Are we permitted to put paypal buttons in our signature links?

13 years ago

I don't know if it's allowed, but I did notice Paul Myers comment about someone's backlink signature in a new thread about the old debate of whether or not profile links are spam. I forget the exact details, but Paul was more or less pointing out a vested interest while the guy was claiming otherwise ... the point is though, next to the backlinks link in this guys sig file was a link that went directly to Paypal. It would seem either Paul didn't notice it, or it's allowed ... or Paul could have been handing him a length of rope.

I know that's not a definitive answer, but it will bump your thread back to the top. Maybe someone else who knows will see it and comment. I was curious about it myself when I saw that link.

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timpears

13 years ago

I am kind of curious as to why you would want to do this. There isn't much opportunity to do a sales pitch in a sig, so is a PayPal payment link appropriate? Just curious.

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Tim Pears

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helisell

13 years ago

Originally Posted by timpears

I am kind of curious as to why you would want to do this. There isn't much opportunity to do a sales pitch in a sig, so is a PayPal payment link appropriate? Just curious.

I agree totally Tim.

Trying to get someone to buy from a tiny piece of info in a sig file?

If that works then why are we all wasting our time writing copy, building trust etc etc

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owenlee

13 years ago

the only reason i can think of is asking for donations...haha

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Dennis Gaskill

13 years ago

Not to be a nitpicker, but nearly everyone seems to be overlooking the fact Johnny asked about a Donation button, not a Buy button.

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ExRat 13 years ago

Hi Johnny,

I've no idea on the official rules, but Sod's law tells me that it would be problematic. Imagine if you did it, then a week later there were hundreds of suspicious looking accounts created, all posting sob stories about how they had been the recipient of bad luck, all cluttering up areas of the forum with donation buttons in the sig.

You know how it goes around here. :rolleyes:

I would also be concerned about Paypal's current attitude towards IMers and the possibility of something going wrong and your account getting frozen, although I can't think of specific, logical reasons why that should happen, but still...

Alternatively, if you had a link to a web page of yours with the anchor link titled 'support Johnny' or 'thank Johnny' and the button was on the external page, I can't immediately think of any reason why that would be an issue.

But I am a member here, not a mod or a rulemaker.
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timpears 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill

Not to be a nitpicker, but nearly everyone seems to be overlooking the fact Johnny asked about a Donation button, not a Buy button.

Damn, I am blind in one ear and can't see out of the other one and I missed that word.:confused: I am so confused...

Maybe I should try that.:p
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Tim Pears
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kindsvater

13 years ago

Good question. Links typically need to be your domain, or something that is yours - like a WSO.

I just changed my signature banner to a PayPal link. I'll change it back in a few hours - but I did want something to see to help think about what it means.

Maybe a better sales pitch for the few lines of text in the sig, and then a big Buy Now button for the banner?

Would it make a difference if the Buy Now button first linked to a page on my website instead of straight to a payment processor?

.

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cryst

13 years ago

i didn,t implemented this but i link it will accept but u need moderator,s permission for that...

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John Romaine

13 years ago

The reason I asked this question is for two reasons....

1. Often I read over some very valuable advice where I wouldnt mind throwing a person $10, or $20 for their help. Alexa, Wags, CDarklock etc just to name a few. I once paid $2,500 for one hour with a guru - and his advice wasnt half that of what I read here daily.

2. I want to know what others thought of this also, and if the admin team would consider it.

I dont mind either way really. I certainly dont want to start a sh1tfight. Just thought Id ask. I guess if not - we still have the "thanks" button.

Just as a side note - I wonder if something like this would encourage more thoughtful and appropriate responses in threads?

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Claire Sharp

13 years ago

Thanks for posting this thread ramone. I am also curious if it is allowed. By this thread i learned something useful.

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cheapmkttechniques

Banned 13 years ago

[DELETED]

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Paul Myers 13 years ago

John,

That's an interesting question. We used to have the Beer Button, which was designed exactly for that purpose. I don't think anyone would have a problem with the idea.

One thing that would concern me is the potential for someone using it for phishing. I'm not sure that's all that likely, though, as there'd be much more work in it for the small possibility of a return than seems profitable.

Sure. Why not? If it starts to look like a problem, we can always adjust later.

Paul
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- azmanar 13 years ago
  
  Hi,
  
  Clicking the donate button is another way of saying "THANK YOU".
  
  Valuable !
  
  Thanks
  
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travlinguy

13 years ago

I like the idea of "buy a beer" buttons returning.

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1 reply

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azmanar

13 years ago

Originally Posted by travlinguy

I like the idea of "buy a beer" buttons returning.

Hi,

"Buy me a beer" could be offensive to some.

"Buy me a coffee" wont match some health buff.

"Buy me a cup of tea" won't work for those who hates tea.

I suggest, "Buy me a drink".

Covers universal values. Everyone needs to drink something.

Kindsvater,

Your "Buy Me a Drink" button is working.

Thanks
3 replies

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Brenny76065

13 years ago

Hi,

"Buy me a beer" could be offensive to some.

"Buy me a coffee" wont match some health buff.

"Buy me a cup of tea" won't work for those who hates tea.

I suggest, "Buy me a drink".

aahh, the politically correct appreciation button.

[ 1 ] Thanks

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travlinguy

13 years ago

Originally Posted by azmanar

Hi,

"Buy me a beer" could be offensive to some.

"Buy me a coffee" wont match some health buff.

"Buy me a cup of tea" won't work for those who hates tea.

