Buy Me a Beer is Internet Panhandling
“Panhandling – to stop people on the street and ask for food or money ; to beg”
~ Merriam Webster Dictionary
As I was looking through a list of WordPress plugins earlier, I once again came across the “Buy Me a Beer” plugin. Basically, this plugin is a glorified PayPal button which is supposed to somehow make it seem like you’re not just asking people for money.
Most of the sites that I’ve seen use it phrase it something like “Like this post/site? Buy me a Beer!” followed by some arbitrary suggestion like $3 for a beer and $7 for a pitcher. Some apparently don’t drink beer and have changed it to ask for a cup of coffee or a nice cold soda. No matter which way you say it, I just can’t get past the fact that you’re essentially panhandling. Instead of a busy street corner you’re using your blog. Instead of a hat or a cup of change, you’re using this plugin. Bottom line though, you’re begging for money.
Now hold on, I can already hear people saying “I’m not begging, I’m just offering a way for grateful readers to show their gratitude!” Yeah, and the saxophone player I see every time I leave a St. Louis Cardinals’ game isn’t begging either, he’s just offering us a way to reward him for his great playing, right? Here’s the thing, if your content is of a high enough quality that you think people will be grateful and give you money for sharing it with them, then sell your content! Start offering a paid section of your site. If you offer an ebook for free but welcome donations to help support your writing efforts, sell the darn thing! It’s either valuable or it’s not… period! If you don’t place enough value on it that you don’t think you can sell it, then why in the world would I value it enough to donate money after the fact?
What’s worse is when you see this type of thing on an already successful site. I mean, honestly, when’s the last time you saw a guy in a designer suit standing on the corner asking passersby if they could spare a dollar or two? Or better yet, how would you react if someone asked you for some change, you gave them a few bucks, and they turn around, hop in a brand new BMW and drive off? So why is the online world any different?
Now, there are some people using it basically as a payment system. For example, when I announced the first ever Blogging Experiment Contest, I paid three dollars to the ContestBlogger to get a longer review on his site. These sites have a clearly stated exchange; if pay me this, I’ll do this. To me these people should just use a paypal button and be done with it but hey, at least they are selling their service.
The one thing I’ve noticed through the years about people I’ve seen begging on the street, very few of them are proud of what they’re doing. Even fewer will look you in the eyes and if they do, you almost always see their shame. Now please don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean to sound like I’m ripping on people that beg or panhandle on the streets of our cities. But the bottom line is this: you might make some extra money every month from people “buying you beers” but you won’t make a dime from me and you might very well end up looking like an internet panhandler. In my book, that’s not something to be proud of.
Update: I feel I need to clarify one point. Just because something is free doesn’t mean I think it’s worthless or has no value. Things such as ebooks that are given away as a reward or even freely as a marketing tool etc. are often very valuable.
I guess I view blogs similarly to radio shows, newspaper and magazine articles, and even TV shows. Yes, all of those mediums offer up information and entertainment. However, when’s the last time you watched a TV show and at the end they said, hey if you liked the show please send us $5. If your blog offers quality information and you chose to offer it for free, monetize your site in other ways. Sell advertising, display affiliate offers, etc. Don’t offer it for free and then hedge your bet by then asking for donations.
You’ve got a pretty god point here. I’ve seen this plugin on dosins of blogs. At one point I was even thinking about implementing it myself. I’m glad I didn’t.
I think that’s nonsense. I don’t think about panhandling–I think about a tip jar. Seriously–the internet tip jar has been going on for years and years, long before that plugin came into existence. Given that John Cow (4,000+ visitors a day) and JohnChow (income of $10,000 a *month*) both use the plugin, I’m not worried about my reputation when I use it!
Darn tooting I am going to ask for a donation. I don’t think any of my readers are dumb enough to think it’s anything other than a request for money. They can pay me, or not. Give people a little credit for knowing what they’re seeing!
A lot of times people offer ebooks for free and it’s not because they don’t think the book is valuable enough to sell. Like Seth Godin and many other gurus, you offer an ebook for free because you know it’s more valuable when it’s free and more people come into contact with it. More people will read it, your ideas will spread and your reputation and influence will grow faster/bigger than if you tried to sell the book. Accordingly, your income will grow because people see you as an expert and will pay you to speak or consult for them.
