and $395 for an online microstock course.... ouch!   

Exactly the point!  I stand by my contention that the people who are blogging, writing books, and teaching classes on "how to get rich in microstock" are really about enriching themselves at the expense of eager newbies. 

With the exception of Yuri Arcurs, successful microstock artists aren't wasting their time giving away secrets on how to be successful in the micros.  These guys are not successful microstockers so they have nothing of value to offer. 

Even in Yuri's case he has complained for the last year or so that his overhead is outstripping his profits and he has reached the point of diminishing returns, so I think his blogging, mentorships, keywording services, etc. are a way of segueying out of making money with his photos and into making money from aspiring microstockers.  Not criticizing him.  At least he has proven he knows what it takes to be successful before turning to teaching others. 

But these other pretenders... don't waste your time or your money.  There is no secret bag of tricks to being successful.  No magical shortcuts.  The big secret that successful microstock photographers know is that there is no secret:  Take good photos (well composed, properly lighted, low noise, sharp focus), keyword them accurately, and wait for them to attract buyers.  End of story.     

Agreed, that price is way too high considering the level of instruction and what you are (not) likely to get out of it.  Peterson himself offers courses through Adorama in NYC and in Florida a few times per year.  It is a 2-3 day course and is not much more expensive than the price being asked by whoever this other guy is (the iStock guru  )

The big secret that successful microstock photographers know is that there is no secret: 

Dang it!

The big secret that successful microstock photographers know is that there is no secret:  Take good photos (well composed, properly lighted, low noise, sharp focus), keyword them accurately, and wait for them to attract buyers.  End of story.

That reminds me of an episode as a toddler in my grandma's garden. I was obsessed by all those birds, and wanted to catch one. After several trials, they all flew away when coming near. So I asked her what to do, and she said that it's a secret. The secret is you have to put some salt on their tail: it paralyzes them and you can just pick them up.

So I went out with a cup of salt, but I never managed to come close enough to put the salt on their tail.

Much later, I realized that she had been pulling my leg. If you can sneak close enough to put salt on its tail, you can as well grab it 

So that's the real secret about microstock. Put salt on it's tail, and that's what all those blogs will tell you, collecting you as a referral and collecting Google ads revenue 

I can't resist responding to the time-honoured aphorism that 'those who can, do, those who can't, teach'. Very few people can teach, and experts are usually the worst teachers (IMHO, of course).

I wouldn't paint all artists with the same brush, more so, I 'd rather revise the saying to:
THOSE WHO CAN WILL TEACH THOSE THEY CHOOSE TO TEACH, those who won't WILL NEVER.

I have in my younger days attended seminars by the great Ansel Adams, also, I had the luck to meet the great Yusouf Karsh in his Ottawa office at the top floor of Le Chateau Laurier, and in that short time of him sitting me down to look at my piddly portfolio right after I had graduated from NYI, he did take the time to give me a few trade secrets I would not have discovered even if I had paid $1M to some school.
NYI taught me how to use the different formats , and taught me the history of photography.
But I still had to spend hours photographing still objects to learn lighting ,etc..

But yes, there are some who can teach and will teach... Gary Burton , Pat Metheny, Chick Corea,Thierney Sutton, etc.
in another section of art (music) are all teachers who TEACH AND DO, as they still kick ass regularly at live performances
 

You just need to check their credentials, and not just pay to learn from any tom, dick or harry, or as the french say, jacques, pierre o luc !
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"CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS WELL; but even more importantly, be even more careful who you choose as your enemies"
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Those who cannot teach, teach gym 

The other day people were complaining of a guy giving tips for free, now you complain that someone is charging too much.