We analyzed our aggregate microstock sales data from July 1 to Sep 30 of this year and saw some interesting trends in the Earnings/Download number.

$/DL Average Trending Up

Aggregate Sales Data - Summer 2009

This chart shows a 7 day moving average for both total earnings and downloads (values obscured) across all of LookStat. The interesting thing to me was the fact that Earnings/DL was drifting up. I had expected this to be relatively flat but it was interesting to see it rise quite a bit over the course of the summer. (I think this is probably a good thing.)

Earnings/DL – Peaks & Valleys

Our experience suggests that sales peak mid-week and have a bottom on weekends, which seems logical. What was interesting though, is that the earnings/download drops on the weekend as well.

Earnings/Download by Day of Week

Average of Earnings/DL on Weekends vs. Weekdays

This suggests that not only are there fewer buyers on the weekend, but those that are active are purchasing smaller images. This makes sense when you consider the fact that buyers on the weekends are likely buying for blogs and the web versus those during the week who are probably buying for clients or on corporate accounts. Also, Saturday makes sense as a minimum since that is a weekend day in any time zone.

I’d love to hear your experiences and thoughts.