Follow on Facebook
Follow on TwitterThose of us that have been using the Internet for a while now have seen the topics of paid content and micropayments (which would enable paid content) come in and go out of fashion several times.
There has been a standard objection to the idea of paid content as a business model, namely that users will not pay for content because they expect everything on the Internet to be free. Equally unless you’re a big media site (think The Times or New York Times) you’re unlikely to be able to charge a significant yearly access fee and small one off payments (micropayments) haven’t been cost effective.
All that could change however as the New York Times is reporting that Google is planning to develop a micropayment system that will be an extension of Google Checkout. Google is quoted as saying:
The idea is to allow viable payments of a penny to several dollars by aggregating purchases across merchants and over time.
Which is interesting. If Google does develop a micropayment system then they have the brand credibility and marketing budget to make it widely accepted and it could enable a wide range of online business models – i.e. blogs could charge a penny per page for access or they could offer a free version that is ad supported whilst for a few pennies per page the reader has the ability to view it without ads.
E-book authors could post their content as websites and allow a per page or per chapter fee. For that matter traditional authors/publishers could do the same.
So get thinking, what new business opportunities would a micropayment system operated by Google afford you?
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This blog is about business opportunities and ideas that I spot, think of or hear about and think are useful and interesting. It is intended to provide ideas and inspriation for you to help you find the right business idea for you to then grow it into a successful business.
I like the idea. From the content providers point of view I can see how you could finally get the reward for creating unique content.
On the other hand, I’ve come across my fair share mindless rubbish. The kind of trash that webmasters couldn’t pay me enough to read.
It’s a bit unsettling to think that I may, in the future, be fleeced by some site owner who can write one hell of a description but then have me pay for something that lacks substance, creativity and value.