Political Web Site 'The Point' Extends Reach Of OrganizersPolitical Web Site 'The Point' Extends Reach Of Organizers

A Web site that helps organize political and social action has upgraded after eight months in beta to include new tools and campaign widgets.

The Point's new widget allows users to organize, promote, join, and monitor campaigns from any Web site. The Point, named for the "tipping point" theory, launched at the end of 2007. It allows people to manage fundraisers, social events, boycotts, group discounts, and other activities that require a critical mass.

Participants pledge to act but not until enough people commit to force or create results. The Point's "carrot campaigns" allow users to persuade businesses or campaigns to act by pledging money or business when their terms are met.

For example, users can offer money, positive reviews, voter support, or their business to companies that engage in what users define as socially responsible behavior.

"Carrot campaigns are Petitions 2.0," Andrew Mason, founder and CEO of The Point, said in a statement. "No one puts much stock in petitions on the Web because they don't feel credible. Carrot campaigns solve that problem by backing demands with a real promise of money or action."

The Point said the tools could help with small, individual goals -- like raising funds for someone in a developing country to get an accounting degree and avoid working in a sweatshop -- or they force broader change, like making Election Day a national holiday by organizing thousands of people to skip work and vote.

David Cohn, founder of Spot.us, has already used the tools for his Web site, which allows people to raise money to pay journalists for investigative stories.

"By using it, I can [assure] everyone that their contributions are meaningful and that has lowered the bar of participation," Cohn said.

The new widgets allow users to expand their reach to include blogs, social networking sites, and other Web sites. Users can pledge through the widgets without visiting The Point's Web site.

The privately funded, redesigned site provides organizers with recruitment reports and tools to communicate with campaign participants.