E-Media Tidbits

emailweb.us People can buy a subscription to Emailweb.us for $18/year, or by passing a Bible quiz.

Here's one option for engaging readers and encouraging loyalty: Giving away a free subscription for some premium online service in exchange for passing a quiz that would require people to delve into your content. This probably should be a premium service you're already selling (read: has proven value), and this offer probably should be extended only to new subscribers.

For instance, if you sell subscriptions to special mobile content (like live sports updates), you might offer free subscriptions to new subscribers who can answer 10 questions about your recent sports coverage (including columns).

Hey, maybe this is a good idea, maybe not.

I got this idea from an odd source: Emailweb.us. For $18/year, this service delivers fully formatted web pages by e-mail (which is useful to people who live in places with high connectivity charges, slow connections, etc. -- especially in developing nations). Here's a special offer they pose on their subscription page:

"Earning a Subcription: If you are not a resident of the US, Canada, or European Union, you can earn a one-year subscription to Emailweb by reading the Gospel According to Matthew and completing a quiz of 12 questions. You will need to get 10 of the 12 questions correct to earn the year's subscription."

...OK, so it's blatant religious proselytizing, but Emailweb.us is a private organization and I guess they can do that if they want. Still, it's a creative approach to getting subscribers that might have applications more appropriate for news organizations.

Just a thought.

(Thanks to David Weinberger for the tip.)