I agree that those donate buttons are annoying, but I don’t think it’s wrong/bad to ask for a donation for a product that is valuable. It’s kind of like letting people decide on their own if they value something or not. Yes, most of them will just take it for free, but it’s nice when there is the rare person that appreciates something so much that they will pay for it, even when they are not required to.
I agree. This is just downright greedy.
Buy you what? For writing a post on your blog? I have already done you a great service by reading your post, what else do you expect?
I actually dont have a problem donating some money to plugin developers who actually deserve it, but to a blogger for ‘promoting’ his own blog.. no way mate!
@ Linda, first of all the fact that John Chow does it does not somehow make it a good idea or even something that won’t damage your reputation. John’s income levels and success are undeniable, but there are plenty of people that think he’s quite simply greedy. Also, he’s been banned by several high profile sites, if you’re blog can withstand that then go for it. If that’s the image you want to portray that’s fine. But I’d hardly use John Chow as some sort of measure of right or wrong.
Also, I never said that people wouldn’t realize exactly what it was. I guess I just have more respect for myself than to go around asking every person I come into contact with for money. You called it a tip jar but the tip jar operates on the understanding that you pay for the service. The majority of the internet and blogs operate on the principle of freely sharing information. Maybe that’s why I see it so differently than just a tip jar.
Ok, then I submit to you, since I’m asking for donations to create a service, how should I do that? I need to raise money before the fact for this film competition I’m in. Click the link, and leave a comment, and tell me how to do that better than I am now.
@ Jason, you’re first point is correct and I updated the post to clarify what I meant. Just because something is free doesn’t mean it’s worthless by any means.
Also, for anyone that disagrees with me, what would you think if Rush Limbaugh at the end of every show asked his listeners for donations? I don’t mean for some cause like the local children’s hospital or something. It’s ludicrous right? They already make plenty by selling ads etc and in fact the reason they are able to sell those ads is because we are listening to his show. So in a sense, they need us just as much as we need them. Hence, no begging at the end of a radio show. Why should your blog be any different?
Following up on your comment in regards to watching Seinfeld and why nobody tipped Jerry.
I would hardly call independant blogs the same thing as the number one television show run by a corporate machine. But, for the sake of argument, let’s say that I was abducted by killer aliens from planet sporgle and my brain was turned into their favorite afternoon snack and I just so happened to be braindead enough to have changed my mind and agreed with your statement above, I suppose we would have to call your “Check Out Our Sponsors” statement above your paid advertisement an act of “Internet Panhandling” as well. So apparently, you dont NEED to beg for money, but you still do. Nice.
rgds,
umbarger
@ umbarger, ok, forget Seinfeld, let’s talk about ANY show on any network or any radio station or any article in a newspaper. They all have “after a word from our sponsors” or “after these messages” etc. They then make money from the advertiser, not from the person watching or listening to the show. This site , and every other site I run, is the same way. I make money from the sponsors or advertisers, not from the visitors.
It’s not like blogs require a lot of overhead to maintain. I mean shoot, 7 bucks for the domain per year, and maybe 5 bucks (or less) for hosting. That’s a total of 67 bucks a year and if you have to ask for donations to cover that then my sympathies to you.
If people swapped out their “Buy Me a Beer” button for a “Visit Our Sponsors” button it would be a completely different story. It would then be advertising, not panhandling.
I suppose that we will agree to disagree on this one…. Why dont I buy you a beer and we can remain friends!
Wait a second… you don’t have a button. oh well…
Lol fair enough I suppose. Thanks but no thanks on the beer, I’d rather have you check out our sponsors
Check out our sponsor is completely different than buy me a beer. With a link to a product or affiliate site you have a product. For example a text link ad. You get paid a commission when I purchase the product. I don’t get a beer with buy me a beer. I might click on the button if I knew they were buying a beer and not wasting it on foolish things like groceries or the electric bill. I will play the devil’s advocate here and mention that Joe Vitales blog has a buy me an Amazon gift certificate. What about the idea that you have to open up and allow the Universe to shower abundance on you? Part of receiving is allowing people to give to you. (I guess there’s a fine line between allowing and begging?)
