatic according to Earnings Rating?
I think 123RF is one of the top agencies among SS, IS, DT and FT.

[rubyroo]

If my numbers are anything to go by, they'll soon be in the top four.

I certainly hope so.  For the last couple of months, I've gone from averaging two times more to three times more monthly on 123RF than FT.  They're looking very good from here.

[hofhoek]

It's above FT and slightly below DT as far as I'm concerned. And they p(l)ay fair!

[PedroV]

They are doing amazingly well last months!

[stockmarketer]

I agree that 123RF is on the rise.  Each month lately has been a BME for me there.

But Top Tier?  Big 5?  By my numbers, no, not by a long shot.

To me, 123RF is regularly behind BigStock, if only a little bit.

For perspective, DT is my #4, and 123 typically earns just under 1/3 of what I earn at DT.

For now, 123 is the definition of Middle Tier.  But like the rest of you, I'd love to see it continue its growth and earn a spot at the top.  It's fair and a great agency to deal with.

[sharpshot]

123rf has never been anywhere near the top 4 for me.  I haven't seen much change in recent months.  It's strange how some people do much better than others with them.

[ibogdan]

They are definitely above FT for months and have battle with Dt lately. I'll place them on top 4 for sure!

[disorderly]

They're a consistent #3 for me. Way ahead of DT.

[Phil]

been rising all year for me, this month they are doing better than FT, based on trend about 6 months will overtake DT for me

[luissantos84]

big time, 123RF is the coolest agency at the moment (after SS obviously)

[klsbear]

They've been growing for me too - in the #3 spot for the past few months.

[alex123rf]

Here's a tip: have your used your faved allocation?

http://www.123rf.com/myfavimages.php

How this works is that it'll float your top 5% good images right up to the top of the search results.

Will work well for everyone!

When you get seen, you'll sell more

Alex.

[Wim]

4th place for me behind SS, IS and slightly behind DT

Thanks for the sales and Keep up the good work!

[Wim]

Just noticed 123RF is with Top Tier, is this the first?

Like I've said in the post above, you deserve it guys, good work!

[stockmarketer]

Just noticed 123RF is with Top Tier, is this the first?

Like I've said in the post above, you deserve it guys, good work!

Putting 123RF in the Top Tier just doesn't reflect reality as I know it.

My Middle Tier agencies each generate around 10% of the earnings of either of my Top 2: SS and FT.  

123RF is certainly on the rise for me, but it is far, far from Top Tier in my view.

And FT in the Middle Tier?  That just seems like we're punishing it for the recent dustup.  Are the majority of people here REALLY earning more on 123 than on FT?  Again, for me FT earnings beat 123 about 10x over.

[rubyroo]

 Are the majority of people here REALLY earning more on 123 than on FT?  

Yes!    (well... I can only speak for me, obviously)

The last two months I earned three times as much on 123RF as FT (haven't done this months figures yet)
The previous two it was twice as much as FT.

The last time  FT outstripped 123RF for me was January 2011 (when FT was double 123RF), but since then, 123RF have initially levelled with FT, and from that point have been consistently showing an ever-increasing upward trend.

I'm so pleased for them, I've been smiling all morning.

ETA:  OK, I've just done my figures.  This month I made two-and-a-half times more at 123RF.

[ingesche]

Personally, I think 123RF deserves to be up there.  I have a small port on all of the sites that are currently in the top 6, and 123RF is my #3 best selling site.  I do add as many faves as the number of images in my port allows me to.  I leave some of them there all the time, and I rotate some to see how they do, sometimes also depending on the season...

[Wim]

.

[fujiko]

123RF is increasing every day and FT is going down every day.

I believe that FT will go down even more and will eventually die if they don't change their attitude.

[rubyroo]

It's often said that:  "A happy workforce is a productive worfkorce" - and I'm sure we all know that's true.

So it must follow that:  A happy supplier is a productive supplier

Conversely, an UNhappy supplier, will simply become demotivated, and end up as an ex-supplier.

Thanks 123RF for being on the side of keeping us happy  With all the good news this week from three agencies, I'm feeling MUCH more motivated to produce more and better work - all of it will go to the suppliers who value their contributors, and no-one else.

