ScratchBack – Leave a Tip – Get a Link

I just ran across a very interesting new method of monetizing your blog. A new service called ScratchBack has combined button links and tipping and added a fun spin to selling ad space. The premise is really simple. A visitor clicks on your widget, fills out their link, uploads their 150×25 pixel button, and adds a custom message that is displayed on mouse over. Then, they just leave you a tip and, once approved, their button is displayed. The whole process is just a few mouse clicks and it’s definitely one of the easiest methods to manage button space sales on your blog.

Here are a few features of the ScratchBack service.

• You can select the number of links to be listed from 5, 10, 15, or 20 spots.
• You can choose to display 150×25px buttons or text links.
• You can choose to between automatic or manual approval for all links.
• You can select “auto bump” rotation of links or from the time-expiration options (24hr/1wk/30days)

The auto bump feature is really caught my eye about this service. Essentially, each new link is added to the top of the list with no time limit. So, if ten people leave me a tip and no new people leave me a tip, those ten links will stay in place indefinitely. However, when the eleventh tipper leaves their tip, the tenth place listing is dropped off and the list bumps down to make room for the new tipper. This is a pretty fair model that could be some fun as well.

I figure, some visitors wouldn’t want to make a donation to this site. After all, I’m not a non-profit organization or a charity. However, it’s common courtesy to tip someone who is providing a service for you or to buy someone a drink in exchange for them taking the time to consult you on something. The nice thing about ScratchBack’s service is, not only are you tipping me for my wit, charm, and knowledge, but you’re also getting a 150×25 pixel advertisement on my site for $1.00. That’s dirt cheap by anyone’s standards.

Another nice thing about ScratchBack’s program is that it is Google-friendly. The links are displayed using JavaScript, so no link juice is passed; therefore, you wont get slapped by Google for buying or selling links.

If you have a mind for marketing or monetization, it only takes a couple seconds to come up with some very promising ideas this widget can be used for. I’m predicting that any A-list blogs that run this widget are easily going to see some very nice dosh per month from using it and I’m willing to bet the rotation of the links will be pretty fast. This should be a very interesting new service to watch.

Check it out for yourself! Visit ScratchBack to sign up for free and get your own widget.

And don’t forget… Leave a Tip – Get a Link!

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