I'm a stats junky, so I'd love more statistic. It would be nice to get anonymous site stats from users. Maybe an average site earnings or something like that. I don't know if it would work, but it's just an idea.

Interview of microstock VIP (sites owners, best photographers...) with some rules:
- we prepare questions list (every MSG member can participate)
- questions should be precise and professional
- if VIP accept to participate he should honestly and clearly respond. If something is not clear we can ask for more details.
- then members can vote for VIP (relevance, usefulness...)

An additional list for non-recommended sites, meaning sites that have gotten a lot of comments for non-payment and non-response from the site. 

A directory of common questions might be useful... "how do I upsize for Alamy?" etc.  Would that be a tutorial, a wiki? 

I seclected "other"

I would love to have input from proven buyers/designers on this forum. Only from Verified buyers!

Now we could have some useable information from their point of view.

-Larry

Hi Larry,
I would also like some views and statistics from the buyers that purchase from the microstock websites, as I think the designers and AD's only make up a tiny percentage of the microstock buyers, and most microstock images are purchased by other individuals and small businesses for thier direct use, the website blogs and articles where they talk to a couple of hundred designers to find out 'what they want' may not refect what the real market wants.

David    

One more "Other"
I wish every member was required to have at least one link to a site they have a port on, so we could tell who is full of crap and just ruining their mouth off and which ones know what they are talking about.
-Larry

Absolutely!  That would be great (why didn't I think of that?).
I often wonder about people's portfolios.  Or I ask myself "is he a vector or a photo guy?"  or : "a landscape type or succesful stock-on-white-background type?"

To me, the whole point of a forum like this is to be able to speak your mind and be free to say things you wouldn't - or couldn't - say on the microstocks' own forums, some of which are heavily censored.  And some of the microstocks aren't above hitting back at posters that say things they didn't like - I think we all remember that infamous rant by the CEO of SS.

Forcing posters to expose their contributor identies is completely contrary to the idea of open expression and if that were a requirement, many people (including myself) would no longer participate here.  I enjoy reading all sorts of outrageous opinions.   Let the game continue, and maybe Old Hippy will come back and serve as a much-needed counterweight to a lot of the boosterism that goes on here.  

If there's one thing I'd like to see more of, it would be posts from buyers telling me how they select images and how they use them.

Interview of microstock VIP (sites owners, best photographers...) with some rules:
- we prepare questions list (every MSG member can participate)
- questions should be precise and professional
- if VIP accept to participate he should honestly and clearly respond. If something is not clear we can ask for more details.
- then members can vote for VIP (relevance, usefulness...)

This ^^^

To me, the whole point of a forum like this is to be able to speak your mind and be free to say things you wouldn't - or couldn't - say on the microstocks' own forums, some of which are heavily censored.  

(snip)

Forcing posters to expose their contributor identies is completely contrary to the idea of open expression and if that were a requirement, many people (including myself) would no longer participate here.

I think the above is very important.  Of course it is perfectly fine if people WANT to link to their submitter identities/portfolios, but if it was a requirement I think it would cast a chill over the conversation, and there would be a lot of people who would leave.

Lisa: You can brag about your port anytime! I have looked them over and you do fantastic work. If you was to make a comment on mine (pro or con) I would listen. If you did not have any links I would ignore anything you have to say.

Thanks Larry!  You just made my day

But honestly, for most of the time I have been posting on this site I haven't had links to my portfolio.  Only reason they are there now is to pimp my referral links.  Greed winning out over self-preservation 

At one time I also entertained the idea of posting under an alias.   Tried it out for a bit but just really felt weird not being myself.  But I totally understand why other people do it. 

After awhile just from reading people's posts you can start to get an idea of who knows what they are talking about and who doesn't.  The wing nuts start to sound like wing nuts sooner or later - usually sooner, LOL.   

Quote from: a.k.a.-tom on September 16, 2009, 13:51

Sure...   if all could maitain a level of civility and courteousness.   Sadly, we dont always see that here when VIP's comment.  If we are to invite people to our table for a meal, we need to care not to insult them.  If we ask a question and dont like the answer,  we need  to have the tact and diplomacy to temper our replies.
  IF   that could happen,good idea,  I'd like to see more of this myself.  =tom
     

The list can be prepared in advance, moderated so that only precise and relevant questions are asked. Perhaps we can suggest the questions in a thread and then vote or debate on which ones to be asked.

Sounds Good, Bro!!    =tom

An additional list for non-recommended sites, meaning sites that have gotten a lot of comments for non-payment and non-response from the site. 

  I really think that is a good idea...we would learn from other peoples mistakes...but then again you might be liable for slander, especially if someone came on here bashing some site just because. So maybe it isn't such a good idea.