We have seen some wacky ideas how to monetize web pages and there is the recurring notion that the traditional ad model is dying, despite the cut-throat battle that is raging between Google and Yahoo especially in context-sensitive ad-serving. Yahoo has a new idea how pageviews could be monetized: Via futures contracts.

The value of a web page to advertisers can shift dramatically depending on a site’s perception and performance. Especially smaller sites that depend on services such as Adsense can see dramatic variations depending on their traffic as well as the origin and browsing history of their readers. There is a certain gamble already present in the ad game and if Yahoo has its way, then selling and placing ads could get another middleman and a touch of the investment world.

According to a patent filing, Yahoo wants to trade an estimated base price of an ad at a specific future date via an ad (-stock) exchange. From the patent filing:

“Techniques are described herein for monetizing page views on an exchange using futures contracts. For example, an estimated price (a.k.a. base price) and a future date (a.k.a. base date or occurrence date) may be declared with respect to a page view. The estimated price is the price at which the page view is to be offered for sale. The future date is the date on which the page view is scheduled to occur. A futures contract regarding the page view is offered for sale on an exchange, such as an ad exchange. The futures contract specifies an obligation to purchase the page view with respect to the future date for the estimated price. The futures contract may be offered for sale on a date that precedes the date on which the page view is to be offered for sale.”

The patent lays out details how the value of a pageview could be determined. In the background, however, it appears that Yahoo is looking for ways to monetize web traffic beyond the simple pageview. Just as stocks are traded and traditional futures contracts are placed, the Yahoo example is essentially trading the option to place ads. That may or may not work – and could add a speculative component to the advertising market that even publishers – who initially would sell those futures contracts as the right to place advertising on their site at a specific date – give an additional revenue opportunity. At least for those who like to gamble.

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