Set it up in a way that fits your community
There's no single 'right' way to use Spotlite - the whole point is that you configure it around your community. You choose how promo slots are sold, who can use them, and how many you run:
- Free - no charge, first valid claim books the slot. Great for curation, not cash.
- A symbolic price - say $5 - enough to keep things intentional without being a barrier.
- Pay-what-you-want - let people give what they think it's worth.
- Flat fee - a fixed price per slot.
- Bidding / auction - when demand is high, let the slot find its own price.
Run one Spotlite channel or several. Open it to everyone or limit who has access. Mix and match - a free 'welcome' slot in one channel, a longer paid Spotlite in another.
It's your community; Spotlite just gives you the rails.
A few ways communities use it
Small, close-knit servers - keep it about people, not money.
Run a free or pay-what-you-want 'Member of the Day' slot where someone new introduces themselves, shares what they're into, and says hi in voice later. A warm welcome with simple rules - curated quality without the moderator busywork.
Active, high-demand communities - let the market breathe.
When lots of members and creators want the spotlight, fixed pricing and the built-in bidding system let the slot's price reflect real demand - so the Spotlite goes to whoever values it most, automatically, with no haggling.
Any community - raise funds for something that matters.
Because the money flows straight to your community, you decide what it's for. Split it among the mods who keep the place running. Buy the server a Nitro subscription. Or raise money for a good cause your community cares about and let a Spotlite double as a fundraiser. Spotlite doesn't make that decision - you do.
The anti-spam approach (why members don't mind it)
Most server promotion is a flood of self-promo that gets buried in minutes - nobody reads it, nobody likes it, nobody benefits. Spotlite offers a solution: a dedicated promotional space with a clear price tag, sanctioned by the community. It turns 'scroll past another plug' into a small event worth paying attention to - and keeps your main channels clean.
Why communities trust it
- You're paid directly. Money flows from the buyer directly to your community through Stripe Connect, the same payments infrastructure trusted by major marketplaces. Spotlite never holds your funds - we only take a small fee on paid Spotlites. (You'll connect a Stripe account once, in about two minutes, to receive payments.)
- Moderation built in. Approve, request changes, or reject every promo before it runs. Reporting and auto-hide protect your members.
- Always opt-in, always disclosed. You control if, where, and at what price. Every promo is labelled.
Earnings & taxes
Any earnings your community generates through Spotlite are yours to manage. You're responsible for any tax or reporting obligations that apply where you live.