I have been quite impressed with the idea Evan had to post an essay on Amazon and ask a very modest fee for payment. I have also loved and supported Lew's idea for the TV series American Beer Blogger funded through Kickstarter. They've got me thinking. The price point and revenue streams for writing about beer are minefields - ethical and otherwise. General search engine optimization ads on the blog are in decay due to aggregators like Google Reader [Ed.: waving hello to the 15,938 GR followers!] taking activity away. And direct support from the beer trade for all beer writing just isn't what it used to be - if it ever was. So, I am wonder what the response would be if I posted a series of posts on a certain topic I have in mind and asked for a fee. The plan would be to place a brief summary or introduction on the blog and link to the longer text of each essay which folk could follow if interested through a micro-payment process. Would the following elements of that sort of idea be interesting to you or a turn off?
♦ The price would be low, say 49 cents if that price point is available.
♦ The posts would be longer than usual around here and each would be on elements on single even greater theme.
♦ The theme would be a proposal for a rethinking of the elements of the consumer's relationship with beer.
♦ Through this exercise I would be preparing an system of thinking about beer that I may present through next autumn's Beau's Oktoberfest where I will be assisting with the preparation and presentation of their whole seminar series.
The point of this would be giving myself the opportunity and structure to work on a more detailed and lengthy bit of research with a sufficient if modest revenue stream to pay for the related expenses such as travel, research time and maybe beer that needs to spent.
My question is this: if I do this would it be incredibly irritating, of no interest or something you might be willing to participate in? Be honest. Tell me if you think I don't have what it takes. Let me know if it would drive you from following the blog and why. Let me know if you even like it. All thoughts and feedback most welcome.