I suggest, "Buy me a drink".

Covers universal values. Everyone needs to drink something.

Kindsvater,

Your "Buy Me a Drink" button is working.

A wise woman once told me she never took offense where one wasn't intended. Works for me. The rest can get a life.

[ 4 ] Thanks
1 reply

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azmanar

13 years ago

Originally Posted by travlinguy

A wise woman once told me she never took offense where one wasn't intended. Works for me. The rest can get a life.

Hi,

A wise Swiss hotelier once told me,

" Accept people as they are, you'll stay cool and you'll get more business ".

What he said makes better sense, if we want more clients from a colorful market.

If we go back 3 decades ago, American and British products were once famous
all over the world. Later on, the same markets were taken over by German, Japs
and Korean products. How and why? Companies from the 3 said nations are a bit
more sensitive to little things that prospects are sensitive about.

Their products remained as consumer favourites until today.

In other words, it is not very clever to alienate prospects by being insensitive,
if we want to grow our business.

Just my 2 cents.

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Rod Cortez

13 years ago

Originally Posted by azmanar

Hi,

A wise Swiss hotelier once told me,

" Accept people as they are, you'll stay cool and you'll get more business ".

What he said makes better sense, if we want more clients from a colorful market.

If we go back 3 decades ago, American and British products were once famous
all over the world. Later on, the same markets were taken over by German, Japs
and Korean products. How and why? Companies from the 3 said nations are a bit
more sensitive to little things that prospects are sensitive about.

Their products remained as consumer favourites until today.

In other words, it is not very clever to alienate prospects by being insensitive,
if we want to grow our business.

Just my 2 cents.

I find your post ironic, since you used a term that is historically offensive to people of Japanese descent.

RoD

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Frank Donovan 13 years ago

Originally Posted by azmanar

Hi,
"Buy me a beer" could be offensive to some.

Um..you understand that this isn't a real bar, don't you?

"Buy me a beer" is just an expression - nobody's going to check what you spend the money on.

Frank
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- azmanar 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Frank Donovan
  
  Um..you understand that this isn't a real bar, don't you?
  
  That's just a handy expression - nobody's going to check what you spend the money on.
  
  Frank
  
  Hi Frank,
  
  I understand what you mean. It's no big deal to me at all. Thinking aloud, it may matter
  to prospects.
  
  So the main concern is on the prospects and not about me.
  
  Prospects = potential $$$ .
  
  We have to accept the fact that we live in a globalized world now via the Internet. If we're
  in business, we do need to step out of our homogenous small town mindsets and deal with
  a spectrum of cultures.
  
  Concepts, terms and symbols represent values people hold. Different cultures see
  and define them differently. Some take offense and some don't.
  
  The term "politically correct" is almost right on this subject but there is a more
  accurate one to use.
  
  IMHO, the more accurate term of reference is "universal values".
  
  Is there a problem with the use of words that appeal to a broader number of prospects?
  Universal values matters if we plan to do international business. It won't matter for
  people who are satisfied with local markets.
  
  I won't estrange foreign prospects with fat wallets. I won't refuse a stream of
  small change as well.
  
  Bottom line, we decide whom we want to do business with. Then we take steps accordingly.
  
  Thanks
  
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  Frank Donovan 13 years ago
  
  Hi Azmanar,
  
  Not wishing to continue to steer this thread off course, but I do understand your general point. Obviously, marketers need to be careful not to inadvertently upset potential prospects.
  
  However, anyone who's been in business for any length of time, will have concluded that there are always going to be those who seem to spend most of their days seeking out things to be offended by.
  
  Perhaps we shouldn't deprive them of that small pleasure.
  
  Frank
  
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KimW

13 years ago

I was going to mention like Paul did that there used to be a Buy me a drink setup we could use. I think that is was dropped due to compatability problems with the new (at the time) forum,but I could be off base with the reason.

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kindsvater 13 years ago

Warning: I had a client with a PayPal business account who put a "donate" button on a page so that there wasn't a set price. The buyer could type their own price.

PayPal promptly froze the account, held funds, and insisted upon a ridiculous amount of paperwork for the company to prove it was a registered non-profit organization - which of course it could not provide. It was a huge hassle.

The solution is to use a Buy It Now button, but to include no price for the amount of the product.

.
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Dan Allard

13 years ago

I like this idea and I agree it may lead to some more thoughtful and valuable responses. I think I'll try out a 'Buy me a Drink' text link and see what happens!

I have an off-topic question for kindsvater or whoever else can answer- if I purchase the right to place a banner in my sig could I change it whenever? Or do you have to pay each time you change it? Was curious on this for a while.

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Michael Oksa

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Dan Allard

I like this idea and I agree it may lead to some more thoughtful and valuable responses. I think I'll try out a 'Buy me a Drink' text link and see what happens!

I have an off-topic question for kindsvater or whoever else can answer- if I purchase the right to place a banner in my sig could I change it whenever? Or do you have to pay each time you change it? Was curious on this for a while.

You can change it as often as you wish.

All the best,
Michael

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kindsvater

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Dan Allard

if I purchase the right to place a banner in my sig could I change it whenever? Or do you have to pay each time you change it? Was curious on this for a while.

You can change it as often as you want. No charge.

I change mine all the time to test different offers, landing pages, price points.

Sometimes I run hourly specials just to see if anyone is paying attention.

I've already made money from my Buy a Drink button. Thanks!

.

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Are we permitted to put paypal buttons in our signature links?

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