@ TRcoach, that’s exactly what I mean. I’ve even had a “How You Can Help” tab on one of my blogs before. However, that directed them to my site store as well as our site sponsors. To me there’s a huge difference between that and “Buy me a beer”. Even the buy me an Amazon certificate seems a bit “beggish” to me although if he were real sneaky he could attach his affiliate id to that and make money off everything people buy after clicking through.
P.S. The link attached to your name was not a valid link. Feel free to email me and let me know what the correct URL is and I’ll restore the link.Nevermind, figured it out.I think you are way off on this one Ben. I have received over $1,300 in donations on one of my blogs, believe me that helps this stay-at-home dad out a lot. If you don’t want to donate then don’t. I personally would rather donate to a blog then click on some crappy ad they have one their site. If I want to buy something I’ll goto the store.
Personally I would not have one ad or donation button on any of my sites if money fell from the sky or when I start getting paid to stay home and be a father. Until that day, the people that donate to my site, click on my ads, and buy me a beer help me pay the bills and I thank them dearly for it. I guess I’m a begger.
Bill, over what time frame did you get the 1300 in donations?
Without knowing more details I can’t really say but I think for most blogs there are usually better ways to monetize that might even be more profitable.
You know, when I see the “Internet Moguls” use such a thing, I take it that they treat it like a joke. You know, like when you meet someone in a pub and you jokingly say, “hey, john, buy me a beer!” when in reality, you might be the one buying in the end.
But this thing starts to get irritating when others sees the joke by the “Internet mogul” and takes it to be another serious money making opportunity that is sure to work simply because the “mogul” is doing it, so they waste no time mimicking him like they mimic him in everything that he does.
I doubt they will get many free beers, for they don’t have friends and fans like the “mogul” When the “mogul” jokingly says,” Hey John, buy me a beer will ya?” His friend, John, will also sportingly shout at the bartender,
“Hey, give the man a beer!”
Do you all have friends or fans like that coming to your blog? If not, I will agree Ben, you are begging.
@ ah pek, I think someone may have bought you one too many beers tonight eh?
Wow, you hit a hot button! I agree somewhat with what you are saying. I decided that if I ever did put up this plugin it would be for some charity, because that is the only way I could rationalize putting it up.
I personally don’t like it either and I don’t like a lot of other things bloggers do at the end of their posts, but its not my blog so I leave it to them to decide what is best for their blog. If their content is good I still read it. I guess its just like another ‘ad’ and its easy to ignore.
I had one of those buy me a beer things going when I first started, but soon realized a) it didn’t fit the theme of my site, b) it’s ugly, c) no one would click on it because I’m not filthy rich like John Chow so no one has any desire to give me free money for no reason whatsoever.
I think you’re a little confused about panhandling. A panhandler is someone who offers nothing but asks for your spare change. That saxophone player you walk past after your ball game isn’t a panhandler. He’s a musician offering his music for your pleasure. If it doesn’t please you, walk on. If it does, stand and listen. Whether or not you pay him, he’ll still play for you.
The same goes for the “Donate here” or “Buy me a beer” banners. I wouldn’t use one but I don’t have a problem with those who do.
Don’t sweat the small stuff. Read what you want to and then move on. Those little banners are a whole lot less annoying than the pop ups and pop-unders that tell us “Your computer is broken. Click here”.
Can’t agree more. And no, you are not the one who should be ashamed.
I am sick and tired of people who think only about monetizing. Content should be free in most cases. Do you need to pay for the hosting and all the work? Awesome. Get into advertising systems, put banner, even prostitute yourself with paid reviews if that makes you and your visitors happy. But begging for money is begging for money, no matter how you do this.
I am also against this trick and am shocked to see some of the super-duper bloggers fall into this trap do. Are the thousands of USD they make enough? Isn’t it enough for me to try and see some content from all the affiliate links and banners placed in the posts, near the posts, all coming to bite me from the moment I lay my eyes on the page? Do I have to PAY now to read an article?
