Author Topic: Question about Microstock Poll (Read 1066 times)

cypher · « **on:** July 14, 2022, 17:01 »

Just curious -- when (if ever) do you choose to vote in the poll provided on this site? Do you do it immediately at the end of the month; do you wait a certain amount of time in case of changes to your account; do you only vote when you earn above a certain amount? I've been watching the poll results recently, and I see several agencies really close to the threshold for having their ratings visibly shown but not quite getting there.

If you don't vote in the poll, why not? I personally don't because I'm such a small player in the field (I have less than 100 photos listed anywhere), I don't think my voice should weigh as much as the people who have significant stats.

Anyway, just curious.

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2022, 23:30 »

I usually fill it out on the 1st of the month, the first week of the 2nd month, at some point in the 3rd month, then I forget to do it for around 6 to 12 months and then the cycle starts again.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #2 on:** July 15, 2022, 13:26 »

I don't bother because I'd just bring down the numbers from the people who work hard and care.

I should waste some time and go way back, I mean 2008 or 2009 kind of time, when iStock showed much more data about earnings and downloads for artists. Nice factual, useful, information, from the source. After doing some calculation, comparing the poll here and the IS data, I believe I had a good solid estimate as well... at that time, the top 5% of all microstock artists, were members of this forum and many were posting their opinions.

That was based on the poll numbers here.

The poll is a poll, it's voluntary, there's no cross verification. The numbers only represent those who take the time to share their information. If someone wanted to know if they could expect the same, I'd have to say, the validity of the data is highly questionable. But, the real usefulness is comparing the information that's shown, relative to each of the agencies. Relative numbers, not what someone new might expect to make.

If people are making $250 a month (on average) on AdobeStock, they are doing very well. 57 votes, means, roughly speaking, 28 people are making more and 28 people are making less. If someone is making $1,000 a month there, then someone else is making $10 a month. It's an average.

Keep in mind that the agencies are ranked, in order of earnings, even if the numbers don't show. I don't know what happened to iStock Exclusive vs the general iStock as an agency for all of us? I don't see that anymore.

Look at Canstock, pretty amusing. 23 people are still members and they average $2.50 a month. 57 people work on Adobe and 54 on SS. We can't know if it's the same people, but only 3 difference, and the number of people who took the survey/poll only half are still working Canstock, about 65% are still on 123RF. That's based on people who took the time to enter data for the poll.

cascoly · « **Reply #3 on:** July 16, 2022, 11:57 »

i dont bother anymore, either - with such low participation (which i contribute to), results are questionable, easily skewed by 'voting' against agencies one dislikes, reporting incorrect income, etc

given the intensity of SS hatred i wouldn't be surprised if they are being hit by faux votes - i know for me SS is 2x that of AS and canva is just under SS

Jens G · « **Reply #4 on:** July 17, 2022, 04:58 »

I fill out in the beginning of the month, but it seems that there isn't a lot of interest for the poll anymore.

StanRohrer · « **Reply #5 on:** July 17, 2022, 12:33 »

I fill out the poll after the iStockPhoto information is available - approximately the 20th of the month. Because of people like me, the running numbers for the current month are only the most helpful when the month closes and locks in all entries.

wds · « **Reply #6 on:** July 17, 2022, 13:03 »

Actually, it would be useful to see the number of participants as part of the info in the "Microstock Poll Results" column on the right of the page.

sgoodwin4813 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 17, 2022, 19:59 »

I usually do it some time during the first week of the month, but use iStock and Canva numbers from the previous month.

No idea how accurate it is overall but I report my numbers accurately, good and bad.

BTW, wds, if you hover over the agency name it shows the number of votes.

cypher · « **Reply #8 on:** July 19, 2022, 15:24 »

So with Canva info geting sent yesterday and iStock info getting sent today, the poll numbers should likely get more info in the next few days. I'll be curious to see what happens.

cypher · « **Reply #9 on:** July 21, 2022, 12:09 »

Quote from: cascoly on July 16, 2022, 11:57

i dont bother anymore, either - with such low participation (which i contribute to), results are questionable, easily skewed by 'voting' against agencies one dislikes, reporting incorrect income, etc

given the intensity of SS hatred i wouldn't be surprised if they are being hit by faux votes - i know for me SS is 2x that of AS and canva is just under SS

I'd be interested in seeing your results added to the mix. Several of the agencies are really close to having enough data to have their ratings displayed.