What’s this all about?

Wired Magazine once claimed that free is the new business model. If you want web traffic these days, a simple blog just doesn’t cut it. There are loads of blogs competeting with you. If you, however, have a “unique selling point”, you are more likely to succeed. That’s where the “free” comes in to the picture.

Creating original downloadable content is a great way to get traffic, and to make money. Posting topics on forums about your kindness and giveaways aren’t likely to be classed as blogspam, and will gain you visitors and appreciation. More visits equals higher revenue from your CPC / CPM ads, increase your page rank and raise the awareness of your website, but, there’s one more often neglected revenue source: file hosting.

In summer 2009, the world’s largest Bit Torrent-tracker, the pirate bay, was sold in order to create a new business model for file sharers. While the restructure of TPB has yet to come (as I write this), there are already great opportunities for content creators. Here’s a brief list of the major actors. The test download is a 3MB .JPG photo.

ShareCash is probably the one with the highest pay rates. They pay up to 60 cents per download, which to be honest is way more than any other service. The drawback is that it works kind off badly for other countries than the UK, Canada and the US, and requires your visitor to fulfill various actions. Still, with a payout rate as large as that, it’s worth giving it a go- two completed downloads and you’ve earned a buck. A quick search shows that they actually do pay, even if it sounds a bit too-good-to-be-true. Payout via check, PayPal and ePassporte.
Test download

Uploading don’t offer as high rates as ShareCash, but works very well (my revenue from Uploading surpasses my revenue from my CPC / CPM networks). They pay up to $20 / 1000 downloads. This service works with many different countries, and has worked great for me. Highly recommended.
Test download

Hotfile pays up to $15 / 1000 downloads, and allow large files. They do however have a more generous referral program, at 20% of referrals revenue. Payouts via PayPal, WebMoney and ePassporte.
Test download

Ziddu is probably the largest actor / file host. Payout via PayPal and MoneyBookers. The payout rate is lower than the ones mentioned above, at $0,001 / download ($1 / 1000 downloads). It does however both look and feel more professional than the others. 
Test download

What service do you use? What are your experiences? Which service makes you the most money, and how? Let me know!