When I promoted other sponsors I would purchase my own content, however I knew the sponsors members areas like the back of my hand. I knew where they purchased their content and I would purchase content of say the same model, just a different set. That way the person signing up for that particular model did see her in the members area, and I was accepted everywhere because the content was not over saturated.

Monster Partners is *just* getting into offering free content now to its webmasters. I am sure as soon as we put it up there will be a race to get it, but because we update there will always be more.

Ever thought of putting together a content provider and a sponsor if the content worked well?

Yup, and with a lot of sponsors that use purchased content if they let me know who the provider was I would indeed purchase my own rights to that content to have rights to promote the paysite with the same models.

I would love to see sponsors offer exclusive content from within their site in limited distribution sets for a fee, with the caveat that the content was to be only used in promoting them. The webmasters get a chance to use site specific content that very few others have and thus would not been over used...I know that some sponsors allow the little guy special content (thank you again Emma), and most let the bigger affiliates inside the members area to grab what they want.

Some good points. You missed the chance of earnong more money by putting a sponsor in touch with a content provider. Let's say you know a good content provider who's content would fit a site. Get the sponsor to buy from the content provider and earn a commission.

As for going into a site, this can be a problem. I know some top sites putting up brand new exclusive content daily and giving it to affiliates for free. So you go into the site to grab what is already out there.

Or sponsors who simply do not update with enough, if they have 10 affiliates going into a site to grab content, before long they are all grabbing the same content on some sites.

Just trying to show there is no one answer to this problem.

I'm going to bring up something that's on my mind, and the reason I started this poll in the first place.

I have a problem with selling non-exclusive content to sponsors who will turn around and give it away free to affiliates for promotion. We've never allowed this, because I feel that it's a disservice to the webmasters who've paid for the same content.

Paul, I know you've had some experience trying to deal with this problem, I'd like to hear your thoughts on this, and also would like to hear some input and suggestions from others.

I would love to be able to sell non-exclusive content to paysites and let them use the content for promotion. Is there a way to protect the webmaster's investment and sell to paysites who give out free content at the same time?

why not charge more for an affiliate content license?
or only offer your older stuff as affiliate content?

well.. charging more still doesn't help the webmasters who've purchased the same content, they're still in the same situation.

And we don't have any older content ... all of the content on the site has been put up within the last 6 months, but doing this would still compromise the webmaster's investment unless the content is very very old.

Let me ask you basschick, at what point would you be ok with seeing content you paid for being given away for free, I mean, how old would it have to be?

to tell you the truth, i've bought content many times that programs give away for free. unlike some webmasters, i don't really care who does or doesn't pay for content as long as it makes me money.

but consider this - if the affiliate program paid more for the use for affiliates, the affiliates may be getting it for free but your other clients will be aware that the program paid for a separate license, so it wasn't free as extra money was paid.

one other option is to have some cotent that is only available for programs who want to use it for affiliate content.

The simple truth today is, for every one sponsor who will buy a set to give to 500 affilaites there is an affiliate who will buy it because it's not with 500 other guys.

You would think that would work in theory, but here again is the hard truth.

Few sponsors value the free content they give to affiliates enough to pay extra for it, in fact most of them think they should get a massive discount. They don't worry that 10 other sponsors have the same stuff and giving it to affiliates.

There are exceptions and I'm painting it with a broad brush, but the bottom line is one webmaster will never saturate a set as much as 100.

And the sponsors accuse us of selling saturated content. |huh

I'm going to think about what you said basschick, I'm always open to ideas, and you make some good points.

Your last idea about reserving some content for sponsor's affiliate use. That one is giving me some ideas.

Since I started in the content business at the turn of the century.. (always wanted to say that.. :D ) I've always had the webmasters in the forefront of my business plan because I started as a webmaster myself, so I'm familiar with that part.

I know there's a way to come to a middle ground with sponsor content where there's a win/win situation, I just have to figure out what that is.

In the meantime, what we're focusing on and have always had in our business model are the services we offer with the content (galleries, clips etc.). This is one of the areas we want to concentrate on even more, and we have some plans that are pretty exciting. I won't be talking about that yet though, it's something that's still in the works.

Thank you for your input, I notice you always have something interesting to say :)

Setting content aside that was only for sponsors only and had a license to allow them to give it to affiliates and FHGs would be a solution.

So a set is worth $500, which 5 sponsors will give me $100 each for a limited license?

I think it's one of those things that works in theory but not practise.

I think you're right about setting aside content not working, but there's something about the basic idea I like, still thinking..

Maybe with content that's been up for a few years and not sold for six months. But then will the sponsors pay for it?

Would be nice to hear from sponsors as well as us throwing ideas at each other.

yes, I agree, I'd really like to hear their opinions too

tia, thanks. btw, i love "Since I started in the content business at the turn of the century.."

why limit the sponsor license to 5 or even 10? i'm not really sure it has to be limited at all as lots of sponsors happily give out the most overused content on the web. if they want it limited, let them pay more. if they don't care, let them pay less.

i'll try and think of some smaller programs to send to this thread. i used to buy affiliate content from anyone who would sell me a license - and i nagged one guy to death. but since i'm not shooting my own stuff, i'm not really in the running anymore.

Maybe because we do not want the reputation of having saturated content.

"lots of sponsors happily give out the most overused content on the web"

I think that may be the whole problem right there. Free content doesn't have as much value to sponsors as it does to the content producers.

So what sponsors are using for promotion is something they value very little.. throwing enough garbage against the wall hoping some of it will stick (borrowed that from you Paul :) )

My theory of selling was always to put your best foot forward, it doesn't make sense to promote something with less than the best of what you have... or does it?

I'm still anxious to hear what sponsors have to say about this subject, it should be interesting

I'd happily do that for the right content and in fact I do now.

Yes but I bet if it was a non business related poll like (would you hit it) then the numbers would be silly different Seems the reason people hang out her is more then just your good looks GG (although I'm sure that helps) :)

You are correct SirMoby! Very little interest at the adult playground :)