2009 Microstock Comprehensive Survey

[leaf]

I have set up the 2009 survey - click here to take it
http://microstocksurvey.com/index.php?sid=54284

Like I said last year, I tried to keep the survey short while still asking enough questions so we can get some interesting information.  It shouldn't take more than a few minutes if you have the numbers ready. If certain answers are unknown you can just leave them blank.

A few of the stats from 2008 were posted in a recent blog post here
http://blog.microstockgroup.com/2009/microstock-industry-2008-statistics/
with more results and discussion here

I will make the results of the survey public after we have a good number of answers. Last year we had 244 respondents - hopefully we can beat that this year.  If you feel like sharing the link - please do

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[url=http://microstocksurvey.com/index.php?sid=54284]2009 Comprehensive Microstock Survey[/url]
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<a href="http://microstocksurvey.com/index.php?sid=54284">2009 Comprehensive Microstock Survery</a>

[JC-SL]

Did my part this year, Cheers!   Best wishes for 2010.

JC

[fotorob]

You've got my answers. Would have been nice if you could enter (optionally) an email to get a message when the results are online. :-)

[leaf]

You've got my answers. Would have been nice if you could enter (optionally) an email to get a message when the results are online. :-)

darn, yeah... I thought about that and then decided against adding it.  Perhaps I will add that option for the 2010 survey

[gostwyck]

Done __ thanks Leaf.

I was slightly confused by the question "which site gave you the highest RPI?" as, in the way I understand 'RPI', the answer will almost always be the same as the previous question asking which site you earned the most from (earnings/no of images). Was it intended to ask 'RPD' in the way that DT calculates it or otherwise how do you define RPI?

[ShadySue]

Done. Difficult to interpret the stats without giving the full info (e.g. last year's results blog). After all, a person who has an RPI of $10 might be actually earning less than someone with an RPI of $1 if their expenses (money and time) in setting up a shoot are vastly greater.

[leaf]

You've got my answers. Would have been nice if you could enter (optionally) an email to get a message when the results are online. :-)

Ok, I fixed this now.  On the last page of the survey you can now sign up to be notified of the results (via email)  If you are interested in this you can see the last page of the survey here
http://www.microstocksurvey.com/thankyou.html

[leaf]

Done __ thanks Leaf.

I was slightly confused by the question "which site gave you the highest RPI?" as, in the way I understand 'RPI', the answer will almost always be the same as the previous question asking which site you earned the most from (earnings/no of images). Was it intended to ask 'RPD' in the way that DT calculates it or otherwise how do you define RPI?

RPI - Return per Image

The highest earning site and highest RPI on a site are often different sites.

For example, for me, Shutterstock gives me the most money.  I am also able to quickly upload all my images there so my portfolio is around 5700.  iStock gives my the highest earnings per image (RPI) but I only have around 1000 images online there because of their upload limits and slow upload process.

If you have a similar portfolio size on all sites however, which you perhaps do, then yes you are correct - the site that gives you the most income will also be the site with the highest RPI.

[gostwyck]

RPI - Return per Image

The highest earning site and highest RPI on a site are often different sites.

For example, for me, Shutterstock gives me the most money.  I am also able to quickly upload all my images there so my portfolio is around 5700.  iStock gives my the highest earnings per image (RPI) but I only have around 1000 images online there because of their upload limits and slow upload process.

If you have a similar portfolio size on all sites however, which you perhaps do, then yes you are correct - the site that gives you the most income will also be the site with the highest RPI.

OK __ fair enough. My port tends to be roughly the same size on all sites.

[crazychristina]

I found the time question a bit tricky. I'm spending a lot of time at the moment developing my vector skills because I intend to apply to be a vector contributor at istock and diversify my offerings that way. I probably won't spend nearly as much time once I'm in.

[Tim Markley]

Done, quick and painless. I am interested to see the results.

[Ivelin Radkov]

Done 

[MikLav]

Done. I agree it's not easy to estimate the time I spend per week - it varies a lot for me...

[danabeth555]

Great survey Leaf.  Can't wait to see the results!

[nickp37]

What would you like me to enter if I'm half-exclusive to IS? I'm exclusive for video but otherwise independent.

