After a long time in this industry, I have concluded that individual
words works much better than any kind of phrases.

This realization was made more by instinct and less by data - and let's
admit it, NOBODY really knows how the different search engines
work and, even if he did, NOBODY can optimize their keywording process
to satisfy them all.

Personally, I rarely have phrases and my process follows the AS guidelines.
I have the 3-5 most important keywords on top and I try to also include them
in the Title and the Description.

Also, I'd like to add that something similar is going on with illustrations
(I can't see how this applies to photography). Sales are much better when
you upload a theme that has several variations as individual items instead
of packing all the variations in one, even if there are very small differences*
(like different colors or a simple rearrangement). 

*Exception to that is Envato's Graphic River.

Quote from: Wilm on February 20, 2022, 15:54

Quote from: nazlisart on February 20, 2022, 14:47

Quote from: Wilm on February 20, 2022, 13:31

Quote from: nazlisart on February 20, 2022, 13:13

I'm an illustrator and I contribute predominantly vectors.
I have ~1500 vectors in all agencies listed below. I make $25-50 every month in 123RF; it used to be $50-100 three years back, but after the "restructure" it dropped.
It is also fair to say that due to other activities I haven't uploaded for about a year and a half, so I can't say what the numbers could be if I was consistent. I've started again this year, so I'll be able to be more accurate if you ask me in 2023.
For 2021 here are the agencies I contributed in order of income:
1. SS
2. AS (looks like it will soon become #1)
3. iS
4. VectorStock
5. 123RF
6. DP
7. Alami (!)
8. Canstock
9. ENVATO (Graphic River)
10. DT, Big, Pond5 (I check them out every Christmas for a small end-of-the-year bonus)

Special mention needs to be made for ENVATO's Graphic River. They can be a major stream of income if you're good on what you are doing, BUT...
Uploading the same set-up as the rest of the agencies won't cut it. It has different philosophy and different audience, and it needs a more labor-intensive approach in preparing and presenting your artwork. You have to give this special attention if you don't want to have 2/3 of your submission rejected as well as to have some success over there.

Recently I started uploading my portfolio in Vecteesy.  I'm still in the process and I don't have any sales yet, but - It has more traffic than VectorStock and this is something that makes me optimistic for future gains.

I hope that was helpful.
Cheers

May I ask what percentage of your total revenue you make at VectorStock?

I have never dealt with VectorStock before. But if it was worth it, I would take a closer look at the agency.

VectorStock is slow
It starts with 25% per DL but in time it gets better
I get 10% of my income from them.
I recomend it - as long as you have patience

Thank you for your honest answer! 10% should be worth it. I will give them a try.

I have now taken a closer look at VectorStock and have decided not to upload there. I don't like the pricing structure for contributors. For subscription sales you only get $0.20. From that I have to deduct 3% for paypal. The result is � 0.17, not even 45% of what I get at AS. For an extended license at VectorStock $7.50 to a maximum of $10.50. This does not meet my expectations.

I don't mean to slander, but I think you have very high expectations from the Microstock business...
Circa 2012 such expectations started spiraling to a slow and painful death I'm afraid.
ADOBE Stock is a beacon of decency and hope for contributors, but if you contribute only to them, you do not take full advantage of your stock portfolio.

@nazlisart, you are clearly a talented illustrator.

Why would you devalue your work by selling somewhere like Vecteezy? As someone who has been approached repeatedly by them, and even offered cash incentives to upload I don�t understand why anyone who values their work would take the bait.

They are as bad, if not worse, than Freepik was at their worst point. Giving away loads of work for free for $5 per 1000 dls or sell your work to  subscribers paying $9 per month for UNLIMITED downloads. It�s madness. I can�t really imagine a worse deal.

Also full of stolen stuff like this:

https://www.vecteezy.com/members/freevector

The owners are running a stock image site without even understanding how licensing works. They think they are covered as long as they sell this stuff as �editorial�, even though the uploader clearly doesn�t have copyright of the images.

There couldn�t be a worse deal/ site out there so very curious as to how they get anyone legit to sign up.