I don’t have anything against ADS on sites. I have a lot against people who over do this. People who only think about “how to make money”. What about if we all started with “how to provide something good?”, “How to help someone understand a web development issue?” etc. Put good content there and try to not kill your readers with all the advertising. And money will start rolling in.
And instead of using that hand to beg for money, use it to type faster and better articles
Now .. I am mean …
I agree with you to an extent. I personally wouldn’t use either a donate button or the “buy me a beer” campaign either, but mainly because income isn’t necessarily the point to my blog.
I have no major issues with those who do – especially if they write quality content. I have donated via the internet before to people who have *seriously* helped me out with certain issues (usually programming related) so I could see this income model working fairly well if someone is an excellent blogger and has some established traffic.
Excellent post Ben. I couldn’t agree with you more. Maybe the guy playing the sax outside Busch isn’t technically panhandling… but really he is. If the money wasn’t the point, he wouldn’t have the the case open.
Frankly, if you want your site to make money, learn how to make the most of adsense and advertising. It’s more work, but far more profitable.
Linda, first of all the fact that John Chow does it does not somehow make it a good idea or even something that won’t damage your reputation.
– Naturally. But since I ganked the idea of a buy-me-a-cuppa from a different, ordinary-sized blogger, I’m not too worried about “doing everything he does”. I do however think that if people want to tip us for our quality content, then so be it. I try to remember to remove the plugin from posts without original content.
Also, he’s been banned by several high profile sites, if you’re blog can withstand that then go for it.
– :: chuckle :: I doubt I’ll be banned from any high profile sites a) anytime soon and b) for asking for a cup of tea.
If that’s the image you want to portray that’s fine. But I’d hardly use John Chow as some sort of measure of right or wrong.
– Actually, I used both John Chow *and* John Cow as examples of high-profile sites using the plugin, and not as some kindo f measure of right and wrong. Oddly, I have this sense of being able to make up my own mind on the rest of it.
Also, I never said that people wouldn’t realize exactly what it was. I guess I just have more respect for myself than to go around asking every person I come into contact with for money.
– And yet you publish ads, so you are asking me to support you by promoting other companies-. For my part, if I’m going to toss some money at a site, I’d love them to get a direct contribution.
I have plenty of self-respect. I write well; I provide interesting content. I also believe that my visitors have the right to decide whether they want to pay me or not. Thus, I give them a choice.
I think there is no distinction between advertising and asking for a contribution. Most people put a very clear “if” in front of their request: “If you like this” (then) (implied:) yeah, sure, a donation would be welcome but you don’t have to, that’s no problem. I would find it overstated to put “but if you don’t, don’t bother.” I have more respect for my visitors’ intelligence than that.
You called it a tip jar but the tip jar operates on the understanding that you pay for the service.
– Not so. You tip the guy in Vegas who flags you down a taxi, the waitress who brings you a free drink, etc. You tip, in Germany, the bathroom attendant. There are many examples where this is simply not true.
The majority of the internet and blogs operate on the principle of freely sharing information. Maybe that’s why I see it so differently than just a tip jar.
– People are welcome to tip or not, as they see fit. Free will is a wonderful thing.
Have fun!
First off, alot of radio/TV stations “panhandle” more specifically PBS and Christian radio. That said I agree that the plugin is a glorified paypal button and I think its pretty gimicky to ask for beer or coffee. Though the one I did like is the Geekbrief asked for ramen.
@ KingJacob, yes, PBS does ask for donations (they have that yearly drive) but they are a nonprofit organization and they don’t sell ads (at least not the traditional commercials that you hear). That’s the difference, if the blog is not for profit and needs donations to cover their costs for some reason I could see it. That’s not really the situation on these blogs though.
It looks like you’ve picked up on a theme that great media moguls have known for a long time: shock sells. Pick a controversial side of a topic, discuss, get eyes/ears. I’m not saying that you’re picking this topic and the John Chow sharkjumping topics to be controversial, per se, but if you believe in a topic strongly, can argue it persuasively, and are on the opposite side of a majority opinion, then you can great a lot of heat. Maybe another weekly feature should be the controversial topic of the week?
