Is anyone else having a dramatic increase in sales this month? They have definitely changed the best match because some of my files are appearing on the front page in some searches when before I was unable to even find any of my photos. If things keep up iStock might have its best month since February 2008 and be my top earner this month. Anyone else seeing a change? Also, has anyone noticed whether new files are getting exposure again or if they are still buried as soon as they are approved?

Yes!  big improvment.

I'm still waiting and hoping

I have seen an improvement but sales vary a lot from one day to the next.  Still nowhere near the amount of sales I would like to see there, considering they are taking 80% commission.

Also, I have noticed iStock google advertisements on various sites that I frequently visit. Never saw them before so its definitely something new.

I am sure I will get beyond my December earnings there, but doubt I will reach the levels of October or November and not sure I can go back to where I was November 2007. But, would love to be corrected... .

not for me, looking worse than december

Mine's looking about the same as December - perhaps a little better - but that's what I'd expect in January.

Last October was my BME, closely followed by November, but it's normal to drop over the holiday season so I see nothing unusual.

Quote from: Kngkyle on January 17, 2009, 09:32
Also, I have noticed iStock google advertisements on various sites that I frequently visit. Never saw them before so its definitely something new.

Quote from: Kngkyle on January 17, 2009, 09:32
Also, I have noticed iStock google advertisements on various sites that I frequently visit. Never saw them before so its definitely something new.

I've been seeing the google ads for a while, but last night while I was watching the new episode of Psych (don't laugh! ), the network was advertising during the commercial breaks for some contest they were having about spotting pineapples in the episode. Of course my kids wanted to go check it out. We clicked on the "Find the Pineapple" button. I was very surprised to see a big istock banner ad there on the side of the page, one click from the USA network home page. It offered 10 free credits + 10% off.

http://www.usanetwork.com/series/psych/games/findthepineapple/

USA network is owned by NBC. Other companies also advertising in this rotation: Toyota, Hyundai, Bayer, SC Johnson (Windex), Saab. I saw these other ones on the front page as well, but got tired of refreshing it waiting for istock to pop up there, so I'm not sure if they ever would, or if they are just on this interior page. Either way, this advertising is clearly in a different league. I'm sure a big chunk of your 80% is going there. 

There has definitely been a noticeable pickup since the best match changed, and they are back to competing for me for the #2 position with DT.  Now that they are back above 10% of total earnings, I am satisfied enough to upload some new material.

I spent a few hours working through a bunch of my online images and removing keywords which I found to be irrelevant. If iStock wants a lean and mean set of keywords, good for them.  I'll be happy to do my part and help the cause.

Things seem back to Sept/Oct sales. Gooooooooooooood. Me happy. 

Also very good here. Should be much better sales than the last couple of months and IS is #1 for me this month by far. Got a couple of large file sales this week for $3.36 which was very nice as well. YAY! About half of my latest downloads on the first page are new files with 1-3 downloads each.

I'm already beyond nov and dec earnings at this moment.  Looks like my best month since apr '08.

this again shows the importance of search result  

lately my sales have been pretty  good too but I am very cautious as I don't know  what will happen with the best match 2.0 if I am not wrong it is not in effect yet?

Looking good for me too. Way better than December. Almost double over January 2008 at this same time. As the istock cheerleaders say - wooyay!

I have almost earned as much this month as I did in whole december, so it looks good (not great) for me too.

Yes, a huge jump. All of my old best sellers are coming back. Images that used to sell daily, but stopped selling mid last year are on the rebound. This could be a BME at IS for me.

On the other hand, I tried to upload for the first time in months, and it seems they are back to not grabbing desc and keywords again, so I'll keep holding off on that.

Unfortunately still way off the mark. At least as bad as Nov and Dec.

Quote from: dbvirago on January 17, 2009, 14:32

On the other hand, I tried to upload for the first time in months, and it seems they are back to not grabbing desc and keywords again, so I'll keep holding off on that.

Just click into any of the IS forums first (you don't need to read any). Then go straight to 'upload' do your uploading. All the data should show up. Been working that way for a while

Better than december, possibly close to november, still far from previous months.

Regards,
Adelaide

Only 50% of earnings (monthly projection) in comparison to December or November which were the same for me.

SS is doing fine (+30%), but all other sites are going down. I see a significant decrease of $/image downloaded in DT.

Hopefully, the 2nd half of January will be better.

Just saw an IS ad on the YouTube front page. We'll see if this brings in more customers. Hope so!

Personally, I'm seeing constant iStock ads on my yahoo mail page.

Quote from: Perrush on January 17, 2009, 13:33
I'm already beyond nov and dec earnings at this moment.  Looks like my best month since apr '08.

this again shows the importance of search result  

Ditto - looks like I'm back on the road to diamond!

Back too. Hope it's stay like this now and everyone will be happy this time