It's kind of funny (peculiar) that crowd-sourcing was borne out of an understanding of human behaviour, and yet some of the other agencies seem to have no concept of human behaviour at this point in the game.  Even if we try to tell them 'til we're blue in the face.  Personally, I think they should stop reading these frickin' war-style business books and start reading 'How to Win Friends and Influence People'.  Also, studying a bit of motivation theory wouldn't go amiss.

[lagereek]

In spite of finishing with 123, ( deleted my port there, 700 images),  did not get on with their reviewing programs. I wish them luck! and they deserve it, fair and down to earth agency.

well done!

[fotografer]

I wish I could say that 123rf was up there in the top 4 but even with FT dropping to a third of my previous earnings they are still making me 6 times more than 123.  
123 is in 6th place for me as I make half there than what I do at bigstock.
It always surprises me when people get anything like the earnings on the smaller sites as they do on what I consider to be the big 4.

[BaldricksTrousers]

It's kind of funny (peculiar) that crowd-sourcing was borne out of an understanding of human behaviour, and yet some of the other agencies seem to have no concept of human behaviour at this point in the game. 

Is it just an accident that SS and DT were among the first to see the potential and both have their founders still at the helm, Fotolia was a latecomer that saw the business potential and IS has been sold to people who have no link with its past?

 

[rubyroo]

Aha!  Excellent points Mr Trousers.  I think you've hit the nail on the head there.  Very well observed!

[fotografer]

Is it just an accident that SS and DT were among the first to see the potential and both have their founders still at the helm, Fotolia was a latecomer that saw the business potential and IS has been sold to people who have no link with its past?

 

I do so well at DT and live in fear of them selling the site.!!!

[toots]

Well I've just had my BME on 123 

It is my number 3 agency now, with SS first, DT second, I don't upload to IS anymore, and I've stopped uploading to FT when they cut the commission last time around.

123rf is almost taking over DT's place for me now too - so keep up the good work, it is paying off - well at least for me.

Good to see it up in the Top Tier in the Poll Results right now. 

[cidepix]

1- Putting 123RF in the Top Tier just doesn't reflect reality as I know it.

2- Are the majority of people here REALLY earning more on 123 than on FT?  

1- No, It does! For me 123rf does much better than fotolia

2- Yes, otherwise why would we vote them into top tier just for the fun of it

[Mantis]

1- Putting 123RF in the Top Tier just doesn't reflect reality as I know it.

2- Are the majority of people here REALLY earning more on 123 than on FT?  

1- No, It does! For me 123rf does much better than fotolia

2- Yes, otherwise why would we vote them into top tier just for the fun of it

For me 123 has jumped about $20 a month after the last Istock debacle.  But it is still 1/2 of Fotolia's monthly income.  I look at stuff in terms of repeatability, so I don't get a boner when I have a good month.  Rather I wait to see if the next 6-12 months repeat before I would claim a rise (no pun intended) in status to top tier.

[klsbear]

YTD my sales at FT and 123 are just about the same with 123 ahead by a few dollars but if you look at just the last 3 months, 123 is more than double the sales I've been getting at FT.  RPD at FT is just $0.35 for those three months whereas RPD for 123 over the same timeframe is $0.87.  I've seen a definate trend of one site moving down and the other moving up over the past few months.

[sharpshot]

I would be interested to know if people doing better with 123rf than FT have a lot more images with 123rf?  Or perhaps it's because FT are selling a lot of old images and all the newer contributors are having more success with 123rf?

I still sell a lot more with FT but they are on a downward trend.  123rf had never been a big earner for me, it's often behind BigStock.

[leaf]

I would be interested to know if people doing better with 123rf than FT have a lot more images with 123rf?  Or perhaps it's because FT are selling a lot of old images and all the newer contributors are having more success with 123rf?

I still sell a lot more with FT but they are on a downward trend.  123rf had never been a big earner for me, it's often behind BigStock.

I wondered about the new photography theory.

Fotolia seems to sell a small set of images lots, but if you don't have images in that small subset, you won't get very good sales there.  If that good selling subset is old images from 'old' photographers then new photographers would see a lot better results at 123RF.  interesting none the less, for me last month 123RF earned 1/4 of what Fotolia earned

[lagereek]

I would be interested to know if people doing better with 123rf than FT have a lot more images with 123rf?  Or perhaps it's because FT are selling a lot of old images and all the newer contributors are having more success with 123rf?

