Online ‘grab bag’ lets Twitter users thank their followers with gifts

If consumers can give gifts to their Facebook friends, shouldn’t they be able to do something similar on Twitter? Such, indeed, is exactly the premise behind Wondertüte’s Gift a Follower, a site that gives Twitter users an easy, inexpensive way to thank their best followers. A sister site to Pay with a Tweet, which we covered earlier this year, Gift a Follower can actually be used for both Twitter and Facebook friends. Either way, gift-givers pay only USD 1 per gift via PayPal; that, in turn, entitles the recipient to one “grab” into what the site calls “the internet’s surprise bag.” Possible items they may come away with include links to “cool, weird, fun and fascinating stuff online”; donations made in their name to reputable charities; gift cards and coupons from major brands; or even gadgets such as flip cams or iPads. New York-based Wondertüte welcomes inquiries from brands interested in adding their own offerings to its virtual “grab bag.” Gifts given through the site, meanwhile, can be sent only to U.S. users — one to partner with or emulate in other parts of the world. (Related: Swapping content for a tweet or Facebook mention — Real packages for virtual friends, no address required — Personalized gift raps via Facebook.)