BTW, I believe in free speech, and if someone wants to put a buy me a beer button or pay $100 for this pixel ad or whatever, it’s their site, and they can do what they want. I also believe that you can think it’s panhandling and can rail against it to your heart’s content!
I agree because I thought it was cool at first, I wanted one, then everyone and their momma had it on their page, so I stopped. I want to make money, not beg for it.
My New Hustle | Make Money Online
Be the man, stop working for him.
This doesn’t bother me at all when I see it. I understand that blogging takes a lot of time and if you have a decent blog you are likely to incur some kind of expense of people will throw up the “tip jar” to try and see if they can make anything from it. To me it’s no different than throwing up adsense really..It’s a means to an end.
@ Jason, I’m not sure how your comment slipped by me without a response but a regular feature of controversy I think would lose a lot of it’s appeal. I don’t want to force myself to be controversial just because I think I need to. I’ll stick to expressing my opinions on things and somehow I think that will be controversy enough
Great comment though!
I also hate the buy me beer buttons. what I like even less are the ones that change it to buy me coffee, or water, or whatever. No need for it really. Just look at how little money people actually make with it (people who aren’t John Chow).
I have to disagree. While the buttons are tacky, I often donate money for a free service, especially for software. Many of the wordpress plugins ask for a donation, and if I find the plugin really useful I give them money. If they charged for that plugin, I would never buy it and never try it.
I guess I’m trying to say that I think it makes sense to ask for a donation for work you’ve done that will clearly benefit people but that you don’t want to sell.
Hey Ben, thumbs up for this article here..Well written and expressed how I have been feeling as well. When I see guys who are already making thousands of dollars using it, it’s a slap in the face to others who are trying to make money online. It gives new meaning to “American Greed” and the constant desire for more money..Thanks again for this great write up!
@ Monetizer, glad you like the post. It seems this is an issue that you’re either on one side or the other on. I’ve not seen a whole lot of people in the middle on this one. In fact, it might be worth it to do a follow up to this post as it’s been one of the most controversial and most discussed posts in this blog’s short history.
Anyway, thanks for the comment and I’m glad you’ve found and enjoyed the site. Don’t be a stranger!
Just wondering, how do people generally feel about ads of any kind?
When I watch TV I always change the channel during commercials. Commercials annoy me.
On my blog I have no advertising at all, not even adsense. Now, it’s not really that I’m opposed to it exactly, I just think it gives it a much cleaner look without them.
I’m new to blogging so maybe I just don’t know the real deal here. My audience is growing, is this something I should consider? I don’t want to turn ppl off to my blog for posting ads everywhere.
-Caveman
Hi Ben,
As far the buy me buy me something button, I am really indifferent about it. Just depends on the site and blogger. I don’t really want to judge anyone. Just as you pass the beggar on the street, it’s always your choice to give the money or not. I always donate money to beggars just because I know they are down on their luck. I hope they buy food instead of drugs or booze, but that is up to them. When I see the buy me a coffee or beer plugin, I usually don’t pay any attention to them. It’s really there for people who do want to tip the blogger and not to annoy visitors. I personally don’t have one on my site, but to each his own.
Great site. You have quality material. I have added you into my rss.
Cheers!
“Or better yet, how would you react if someone asked you for some change, you gave them a few bucks, and they turn around, hop in a brand new BMW and drive off?”
Was this a tip of your hat to the movie “Don’t be a menace to South Central while Drinking your Juice in the Hood? If not check the film out, that very thing occurs. A ‘panhandler’ looking all disheveled begs for change, as people walk around corner guy gets up, tears away the rags to reveal a business suit and unlock his beamer. He gets in and drives away! Your suggestion brought me right back to that seen.
Keep up the good work and good luck with experiment.
For me when I look at a blog and I keep going back I like to give something in return for the great content etc. I do not necessarily want to buy anything. Also if I go to buy something I know the blog owner will not always get 100% of what I paid for that product. I like to reward the person doing all the hard work directly. I will only pay what I feel I can afford and what I think the contents value is to me. It’s not begging it’s another avenue for the reader to thank the blogger.