I still sell a lot more with FT but they are on a downward trend.  123rf had never been a big earner for me, it's often behind BigStock.

Same here. FT,  is lightyears ahead 123,  in just about everything.  I think 123rf, is the kind of agency that attracts ordinary shots, plenty of generic material but the minute you give their reviewers something they dont really understand, well then they chose not to understand.
My revenues from FT, was abot 10 times that of 123.

[sharpshot]

It's often said that:  "A happy workforce is a productive worfkorce" - and I'm sure we all know that's true.

So it must follow that:  A happy supplier is a productive supplier

Conversely, an UNhappy supplier, will simply become demotivated, and end up as an ex-supplier.

Thanks 123RF for being on the side of keeping us happy  With all the good news this week from three agencies, I'm feeling MUCH more motivated to produce more and better work - all of it will go to the suppliers who value their contributors, and no-one else.

It's kind of funny (peculiar) that crowd-sourcing was borne out of an understanding of human behaviour, and yet some of the other agencies seem to have no concept of human behaviour at this point in the game.  Even if we try to tell them 'til we're blue in the face.  Personally, I think they should stop reading these frickin' war-style business books and start reading 'How to Win Friends and Influence People'.  Also, studying a bit of motivation theory wouldn't go amiss.

I agree.  I think some of the big microstock sites are acting like they are the only place to buy and sell images.  They might of been squeezed by their investors and have little choice but to try and take money from us.  Luckily, there is still some healthy competition and some sites have realised that keeping their contributors and buyers happy is the best way to build their business.  I wonder if the sites that have lost a lot of contributors and buyers goodwill can change their strategy or are they just going to continue until it's too late?

[Microbius]

Just to add my vote, 123 overtook FT for the first time for me last month too

[Phil]

123RF is increasing every day and FT is going down every day.

same for me, 123 earnt me more last month than FT

[fotografer]

It's stange because I had a particularly bad month on 123rf.  I'm not seeing the love that the rest of you are
Bigstock made up for it though by giving me a BME with a 50% rise on my previous BME.

[cidepix]

I would be interested to know if people doing better with 123rf than FT have a lot more images with 123rf?  Or perhaps it's because FT are selling a lot of old images and all the newer contributors are having more success with 123rf?

I still sell a lot more with FT but they are on a downward trend.  123rf had never been a big earner for me, it's often behind BigStock.

I have more images on FT and 123rf still sells better..

[rubyroo]

I have more at 123RF, but that's mainly because it took me aeons to figure out FT's acceptance criteria.

Of images produced in the last year-and-a-half, it'd be about the same.

I think Tyler makes a very good point here about only selling a subset of the whole port.  That's certainly true for me - and if your subset is vastly more popular with FT's buyers than mine, that would explain it perfectly, no?

@ Fotografer - maybe it just takes a while for the 'love' to reach into every corner.  Hopefully it will reach you soon! 

[ThomasAmby]

Really odd that 123RF pushed down Fotolia.
Last month was my BME at 123rf, but still earnings there were only 20% of my Fotolia earnings that same month. I would never have guessed other people are seeing such great results with 123RF compared to FT

[Slovenian]

 Are the majority of people here REALLY earning more on 123 than on FT?  

Yes!    (well... I can only speak for me, obviously)

ETA:  OK, I've just done my figures.  This month I made two-and-a-half times more at 123RF.

YES! 3x more in my case. I'll support them as long as they don't make cuts. After that I have no love for them whatsoever

[MikLav]

it is still a middle tier for me. It's doing constantly better than bigstock for the last few months, but is constantly behind IS, SS, DT, FL (few times less earnings). I do however hear from some people outside this forum that 123rf is performing very well for them, like a top tier agency.

[fotografer]

@ Fotografer - maybe it just takes a while for the 'love' to reach into every corner.  Hopefully it will reach you soon! 

LOL I hope you are right

[Sadstock]

Here's a tip: have your used your faved allocation?

http://www.123rf.com/myfavimages.php

How this works is that it'll float your top 5% good images right up to the top of the search results.

Will work well for everyone!

When you get seen, you'll sell more

Alex.

-------------------------------------------

Thanks!  I had no idea. 

Is it possible to deselect an image once chosen or is this a one time choice? 

[fotografer]

-------------------------------------------

Thanks!  I had no idea. 