[fullvalue]

Done.  I anticipate 2010 to be much different though for me. 

[rmarinello]

OK Leaf, done. The link to the survey was added on the sidebar of www.mystockphoto.org

[Jo Ann Snover]

I responded too - it'll be interesting to see how things look in aggregate once this is done.

[Lee Torrens]

Done.  The RPI question refers to 2008, but I presumed it meant 2009.

[WarrenPrice]

I completed the survey but was a bit embarrassed to do so.  My numbers a so insignificant.  But, it is an ego boost, pretending to be a part of this illustrious group.   

[adamkaz]

Love a good survey. Excited to see the results.

[melastmohican]

Most of the numbers should be averages cause one site allows you to upload 10000 images per year while other maybe 100 :-)

[le_cyclope]

Done.

Time spent is (at least for me) real time spent doing photos or uploading.  It excludes hours spent watching sales and reading forums, which are much more 
Claude

[ShadySue]

Done.

Time spent is (at least for me) real time spent doing photos or uploading.  It excludes hours spent watching sales and reading forums, which are much more 
Claude

That's only too true. 

[Jonathan Ross]

Hi Leaf,

 Thanks for taking the time to put this together and follow up with the info. Well done. I put in my info and just pushed the button. Interesting to see the final results. Glad to see a lot of people taking this. The more that do the survey the better the info and I can't see why anyone wouldn't want to take it. It is private. Thanks again.

Best,
Jonathan

[CarolinaSmith]

Done.

[cthoman]

Why does everything have to have the word photography in it? Where's the love for the rest of us stockers?

[leaf]

Done.  The RPI question refers to 2008, but I presumed it meant 2009.

daahhh...!!!! I managed to catch most of the 2008 references but I guess i missed one.  I'll do better next year!  So yes, you are right - it should be 2009

[leaf]

Why does everything have to have the word photography in it? Where's the love for the rest of us stockers?

Yeah, It got a little feedback on that issue last year too.. perhaps I will have to rework the survey a bit to better include all the other 'microstock' media types - or make it clear that I am interested in everything.  Video and audio didn't really exist on the first survey and I didn't single out vectors enough.

[helix7]

Why does everything have to have the word photography in it? Where's the love for the rest of us stockers?

Yeah, It got a little feedback on that issue last year too.. perhaps I will have to rework the survey a bit to better include all the other 'microstock' media types - or make it clear that I am interested in everything.  Video and audio didn't really exist on the first survey and I didn't single out vectors enough.

Really there should be 2 surveys. Vectors and photos are just too different. My income with 350 images skews the results compared to a photographer with a similar income with 10x that number of images. Makes the questions about numbers of images and new images added sort of worthless.

[leaf]

Why does everything have to have the word photography in it? Where's the love for the rest of us stockers?

Yeah, It got a little feedback on that issue last year too.. perhaps I will have to rework the survey a bit to better include all the other 'microstock' media types - or make it clear that I am interested in everything.  Video and audio didn't really exist on the first survey and I didn't single out vectors enough.

Really there should be 2 surveys. Vectors and photos are just too different. My income with 350 images skews the results compared to a photographer with a similar income with 10x that number of images. Makes the questions about numbers of images and new images added sort of worthless.

If I had a question asking what your primary media type was or the ratio between each of the media types, I think that would work.  I could also reword any questions that needed changing depending on the media type.  I guess that would essentially be creating multiple surveys.  The questions change for example for the people who are iStock exclusive.

I will be closing the survey before too long, so for those of you who haven't answered, now is your change
http://microstocksurvey.com/index.php?sid=54284

[LostOne]

Any results yet? 

[leaf]

yeah, i am getting anxious too   I was hoping to do it at the BEGINNING of march, then I saw this cool stats program that I wanted to make use of then found out I needed Windows Vista or newer (I am using XP)  I am planning on upgrading my computer soon so I guess I'll wait it out.  I ordered the new computer last thursday so hopefully early April I will have some stats to share.

[leaf]

I finally posted the results of the survey here,
http://blog.microstockgroup.com/microstock-survey-2009-results/

Discussion can go here
http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/2009-microstock-comprehensive-survey-results-posted/