As an oversight on my part, I had never turn on referral earnings on my IS account until a couple of weeks ago. Now I don't advertise my account any where and I don't send out emails with my referral link as my tag line. So, in the last couple of weeks I've had three referrals netting $30! Is this typical? Can I expect a couple of random referrals every month without even trying?

Really?  I think their referral earnings are only from buyers too, aren't they?  I too had a referral last week, I wish there was some data with the credit, but it shall remain a mystery!  Whomever you may be, I thank you!

I've had one too and haven't advertised at all.

The reason I think this is happening is because of google image search. Google image search typically returns results for iStock at the results. People will click on your image which will generate a referral and want to buy images, when they buy the credits you get credit for the link from google image search.

Quote from: zorki on January 04, 2008, 16:06
Can I expect a couple of random referrals every month without even trying?

Its totally possible... I have no idea where my referrals have come from or who those people are. Its weird.

I have had 17 so far.  Some of them have downloaded my images and I can see them in use on their websites.  This is a nice bonus from istock and makes up slightly for the poor commission.  They make a lot from us so it is nice to get a bit back.

 I looked in the control panel but I  did find how one can turn the referral option on. Can someone point me to ?

vphoto

Click on the Referral tab on your Portfolio and then under Referral Program and Site Badges.

thanks, found it. I do not have a home page. What  would be the best? Flickr ?

vphoto

I had two last month.  I have no idea who they are, but I do have IS banners on my site.

Regards,
Adelaide

thank you, Adelaide.

I will sign up with them.

vphoto

i wonder if your image is used for free in a blog (one that istock partners with) and someone clicks on your photo and buys credits then you get a referral..... i think

It was mentioned before that the Vox Blog was a possible source for lots of referrals because of its partnership with istockphoto ...

I still think it is mainly google image search.

i have had istock banners for a long time....i hope to get a referral for the buyers and get the $10 but i dont have a single referral for istock. Only have referrals for the other sites....

Quote from: zorki on January 04, 2008, 18:14
Click on the Referral tab on your Portfolio and then under Referral Program and Site Badges.

Thanks for the info in this thread. I had noticed by chance a while back that on my Financials page that I had 6 referrals listed. So today I went to my Profile page and clicked on the Referrals tab and --> View Referral Earnings and I have $60! $50 from last October (no idea why so many in that month). Anyway: Woo hoo!

Its sad that istock only pay if you refer photo buyers. I realy like the referal program of shutterstock and fotolia, shutterstock also pays you if a user you refer, refer his own users...

BTW, just got another one a couple of days ago... sure does help the bottom line and if this keeps up it makes IS way ahead of SS and DT in terms of earnings.

Quote from: Amosnet on January 06, 2008, 23:17
Its sad that istock only pay if you refer photo buyers. I realy like the referal program of shutterstock and fotolia, shutterstock also pays you if a user you refer, refer his own users...

That is what I understood from their website - but if you go to your public profile page, scroll down on the right and you can see your referred members.  My referral is a photographer (with an empty portfolio).  So, maybe it is a one-time referral bonus for a photographer and a percentage for buyer referrals?  Can anyone clarify?