Hello. My name is Erik Martin and I am a freelance writer for EContent Magazine (www.econtentmag.com). I am seeking to interview digital publishers, digital content providers, and digital content industry experts/analysts for the following story topic:
THE DIGITAL TIP JAR AS A NEW REVENUE STREAM IN THE ADBLOCK ERA: Adblock Plus is teaming up with the micropayments service Flattr to create a new system called Flattr Plus, which they say will make it easy for people to pay small amounts for the articles they read online. (Details at tinyurl.com/mashabletipjar and flattrplus.com). Flattr Plus will let people make a monthly donation that will get split up between the publishers of the articles they read. Users decide how much money they want to have distributed among their favorite sites, and the Flattr Plus algorithm automatically divvies up the proceeds among the sites they engage with the most. Websites and publishers wishing to participate are required only to sign up -- they won't get tags or logos placed on their site. This story would inform readers of this news plus offer insights from experts as to how/why this monetization model will or will not succeed, and what it means to digital publishers/e-content providers. Below is a list of questions I’m seeking answers to for this story. I can either do a phone interview or an email interview (whereby you send me written answers to my questions below that I can use as quotes in my story, which is often easier; written responses should be thorough and detailed, please). My deadline is noon central, Thursday, May 19. Please e-mail me back your interest and phone availability or your indication that you plan to email me typed up answers to these questions:
QUESTIONS:
1. What is your first impression of the concept of Flattr Plus, which will essentially function as a digital tip jar for publishers/e-content providers (details attinyurl.com/mashabletipjar and flattrplus.com)? Is this a good idea? Why?2. Will this Flattr Plus monetization model succeed or not? Why? What will need to happen for it to succeed?3. Currently, Flattr Plus doesn't let you choose which websites get your money; it keeps track of the websites you visit and engage with, allocating your monthly payment across those websites proportionally. Do you agree with this strategy, or should users be allowed to choose which sites get the donated money and how much?4. What kinds of consumers/users are going to donate/contribute using Flattr Plus? Who will this appeal to—only those who use adblocking software? What’s the appeal here—to appeal to the adblocking user’s sense of guilt or sympathy for the publisher?5. What is the major significance of this news (Flattr Plus and its collection of donations for publishers)? Is this the first such initiative of its kind, or are there other “digital tip jar” resources/initiatives out there that are doing something similar or better that you can cite?6. Why should publishers, digital content providers and websites consider signing up for Flattr Plus? Are there any drawbacks (such as consumers perceiving them as “begging” for donations, thus creating the perception that the publisher/site is struggling)?7. Going forward, how are digital publishers/content providers going to have to rethink their monetization models and revenue streams? Will they need to consider implementing some form of a “digital tip jar” to help pay the bills?8. Any other thoughts or comments you want to add?9. What is your full name, title, company, and city/state location where you are based?
Keywords
digital publishers, digital content providers, digital content industry experts
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