Set it up in a way that fits your community
There are many different ways you can setup Spotlite to fit your community. You choose how Spotlite slots are distributed, who can use them, and how many you run. Your Spotlite can be:
- Free - no charge, first valid claim books the slot. Great for curation, not cash.
- A symbolic price - say $5 or $10 - enough to keep things intentional and discourage spammers without being a barrier.
- Pay-what-you-want - let people contribute based on their preferences.
- Flat fee - a fixed predetermined price for each slot.
- Bidding / auction - when demand is high, let Spotlites find their own price.
Run one Spotlite channel or several. Open it to everyone or limit who has access. Mix and match - a free 'introduce yourself' Spotlite for new members 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 casual.
Run a free or pay-what-you-want 'Member of the Day' slot where new members can introduce themselves, share who they are and what they're into. A warm welcome with simple rules - curated quality without the moderator busywork.
Active, high-demand communities - let the market decide.
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 friction.
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
Most server promotion is a flood of random links that get 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.