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. Spotify is a great example of how great business can be done without charging the primary customers, and how to give stuff away through digital channels but still making a buck or two.

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. To check out the ever-growing list of services paying you to host your files with them, check out File Hosts. Please do share your experience with these services, as well as tips about others!