I’ve waited tables and tended bar where I got tips, busked in a parks, and sold shareware online so I don’t see having a clever PayPal donation on a blog as being any different from those things. It just provides a way for someone who likes what your doing to give you a little extra in appreciation.
Here’s another perspective. Over the last few months I’ve been using a nice little, basic but functional piece of software to track my time on different consulting projects. It’s called “Timesheet” and was developed as freeware by a guy just – I think – for the joy of doing it.
When I upgraded to a new computer and new system, I screwed up something in migrating the old files and user accounts so that Timesheet had to re-initiate and I could not access all my old records or client categories. I tried a bunch of things I know from more than 20 years working on Macs, but no go, and eventually I reached out to the developer for advice. Peter got back to me within less than an hour, had some tips, checked out an error log file I sent him, and ultimately helped me undo the damage – not just to his program, but possibly to other wonky behavior – I had caused during the migration. (He even pointed out a very simple way to correct just his program’s files, but the global and more time-consuming approach seemed more prudent.)
All for free. I found your site because I went looking for a way to send the guy a beer … in another country on another continent. Of course I will thank him heartily, but if he had a “Buy Me a Beer” link, it would have been my pleasure to send him one.
“However, when’s the last time you watched a TV show and at the end they said, hey if you liked the show please send us $5. ”
Every time I watch PBS? Listen to NPR? Make use of services provided by a non-profit organization?
Not everything valuable, or even NECESSARY, to a functioning society is provided by consumer capitalism. Some sites ask the more wealthy readers to subsidize their less monied readers, because they want their content *available* to persons who can’t afford a million blog subscriptions. Not every blog is targeted to the upper-middle class.
Great idea for a post that will insite strong reactions. Way to take a stance. I can see why this post has gotten alot of comments. I actually agree with you as well.
It most certainly isn’t panhandling (not that I do it), but you are offering something prior to sticking out your mitt to grab the beer. Meanwhile, is it more classy to request readers purchase a coffee? My good friend Tony Williams on the Chemspider.com site asks visitors to buy him a coffee instead of the proverbial bottle o’ Broon.
db
I agree whole heartedly, I am trying to increase my site to a level where it can be my full time work. However I have no interest in begging for it. If my content is good and I network well then I will reach a wide enough audience to support myself.
I disagree.
I have been a touring musician for the past ten years, and we practically begged each show. Begged for people to buy cds, begged for places to stay, begged for people to buy us drinks or gas to get from one place to another.
I see no difference doing it on a blog.
Just as I poured my heart and soul into music, some people do on their blogs as well. We spent countless thousands of dollars on recordings, and merch, and buying vans, and repairing vans, that I felt no issue with asking people for assitance if they felt the quality of the music was worth while. We put a lot into our fanbase, and they would reciprocate.
Yes, they paid for a ticket and no, we wouldn’t be upset if people didn’t give us donations. But I do not feel it would be panhandling to throw a link up just as we used to throw a tip jar up a shows.
Cheers!
I agree it is kind of begging, may be it is this way, but out of this (buy me a beer), I mean disregard beer, I would say I agree totally with scott, when people put their heart in something and love it then they may do a lot for it and to succeed,
But I also say that they should be reasonable and they should earn money from any work and also work on the thing that their heart is with until someday they succeed and if they didn’t then still have their work and can earn money.
Thank you.
Ah, this is why I love this blog…Ben is willing to say just how he feels, even when he’s wrong. : )
The tip jar is just a different form of monetizing. Pay me what you think I’m worth may not suit you or your blog, but it works for others. If you don’t like the idea, just ignore the button.
I have no problem with creative and different ways of monetizing a blog. The tip jar/buy me a beer concept is just another creative way of doing things.
This really was a great post. I’ve seen the Buy Me a Beer icon lots of places and thought it strange but never completed the thought. Online panhandling. Well done.
Are you one of those people who goes to a restaurant and doesn’t tip the server because you’ve already paid for the food?
Buying a beer or donating money to a blogger is like tipping. Its to complement the blog. Its not a replacement for other sources of revenue.
