Could Activist-Style Micropayments Be a Real-Time Ad Model?

Ed Gubbins
Monday, October 19, 2009
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Like a tip jar or donation box, micropayments could leverage
on-the-spot, real-time emotional investment. Source: flickr user Mindful_One

Despite the huge impact that PayPal and online micropayments in general have had in unleashing web-based commerce, much of its potential has yet to be unlocked, particularly in the context of the real-time web. Sites like the Huffington Post's Insight Page and CauseCast see the potential of micropayment systems to generate concern for a cause. But the real potential lies in harnessing concern that already exists — tapping the emotion of the moment. […]

Question of the Week

How could a commercial advertising model fit this opportunity?

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