Bidding as a fan
Fans bid under the same rules as companies. What fans usually bid for, where a small bid can win, and how picks work.
You don't need a company to bid. A fan's bid goes on the same ranked list as everyone else's, is charged only if it wins, and is read out the same way. Most fans aren't selling anything: they want to be named by someone they watch, to say thank you, or to ask a question.
How it works
- Find a creator you watch with an Orbit open, on the Orbits page.
- Bid like anyone else. Same minimum, same ranking, same tick box, same refunds. See Placing a bid.
- Write a pitch about you, not a product. Up to 150 characters. A link is optional.
- If you're in the slots when bidding ends, the creator checks it, you're charged your bid, and they say your pitch in the video.
- If you're not, it costs nothing, unless the creator picks your bid.
Small Orbits and picks
On a small Orbit, a modest bid can win outright. A creator with a smaller audience often has fewer bids, and the cutoff may sit close to their minimum.
On a busy Orbit, the creator may pick you. During their check, a creator can pick any bid into the shout-out, whatever its amount, up to 5 per Orbit. A pick is marked on the page as the creator's choice, and it's charged your bid like any win. It's their decision alone. Nobody can promise you one, and we won't.
A pick is only possible if "Consider me if a spot opens up" is ticked on your bid. It's ticked by default. Untick it and you're only ever charged for a top slot.
A fan pitch
A made-up example:
Tomás here. I built my first app from your React series, and it has 40 users now. Thank you for making it make sense.
It's short, it says who you are, and it gives the creator something real to react to. A question works too, if it's one the creator would enjoy answering out loud.
Why it works this way
Why the same rules. One ranked list for everyone means a slot can't be bought any other way than by bidding. A fan who bids more than a company gets the slot.
Why picks exist. A creator knows which pitches their audience would enjoy. Picks let them add one that would be lost on a busy Orbit, without pushing out anyone who paid for a slot.
What can go wrong
- You bid below the cutoff hoping for a pick, and don't get one. You pay nothing.
- The creator turns your bid down. You're not charged.
- You change your mind. You can cancel until 12 hours before bidding ends.