two numbers

Microstock is much about numbers. So much, actually, that while looking for the top secret number to success (whether or not there is one) we can easily miss the simple guides along the way.

While analyzing my 2010 statistics and looking at the goals I’ve set for myself for 2011 I decided to not do what I’ve done so far… ie. fall for the overly complex equations. I wanted to focus on the plain, simple and solid data which was easily available. So I did.

I asked two key questions along the way:

1. How do you outpace the growth of the agency?
2. How do you evaluate the success of your portfolio?

So, first things – first. How in the world do you outpace the growth of a 10+ million image bank, where tens of thousands of people regularly upload new content? Quite simply – you don’t. What you CAN do, however, is outpace its growth in relation to where you stand. Or outpace the others like you, individually.

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steps to success in microstock

Yes, it really is that simple. That is, if you care enough to realize it and adjust whatever it is that you’re doing accordingly. The catch? Do it now and you’ll be ahead of the crowd, because far too many of the middle class contributors aren’t putting the three piece puzzle together just yet.

Why am I telling you all this, you may ask. Firstly, because I don’t want you to be stuck in the same spot I was for far too long. Secondly, because I believe the entire industry will be revolutionized if more of the people who depend on it actually took it for what it can be. So, read on and analyze your own situation as you do it.

#1 BE SERIOUS ABOUT IT. I suppose you can get just this part down and be as happy as one can be. This is the foundation on which you’re building – your hobby, your business, your holiday money… whatever microstock is to you, it stands on “how seriously you do it”. Ironically, this may be the easiest step to describe as it comes down to one short question: Am I going to make an effort to make this happen or not? Check these definitions of “serious” to see the picture from another angle. There is no some sort of “microstock secret” to being serious. Really, there isn’t.

Are you choosing to be serious?

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