Is it possible to deselect an image once chosen or is this a one time choice? 

Yes you can deselect and choose a new one whenever you want.

[cidepix]

I would never have guessed other people are seeing such great results with 123RF compared to FT

Or maybe we are seeing such awful results at fotolia which makes 123rf look great

[llareggub]

I have only been contributing for 9 months but to date, FT only constitutes 3% of my earnings where as 123RF constitutes 17% there are approximately 25% more images in my 123RF portfolio than my FT portfolio.

Even my IStock revenue outstrips FT by a ratio of 3:1 and I only managed to get on there 5 months ago with the restrictive 18 image a week upload to contend with also.

I have no idea who sells at FT but I have seen nothing to give me a glimmer of hope over the lsat 9 months as a new contributor, 123RF on the other hand just keepp on motorin'.

[lagereek]

I have only been contributing for 9 months but to date, FT only constitutes 3% of my earnings where as 123RF constitutes 17% there are approximately 25% more images in my 123RF portfolio than my FT portfolio.

Even my IStock revenue outstrips FT by a ratio of 3:1 and I only managed to get on there 5 months ago with the restrictive 18 image a week upload to contend with also.

I have no idea who sells at FT but I have seen nothing to give me a glimmer of hope over the lsat 9 months as a new contributor, 123RF on the other hand just keepp on motorin'.

Yes but,  really,  with sites like SS, IS, DT and FT,  you really need a much bigger portfolio, you know,  when you reach around a thousand images, you get a good idea of the various percentages.

[llareggub]

I have only been contributing for 9 months but to date, FT only constitutes 3% of my earnings where as 123RF constitutes 17% there are approximately 25% more images in my 123RF portfolio than my FT portfolio.

Even my IStock revenue outstrips FT by a ratio of 3:1 and I only managed to get on there 5 months ago with the restrictive 18 image a week upload to contend with also.

I have no idea who sells at FT but I have seen nothing to give me a glimmer of hope over the lsat 9 months as a new contributor, 123RF on the other hand just keepp on motorin'.

Yes but,  really,  with sites like SS, IS, DT and FT,  you really need a much bigger portfolio, you know,  when you reach around a thousand images, you get a good idea of the various percentages.

I agree whole heartedly, my portfolio is growing at a fairly rapid rate so making any valued judgements at the moment is difficult but can only speak from my experience, maybe after another 12months and a full trip through an annual cycle I may have a better understanding

In terms of the larger sites my portfolio sizes and sales revenue % for the last month read.

500 123RF 15.8%
400 DT 12.5%
350 FT 3.3%
270 SS 40.8%
200 IS 21.6%

[CD123]

Had my BME with 123RF in Sept. - also evened total number of images sold on FT in 10 months in this 1 month on 123RF.  Have submitted exactly the same images to both - port. at FT 262 - port. at 123RF 824. 123RF also outperformed FT with average income per image.
In my view 123RF deserves their position above FT over and over.

[maigi]

Just wondering if Top Tier is some sort of automated classification? Or manually managed?
I still feel there should be Big 5 actually. SS, IS, DT, FT and 123RF are top 5 agencies, and others are a little bit behind.
Interesting to see how it all adds up next month. Sales are picking up everywhere.
Also I can't wait to see PhotoDune in Middle Tier. When we start to see stats of that agency?

[lisafx]

I would have to disagree about 123rf.  They have never been more than 2% of my income.  By contrast, Bigstock is 5% but I don't think that makes them top tier either.

[Pixart]

I don't get it.  123 CS FT are always tied for the bottom and 123 often wins.  They earn between 1-3% for me, some months it's not even  a full 1%.

[helenlbuxton]

Well, I'm pretty new at all of this and 123RF is only the third agency I've joined after DT and FT, but so far I'm pretty impressed with them. Maybe it depends on the type of photos you upload? I specialise in food photos and have already had about 8 or 9 sales there since I started uploading no more than about a month ago (with a portfolio of only about 50 photos). The sales have started a LOT faster than they did at either DT and FT and I'm most definitey just an improving amateur. Let's see how things continue ... 

[stockmarketer]

Looking at how the different agencies perform for me, there are clear division points.

SS, FT, IS, DT are clear top tier agencies, just by looking at my sales and nothing else.

