MicrostockGroup
Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: Rahul Pathak on December 26, 2008, 20:32
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Hi All,
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I'm writing to get some input from the microstock community to help us map our which sites we should be supporting at LookStat.
Which new sites/up and coming sites are performing well for you?
Thank you in advance for your time.
Sincerely,
Rahul
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Seriously easy one for me:
Shutterstock
Dreamstime
Istock
Fotolia
123RF
Bigstock
StockXpert
Beyond that, I'd work on things other than agencies. If anyone is making "real" money at MostPhotos, Canstock, Crestock, etc. that's awesome for them but rare from what I know. Those 7 are the "it" list. If you really want a "full" list, just look to the right - that's an earnings rating. Crestock falls behind BigStock though not by a tremendous amount. SnapVillage, Canstock, both under that. Literally those 7 though and it would cover 99% of most people.
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The "7th" agency for me is clearly bigstock
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In the last half year after equally uploading to many sites about 300 non-people illustrations and photo's:
1. SS 2. Snapvillage 3. DT 4. Featurepics 5. StockXpert 6. 123RF 7. Bigstock 8. FT
All others are less than $10
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We seem to all have different opinions, but these are
my best because these have all paid out.
1 - Dreamstime
2 - Shutterstock
3 - Bigstockphoto
4 - Fotolia
I do not have many images on these, but they
just do not have the response to my work the
top ones do. These have little or no earnings.
Canstockphoto
Snapvillage
Albumo
Crestock
Stockxpert
Vectorstock
Vivozoom
Yaymicro
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The bi six do ok for me with the exception of shutterstock. Of the up and coming bigstock and clearly the best. I recieved several payouts from them. Snapvillage was ok but the sales of dropped off here. I also like canstock. I think there new deal will with fotosearch will pay dividends.
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It is the same list for me too:
1. Shutterstock
2. Dreamstime
3. StockXpert
4. 123RF
5. BigStockPhoto
6. Istock
7. Fotolia
BTW I just signed up with LookStat and will give it a try.
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My top 3 sites are bringing in about 85 % of my stock earning each month... SS, DT, FT... the rest is split between 6 others.
Starting januari 3 of the low performers will be dropped, stop uploading. On Featurepics asked for deletion of entire portfolio.
Patrick H.
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For 09 I'm spending most of my time and uploading with DT,BigStock,123. I've started to delete the others one at a time as I get a year in with each one. I feel if I can't get at least a few sales with them in a year it's pretty much a waste of time. I like to see some kind of returns for all the effort.
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In the last half year after equally uploading to many sites about 300 non-people illustrations and photo's:
1. SS 2. Snapvillage 3. DT 4. Featurepics 5. StockXpert 6. 123RF 7. Bigstock 8. FT
All others are less than $10
Wow!
Snapvillage and Featurepics are your top earners...
That is difference from all of us! ;)
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I started in August, on IS and SS in November, and have a few dozens photos. FT was my number one with StockXpert following closely until SS came.
1. SS
2. FT
3. StockXpert
The rest have less than $10:
4. Zymmetrical
5. IS
6. DT
7. FP
8. BigStock
9. 123rf
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Bummer... I expected to see which sites all the experienced microstockers thought were "up and coming." Most of these posts are about the "already theres." ???
Any ideas on which of the "not big six" sites might make a move in '09??
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we don't live in a dream world. Nobody will make a massive run in 09. If they do, it'll be YayMicro or Crestock.
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Bummer... I expected to see which sites all the experienced microstockers thought were "up and coming." Most of these posts are about the "already theres." ???
Any ideas on which of the "not big six" sites might make a move in '09??
Simply, there are no up and coming sites that deliver... never will be.
The market has been taken.
Patrick H.
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most of what left after the big six don't spend enough on generating customers. Snap Village has corbis behind it and they struggle. If lucky Oliver couldn't make it then i doubt any others will.
