• File type. The major P2P networks process all file types, including video, music, photos, software, documents, zip, etc.
  
  
• File size and completeness. You can distribute full files or short clips, such as a scene from a video or 30 seconds out of a song. P2P software is designed to transfer large files with features such as auto-resume and multi-source and partial file downloading.
  
  
• File protection. Files can be open with no protection (such as MP3), or in a protected (like WMA) or proprietary format. Protected files may not be playable on all common media players or may require their own player. Protected files can be programmed to control playing and copying and require registration or payment.

What users want

You can offer all the great files you want. But it no one actually tries them, you've wasted your time. It helps to understand P2P users. They historically have used P2P networks to search and download open, free, and complete files, and avoid other files. Here's more on user expectations and usage.

• File type. P2P users are used to open popular formats, such as video (MPG, AVI, MOV, WMV), music (MP3, WMA), and photos (JPG, GIF, PNG). Users avoid formats that are rare or proprietary, as such formats mean files can't be played on common players or come with undesirable protection.
  
  
• File size and completeness. User avoid You can distribute full files or short clips, such as a scene from a video or 30 seconds out of a song. P2P software is designed to transfer large files with features such as auto-resume and multi-source and partial file downloading.
  
  
• Free files (protection). P2P users historically have used P2P networks for free, complete files. They also contribute their own computing and Internet bandwidth to process network searches and share files. So they expect content to be free. or to at least be able to try the file before being forced to buy it. At a minimum files should be less expensive compared to direct purchase and downloading from web-based services.
  
  
• What's Hot. The viral and community nature of P2P makes it a hotbed for sharing what's new and exciting. Also P2P networks are dynamic, as users are online only for a limited time. A successful download typically requires many sources of the file to be available. Thus popular files are much easier to find and download.
  
  
• Entertainment. File sharers download files for personal enjoyment. Music, video, photos, and games are especially popular. Users will only search for business or non-entertainmnent content if you actively market such material with file links.
  
  
• Adult. A large percentage of users look for adult videos and photos that range from bikini models to sexually explicit.
  
  
• Large files. A key advantage of P2P software over a browser, is its ability to transfer large files with auto-resume and multi-source and partial file downloading. This is especially true over slow dial up Internet connections.

Recommendations

If you're an independent, your biggest challenge is promotion - getting people to try your music or other work. If they don't know who you are, they won't buy your CD or merchandise, or go to your concert.

File sharers are accustomed to and expect files that are full, open, free, and complete. That's how we recommend you provide your files to the P2P networks. If you're a band, digitize your best songs in MP3 format to ensure P2P users will try your music.

If you offer files that are only a preview, limited, or protected in some way, clearly indicate that in the file name.

Next - Name Your Files