I was just curious about the entire creative network aspect of istock.  I presently do not see its usefulness, but I think that´s because I don´t understand why it´s there and its purpose.  Would someone please enlighten me.  Thanks.

I think it's to put emphasis on the "big happy family" thing that they try to make us believe that they have created. As long as they sell my photos, I'm ok.

yeah, i am not sure what the points is either.

I suppose it is easier to view other peoples portfolios that way, or perhaps send them a message???.. not sure.

I don't see any practical use in terms of sales or visibility.  I think it works for ourselves if we want to see what others are doing (friends, people we meet at the forum), as it gives a quick access to those in our list.  And if you're curious, you can check your contact's contacts.

Regards,
Adelaide

I have lots of people in my CN but rarely have time to look at their portfolio's. If I had a spare moment I might just do that but when do serious microstockers have any spare time??? 

CN is pretty good. But again it depends on who is in your CN and whether they share information.

1) My CN gives me tips to do stuff relevant to istock

2) My CN tells me when istock changes their alogritm on how photos are in the front page when they discover and share tips on how we can do it eg when istock changed and nobody disambiguate, a CN discovered that his sales increase many fold when he disambiguated and he sent a site mail to CN and we all start to disambiguate right on the onset

3) My CN taught me how to do links and stuff when i have problems and wanted to learn new things on istock

4) My CN rate each other now and then when we see photos that we like in each other's portfolio

5) I am in the "Race to Bronze" by Apr 2007 so my CN has a blog that keeps track of the progress and being in the CN gives me easy access to the infor.

6) Also when i started, some people in the CN started at the same time as me and I could use them as a reference point to see how I have progressed in terms of no of downloads. Whether i was doing better or worst etc. It gives me some sort of a marker.

7) When one of my CN gave his photo as "Free Photo", he informed us and I was able to track and see whether this had impact on his sales and whether I wanted to do that as well. I discovered that sales did not improve at all although many people downloaded his photo in that one week. So I decided eventually never to give "Free Photos" to any stock sites.

that's some of the things my CN does and I have found it to be extremely helpful for a newbie....i have been here at istock for 6 months and many things were taught me by my CN, but i must say that its only 2 or 3 in the CN that has been really great in the above instances. The rest are not so.....

Wow, you have a good CN! Mine is more of the lazy kind, except for one guy who sends out news about his progress..

Three members have spotted images of mine in magazines and sent me copies.  They recognize my models as they regularly look at my portfolio and I often spot images by members of my CN and send copies to them.  Often I don't bother if I recognize something and don't  know the photographer.

Quote from: Peiling on January 23, 2007, 02:56

4) My CN rate each other now and then when we see photos that we like in each other's portfolio


7) When one of my CN gave his photo as "Free Photo", he informed us and I was able to track and see whether this had impact on his sales and whether I wanted to do that as well. I discovered that sales did not improve at all although many people downloaded his photo in that one week. So I decided eventually never to give "Free Photos" to any stock sites.

The first one (number 4) is the main reason I see. People use the CN to help eachother out by rating their CN's photos since rating effects the position in the best match search, and therefore sales.

I disaggree with the second one (number 7). I had a free photo and my sales went up. Yes, many people got that photo free, but I've also had 3 ELs on that "free" photo. It had no downloads for several months of being up, and now it has 9 downloads not including the 3 ELs. I'm happy with my decision to let them use it.

P.S. That person in your CN was me, Mr. peilin75.

Edit: Here is my sales for last year, can you guess which month I had a free photo of the week?

Quote from: yingyang0 on January 24, 2007, 00:40
Edit: Here is my sales for last year, can you guess which month I had a free photo of the week?

I would say that is not conclusive, since November is the best month for most submitters (because of the holiday season rush).  My best month was also November and I never had a free image at any of the sites.

Quote from: GeoPappas on January 24, 2007, 01:08
I would say that is not conclusive, since November is the best month for most submitters (because of the holiday season rush).  My best month was also November and I never had a free image at any of the sites.

Ok, how about the daily downloads for November? And remember that the ELs from that image made me $45, plus I don't have any holiday images in my portfolio so I doubt there was a holiday rush for me.

Quote from: GeoPappas on January 24, 2007, 01:08

Quote from: yingyang0 on January 24, 2007, 00:40
Edit: Here is my sales for last year, can you guess which month I had a free photo of the week?

I would say that is not conclusive, since November is the best month for most submitters (because of the holiday season rush).  My best month was also November and I never had a free image at any of the sites.

Not all contributors have a peak in November. I have no holiday pictures at iS, and my sales went down over 30% from October to November.

Interesting facts about CN as well as free images in this thread.

hi yes yingyang, that's right you were the CN.

I must admit that it was a conclusion that i drawn by looking at no. of downloads. It was an estimate. But it is true that I am not aware of the "extended license sale" that u had as a result of that giving of free photos to istock. Thanks for the information, it would not be available unless u have revealed it. Now, that changes the whole perspective of giving of free images. I guess i was expecting sales to increase exponentially cos so many people download the free image but i fail to realise that there are other intrinsic benefits like getting ELS etc.

I never got any EL on my former Free Image of the week, but I think it increased the number of dls.

I don't have a CN... who wants to join?

Quote from: snem on January 24, 2007, 10:39
I don't have a CN... who wants to join?

sure, my username here is the same as at istock, just send an invite.

Quote from: Freezingpictures on January 24, 2007, 09:03
I never got any EL on my former Free Image of the week, but I think it increased the number of dls.

I think it depends on the type of photo. Mine didn't have a whole lot of uses other than as a postcard.

have added you two (yinghan0 and snem) to my network.

If others want to add me my username is : leaf

My CN is blank at this point. Please add me too.  Same user name.
Thanks!

I would be honored if you guys would add me to your CNs as well.

Yeah me too
By the way I am ColdImages @ Istock..

Wow, I have good ideas sometimes, let's network microstockgroup!

Yes now we know whats the point of the CN 

Good idea, mine is empty too now.

Same username.

It works! I have added yingyan0 and snem to my network and earned 100$ today !  (yesterday only 3$)
Feel free to add me too, same username.
Thanks