Don't like sounding 'tupid, but I'm really not that familiar with Alexa and am not sure how to get the reports. 

Can someone post a link to the current stats for the big 6?

If traffic was the ultimate answer, Fotolia beats SS and DT and just stomps on Alamy. How about that? 

View this one, without IS on it and it makes you wonder.

http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details/fotolia.com?site0=fotolia.com&site1=Shutterstock.com&site2=alamy.com&site3=dreamstime.com&y=r&z=3&h=300&w=610&c=1&u%5B%5D=fotolia.com&u%5B%5D=Shutterstock.com&u%5B%5D=alamy.com&u%5B%5D=dreamstime.com&x=2008-06-13T20%3A18%3A17.000Z&check=www.alexa.com&signature=0UGQ8btuUm4Fj5lV4Is6eQF9flo%3D&range=6m&size=Medium

I don't disagree that IS has the best volume for designers and best overall sales, but Alexa volume just shows how many people visited a site. Nothing more.

Quote from: RacePhoto on June 13, 2008, 13:48

If traffic was the ultimate answer, Fotolia beats SS and DT and just stomps on Alamy. How about that? 

View this one, without IS on it and it makes you wonder.

http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details/fotolia.com?site0=fotolia.com&site1=Shutterstock.com&site2=alamy.com&site3=dreamstime.com&y=r&z=3&h=300&w=610&c=1&u%5B%5D=fotolia.com&u%5B%5D=Shutterstock.com&u%5B%5D=alamy.com&u%5B%5D=dreamstime.com&x=2008-06-13T20%3A18%3A17.000Z&check=www.alexa.com&signature=0UGQ8btuUm4Fj5lV4Is6eQF9flo%3D&range=6m&size=Medium

I don't disagree that IS has the best volume for designers and best overall sales, but Alexa volume just shows how many people visited a site. Nothing more.

ya, and what good is that? just because you have more visitors to your site doesn't mean a rat's ass if you don't sell anything.
eg.  taking 2 of my images with one of the Big 6...
68 visitors - 0 dl,  and the other 2 visitors 1 dl.

i really don't care if 2000 visitors came by if the DL is still 0

Good point both.
It could also mean that either you are getting a lot of admirers but not buyers,
or that the keywords of one are more accurate and are just bringing the buyers in with less irrelevant keywords.
It would be nice to know if either of my assumptions is accurate.

Actually, I was just interested in any trends that seem to be industry wide. 

I also compare those trends to my own ebbs and flows - I may be living in a fantasy world, but IMHO, that helps me to measure the viability of my port in general.  If I see similar trends industry wide that I see in my own sales, then I take some comfort.  If the traffic ratings indicate a surge but my own trend is down, then I think I need to make a change - whether that be in content or volume is my own decision.

Thanks for the link!