BigStock, 123, DP, CanStockPhoto are grouped together in a pretty clear second tier.

GL is doing well and on the rise, and could get into the second tier sometime soon.  The rest are just also-rans and I think they'll forever be bottom feeders.

[Sadstock]

I don't get it.  123 CS FT are always tied for the bottom and 123 often wins.  They earn between 1-3% for me, some months it's not even  a full 1%.

-----------------------------
Don't know if this is what is driving the issue, but I'm a diamond on Istock and former exclusive and SS and DT won't accept the vast majority of my images that I've had on IS because of their restrictive acceptance policies whereas 123 and CS have taken almost all of it.  As a result, My sales on 123 and CS are pretty good.  Maybe other new to independence or new to stock are having similar issues, so relatively speaking, those people are reporting growing sales at 123 and Canstock?

[rinderart]

Lets just wait and see. problem is what some consider great others,....That have been around dont. Some make 50 dollars and go Woo Hoo. My apoligizes to Tyler but, The polls here don't reflect what i think anyone should gauge there time On. It's about the work. It always has been and always will be.

[Lawren]

123RF is real Big 4 for me. I got $82 and $ 87 in September and October. FT and DT are less than 123RF.

[Microbius]

Lets just wait and see. problem is what some consider great others,....That have been around dont. Some make 50 dollars and go Woo Hoo. My apoligizes to Tyler but, The polls here don't reflect what i think anyone should gauge there time On. It's about the work. It always has been and always will be.

The polls have always been broadly in line with my earnings with maybe one or two of the sites further down the list being off.
I know a lot of the pro micro guys have similar views.
It just seems to be a few independents that only sell (well) on SS or have smaller portfolios so are more prone to ebb and flow that tend to complain about their accuracy.
We can start a poll to check this out maybe?

[ToniFlap]

123 was always better than FT for me. Although she has been rather bad ... some months, unlike the survey ...

[nicku]

After joining FT and 123RF, what can i say .... 123RF is selling twice as much as FT; for me is way, way ahead of FT.

[mtkang]

I do mix of illustrations and some photos..most photos aren't done in studio.

123rf had a obvious increasing of sales recent months, I focused on dreamstime and fotolia, trying to make the earnings improved every month, but 123rf ends up the one who make the earnings improved every months, something which dreamstime and fotolia is not working for me.

they pay fair and the uploading is faster than dreamstime and fotolia..ftp with IPTC data..and all you need is one click to send them for review.

Here is my referral link:

http://www.123rf.com/#mtkang

[microstockphoto.co.uk]

123RF is doing fine - better than IS and DT, and just below FT

But for me it's more like a Big One (Shutterstock) and then a lot of sites in Middle Tier.

[toots]

Same here. 123rf has now become my No 2 after SS.

In the past 123rf was real slow but over the last few months the sales have really come in nicely, and with very good commissions (other than subs which are again reasonably priced compared to others). I am very happy with the results.

I know its early days reporting for this month, but my commission so far on 123rf for December has even almost doubled SS commission (which I am so surprised at), and if it carries on this way they could very well end up being my No 1. Having said that, I reckon my sales on SS are not what they should be due to all the bugs flying around where no new images have been selling for the last 2-3 months, plus they (SS) cocked up the 'most popular' search for a few weeks, so that didn't help.

Keep up the good work 123rf - I'm beginning to love you lots 

[MatHayward]

I must be missing something here.  October was my best month by far at 123 with $26 in revenue coming my way.  Last month it was $19. 

Mat

[luissantos84]

I must be missing something here.  October was my best month by far at 123 with $26 in revenue coming my way.  Last month it was $19. 

Mat

Mat I would say keep up there and continue to upload, you have only 700 files there, pile them up there once you just need to upload and its done, no categories or other as you know and MRs work quite nicely there, give them a little time too, after some sales they will go up, you need to fav them too at their website (5% of your portfolio)

for me they are now my 3th best earner in terms of totals, last month stats
SS 847 sales (415$)
IS 44 sales (40$) went down used to be around 80$, after PP it will go to around 100$
123RF 138 sales (95$)
FT 129 sales (77$)
DT 63 sales (60$)

of course we all have different earnings, portfolio, etc etc some do better here other there, per example for me BigStock is just depressing like 10$ per month

[MatHayward]

That is some great information Luis, thanks for the advice!

Mat