In the monthly microstock poll I have the max set at $2,500.  This is to help combat vote spammers who'll just vote the highest amount no matter what it is.  Having a reasonable highest amount reduces the 'power' these votes actually have in the results.  The problem however is that we are not giving really good selling sites the credit they deserve.  The variance between Shutterstock and 123RF is probably more than what shows on the poll on the right because those earning over $2,500 on Shutterstock each month don't get a chance to show it.

So...I set up this poll in an effort to see how many votes are really getting throttled down

Don't you need to emphasise that this poll is just for independent contributors? They'll obviously be a lot of Istock exclusive contributors who exceed that figure.

Quote from: gostwyck on September 21, 2012, 10:08

Don't you need to emphasise that this poll is just for independent contributors? They'll obviously be a lot of Istock exclusive contributors who exceed that figure.

Really? I find that hard to believe.

I can think of pretty much just one person who frequents this forum who might hit that top amount.

I doubt very much that many of the ones claiming to make over 2500 a
 month at one site are independents. Would be interesting to have an option to show if independent or exclusive.  Good to see that there are few IS exclusives still making decent money or have some people read the poll wrong and think it means total earnings over all sites??

seriously it's possible to make more than $2500 in a month?

illustrators too? how high a portfolio do you think you'd need?

Don't you need to emphasise that this poll is just for independent contributors? They'll obviously be a lot of Istock exclusive contributors who exceed that figure.

Yeah, I should have specified that.  I have done so now - perhaps a bit late but people can change their answers if they want.  Overall it doesn't look like I'm missing out on too many votes with the levels the way they are.

do you think it's worth it to be exclusive on istock? I am coming to the opportunity soon. do they offer more than just a higher percent? like your images are automatically in the front or something?

do you think it's worth it to be exclusive on istock? I am coming to the opportunity soon. do they offer more than just a higher percent? like your images are automatically in the front or something?

istock represents about 4% of my total microstock earnings. Decide what you will based on that, but let's just say that I don't think being exclusive would help me out in any way.

Since you're an illustrator, I should be telling you "Yes, please, do go exclusive," so you're not competing with me as much. But really, in all honesty, I think you'd be nuts to go for exclusivity.

Quote from: EmberMike on September 21, 2012, 12:27

I don't get these comments. We're hearing almost nothing but negativity towards istock these days, lots of people seeing huge declines in earnings, and not just from independents, SS drastically outpaces most other sites for most independents, and yet here we're saying that exclusives have the best chance to make this kind of money from one site?

Either a lot of people are lying about how poorly they're doing at istock or they're lying about how well they do at SS. Because this just doesn't make sense.

It makes sense to me.
When you have all your eggs in one basked you are going to have one basket holding 10 eggs.
If you have all your eggs in 10 baskets you'll have 5 eggs in basket 1, 2 eggs in basket 2, 1 egg in basket 3 etc.... 0 eggs in basket 10.

If I asked the question.. how many people have 10 eggs in their best basket.. only the exclusives would answer with a yes, everyone else only has 5 eggs at best in one basket even though both people have 10 eggs total.

Exactly, they have the best chance to make this kind of  money from one site but that doesn't mean that they couldn't make even more collectively from all the sites an independent can upload to.

When you have all your eggs in one basked you are going to have one basket holding 10 eggs.
If you have all your eggs in 10 baskets you'll have 5 eggs in basket 1, 2 eggs in basket 2, 1 egg in basket 3 etc.... 0 eggs in basket 10.

If I asked the question.. how many people have 10 eggs in their best basket.. only the exclusives would answer with a yes, everyone else only has 5 eggs at best in one basket even though both people have 10 eggs total.

Eggs-actly! Eggs-salant answer that you scrambled up there.

3 indies make over 10k a month? Pffff, long way to go for me. If I make 300 a month across the board  I would be thrilled

those could be (and probably are) exclusives as I only changed the poll after those votes were in

Quote from: Poncke on September 21, 2012, 13:12

3 indies make over 10k a month? Pffff, long way to go for me. If I make 300 a month across the board  I would be thrilled

those could be (and probably are) exclusives as I only changed the poll after those votes were in

Makes sense.  I would be surprised to see an indie other than perhaps Yuri or Andre making 10k/month on one site. 

and yet here we're saying that exclusives have the best chance to make this kind of money from one site?

Of course. I make more than $2500 from all sites combined. If I was exclusive to IS, the site where I might - just might - earn $2500 would be iStock.