Free Content or Free Hosted Content

[buttster]

I was just thinking this morning, which is dangerous in itself, wouldn't it always be better to use free content on your own domains versus linking to free hosted galleries and sites regarding search engines and their indexing spiders.

[Linkster]

Yes

[Chop Smith]

Now that is short and sweet.

[Linkster]

Yep

[Fking]

better for sure, but harder too

[Chop Smith]

I would assume that you would have to calculate the additonal cost of bandwidth as well as the time involved in building the free site. Since you would be using the sponsor's free content, it could be hard to submit it to other Link Lists since the proposition of "overused content" might come into play.

[Bunnyhop]

It most likely would depend on the SE's you're worried about and whether or not they support dynamic page variables (and whether you're using them).

Google for example supports dynamic page variables

ie.

http://mysponsor.com/tour/fhg1/?refer=myrefercode

so when it gets indexed into the search engine...the link is still using YOUR referral code which isn't a bad thing unless the sponsor makes it a point to not pay out on SE traffic.

However, if an SE doesn't support the dynamic variables it'd only track

http://mysponsor.com/tour/fhg1/

which then of course does no good for you.

You could always get around this by only using sponsors that have your affiliate code embedded in the url instead of as a variable. AEBN and Adult Players Club are examples of two sponsors that have FHGs that do just that.

If you decide to go ahead and duplicate a sponsors FHG and place it on your own site BE CERTAIN to check the sponsor's terms and conditions before doing so. You don't want to run the risk of getting your account forfeitted because they have some obscure clause about using their content off their site. While I doubt most sponsors would care as long as you're exclusively promoting them on the page it's not worth taking the risk.

[GenXer]

Definitely have to agree. Host your own content and plus that way you can submit the free sites to linklists for more traffic. Better for you on sales.

[tickler]

Originally Posted by Bunnyhop

... obscure clause about using their content off their site.

They may not have the content licenced for use off their domains.

[Bunnyhop]

Originally Posted by tickler

They may not have the content licenced for use off their domains.

I know =) In fact I made the same point in another thread....by obscure I just meant sponsors sometimes don't really highlight this fact but it is cause for termination without pay in most programs that don't allow it so you gotta go over the T&Cs with a comb to make sure there's no problems. Or better yet, write them and ask.