@Justanotherphotographer
Dear friend you are right!
I reread the pricing structure and I realized that someone could download my whole portfolio for just $14...
They approached me sometime last year when I was not active. As part of my decision to came back I included them in my effort to renew and expand my activity.
Thank you for bringing how bad they are in my attention!
I just applied to withdraw the files I have uploaded so far...

P.S. The 130 or so files that have already been uploaded will be deleted from their library IN ONE YEAR as per "contributor's agreement"... very sloppy job on my behalf I have to admit...

@Wilm
I disagree about VectorStock. Subscription are relatively low in relation to Credit purchases. My RPD in VS is greater than that of SS after commissions restructuring. They are not the best, but they are not the worst either. I have consistent sales there and would still recommend it.

I'm an illustrator and I contribute predominantly vectors.
I have ~1500 vectors in all agencies listed below. I make $25-50 every month in 123RF; it used to be $50-100 three years back, but after the "restructure" it dropped.
It is also fair to say that due to other activities I haven't uploaded for about a year and a half, so I can't say what the numbers could be if I was consistent. I've started again this year, so I'll be able to be more accurate if you ask me in 2023.
For 2021 here are the agencies I contributed in order of income:
1. SS
2. AS (looks like it will soon become #1)
3. iS
4. VectorStock
5. 123RF
6. DP
7. Alami (!)
8. Canstock
9. ENVATO (Graphic River)
10. DT, Big, Pond5 (I check them out every Christmas for a small end-of-the-year bonus)

Special mention needs to be made for ENVATO's Graphic River. They can be a major stream of income if you're good on what you are doing, BUT...
Uploading the same set-up as the rest of the agencies won't cut it. It has different philosophy and different audience, and it needs a more labor-intensive approach in preparing and presenting your artwork. You have to give this special attention if you don't want to have 2/3 of your submission rejected as well as to have some success over there.

Recently I started uploading my portfolio in Vecteesy.  I'm still in the process and I don't have any sales yet, but - It has more traffic than VectorStock and this is something that makes me optimistic for future gains.

I hope that was helpful.
Cheers

🚩

Back to the person with the auction here. Past performance will not indicate future sales and income, times have changed. Hopefully if they are working for an estate or someone getting out of the business or whatever and legitimate, one of the agencies should be the likely buyer, not one of us. Agencies can invest and look forward to 100% of the returns, for themselves, as there's no commission. Agencies have the financial depth to buy something like this. I'd say that the majority of people on the forum, can't afford what this will be sold for, if it's legitimate.

Plus Agencies can confirm the revenue and already have the source files.

Does anybody know when it will be up again???

Thanks

I can log-in I just can't access the Contributors Dushboard

Im on the bridge. they do it for me. BS , back in the day was a really cool Little site with Very good sales and the commission was 50 Cents a DL. then , My good friends The owners Tim and Dawn were the best of the best people out there. and the day after SS bought them Out. downhill from that day forward to nothingness. why they did that. I don't know. Tim and Dawn ran all the way to the bank,LOL. Good for them. It's a $100 a Month site Now. But since I do nothing. It's worth it.

$100 per month on BS!!! I want to be friends with Tim and Dawn too 

Good Luck...

You just gotta try those that you see on the Microstock Poll tab to the right, see what works for you. Nothing is particularly different from photos.  As for "shadiness", again, there isn't a site which haven't been complained about. Trial and error is the best way to go, thanks to massive uploads that can be done easily through all sorts of 3rd party software.

I agree in the most part. Definitely upload in Top and Mid Tiers. All but Pond 5 generate stead income (it could be $5/month but it is fairly steady and potentially increasing if you upload regularly). From Low Earners choose Canstock, Vectorstock and Envato's Graphic River. You may try the rest but I consider them a waste o time...

I also suggest you support GL since they are the only fair-trade agency out there but don't expect any sales any time soon...

I had one sale recently after almost half a year...

With that said I will continue to support GL (I upload to GL equal amount and with the same frequency as to SS and other "Big" agencies) because of their philosophy and ethics.

I know many share my feelings and I wish for the new administration to take advantage of this and include in their development, tools for contributors to co-promote the site and share our portfolio there (affiliates, API, social media optimization etc.) 

It is a big - 1 to 2 weeks off - holiday in Greece also but who gives a f***... US is the thing, right?