MicrostockGroup
Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: vonkara on February 18, 2009, 14:54
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Many things have moved since the last Best agencies poll. Much of the pre-holidays announcements are now online. Then I ask you contributors, which agencies give you the most satisfaction to work with. The reasons could be totally different between everybody, it doesn't matter that much.
What would be great to know using our overall satisfaction is in part, which agencies can be successful in the game to make buyers and contributors happy at the same time. I think a successful agency can do the both, or at least finding the good balance between them.
You got 3 votes and can change your vote as you want.
Here's the last Best agencies Poll results http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/your-best-agencies-poll/
Shutterstock 115 (29%)
Istock 72 (18.2%)
Dreamstime 88 (22.2%)
Fotolia 53 (13.4%)
StockXpert 52 (13.1%)
123RF 8 (2%)
Bigstock 8 (2%) From last November
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My last two months have been so disappointing that the only satisfaction has come from Canstock with the two Fotosearch sales I got there! ;D
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Never would believe, but if the question is satisfaction, SS isn't in the top 3. They have fallen to a far 2nd place for the first time in 2 years, and they could possibly hit 3rd before the end of the month. DT, SX, BigStock, and 123 have been making huge gains. I will have a BME with at least 2, if not all 4. With the rampant and erratic rejections keeping my current sellers at a minimum, I can't call my feelings about SS satisfied.
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Never would believe, but if the question is satisfaction, SS isn't in the top 3. They have fallen to a far 2nd place for the first time in 2 years, and they could possibly hit 3rd before the end of the month. DT, SX, BigStock, and 123 have been making huge gains. I will have a BME with at least 2, if not all 4. With the rampant and erratic rejections keeping my current sellers at a minimum, I can't call my feelings about SS satisfied.
SS seems to be much maligned lately - though for me they are still my number 1 selling agency, and have been since the start. There were times when IS threatened that ranking, and though IS came close they never quite got there.
I like DT and they have had consistent increase in revenue for me.
I was starting to warm to FT again after finally making it to silver and for the first time seeing a real increase in revenue there, but after today's announcement....
IS is still a wait and see - I suspect we're not going to see a return to previous revenue levels for non-exclusives there with the new best match 2.0, but at least this month is looking slightly up from Jan. And despite everything it never dropped from its #2 ranking.
BS - well I still upload there, and get a trickle of sales there, but sometimes wonder why.
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Perhaps a huge surprise: My no 3 for this month is Crestock.
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I put my 3 best earners because in overall satisfaction the earnings are what count the most to me. If it was a case of which site do I like the most then DT would be up at the top but although I think they are the fairest site they just don't make me as much money as the other 3.
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I only voted 2, StockXpert and SS the rest is far behind :)
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I can't believe that SS would every make it to the top three based on satisfaction if the level of earnings weren't taken into account. The do so little to protect our work, often don't bother even replying to contributor emails etc.
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I put my 3 best earners because in overall satisfaction the earnings are what count the most to me. If it was a case of which site do I like the most then DT would be up at the top but although I think they are the fairest site they just don't make me as much money as the other 3.
Exactly my thoughts too.
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I put my 3 best earners because in overall satisfaction the earnings are what count the most to me. If it was a case of which site do I like the most then DT would be up at the top but although I think they are the fairest site they just don't make me as much money as the other 3.
Exactly my thoughts too.
I think for many, a big factor weighing in their favor is the amount of work required compared to the return. At SS uploading a batch is quick and painless - other sites not so. The other factor is consistency - there are no huge swings in best match results, and when announcements are made, it usually results in an increase in revenue for contributors, not some new restriction or a cut in commission.
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I get what you are saying but still to ME all of that is not important compared to good sales.
I put my 3 best earners because in overall satisfaction the earnings are what count the most to me. If it was a case of which site do I like the most then DT would be up at the top but although I think they are the fairest site they just don't make me as much money as the other 3.
Exactly my thoughts too.
I think for many, a big factor weighing in their favor is the amount of work required compared to the return. At SS uploading a batch is quick and painless - other sites not so. The other factor is consistency - there are no huge swings in best match results, and when announcements are made, it usually results in an increase in revenue for contributors, not some new restriction or a cut in commission.
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With a slightly different question here how it goes.
From last November
Shutterstock -0.6 1st
Dreamstime+0.3 2nd
Istock +1.9 3th
StockXpert -0.8 4th
Fotolia -3.6 5th
123RF 6th
Bigstock 7th
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I'd love to add Shutterstock and iStockPhoto to the sites I submit to (and sell from) but they are totally inflexible on the photo id they ask for.
Sending in your passport/driver id is a major security risk. If you black out enough to make is no good to id thieves then how can it be any use to the site owner?
My UK drivers license doesn't have a photo on it (older type). Passport is too dangerous.
I would send my bank details (personal or limited company as proof of id (but they siad no).
I am waiting for someone's id to be used fraudulently and the FBI to urn up at these sites and ask for a proof that it wasn't pinched by an employee, their ISP, etc, eyc.
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Like 50 000 phtographers on each agencies and never heard of theft getting peoples id. Mine included. But it's your choice
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It's not so much how likely it is today. It's just that it's such a random request.
They could ask for a picture of my cat (their right) but why do it?
It's not a US rule (other sites don't ask).
It's no proof (I could mock a passport up).
They can have what they actually need (my bank account so I can pay them/be paid).
I'm pretty sure the UK passport/driver licence is not allowed to be copied and handed over to a third party (ie states 'is the property of HM government).
In fact 123rs waived the passport thing when I offered my business account details.
It just comes cross as someone sticking to a random rule.
Problem is, you send your passport copy to 100 sites and one day things go bad - how do you track down the crook. Saying it hasn't happened to you so far doesn't change things - neither has death.
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Problem is, you send your passport copy to 100 sites and one day things go bad - how do you track down the crook. Saying it hasn't happened to you so far doesn't change things - neither has death.
I didn't say: because it never happened to me. I'm not that dumb to say things only happen to others. I meant from the time I watch every microstock forums, I didn't saw any case of weak identity security from the agencies