I'm rather new to selling vector stock but have about 20 pieces in my portfolio as I try to feel my way into the business.

I'm trying to figure out what types of things will sell and what is just a waste to spend time on.

I sell a few things but just pennies now because I have so few images. The good images I create take time to make so it is a slow process building my portfolio. I want to be unique and find the small niches. I look through the vector sites and what is "popular" but I don't want to copy things, either.

My wish list is to figure out what will actually sell well. So my question is what do successful vector artists do to find out the trends and know what is useful to create? How did you get started in figuring out what sells?

Thank you all! This is all really helpful and inspiring. I will look into business and technology issues. I am looking at groups like AIGA and others to learn what current illustration trends are. I know, in any art, the more you do it, the more your individual style shows through. Right now I think I'm mostly just experimenting with different styles and so I'm not cohesive yet.

It's all good!
Karla