Comments on: The Struggle to Monetize Free Content http://www.mskitka.com/2006/01/06/the-struggle-to-monetize-free-content/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:09:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Kitka http://www.mskitka.com/2006/01/06/the-struggle-to-monetize-free-content/#comment-663 Sun, 08 Jan 2006 00:35:46 +0000 http://www.mskitka.com/2006/01/06/the-struggle-to-monetize-free-content/#comment-663 Katie- Yeah, I remember when Cruising For Sex was having problems with [Company]. Thanks so much for your support... my boyfriend is also getting a calendar for his office! Melissa- Thanks for your comment, fortunately they didn't freeze my account completely. They did give me access to the one donation I had received and informed me that they would not allow any other transactions to go through. I'll start looking into alternatives really soon, but at the moment I'm too busy trying to get back to 'normal' life. Thanks for the tips! The story about the camgirl selling magnets is very interesting, but as I said above I'm going to try the whole merchandizing thing... I have some really clever slogans that I think people would actually like to wear. I have a long list of ideas in my mind that I plan on trying out... I just wish I didn't have to work 9-5 or selling my soul to get them done! Thanks for your support, Melissa, I'm rooting for you and Sexerati too! ;) Katie- Yeah, I remember when Cruising For Sex was having problems with [Company]. Thanks so much for your support… my boyfriend is also getting a calendar for his office!

Melissa- Thanks for your comment, fortunately they didn’t freeze my account completely. They did give me access to the one donation I had received and informed me that they would not allow any other transactions to go through. I’ll start looking into alternatives really soon, but at the moment I’m too busy trying to get back to ‘normal’ life. Thanks for the tips!

The story about the camgirl selling magnets is very interesting, but as I said above I’m going to try the whole merchandizing thing… I have some really clever slogans that I think people would actually like to wear. I have a long list of ideas in my mind that I plan on trying out… I just wish I didn’t have to work 9-5 or selling my soul to get them done!

Thanks for your support, Melissa, I’m rooting for you and Sexerati too! ;)

]]> by: Melissa Gira http://www.mskitka.com/2006/01/06/the-struggle-to-monetize-free-content/#comment-653 Sat, 07 Jan 2006 15:25:20 +0000 http://www.mskitka.com/2006/01/06/the-struggle-to-monetize-free-content/#comment-653 I'm sorry [ComPany] got to you, Kitka -- did they freeze your funds, as well? I had that happen a few moons ago. It's bogus that there's no way to redress the situation with them, as far as I know. They just don't respond. There's a few alternatives out there for accepting micropayment donations online w/o having to setup a merchant account. StormPay, GreenZap, etc. though I have heard scam rumors about all of them. W/ [ComPany]'s stranglehold on the market, it's hard to get anyone to trust. One camgirl I knew of was able to sell access to her site by making a CafePress shop and selling magnets that netted her the equivalent to the cost of one month's membership. With the calendars, maybe that's an option? Rooting for you & KitKast's future! I’m sorry [ComPany] got to you, Kitka — did they freeze your funds, as well? I had that happen a few moons ago. It’s bogus that there’s no way to redress the situation with them, as far as I know. They just don’t respond.

There’s a few alternatives out there for accepting micropayment donations online w/o having to setup a merchant account. StormPay, GreenZap, etc. though I have heard scam rumors about all of them. W/ [ComPany]’s stranglehold on the market, it’s hard to get anyone to trust.

One camgirl I knew of was able to sell access to her site by making a CafePress shop and selling magnets that netted her the equivalent to the cost of one month’s membership. With the calendars, maybe that’s an option?

Rooting for you & KitKast’s future!

]]> by: Katie http://www.mskitka.com/2006/01/06/the-struggle-to-monetize-free-content/#comment-649 Sat, 07 Jan 2006 05:16:58 +0000 http://www.mskitka.com/2006/01/06/the-struggle-to-monetize-free-content/#comment-649 They're notorious for doing that. Even designers who accept payment through [Company], whose clientele includes adult sites, get their accounts shut down. I'm sorry this happened to you- and I'm buying a calender for my office. ;) They’re notorious for doing that. Even designers who accept payment through [Company], whose clientele includes adult sites, get their accounts shut down. I’m sorry this happened to you- and I’m buying a calender for my office. ;)

]]> by: Kitka http://www.mskitka.com/2006/01/06/the-struggle-to-monetize-free-content/#comment-647 Fri, 06 Jan 2006 21:28:42 +0000 http://www.mskitka.com/2006/01/06/the-struggle-to-monetize-free-content/#comment-647 I still don't believe I am in violation of their terms and conditions. I am not selling anything and all the news I write about it stuff available on other news sites... I just happen to compile them all here in a sort of sex column. I actually had a plan for the whole donation thing... I was going to say that the first three people who make donations over $20 will receive a complimentary signed KITKAlendar. Unfortunately, however, my donation account was shut down three days after it was put up. In any event, I plan on discussing the matter with [Company] and if I can't get my account back, I will create a donations account with someone else. It has been suggested by some that it is possible that an individual logged a complaint with [Company] and that this sparked their move to remove my privileges. Whatever the reason, it's quite upsetting because I'm trying to raise money to purchase a digital video camera to improve the show and reduce the amount of time it takes me to make it. (One can only use a digital camera for so long without flinging it against a wall.) The situation really bummed me out because I had some great plans and now I need a new one. The new plan is developing... don't you worry. Kitka I still don’t believe I am in violation of their terms and conditions. I am not selling anything and all the news I write about it stuff available on other news sites… I just happen to compile them all here in a sort of sex column.

