How do you pick your sponsors?

[KG Gary]

At first I would just promote anyone/anything relevant to the niches I like/build freesites in.
Like Licker4U mentioned, I'm starting to take a good look at the tours and see if they appeal to me as a lover of the niche. If they do, then I'll promote them.
I've also used recommendations from this forum on several occasions. Plus Greenguy's stats and the GG&J resources pages, and a few people's sigs.
But I really do have to think a tour for a particular site is appealing enough.

[virgohippy]

Recomendations from private conversations with other webmasters I trust is my first consideration.

If I like the content so much I feel the urge to stop what I'm doing so I can pleasure myself the moment I first come across it... I'll probably sign up on the spot, but I may not promote.

Everything else goes into my "sponsors to consider" favorites folder, broken down by billing processor. CCBill sponsors get priority.

If I need a niche, fresh content, or sponsor links to stuff somewhere, or I'm not happy with past performers, I hunt through my favorites and make direct comparisons on those factors I've gained the experiene enough to estimate as reasons why I may or may not make money.

Also, every so often I'll sign up with a program on a whim and test it out just to feed the chaos element.

[SuziQT]

Originally Posted by virgohippy

Recomendations from private conversations with other webmasters I trust is my first consideration.

This is my #1 way to find new sponsors. I don't take on many new ones nowadays and if I do it is usually based on a personal recommendation from someone I trust.