The Andrew Sullivan of Email

12 Apr 2004

Everyone I know complains that they can't keep up with their email and that responding to it takes too much time. And of course, this is the same justification a lot of people use for either not starting a weblog or for abandoning one.

However, lots of bloggers have found it's worth their while to update their sites if they put out a tip jar or PayPal link and get donations from their readers to subsidize the time they spend writing.

So why not have a message at the bottom of your outgoing email messages telling the recipient how much you're willing to bid for a timely response to the message? ("If you get me an answer on this in 8 hours, I'll PayPal you a dollar. 24 hours is worth 50 cents, and I'll give you a quarter for a reply any time in the next three days.")

It's micropayment mania!

Posted on Monday, April 12, 2004 at 1:10 PM

9 TrackBacks

I finished reading Anil's post "The Andrew Sullivan of Email", where he suggests a micropayment system for email responses: "If you get me an answer on this in 8 hours, I'll PayPal you a dollar.". But he also mentions "tip... Read More »
twenty percent | April 12, 2004 2:32 PM
I really could give you at least 10 reasons why Anil Dash rocks my world - but after his post today, The Andrew Sullivan of Email, I am convinced the man is a genius. His theory is that you go... Read More »
Anil Dash is a genius | April 13, 2004 9:10 AM
I really could give you at least 10 reasons why Anil Dash rocks my world - but after his post today, The Andrew Sullivan of Email, I am convinced the man is a genius. His theory is that you go... Read More »
Anil Dash is a genius | April 13, 2004 10:11 AM
Anil Dash suggests creating an tagline at the bottom of your emails where you'll offer to pay a certain amount via PayPal or some device to the recipient if they respond to you in a timely manner. Talk about incentives!... Read More »
Will Email For Money | April 13, 2004 11:19 AM
Anil Dash:
"...why not have a message at the bottom of your outgoing email messages telling the recipient how much you'r...
Read More »
Paypal Email Integration | April 14, 2004 3:20 PM

Anil Dash has an interesting idea:

So why not have a message at the bottom of your outgoing email messages ...

Read More »
the highest bidder gets the first email reply | April 15, 2004 9:14 PM
Anil Dash propone una soluzione per ottenere una risposta rapida alle e-mail inviate: dato che tutti quanti sono troppo impegnati... Read More »
La soluzione Sullivan | April 18, 2004 10:57 PM
Anil Dash suggests a way to monetize email. I believe he jests but it got me to thinking about the whole micropayment thing where attention is monetized and content will cost you. Read More »
Micropayments and the Blogging Economy | April 19, 2004 1:07 PM
About a week before SXSW 2004 the very last vertebrae in the proverbial camel's back of Ms. Jen's patience was broken. I had since 1997 used "jenhanen@earthlink.net" as my primary email and by last summer I was getting over 150... Read More »
Email: Do People Really Read it? | April 21, 2004 3:20 AM

14 Comments

That sounds good, 'cept you'd need to make it so you can add it to some emails and not to others, kinda like with Apple's Mail, where you can switch Signatures real quick if you need. Then again, it's not often I need answers quick by email. Now only if I could CHARGE people $1 for emailing me. hehe..

Seth Werkheiser | April 12, 2004 1:43 PM | Reply

Sounds like a neat idea, but if everyone started doing this it would be like email is held for ransom. Pay up or never get a reply.

monkeyinabox | April 12, 2004 2:43 PM | Reply

I have an opinion on this article, but I demand $500 before I'll divulge it.

Jimbo | April 12, 2004 2:53 PM | Reply

Would it be the same price for everyone, or would one demand less from the poor for the same response?

jim | April 12, 2004 3:31 PM | Reply

Would it be the same price for everyone, or would one demand less from the poor for the same response?

jim | April 12, 2004 3:31 PM | Reply

I'd be RICH. It's genius. Forget law school.

Justin Blanton | April 12, 2004 3:33 PM | Reply

Why wouldn't you just set auto-reply to read "Send me my money, bitch".

PLC | April 12, 2004 3:34 PM | Reply

You know what? SPam mailers should be charged a dollar per mail they send me. I would gladly buy what they ask me (unless it is the size expansion thingy).

Ravages | April 13, 2004 3:25 AM | Reply

Great Idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And soon someone will find out a way to outsource replying emails to India and China and cut them .25 of that buck.

Maxtor | April 13, 2004 8:17 AM | Reply

Dear Friend,

Did you know you can make THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS from email in the comfort of your own home? That's right! You could be earning money with EVERY EMAIL YOU RECEIVE. To find out all about this EXCITING OPPORTUNITY, simply send an email to info@dashes.com. Don't forget to attach a check or money order for $29.95 to ensure a prompt response!

Maciej Ceglowski | April 13, 2004 3:38 PM | Reply

i'm sold. the pay to email concept is awesome if the .mail network can be set up to accept only .mail messages. micropayments cost nothing, but in bulk it would be senseless.

Rajan | April 13, 2004 5:27 PM | Reply

Jim: there's a significant discount for those with a household income less than $25,000/yr. Also, non-profit organizations can apply for a discount. Send all inquiries to discounts@jimbo.com (administrative fees might be charged for us to read your email)

Jimbo | April 13, 2004 10:03 PM | Reply

Make it an X-header in the email so my email client can read it and I can sort/prioritize by the "bounty" offered by the sender.

Anonymous | April 15, 2004 9:06 PM | Reply

you are sick what a sham

Anonymous | April 17, 2004 3:46 AM | Reply

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