I actually had a plan for the whole donation thing… I was going to say that the first three people who make donations over $20 will receive a complimentary signed KITKAlendar. Unfortunately, however, my donation account was shut down three days after it was put up.

In any event, I plan on discussing the matter with [Company] and if I can’t get my account back, I will create a donations account with someone else. It has been suggested by some that it is possible that an individual logged a complaint with [Company] and that this sparked their move to remove my privileges.

Whatever the reason, it’s quite upsetting because I’m trying to raise money to purchase a digital video camera to improve the show and reduce the amount of time it takes me to make it. (One can only use a digital camera for so long without flinging it against a wall.) The situation really bummed me out because I had some great plans and now I need a new one.

The new plan is developing… don’t you worry.
Kitka

]]> by: robber_baron http://www.mskitka.com/2006/01/06/the-struggle-to-monetize-free-content/#comment-646 Fri, 06 Jan 2006 21:13:26 +0000 http://www.mskitka.com/2006/01/06/the-struggle-to-monetize-free-content/#comment-646 "You will need to remove all references to [Company] from your website(s) and/or auction(s). This includes not only removing [Company] as a payment option, but also the [Company] logo and/or shopping cart." -- [Company] Took me all of two seconds to confirm my first guess after reading that line. It is certainly the word 'auction' that gives it away. Then again you upheld your end of the bargain and removed any reference to their name. I have to admit that its a bit legally convenient to use the phrasing they choose. "[S]exually oriented goods or services" is by interpretation accurate. You report on the sex industry and thus your "goods and/or services" are technically sexually oriented. Granted there is nothing more explicit or offensive than if the evening news were to cover similar stories but technically are you in violation of their terms and services. It disappoints me that so many companies are held hostage by the "PG-13 Police" into being so scared to promote that _might_ be interpreted as remotely offensive. It is a shame that [Company] feels nervous about _you_ promoting them. Although I agree that readership donations and merchandising can be a good source of income [especially the merchandising] I have always wondered why websites don't offer more $$$ entry contests. A weekly/monthly/annual virtual raffle I think could be a way to encourage donations while showing appreciate to your readership. Offer [for say $1.00] the opportunity to win $20.00 worth of Kitka[st] stuff. Whether it be 'free' merchandise from the Kitkast store, a special Kitkast, or something else. This will encourage donations and offer the opportunity for readers to become more involved interactively with the site. [Which will increase user loyalty and probably future donations.] Imagine [for example] having a $20.00 entry fee to sign up for a "day" with Kitka, where one lucky fan could meet you and Zod, do an interview of Kitka or whatever. If only 50 people enter that's still $1,000.00. 250 entries lands you with $5000.00. I don't know what your readership really is, though I imagine its much larger, so you can do the math and really figure out what kind of money you could be making. Maybe its a terrible idea, but I think its a decent one. Then again I'm not business man and my website is so small money isn't an issue. “You will need to remove all references to [Company] from your website(s) and/or auction(s). This includes not only removing [Company] as a payment option, but also the [Company] logo and/or shopping cart.” — [Company]

Took me all of two seconds to confirm my first guess after reading that line. It is certainly the word ‘auction’ that gives it away. Then again you upheld your end of the bargain and removed any reference to their name.

I have to admit that its a bit legally convenient to use the phrasing they choose. “[S]exually oriented goods or services” is by interpretation accurate. You report on the sex industry and thus your “goods and/or services” are technically sexually oriented. Granted there is nothing more explicit or offensive than if the evening news were to cover similar stories but technically are you in violation of their terms and services.

It disappoints me that so many companies are held hostage by the “PG-13 Police” into being so scared to promote that _might_ be interpreted as remotely offensive. It is a shame that [Company] feels nervous about _you_ promoting them.

Although I agree that readership donations and merchandising can be a good source of income [especially the merchandising] I have always wondered why websites don’t offer more $$$ entry contests. A weekly/monthly/annual virtual raffle I think could be a way to encourage donations while showing appreciate to your readership. Offer [for say $1.00] the opportunity to win $20.00 worth of Kitka[st] stuff. Whether it be ‘free’ merchandise from the Kitkast store, a special Kitkast, or something else. This will encourage donations and offer the opportunity for readers to become more involved interactively with the site. [Which will increase user loyalty and probably future donations.]

Imagine [for example] having a $20.00 entry fee to sign up for a “day” with Kitka, where one lucky fan could meet you and Zod, do an interview of Kitka or whatever. If only 50 people enter that’s still $1,000.00. 250 entries lands you with $5000.00. I don’t know what your readership really is, though I imagine its much larger, so you can do the math and really figure out what kind of money you could be making.

Maybe its a terrible idea, but I think its a decent one. Then again I’m not business man and my website is so small money isn’t an issue.

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