Are donation buttons worth it?

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CryoEnix

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Jan 11, 2003
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Hey, I recently published a program online, with your typical Paypal donations button on it. I was wondering, does anyone actually click it? Have any of you made any money from your programs in this way, and if so, is it anything to scream about?

Just wondering.
 
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There are some generous people online who will thank you for making your program free, but when they do donate, they probably won't donate much.

Besides, leaving the donation there at least leaves an open chance for money, whereas by not having a donation button, you're not going to get money at all.

The donation button should be mainly so roll some cash in, not really to make a large some of money and get rich (unless some huge corporation decides to thank you for making the program free - but then again, they're a huge corporation, they might as well buy a program).

Cheers,
-The Pentium Guy
 
I agree. If you have it there, you stand to loose nothing, but stand a chance to gain donations.

I've made donations to people before for free software that was better than commerical crap (or just as good, but free)
 
A donation button by itself isn't going to attract too many people. Why? Largely in part to human nature: people forget. You need to remind people to donate. The button is the means, but it isn't the pull.
 
Yeah... remember that if you had no donation button you could earn 0$... so better have one.

Another way... (maybe way too intrusive)... is to "remember" the user.

Some way that might work :

-Display a message box to tell them that If they like your program... they can donate (I'll hate to see that... unless it's only in the startup and that I have a option "Don't remember be")
-Make your button Animated and Non-Animated... so it move sometime so the user focus on it.
-Don't hide your button in a sub-menu. Put it in the top left or top right so it'll be always visible.

My prefered one ? 2nd.
 
CryoEnix said:
Hey, I recently published a program online, with your typical Paypal donations button on it. I was wondering, does anyone actually click it? Have any of you made any money from your programs in this way, and if so, is it anything to scream about?

Just wondering.
Click to expand...

I presently do not have a donate button on my site, but I do plan to put one on it after I complete work on some further benefits/features that a user could attain when visiting my site.

I look at the donate button in this manner. I know it won't make me rich or anything like that. I personally feel it would provide a way for those who truly appreciate and benefit from the work on my site to show their thanks in their own way. I feel you have to really enjoy what you do, the time you put into creating a site and its features, and derive your joy from the satisfaction of knowing you have done a good job. The donations, if any, would just be icing on the cake so to speak. :)
 
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