Contrary to many people, I think shutterstock has a great search algorithm. I think there is nothing more frustrating than on other sites where you upload a pile of photos you put a lot of work into, they end up on page 10 of the search results and never see the light of day.
On shutterstock, new images are put on page one when they get a few sales, as well as previously proven best sellers. If the new image is really great it will stay on top with the best sellers. If the image wasn't so hot, it won't last long on the top and will sift to the bottom. I think the shutterstock method at least gives new images a chance.
Agree! the SS search is by far the best one, I think they are using the most popular but also giving prefs to new files which makes it sustainable in fact. Its very strange that many other agencies havent caught on to this since it generates money.
The IS, best match, for example is far too concentrated on simple generic stuff, kind of what we in the film days used to call the "chocholate-box" agency style, hence it really doesnt generate money and DT, well they insist on showing massive series in many searches.
