GENERAL
QUESTIONS
What
is uclick?
uclick is a leading content service provider on the Web
representing such household brands as "Doonesbury,"
"Garfield," "Dear Abby" and "News
of the Weird." We find, develop and produce content
for our network of entertainment-based sites or for sale
to other Web sites. Our mission is to grab users for you
-- and help you hold them. See the About
Us section for more information.
How
long has uclick been doing this?
uclick was established in 1994 as the New Media division
of Universal Press Syndicate. Based on the success of
Universal New Media, we established a new, separate entity
in February 2000.
Why
is uclick spelled with a lowercase "u"?
We've recently solidified the usage specifics for the
name uclick. uclick should be written in all lowercase
letters, even when beginning a sentence. uclick, as filed
with the State of Missouri, is "uclick, LLC" with a comma
and no periods.
What
is the the little swirly thing on your logo?
The
little swirly thing is a unique design that rests inside
the "u" in uclick. If you look at it closely,
you will see that the logo resembles a mouse (for your
computer that is). Hence, "uclick."
CONTENT DELIVERY
What
is uclick delivery?
Standard uclick delivery is a four-step process: (Check
out the Flash demo!)
Are
there any alternative delivery methods?
Yes. In addition to standard delivery, uclick offers delivery
of static features directly to client Web sites through
FTP delivery. uclick also offers an enhanced delivery
method currently used for animated content.
Will
my content be automatically updated?
Yes. However, some features do not have daily frequencies.
If you are interested in a specific feature, check to
see how often it updates. A feature that says 7x weekly
will update daily, a feature that says 3x weekly will
update three times per week, and so on.
GETTING CONTENT
Can
I put your comics on my Web site?
Yes you can! Our dedicated sales team can help you put
our syndicated content on your Web site. Click
here to learn more about how to get content.
How
do I sign up for content?
Simple. All you have to do is complete the online
form and one of our content consultants will handle
the rest of the process, which consists of signing a contract
and setting up your site for content delivery.
Can
you sell Calvin and Hobbes?
Sorry. Bill Watterson has retired and does not have any
desire to sell his comics online. You can view classic
Calvin and Hobbes comics on http://www.uComics.com.
Can
I link to your Web site?
Yes, you can! Click
here for more info.
What
content formats do you offer?
We offer all content formats from text to graphics to
animations to audio/video.
Can
you give me an estimate of how much your content costs?
Rates depend on the popularity of the feature and the
number and circulation of Web sites expressing an interest
in the feature. Our expert Sales staff can help you determine
the cost and the best type of content for your site. Click
Here.
Can
I use this strip for a work presentation or personal use?
Click here to request
a permissions agreement to use our content.
Can
I put your content on my intranet site?
Click here to request
a permissions agreement to use our content.
Do
comics come in color every day, or just Sunday's edition?
Most comics, with the exception of editorial cartoons,
come in color every time they are published.
How
long does it take to get set up?
Set-up can take as little as 72 hours from the time you
sign up to the time you receive your content on your Web
site.
CONTENT SUBMISSIONS
Can
I put my content on your site?
We're always looking for exciting, new content. Click
here for submission guidelines.
Does
uclick accept all content submissions?
Unfortunately no. uclick is dedicated to signing new and
established creators who have the potential to develop
strong, loyal audiences and generate significant revenue
both online and offline.
Do
I need a Web site to submit my content?
No. You may submit your content in hard-copy form as well.
We prefer four to six weeks of samples of a proposed feature
so that we can judge the quality and consistency of your
work. As long as the material is clear and easy to read,
it may be submitted in any form. Do not send originals.
Please keep your submission compact.
POTENTIAL CREATORS
My
company has an established brand name and lots of traffic
on our Web site. What can uclick do for us?
You can never have too much traffic on your site. uclick
can give you more entry points to your content through
our existing client base. We can also provide an additional
source of revenue from an existing product. Through Andrews
McMeel Universal, you can also take your major brand and
turn it into products like books, calendars, etc.
Why
do I need uclick to distribute my content, when I could
do it alone and keep all the revenue for myself?
uclick has a dedicated sales force and active representation
in the market. We also have experience building brands,
an immediate client base and a network of sites. It's
easier for us to sell you than for you to sell yourself.
Additionally, we have invested significant resources to
build and maintain an infratructure, all of which can
be leveraged to support your brand. This way, you can
spend your dollars and valuable human resources on building
the content rather than the infrastructure.
How
much will it cost me if I am accepted as a new creator?
Nothing. That's the best part. uclick is designed to be
an additional revenue stream for you.
I
currently have my own Web site. Will uclick host it?
uclick has the capability to host your Web site and will
discuss this possibility if you are accepted as a creator.
Will
uclick edit my content?
Different features require varying amounts of editorial
attention. If your content is controversial in nature,
uclick may edit the content for syndication and legal
purposes. In addition, any time a piece of content features
text, we want to ensure a consistent style and standard
of quality. uclick adheres to "The Associated Press
Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law."
Can
we host our own content on our servers?
Yes. If you care to host your own content, you may use
the FTP delivery method.
Is
there an affiliate program for our product?
Not currently.
Can
you give me any ballpark figures on how much I'll make
in, say, the first year? Or, can you tell me how much
clients will pay for my content?
Rates depend on the popularity of the feature and the
number and circulation of the Web sites that carry that
particular feature. Generally, our contracts provide for
a division of revenue with the creator, after the deduction
of production costs.
What
will happen to my own self-syndication efforts if I sign
an exclusive contract with uclick?
You can continue to sell, but we will be your only OUTSIDE
representation. We can work out the details so we don't
bump into each other in the market.
Can
uclick get me syndicated in print?
Our relationship with Andrews McMeel Universal is a friendly
one and we will put your brand in front of them for consideration
across the company. uclick, as your partner in this business,
will actively promote you and your brand to the division
and companies within AMU (i.e. Universal Press Syndicate).
If AMU decides not to take your feature, you can take
it to another company for consideration.
How
long is the term of the contract with uclick?
We want you to be happy with uclick as a partner, and
we will work with you to develop a positive, productive
relationship. Because it takes time to establish a brand
with an online audience, we will establish a contract
term that is of an appropriate length to ensure that you
and our clients have the best opportunity possible to
develop ongoing relationships with online readers. As
your online business partners, our goal is to support
the development of your content online, to your satisfaction.
We will work with you to ensure that this happens.
What
kind of marketing and public relations efforts can I expect
from uclick to get the word out about my feature?
The cost of marketing materials is split between the creator
and uclick. We will also actively promote your feature
through trade shows and the direct efforts of our sales
force.
Will
I have a say in where my content is sold?
We have a morality clause that we follow and we will enforce
that clause regardless of who is distributing your content.
We let our clients select the content they want for their
site. This may mean that your content may be sold with
another creator's material. We may package your content
with another creator's, but your content will always maintain
its branding and integrity.
If
uclick syndicates my feature, and later, I come up with
another content idea, will I need to renegotiate my contract?
It will not be necessary to negotiate a new contract.
We are here to work with you and develop your content
to get the widest exposure on the Web.
CONTACT
How
do I contact you?
We encourage you to contact us with any questions, comments
or suggestions you may have. You can reach a live consultant
by calling us at 1-877-6UCLICK (1-877-682-5425)
between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. CST Monday
through Friday.
Visit
our Contact Us page
any time of the day for questions/comments.
Or
feel free to e-mail us any time of day at:
sales@uclick.com
- Sales
content@uclick.com
- Content Acquisitions
webmaster@uclick.com
- general or technical questions
We will personally respond to your inquiry within two
business days.
Of
course you can always write to us at:
