I just realize that I'm more the junk food guy, just 2 images....

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=5545756
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4328346

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=3210389
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=3309259
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4144674
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=4483142
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=5527413

Man, I somehow missed that....stupid me.....

Here are mine:

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=3131427
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=3170862
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=3131464
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=3210398
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=6067510

Great idea, Leaf, I really like it!


Hey, but it might be dangerous if someone goes into red -> maybe the speed limiter kicks in....

-> 0,39 (that's half of my numbers at istock....).

-> 0,81 here

@helix7: congratulation, very impressing!!

BME (20% more than previous BME, was Mar-2008)

istock                    40,86% (BME, 1 EL)
shutterstock           16,29% (BME, 1 EL)
dreamstime              9,35%
digitalstock              7,25 (German site)
stockxpert               6,80%
shotshop                 6,75% (BME - German site)
fotolia                     4,69% (BME)
123rf                      4,12% (BME)
panthermedia           3,09%

minimal revenue at bigstock and none at snapvillage.

istock is still strong but dropped a bit regarding overall revenue percentage (Apr 45,54% -> May 40,86%).

Quite some comeback at shutterstock, best  month since Oct-2007

The 2 German site are suprisingly stable, but Panthermedia is just a big disappointment,  big drop since they introduced the 30/50 rule.

Biggest jump and surprise: 123rf -> BME by 70%!!

naa, forget this pseudo scientific BS about electrical layers and stuff.....our local habit (Germany) here is: if something is going wrong, blame "Global Warming".....or "Globalization".....or.....or....

BTW: your electrical layer theory is not at all backed by research. The truth is, there are psychological layers that absorb the negative vibrations and "bad mood radiation" that is emitted by several galaxies in our universe, affecting the wellbeing of the earthlings. I will start a separate elaborated  thread about this breathtaking discoveries later....

Quote from: erwinova on May 22, 2008, 01:53
mine 15-34 days..... 

At least that gives me some comfort that I'm not alone (15 days and counting)...

No big change here (non-exclusive) compared to April (was BME).

The weeks in May had the usual ebb and flow - but overall I expect a BME at istock, no big increase, but definitely no dip.

BTW: regarding acceptance rate of non-exclusives (see statement of 4seasons) -> no big changes either, pretty constant - I can see no "we don't like non-exclusives". Of course they might like you even a little bit more if you are exclusive - but thats ok.

What really sucks regarding my acceptance rate is fotolia, it went down to about 15% (compared to 79% istock and 85% dreamstime). Obviously I do not understand what fotolia wants and I consequentially stopped uploading.

Making $1.200,--/month by the end of 2008 (current $750,--)
Have at least 800 submissions by the end of 2008 (current 420)

Decide (by June the latest) whether or not to go exclusive at istock.

Thanks to everybody for the valuable feedback and advice! A lot of stuff to consider....

Overall revenue down 3,5% compared to Mar-2008 (was BME).

istock              45,5 %   even
shutterstock     15,7 %  even
dreamstime       11,7 %  up 
stockxpert          7,4 %  up
digitalstock         6,7 % down (german site)
shotshop            5,6 % even (german site)
panthermedia      2,5 %  way down
fotolia                2,1 %  up

the rest for 123rf,bigstock,snapvillage

Currently I'm fighting with myself about going exclusive at istock.

For the last couple of month, istock constantly creates around 45% of my microstock revenue. Ignoring all other pros and cons, my major consideration is "bottom line" - money. Just entered the silver level, so its not enough to compensate the revenue of my other sites - unless I sell more at istock as an exclusive. So - how much more can I expect?

Given a certain level of image quality, more sales can be generated by better positioning in "best match". So my question was: how strong is the influence of the "exclusivity factor" for "best match".

So I did a little test. I tried to just look for the initial "push" of new images with 0 (zero) downloads. To avoid going through hundreds of pages I entered a search items that displayed just a couple of thousand matches -> "facade + entrance" -> 3825 matches found (just photos).

Here are the results: the first 0-DL image was at position 103 (exclusive). The first 0-DL image of a nonexclusive photographer was on position 459 (maybe I should feel privileged because it was one of mine... ). Between these two positions you can find another 101 exclusive 0-DL images (yes, I invested some time...).

So in this specific case before a buyer finds the first new nonexclusive  0-DL image, he was able to look at over 100 exclusive 0-DL images. No guarantee that they will sell better, but this REALLY is a big push for the start.

My conclusions: if this result is not purely coincidental, there is a good chance for more DL and money - and to compensate the missing revenue of my other sites.

Suggestions/remarks are welcome. Even better would be: specific feedback about that additional sales effect from somebody that went from nonexclusive to exclusive. Thank you very much!

