Donation Buttons

[guitarjockey]

I actually bought my hosting and domain name off of a paypal donation. I had a donation button on my wordpress.com and one of my readers donated a hundred bucks and I purchased my web stuff with it.

I've heard that if you make your own paypal button and have the donation amount for like 3 dollars and you say "help me buy an everyday item" (coffe,energy drinks,candy bar) if you do something like that I have heard people are more willing to put 3 bucks in then to donate big sums of money.

[bobbytoat]

Originally Posted by guitarjockey

I actually bought my hosting and domain name off of a paypal donation. I had a donation button on my wordpress.com and one of my readers donated a hundred bucks and I purchased my web stuff with it.

I've heard that if you make your own paypal button and have the donation amount for like 3 dollars and you say "help me buy an everyday item" (coffe,energy drinks,candy bar) if you do something like that I have heard people are more willing to put 3 bucks in then to donate big sums of money.

Wow that particular reader of yours sure is generous lucky you!

Wish I have such luck, will test it out by adding a button of my own soon hehe, or maybe the 'my top spot' widget...

[J2icharcI]

I`ve seen a few of these `donate a coffee` buttons, have you guys seen any other unique ideas? Post some links!

[pacmunchkin]

I've never donated to blogs, but I donate regularly to a podcast that I listen to. This podcast has a great community atmosphere and they have a forum and loads of costs to cover, so I'm happy to donate.

To donate to a blog, it would have to be a small indie blog that I really loved.

[EverythingEverywhere]

1) If you run ads, I would never ever donate money. Pick one. If you want my pity, then don't try to make money off my eyeballs.

2) I have given money to about 3 sites. They all did very unique things and were not cookie cutter versions of the same crap everyone else does. You have to have something really a cut above if people are going to give you money.

[tw3nty3ight.com]

I just recently added a donate button to my site after talking it over with Bloggeries. We will see what happens over the next few weeks or so.

Keeping my fingers crossed

[tw3nty3ight.com]

Originally Posted by EverythingEverywhere

1) If you run ads, I would never ever donate money. Pick one. If you want my pity, then don't try to make money off my eyeballs.

2) I have given money to about 3 sites. They all did very unique things and were not cookie cutter versions of the same crap everyone else does. You have to have something really a cut above if people are going to give you money.

I had this view until recently. I read a great article about how it comes down to how you set up your donate button. I have some that are on the verge of being begging tactics. I think there is a right/wrong way to do it whether you have ads or not.

[trishacupra]

I agree that giving a reason to donate, like buying a coffee, would help. Maybe something more humorous would get results.