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Do sites asking for 'donations' work?

by entry
19 replies
Have any of you had experience with sites where you ask your visitors to give you 'donations' towards your site, to help fund its marketing etc?

if you do, do you get many regular donations?

Here is one for example

http://therealnews.com/t/

but just asking do you do this method for your IM sites?
#donations #sites #work
  • Profile picture of the author Launder
    I've not ever saw anything like that but I would assume you would rarely receive any funds through that unless there are some fairly generous people visiting.
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  • Profile picture of the author hangtimenino
    i too, have not encountered a site asking for donations to fund a site, its usually for a good cause, like saving the environment... etc.
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    • Profile picture of the author Lawrh
      Some open source coders make upwards of 100k per year from donations. Of course they give something of genuine value and people appreciate it.
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      “Strategy without action is a day-dream; action without strategy is a nightmare.” – Old Japanese proverb -

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  • Profile picture of the author Lori Reno
    I haven't seen that done before unless it is a nonprofit organization. Non profits have success with asking for donations this way.
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  • Profile picture of the author Launder
    I would think asking for a donation would be something like that hangtimenino has said, you know like something for someone having financial issues or medical issues or for a good cause that might benefit everyone.
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  • Profile picture of the author AmyBrown
    I've donated to quite a few sites that offer a service I've used. A programmer friend made enough to live on (in his parents basement!) throughout college with a site requesting donations for his free program.

    Regarding IM donations: I've donated to individuals in need and via the "buy a beer" function on forums and a blog but am more likely to donate for services than posts.
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    "Test fast, fail fast, adjust fast."
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    • Profile picture of the author ildarius
      Brain Training With Brain Practices Free and Easy

      gets over a 100 visitors for some brain training keywords and 0 donations in over 2 months....
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      • Profile picture of the author Lance K
        Provide real value, and call it a "tip jar".

        Then do the ole Saturday night band trick and remind visitors to tip their friendly wait satff every so often.
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        "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
        ~ Zig Ziglar
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  • Profile picture of the author Harrier
    I have seen quite a few donation request sites when I have been searching for answers to a situation or problem.
    Usually these type of sites have tons of free info and free code etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author thewizard
    I have seen these kind of sites work. I don't think it'll be too profitable however. Depending on what kind of site it is and content it has, site might make profit with some donations.
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    • Profile picture of the author entry
      Originally Posted by thewizard View Post

      I have seen these kind of sites work. I don't think it'll be too profitable however. Depending on what kind of site it is and content it has, site might make profit with some donations.
      i suppose creditability plays a big part in this method
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      I Have to say a Massive...THANK YOU to every Warrior who has helped me, and thanks to every warrior who helps me in the future...
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  • Profile picture of the author Harrier
    I suspect that the folks who own the sites are basically just trying to cover their hosting fees.
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  • Profile picture of the author misterwrecker
    Have you ever heard of......Wikipedia?
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    • Profile picture of the author The Pension Guy
      Originally Posted by misterwrecker View Post

      Have you ever heard of......Wikipedia?
      Exactly
      I have donated to them as well as to some other sites. Mainly on sites where the owner offers value, as Lance mentioned above. Value is the key! e.g. useful plugins for WP or a very fast excellent image viewer; clever blog posts ("tip jar" or "buy-me-a-beer" type buttons).
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  • Profile picture of the author morry
    I've tried this with a couple of affiliate sites and I only ever had about $50 donated over about 6 months.

    I don't think it will do too much for you unless you're offering something really good and people fear that you won't be able to keep doing it unless people donate.

    That being said, it can make you look like you aren't primarily motivated by money, which can add to increased credibility. But it all depends on how you use it.

    Sean
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  • Profile picture of the author chicon
    I have donated for valuable causes or services. There is a site called donation-management .org that helps not for profits realize the value of their websites.
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  • Profile picture of the author Josh Semke
    Perhaps you could offer incentives for donations.
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