rewards

One of the web 2.0 startup hypes du jour is called Flattr. It's a micro-payment service that enables readers to allocate a monthly budget they can use to "flattr" blog posts and other content by clicking a simple badge. The monthly flat-rate is then distributed to the "flattred" authors as a way of appreciation.

More on that in this short video.

A lot of people are jumping on the Flattr bandwagon, and of course, rewarding creators is always goodness.

But I'm not convinced.

Why? Because IMHO there's no need for a middle man handling the "Thank You" transaction between a blogger (or other content creator) and the reader (or other content consumer).

Instead, here are ten (10) better ways to accomplish the same thing (supporting your favorite creator). They can involve money or not - you choose - and in each of them, everybody wins.