The mechanics, explained

One script tag. Zero content risk. Real revenue.

Treadwell sits between your paywall and the AI platforms your readers already use — turning a bounce into a conversion without exposing a single word you haven't approved.

STEP 01

You embed one script tag on your paywall

Treadwell drops into your existing paywall page as a single JavaScript snippet — no backend changes, no API integration required on your end. It renders a secondary "Chat with a free AI preview" CTA directly below your subscribe button.

You control placement, button label, and preview depth via three data attributes. That's the full configuration surface.

paywall.html
<!-- Drop below your subscribe button --> <script src="https://cdn.treadwell.ai/embed.js" data-publisher-id="pub_abc123" data-preview-depth="0.15" data-affiliate-id="aff_xyz789"> </script> <!-- Treadwell handles everything else --> <!-- ✓ AI platform OAuth --> <!-- ✓ Content extraction + truncation --> <!-- ✓ Affiliate link injection --> <!-- ✓ CPA tracking + publisher payouts -->
STEP 02

Reader authenticates with their AI platform

When the reader clicks the Treadwell CTA, they're prompted to authenticate with whichever AI platform they use — Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity. This is a standard OAuth flow that takes under 10 seconds.

Their AI platform identity is what Treadwell uses to route the preview. You never see or store the reader's credentials — that exchange is entirely between the reader and their AI provider.

OAuth platform selection
ClaudeAnthropic · Connected
Active
ChatGPTOpenAI · Sign in to connect
Connect
GeminiGoogle · Sign in to connect
Connect
PerplexityPerplexity AI · Sign in to connect
Connect
STEP 03

A content slice is extracted — never the full article

Treadwell's server-side extraction layer pulls a configurable percentage of your article — set by you, enforced by us. The default is 15%. A 2,000-word article yields a 300-word context window for the AI. Enough to generate a meaningful preview; not enough to replace the original.

The extraction happens server-side. Your full article text never touches the reader's device or the AI platform's training pipeline during this step.

Content extraction · publisher config
📄
Full article2,400 words · protected on your server
Protected
preview depth: 15%
✂️
AI context slice360 words · approved for LLM context
Approved
STEP 04

The AI responds — with your affiliate link baked in

The LLM generates a high-quality interactive summary from the approved content slice. At the end of every response, Treadwell appends an HMAC-signed affiliate link back to your subscribe page with a conversion-optimized CTA.

The reader, now convinced your content is worth their time, clicks through to subscribe. You earn a CPA on every completed conversion — tracked end-to-end, reported in real time in your Treadwell dashboard.

Live attribution · publisher dashboard
🔗
Affiliate click registeredsportspublisher.com · article #4821
Tracked
Subscription completedNFL Season Pass · $49.99/yr
Converted
💰
CPA credited to publisherPayout queued · next billing cycle
Earned
Common questions
Things publishers ask us
Can AI platforms use my content for training if it goes through Treadwell? +
No. Treadwell's API agreements with all supported AI platforms explicitly prohibit training use of publisher content passed through the preview pipeline. The content slice is used solely to generate the reader's in-session response and is not retained by the AI provider.
What if a reader screenshots or copies the AI's response? +
The same risk exists with any paywall — determined bad actors can always copy content. What Treadwell controls is the structural exposure: only 15% of your article enters the AI's context. A screenshot of a 360-word summary is not a substitute for a 2,400-word expert analysis. That gap is what drives subscriptions.
How does the CPA get calculated and paid out? +
CPA rates are set per publisher during onboarding and reflected in your affiliate agreement. Every conversion is tracked via a signed affiliate link — Treadwell verifies the completed subscription event before crediting your account. Payouts are processed monthly via ACH or wire. Founding partners receive preferred CPA rates locked in for the first 12 months.
Does Treadwell work with any CMS or paywall provider? +
Yes. The embed is a vanilla JavaScript snippet with no CMS dependencies. It works alongside Piano, Zuora, Substack, Ghost, WordPress, and custom-built paywall implementations. If your paywall renders in a browser and you can add a script tag, Treadwell integrates.
Is there a minimum traffic requirement to join? +
During the private beta we're onboarding a curated set of founding publishers across verticals. There's no hard traffic floor, but we prioritize publishers with existing subscription products and engaged audiences — the affiliate link needs somewhere quality to convert.

Ready to see it on your paywall?

We'll walk you through a live integration on your own site — no commitment required.

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