MicrostockGroup

i've been with fotalia for a few months and they are my best microstock seller

simply put, new images have a hard time selling on fotolia!

Espcecially as a newcomer it is very important to upload as much as possible to get a strong portfolio together.

Six images in "months" (could be 2 or could be 6...?) is not getting you anywhere at any agency. Maybe you had 20 sales at Shutterstock with 6 images but that will drop to 0 if you don't keep uploading.

Check your keywords. For example the image: Alice looking down the rabbit hole
I don't see: hole, angel, meditation, yoga, wonderland etc.
You should ideally use keywords of things that actually appear in the image. I don't see a hole or anyone doing yoga. It doesn't make sense and if people use those keywords, look at your image and don't download it, it will slip down the popularity ranking all the way to the bottom because you are spamming keywords.

Use fewer more relevant keywords.

Your illustrations are ok but your photos are not typical stock and there are already plenty of images with girls at each agency that you will never get massive downloads on those.

Try to be unique and different.

Once you have 500 images at Fotolia you can provide feedback here of how business is then.

What do you guys find more future in my case, photography or illustration? Either way I will start making more illustrations, are easier to make and cheaper. Is fotolia a good place to sell illustrations? Maybe I should start a new thread on this subject...

Thanks guys, I have cleared my mind of various aspects. However, in the poll I can see there are some votes for "Find and alternative microstock site". What do you suggest?

I see, it makes a lot of sense. Thanks! 

Fotolia is my 2nd top performing site after SS, so don't let anyone tell you it's not worth submitting there.  It's true that new stuff takes some time to catch on, but if it's unique and in-demand it will get seen, make some initial sales, then take off.   As has been pointed out here, your keywording needs some refining.

I'd say the biggest key to success at Fotolia, and anywhere else, is asking yourself "what use will this image have, who will buy it, why will it stand out."    I think two of your images pass this test, and communicate strong concepts that I could see being put to good use in helping an image buyer get a message across:  the woman on the computer (communication, social networking, etc.) and the boy and grandpa (generational, relationships, etc.)  Those are concepts that sell and you can imagine someone buying that and placing it somewhere to make a point.

I don't see the other images telling a clear story or doing anything unique.  The illustrated walking man has style, but what does it say?  Who would buy it and why?  I'm not trying to be harsh... I like the illustration and think you have a distinct, marketable style... but before you illustrate your next images (and I agree that you should focus on illustrations instead of photography, unless you have access to some really unique subject matter) ask yourself if it has a real, specific use to a buyer.  Best of luck!  You have the potential to do really well!

Realtime! You must be joking! The tag cloud with the most frequently searched keywords hasn't changed in the last three years. 

Yup

Also, I'm not really sure whether the first 6 keyword order really is of importance. What does seem to make a difference is the title and that's not even spelling-corrected!

Hi,

I'm the same. I have a collection of 40 odd pictures with Fotolia (http://www.fotolia.com/p/200973871) and they each only have 2-4 views after a few weeks. The same pictures on other sites have much more. Do they class a view as an actual click on you image (like an Alamy zoom), whilst the others class a view as appearing amongst the other images in a search?

Also does anyone know how to add keywords to a picture already accepted by Fotolia. I went to edit and can move keywords up and down, but can't input new ones?

Cheers,

Terry
swellphotographyuk.blogspot.com

same problem I have. Visiting numbers of my photos are still low for 30 weeks. But I still trying to add photos to Fotolia.

I think you are right.. They are always rejecting my new uploads, that are really good pics. May be I should think to upload FT once more.

thank you for adv.