Manfred (being on the verge of deleting my other ports....but still fighting with myself..... )

Quote from: leaf on April 24, 2008, 14:39
great.. thanks makes 3 of us from here!

So we will be seated at the "non-exclusive-and-non-diamond-pariah" dinner-table....

Just kidding, it sure will be fun there.

Quote from: leaf on April 03, 2008, 21:24
well i think that was Lee's point.  These events are  attended by non avereage stock shooters.  They are not made to appeal to the average stock shooter.   If it was it probably wouldn't be for a week.  The only ones who can take a week off are the ones who are self employed stock shooters.

So it's about time to break the rules and add an average stock shooter - me.

Just completed all bookings.

Hey, Malta was on my "to visit" list anyway, the weather in June should be fine and istock really made great deals for accommodation (I'm in the "cheap" hotel - and I checked: if you book this via regular channels you nearly pay twice the price).

So I consider this as a great and relatively inexpensive "couple of days off" + having fun with shooting + learning from the "big guys" + having fun with stock-addicted people.

So I'm looking forward to see you there!

Manfred (istock account-> manwolste)

Quote from: vphoto on April 21, 2008, 01:50
so far they have not shared the fruits of their growth with me. ..................... All I know that IS and SS are doing quite well.

Same here, StockXpert dropping from 12% of my microstock revenue in Nov-07 to 4,6% in Mar-08.

Quote from: faber on April 06, 2008, 10:16
From my point of view these keyword issues at FT are just ridiculous. Very, very frustrating.

With V1 I had 260 images online (with german keywords).

After the switch to V2 my bestsellers could not be found via keyword search. Support told me they had translation problems which they will solve.

After 2 months nothing was solved, sales dropped.

So I deleted some images and re-uploaded them with english keywords. Same result: not found and some of them just show stupid translations.

I deleted them again an now make a last attempt with german keywords again (according to FT forum posts, this should work now).

If I cant find them now, FT is off my list.

Seems to be working now, but just the first seven keywords. At least some improvement.....so I´m uploading again.

Quote from: Velvia on April 17, 2008, 14:07

Quote from: Gregor909 on April 17, 2008, 14:03
Why are you making fun of people who got their career ruined?

Exactly!

careers ruined? Well, obviously not exactly... -> http://www.zurb.com/team .....and they are hiring people -> http://zurb.standoutjobs.com

contributor money in piggy bank accounts ruined? Well.......

Quote from: CCK on April 17, 2008, 10:02
My bank refused to accept the cocconuts I tried to deposit.

Sorry, but this is not our problem.

Look for a new bank!

Did I mention: we also work in the banking business: TURTLE BANK. You can open an account within 2 days. PIGGY BANK transfers are welcome.

In case we are going out of business (you know, the economy is challenging today....), your deposit will be transferred to Attila II.

Jimbo Jack (alias Attila I)

Try out this new fantastic site : FOOL-IMAGES!!

Great looking web-site, strong customer base (they say).

Uploaded the first images last week and I already got many downloads!!

Join now!!!!!

Based on the Fiji Islands, their founder and CEO Jimbo Jack has many years of experience (in whatever area) and will guarantee the success of the company.

Contributors get great pay for uploads: 5 coconuts for every 100 images!

Commission for photographers is a whopping 98%!! With that tremendous sales potential, you can easily live with their current payout limit of US$ 5.000,--

And they are very nice people, they told me I have one of the best portfolios they have ever seen and I will make megatons of money with them!

They really pamper their contributors (I cannot post what happened after I took their gorgeous looking secretary out for dinner last night......).

Upload now, don't miss that chance!! Here is the link: www.FOOL-IMAGES.ARGHHH





What??!! Its not April-01???
Upps, sorry....
Manfred

Congrats, way to go!

From my point of view these keyword issues at FT are just ridiculous. Very, very frustrating.

With V1 I had 260 images online (with german keywords).

After the switch to V2 my bestsellers could not be found via keyword search. Support told me they had translation problems which they will solve.

After 2 months nothing was solved, sales dropped.

So I deleted some images and re-uploaded them with english keywords. Same result: not found and some of them just show stupid translations.

I deleted them again an now make a last attempt with german keywords again (according to FT forum posts, this should work now).

If I cant find them now, FT is off my list.

Very slow and not all functions are working, can´t upload images.

Anybody else or just me?

BME (+ 10% to previous BME, January 2008)

istock              = 43,9% (BME)
shutterstock     = 15,9%
panthermedia    = 10,4% (BME)
dreamstime      =   7,8%
digitalstock      =   7,4% (german)
shotshop         =   5,4% (german)
stockxpert       =   4,6%
bigstock          =   2,3%
123rf              =   2,1%