Do you run an affiliate program? I have a few questions.

[LightscapeMedia]

Hi everyone. I am just getting started with a free site featuring a few affiliates and I had some questions specifically for those who run their own programs.

1. Do affiliates programs generally have a problem with webmasters cropping one thumbnail to link to the hosted gallery with? I understand this will vary from one program to another, but in general is it frowned upon?

To clarify, I have a main index page with thumbnails that link to the galleries themselves. To ensure that my site theme is consistent and the thumbnails from various programs are the same size, I have cropped them down to headshots.

2. Is it considered abuse to use most, if not all of the promo galleries offered?

3. How do I use videos offered by affiliate programs and comply with 2257? Most of the programs that I am using require that I host the videos myself. Can I do this even though I have none of the 2257 paperwork? I have yet to come across an affiliate program that offers 2257 paperwork to it's affiliates.

Thank you in advance for any information you can provide.

[fatfoo]

Generally, you can crop any thumbnails you want - as long as you link to the correct FHG or correct site that owns the photographs.

[purecharlie]

Hi Lightscape,
I run my own program and here are the answers to your questions from my point of view (obviously I can't speak for the sponsors you are promoting):-
1. Yes thumbnail cropping is fine. After all, you would be promoting my content and trying to make an affiliate sale out of it so I am sure you're not going to crop it so it looks ridiculous - unless you don't like money
2. I would think all programs would want you to use as many of their promo galleries as possible, so no, it's not considered abuse.
3. This is the weird one - it sounds like your sponsors are some cheapskate / small companies. I host all my own videos for our free galleries (any decent sized site / program would do the same) and I have all the 2257 information for all our scenes. If the programs you are using require you to host the videos yourself I would find a different program to sponsor. After all, if you're hosting the videos yourself it will be eating up your bandwidth (which you are paying for) and you may not even make any sales out of it. For bigger programs, hosting videos for free galleries is just part of the advertising and marketing budget - I don't see why an affiliate should have to pay for that themselves. So I guess this answers your question - change the programs you are promoting to ones that host their own videos - 2257 doesn't affect you as it is the programs responsibility.
Good luck