Author Topic: Question about Microstock Poll (Read 6490 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.

cypher · « **Reply #10 on:** August 10, 2022, 12:37 »

I was surprised how fast Adobe and Shutterstock had their August earnings rating showing up on the MSG poll -- they were already over the 50 vote threshold the first time I visiting this site on August 1st. Three others are close with over 40 votes, but everything is trickling in, now. As much chatter as there has been about Pond5 this summer, I'm surprised the poll only has 26 votes for it.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #11 on:** August 10, 2022, 21:08 »

Quote from: cypher on August 10, 2022, 12:37

I was surprised how fast Adobe and Shutterstock had their August earnings rating showing up on the MSG poll -- they were already over the 50 vote threshold the first time I visiting this site on August 1st. Three others are close with over 40 votes, but everything is trickling in, now. As much chatter as there has been about Pond5 this summer, I'm surprised the poll only has 26 votes for it.

It doesn't work that way. The poll isn't just this month, since the 1st, it's within a time period. I don't know exact details (ask Leaf?) but for example, - votes in the last 30 days - but not since the start of the month. It's a rolling average.

Findura · « **Reply #12 on:** August 11, 2022, 04:49 »

Quote from: cypher on July 14, 2022, 17:01

Just curious -- when (if ever) do you choose to vote in the poll provided on this site?

What poll? I have read about it a few times in some threads, but I have never seen this poll.

Wilm · « **Reply #13 on:** August 11, 2022, 04:54 »

Quote from: Findura on August 11, 2022, 04:49

Quote from: cypher on July 14, 2022, 17:01
Just curious -- when (if ever) do you choose to vote in the poll provided on this site?
What poll? I have read about it a few times in some threads, but I have never seen this poll.

The poll on the right, Findura.

Findura · « **Reply #14 on:** August 11, 2022, 05:04 »

Yes. I see numbers.
And where is the vote?

Wilm · « **Reply #15 on:** August 11, 2022, 05:55 »

Quote from: Findura on August 11, 2022, 05:04

Yes. I see numbers.
And where is the vote?

You'll see them with mouseover the names of the agencies.

Big Toe · « **Reply #16 on:** August 11, 2022, 06:48 »

Quote from: Findura on August 11, 2022, 05:04

Yes. I see numbers.
And where is the vote?

The numbers are the vote.

If want to submit a vote, you have to go to Polls/Submit Vote on the menu bar at the top of the site.

Findura · « **Reply #17 on:** August 11, 2022, 07:18 »

Quote from: Big Toe on August 11, 2022, 06:48

The numbers are the vote.
If want to submit a vote, you have to go to Polls/Submit Vote on the menu bar at the top of the site.

I didn't know that until today. Thanks.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #18 on:** August 15, 2022, 09:42 »

Quote from: Findura on August 11, 2022, 07:18

Quote from: Big Toe on August 11, 2022, 06:48
The numbers are the vote.
If want to submit a vote, you have to go to Polls/Submit Vote on the menu bar at the top of the site.

I didn't know that until today. Thanks.

https://www.microstockgroup.com/index.php?page=microstockmonthlysurvey

Just in case anyone else comes upon this subject.

There's no way to make any poll reliable and accurate, especially when it's voluntary. If Leaf could come up with some fringe benefit for people who take the survey, that would encourage us to enter our numbers, that would at least add more data? Say for example, you can't post messages, until you take the survey?

Don't jump on me, that's just humor. But seriously, something that we'd want to have access to, that was locked, until we take the survey?

cascoly · « **Reply #19 on:** August 15, 2022, 12:00 »

Quote from: Uncle Pete on August 15, 2022, 09:42

.. If Leaf could come up with some fringe benefit for people who take the survey, that would encourage us to enter our numbers, that would at least add more data? Say for example, you can't post messages, until you take the survey? Don't jump on me, that's just humor. But seriously, something that we'd want to have access to, that was locked, until we take the survey?

unfortunately that could easily encourage more false data - swamping signal w noise

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #20 on:** August 16, 2022, 12:54 »

Quote from: cascoly on August 15, 2022, 12:00

Quote from: Uncle Pete on August 15, 2022, 09:42

.. If Leaf could come up with some fringe benefit for people who take the survey, that would encourage us to enter our numbers, that would at least add more data? Say for example, you can't post messages, until you take the survey? Don't jump on me, that's just humor. But seriously, something that we'd want to have access to, that was locked, until we take the survey?

unfortunately that could easily encourage more false data - swamping signal w noise

Of course, ever way to make it more active and reliable is a problem. Just as you have pointed out, people with a grudge can vote $0 for agencies they dislike. And back when some new agencies wanted people to upload, they could have had shills voting high numbers to make them look better. The whole thing is with a grain of salt and just relative numbers. There's no way to know what the truth is.

My only contention is, that more people, would tend to make for more stability. Some way to encourage people to share their data, isn't really a bad thing? As it is, I don't, and if I did, I'd only bring the numbers down.

But right now, when there aren't 50 people, willing to check some circles for iStock, DT and others, the poll looks kind of biased towards the people who do?

If we can't trust the integrity of having some kind of feature or bonus for taking the survey, then we can't trust anything, especially what we have now?

How about a random contest of some sort for people who took the survey? I'll start by offering a double SS sub of 20 cents?

cypher · « **Reply #21 on:** August 19, 2022, 13:47 »

Quote from: Uncle Pete on August 10, 2022, 21:08

Quote from: cypher on August 10, 2022, 12:37
I was surprised how fast Adobe and Shutterstock had their August earnings rating showing up on the MSG poll -- they were already over the 50 vote threshold the first time I visiting this site on August 1st. Three others are close with over 40 votes, but everything is trickling in, now. As much chatter as there has been about Pond5 this summer, I'm surprised the poll only has 26 votes for it.

It doesn't work that way. The poll isn't just this month, since the 1st, it's within a time period. I don't know exact details (ask Leaf?) but for example, - votes in the last 30 days - but not since the start of the month. It's a rolling average.

Ahhh.... that makes more sense with what I'm seeing about how the graph at the end of the month doesn't align with the numerical rating listed at the end of the month. If the chart shows each month's actual vote average and the poll shows a rolling average across several months, that would explain the differences. We would see more wide-spread variability in the graph than in the numbers on the poll, but the poll would give us an ongoing moving average as each person casts a vote. I would love to read more about how the poll is calculated. Thanks for your insight.

cypher · « **Reply #22 on:** August 19, 2022, 13:49 »

Quote from: Uncle Pete on August 16, 2022, 12:54

My only contention is, that more people, would tend to make for more stability.

Agreed.

Quote from: Uncle Pete on August 16, 2022, 12:54

How about a random contest of some sort for people who took the survey? I'll start by offering a double SS sub of 20 cents?

Hahaha! Love it.

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Author Topic: Question about Microstock Poll (Read 6490 times)

cypher

SpaceStockFootage

Uncle Pete

cascoly

Jens G

StanRohrer

wds

sgoodwin4813

cypher

cypher

cypher

Uncle Pete

Findura

Wilm

Findura

Wilm

Big Toe

Findura

Uncle Pete

cascoly

Uncle Pete

cypher

cypher

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