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Hi Everyone,
Thanks a ton for weighing in. I apologize - I hadn't been getting my notifications hence my delayed response. I think it's pretty clear that Big 6 + Bigstock is the way to go on the site situation. If we could make it easy to submit everywhere (and I mean submit, not just upload) would there be interest in that?
It's sort of amazing how quickly the microstock industry seems to have established a pecking order.
Rahul
PS:
Matt - this is really some longer range planning. In the immediate term, we're looking at more earnings metrics and trending data. Basically, we want to help answer how are you doing relative to the past, to others, and what's working and not working.
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@oboy - thanks a ton for signing up. please don't be shy with your thoughts. if there's ever anything I can help with, don't hesitate to contact me directly.
Rahul
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Bummer... I expected to see which sites all the experienced microstockers thought were "up and coming." Most of these posts are about the "already theres." ???
Any ideas on which of the "not big six" sites might make a move in '09??
Simply, there are no up and coming sites that deliver... never will be.
The market has been taken.
Patrick H.
Not only do I agree, there's a good chance, that one of the big six will be gone by the end of the year 2009. Sites that are healthy and making sales, are struggling to stay in business. I can't see how any upstart can steal a big enough market share to become competitive.
(or seven, since I agree that BS is a good site)
At least two of the sites in the eleven New Sites and Low Earners will be joining the "Sites that no longer exist" section at the bottom. Tough market, strong competition, faltering world economy, which will be slowly recovering and growing again. But it's going to be a hard year before that happens.
There are no up and coming sites in my eyes, only those which will be bidding us farewell.
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I know y'all are right. Was hoping to hear some encouraging words about Cutcaster. I've commited and will stick it out to the bitter end. Thank goodness I don't make my living in stock. 8)
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Yes cutcaster would be my number one pick for the "new site I hope will make it" category. I have over 500 images there now and no sales as of yet. Doesn't mean that I'll throw in the towel there though since I think John's a great guy and I want to give him a fair shake.
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here's the difference. Some folks think earning 10 dollars a month is the greatest thing that ever happened, Then there are those that think earning 500 dollars a month is Great. theres only a few sites if ya have 1000 or more Images .any less than that nowdays is Hobbyist time...Sorry.
SS
DT
StXpt
Istk
FT
123???
BStk
MP...Done pretty well.
The rest is amateur at best. and I wouldn't waste my time unless I was learning. But It's your time. I've wasted 1000's of hours on 26 sites.
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You're right about the time load for sure and your top 7 lines up well with what I've been hearing from here and from others. Thanks for taking the time to weigh in.
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IS
DT
SS
FT
BigStock
CC
123
in that order for me. StockXpert may not be around by the end of 2009 if Getty decides that 1 micro is enough. I know when I tried to sign up in Nov they weren't accepting new photographers.
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IS
DT
SS
FT
BigStock
CC
123
in that order for me. StockXpert may not be around by the end of 2009 if Getty decides that 1 micro is enough. I know when I tried to sign up in Nov they weren't accepting new photographers.
Thanks a ton for sharing and great point on StockXpert. I'm also surprised that CC is doing better than 123 for you (although people have been telling me that 123 has been slowing for them.)
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"No MS site will make it after 2005"
All those who started in 2004-2005 are now a rolling snowball gathering momentum and snow by the day and millions of pictures per year. LO and FP started in 2006 and they are dead or almost.
You can't break into a market that has been taken by more of the same (pictures). What we can expect is hostile acquisitions and mergers by those with deep pockets. Like Getty that bought STX to kill the competition for Istk. That has always been the Microsoft strategy.
Can't wait the day that DT buys Getty. ;D
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Can't wait the day that DT buys Getty. ;D
;D ;D ;D FD , you made me spill my precious ale all over the floor !
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In the last half year after equally uploading to many sites about 300 non-people illustrations and photo's:
1. SS 2. Snapvillage 3. DT 4. Featurepics 5. StockXpert 6. 123RF 7. Bigstock 8. FT
All others are less than $10
no istock on your list? weird.. istockphoto is by far the best..
istock,
shutterstock,
StockXpert
DT
FT
123rf
bigstock
the rest is useless.. maybe crestock, snapvillage and canstockphoto can be added if you have got a lot of time to waste, but not really crucial..
