I've got an idea...

I am bloody hopeless at PHP.

But I was thinking, I had an idea for a script and if any of the guys here were to give it a shot it would be great.

What Is It?:

A point based WordPress plugin.

The Basic Idea:

People post comments (or stories) and earn point, there will be a sidebar widget (like "Top Commentators") to show a list of the top 5 people with the most points, and the people can use a form to cash in the points for text or banner advertising on the blog.

So just for posting a few comments you could get a backlink or banner!

If anyone could give it a shot that would be awesome, and if anyone gets it working I will promote it highly (you get full rights of course, you can sell it etc.) as long as I can get a free copy

So, if anyone thinks they know how to do it, shoot me a pm and I might be able to explain it clearer!

Cheers!

 

Sounds like it would be a good idea for a forum also.

 

Yeah, but there is already a points system for forums.

I don't think there is anything like this for blogs!

I hope someone makes it, I would love to use this on my sites, it increases commenting, which also increases returning visitors and traffic.

 

Hmm, I'll look into this fellas. I've been looking to branch out into the small script marketplace, and this might be a good first project. I'll keep you updated.

 

Seems like it will get spammed to death.

People post comments for a quick link anyway. Now spammers have even more incentive.

 

Synchronium, it will just mean what it's always meant, that any decent forums will have good moderators to filter the garbage.

 

This is for a blog, right?

 

Whoops, my mistake. In that case, depends how time the owner wants to invest in policing his blog. I'm sure a creative programmer could come up with ways to detect spammers, anyway.

 

So it's like a karma system for comments?

 

Kind of, but with the reward for good karma being able to purchase backlinks or ad banners for your site.

I think it really has some potential, as long as the programmer involved takes into account how scheming end users can be, and builds in some safeguards. Immediately I can think of link approval (don't want the user posting a backlink to Goatse, etc), maybe point expiration/purchase limitation (for fairness, don't want somebody banking up and buying every eligible backlink), and I'm sure a load of other issues.