"I just stick with companies that do make sales. At least, they give you a smile, even if it is only once a day. I'm ditching all companies then don't offer this minimal reward"

Thus you will only be submitting to 3 companies out of 35 that show on the Microstock Poll Results 

I haven't been hit with the Microstock downloads on Alamy, maybe that's a yet? And odd as things are, I have more sales this year than any year since I started, of course the same images and then a few more. First sale was $200 and many in the $125 - $200 range since then. Commission for one image could beat somewhere like Bigstock sales for six months. I don't mind getting one sale a month or every other month, at that rate?

Now the real world and 2021. More sales this year, than ever before on Alamy, and they total under $200.

Minimal reward is making lots of downloads and not much money, not having my ego boosted by many downloads and averaging 43 cents commission.

I'd agree with you "FR", but checking, I only actively contribute to two now, even though I have accounts on five of them. The top four and DT. Too bad how that works. The same images that make me money on AS, all year long, have in two years, earned me a big fat $0 on DT. I mean uploaded the same, identical group of 100 seasonal images.

But I can't leave because the payout is so stupid high at $100. IS I take what I get and ignore them. AL is moving into that category if I don't gross $250 by the July adjustment.

Minor adjustment on your prediction of "you will only be submitting to 3 companies out of 35 that show on the Microstock Poll Results" Nope, it's two. 

I don't mind getting one sale a month or every other month, at that rate?

I'm relatively young and just don't have the patience for it

Quote from: Uncle Pete on November 11, 2021, 12:54

I don't mind getting one sale a month or every other month, at that rate?

I'm relatively young and just don't have the patience for it

And I'm old, compared to the world? USA the average age is 37.4 years, Japan highest at 45.9 years. The United Nations estimate a global average life expectancy of 72.6 years for 2019. Which the story also says, that's higher than in 1950. So since I'm from before 1950, does that make my expected life span shorter or what it is today? OK irrelevant. 

Sometimes it's easier to have patience when things don't matter so much anymore? After being "lucky to be alive" in a situation or two (aside from stupid human tricks that I should have known better) and heart attacks, waiting for a review or waiting for a sale, isn't quite so immediate or important. Waking up and finding myself still alive is always a good way to start the day. 

But yes, I believe I understand how times change and attitudes change with time. I'm on the slower side of the clock now, and the downhill side of the adventure. But I'm not going to waste my time sitting around and smelling flowers or sipping tea and having biscuits.

I only have a good 200 images at Alamy. I just wanted to see how it goes there. Some of the images are ranked well or very well.

But there it does not run with me at all. And that, although I had found a few images of me on the web, with my name in combination with Alamy. Images for which I don't get a single download at Alamy. Images that even the German parliament uses. I personally don't trust them at all. And will delete all images there.

Quote from: Uncle Pete on November 12, 2021, 12:36

And I'm old, compared to the world?

No Pete, you are not. It's just a figure of speech. I'm fifty, going through my midlife crisis and that's why I don't have any patience.

You are a wonderful person and I have learned a lot from your tips and comments. So don't take it personally. I think you are great!

I don't!    Remember if you hand it out, you better take it too. That you refers to ME not someone else.

I only have a good 200 images at Alamy. I just wanted to see how it goes there. Some of the images are ranked well or very well.

Until you have many sales and have been there for a time, your images are ranked in the middle. And for all the worries and concerns about rank, views, zooms and CTR, it appears Alamy hasn't had a re-rank in a long time.

Everyone starts in the middle. That comes from Alamy support, not someone imagining things, to post on a forum.

If it makes you feel better I can go find the quote from James.  I think he said at least 100 sales.

I have just had a look. You're right, Pete. Many of the images are hard to find anymore. But I am sure that it was different once. Still using the example of three images that are selling well with other agencies:

One is on page 1 of 384 pages.
One is on page 3 of 898 pages
One is is on page 3 of 697 pages

But I admit that page 3 is already bad.

Nevertheless, I have a total of only 6 purchases there. Not worth it for me.

However: Thank you for your information - which was new for me.

True, about placement, and I think you are doing better than many of mine. Maybe they added the new image boost since I got that answer a couple years ago.

Something else for anyone watching their rank and placement, Alamy has "Artist Diversity" no not the woke bunch, I mean Alamy has a system where if I have 50 images of some close set of keywords or subject, you will see one of mine, then 14 of other people, then another of mine and then 14 others, until it gets to, less and less others and mine are more and more frequent.

If someone uploads ten images of some location, for example, there won't be ten of their images in a row. It will be divided between artists accounts. And I'm pretty sure that (for people who immediately think how can I fool the system) making more Pseudonyms will NOT get you more spots. It's been a while since I tested, and things change, I'd have to move an image and then wait for the database to have an update.

I never could figure out how they decided which images of a set, would be first. So the best one, in our opinion, might be down on page 5 and something random, ended up my first example.

Don't forget that Alamy has weighting on title (caption), and keywords. Plus the Supertags can be useful for promoting one of you images over another.

The more views you have without zooms your CTR goes down.  That's why it is not wise to include words that a buyer would never use to search for your image.

I have a question, since this first page and rank thing comes up for all agencies. If I upload several different images of Nature Trail Panorama which there are 105,932 Stock Photos and Images, why should my images be on page one and not someone else? Everyone can't be on page one of 1060 pages. Or a better version: nature trail panorama waterfall, still 43 pages. I did find one of mine on page 1. 

Why should I be first, except because I think I'm better off and will make sales, being first. What about the other hundreds of people?