Scribd lets you pay in content.

Recently, I stumbled upon a recent feature of document sharing platform Scribd: pay in content. As an alternative to paying for access on a daily, monthly or yearly basis, visitors are asked to pay in content, by uploading a document. An interesting alternative for both Scribd (increasing their content volume) and consumers (no financial compensation).

New? No. Bulletin boards have long had similar models where people were asked to upload content in exchange for access to download content. But it’s an interesting development that more and more companies start to look for alternative payment methods, whether it is in content exchange, reputation, micro-payments or conversations.

Another smart feature is leveraging the default option: the monthly subscription plan is highlighted and is the default option for consumers, leading to more conversion and thus making it the most popular option.

Other great examples of companies that let you pay in content? Please let me know.

Other alternative: rewarding conversations

Consumers connect their Twitter and/or Facebook account to the Incubate festival website and instantly start earning credits for sharing content (which they can redeem for items in the Incubate store).

Written in 2011, left as it was.

Original: Scribd lets you pay in content, 8 December 2011. Historical links may no longer work.