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no istock on your list? weird.. istockphoto is by far the best..
No, no IS. Tried 2 or 3 times to come in, but failed. I think my work is not good enough for their standards at the moment. Probably I'm not thinking and acting commercial enough for their portfolio. Like to do it my way and to find out how my approach and viewing on imaging can work....IS looks to "beautiful" in my eyes...I'm not sure if I can work and succeed in their style.... Maybe later sometimes.
the rest is useless.. maybe crestock, snapvillage and canstockphoto can be added if you have got a lot of time to waste, but not really crucial..
These order was what worked for me the first half year in microstock. SV is stil my number 2 in earnings f.e.....why stop there now? But in another half year or so...I might agree with you due to different experiences.....or things stay this way, which is fine :D
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I am a pretty conservative guy on making speculations but I will go the other way on this one and bet big against the house I would say that by the end of 18 months we will see all but three players controlling Micro unless someone with money comes along and takes a new slice. There is still a slice to be had if big players made certain acquisitions. Just speculation mind you.
Best,
AVAVA
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I submit to a couple of sites below top 7 who are zero effort upload but personally dont see any of the sites below top 7, making a move. maybe??? a bit of lift from canstock as it is part of fotosearch now???
I also wouldnt be surprised to see quite a number particularly the smaller ones disappear. but it is hard to know as I do not know the economics of these sites
there are a few companies such as masterfile / photolibrary etc who do not have a stake in micro, I dont know what state they are in but they may get involved, I would guess by buying out an existing player such as fotosearch did.
Phil
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i've talked to the guy at masterfile and they want to get into microstock somehow. who knows what they will do.
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there is no up and coming, as all the new ones have done nothing for me.
i have but stopped uploading to any of the sites that have not given me a sale in the past 3 months, which leaves me only with 2 of the big 6, simply because they have been getting results consistently.
but i still like to see some sales with Istock and Fotolia, and will keep UL to them , but it depends on what happens in 2009.
so that means i have only alamy, dreamtime and stockxpert being given priority due to dl results.
(update: oops, i forgot BigStock. quick note, their approval time is like super fast these days).
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How many traditional sites are there? I don't see why there will be less microstock sites when it is still a growing market. The sites could still do well in an economic downturn, as they should get more business from buyers looking to cut their spending budgets. Sites that have lots of debt will fold but I don't see why the top 7 should have much debt when they have good sales. Perhaps in a few years time when there is less growth some of the top 7 will struggle.
I expect Corbis to buy a micro site at some point. I guess that is why they haven't bothered with snapvillage. We will have to wait and see if the owners of Getty have a real interest in microstock sites or if they just bought istock and StockXpert as part of the package.
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Although Yay has had a slow start (and the name is the worst ever), they are increasing for me, and 2.50 or 5.00 Euro for a download is a very decent pay. I need around 20 downloads at SS to earn 5 Euro. At the moment, they seem to pass the other small agencies. For me, they are already ahead of SV, FP and Crestock (December and January until now).
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Although Yay has had a slow start (and the name is the worst ever), they are increasing for me, and 2.50 or 5.00 Euro for a download is a very decent pay. I need around 20 downloads at SS to earn 5 Euro. At the moment, they seem to pass the other small agencies. For me, they are already ahead of SV, FP and Crestock (December and January until now).
Great to know re: Yay. Thanks for sharing your experience with them.
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i've talked to the guy at masterfile and they want to get into microstock somehow. who knows what they will do.
Are they not already a micro site? Or, are they considered Macro? I have a hard time distinguishing the difference???
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Based on my images I'd say all would fail or get morphed into something else except: IS, SS, DT, StockXpert, FT, in that order.
Sadly for my money there is no up and coming micro site.
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Based on my images I'd say all would fail or get morphed into something else except: IS, SS, DT, StockXpert, FT, in that order.
Add BigStock and 123RF and I'd agree. Especially BigStock.