Ankesh, I absolutely tip the servers, and usually well. However, I wouldn’t tip them if they stood there with their hand out. Also, they are providing me a service, they are serving me. I’m not doing anything for them. Bloggers on the other hand are already operating in an exchange. I exchange my information and knowledge (the content) with you for your time and attention. You’ve done me a favor by increasing my impressions and possibly even clicked through to my advertisers. For that, I feel that bloggers (including myself) owe you good content. And either way, asking for a tip is just bad form.
I always thought of the “Buy me a beer” buttons as an amusing, light-hearted way to ask for donations. I do not see it as begging (although I understand and appreciate our difference in perspective). Even if I were to call it panhandling (for the sake of argument, anyway) I see it as far less invasive than the methods used by street beggars. I don’t have to click on the “Buy me a beer” button, and I can leave the site if I don’t like what they have to offer. On the other hand, I find the “panhandler” (I do not include street musicians or anyone else offering services in this category) to be rude, persistent, and belligerent– his requests are not as easily dismissed. I do understand the argument from a professional perspective, but I think the comparison is unrealistic.
I have this plugin but I altered it and it now offers the reader an opportunity to donate to a charity.
I read somewhere that the new paradigm for the web is that publishers provide the content and the search engines make the money. Screw that.
I just put one up on my site. Apparently, the work in a blog is considered to be of no value by some. Fine with me. If someone wants to throw some change in the tip jar, that’s fine with me, too. What’s even better is that I don’t have to put up with those whore ads.
Pretty controversial post. You took a strong stand. Interesting. I think that bloggers do this because they have a givers “mentality” and do not want to sell. They hope that their giving has a reciprocation of money.
One way that I have seen used on TV, but not online really (except with some Butterfly Marketing Sites) is to give part of the message and then leave them wanting more, but to get the rest they can donate any amount…
This way they are not really “selling”.
Kenney
I use the ScratchBack method and do not see anything wrong with a blogger putting up a tip jar.
First of all, it is a viable way to see if others do indeed find your content worthy.
Second of all, I don’t believe in trying to knock another man’s husstle even if I personally don’t agree with it. How a man takes care of his family is his business as long as he doesn’t f@#k over ppl. Instead, pull him to the side in a more private manner to discuss his alleged ill methods…he’ll be more open to your critique in that manner
I do not find it offensive when I see the “donation” button on a website. As a matter of fact, I am very grateful for some of the free plugins for my blogs and think nothing of donating to the creators.
I do agree, however, that many of these sites are giving away valuable content and could be better monetized. If you know that you have a good product, then perhaps you could give it away for a limited time before starting to charge for it OR you could offer a scaled down version for free. I would think that this leads to more consistent income.
That still seems like a cool plugin. It’s kind of funny and I dont suspect it makes much money.
In regards to a parallel drawn between blogging and network television programming, what about PBS and their local affiliates? They have produced thousands of programs and received hundreds of national broadcasting awards. They’ve shaped and continue to shape the minds of viewers young and old. Now, they’ve been asking for donations since their inception. They’ll take money from pretty much any entity including government funding, corporations, and twice a year they’ll ask you for money too. Is it panhandling? What about Link TV? What about Wikipedia? Are they panhandling? Absolutely not. Someone’s got to keep the cameras rolling and those servers running. You’ll find that there’s many people out there that’ll complain about advertising on a site. Now what?? Get rid of the PPC ads just because someone is complaining? It’s not gonna happen for free…no matter how much you “think it should”. Good work costs money. A talented blogger or webmaster deserves a payday in some kind of way. The bottom line is economics. Besides, how else do you propose that we all get our “Free Information” so widely available on the internet?
I agree with you Film Dude! There is no wrong in asking for donations when your sharing real quality content that is growing in popularity. Definitely not that cheap or easy to run a very high traffic professional website. Plus with anything you do its all about the approach because even well known advertisements can turn off people once they are annoying, unattractive, and have nothing to do with visitors interests.
Ok, say we abolish buy me a beer or whatever completely, how do you show your appreciation to a post that might just open up a whole new way of thinking for you. Click on his ads? you’ll ended up paying more and him getting less, not to mention you buying something you dont need.
Seriously, buying the guy a beer is simpler, hes done a good job, rich or not really irrelevant
Curious what you all think of my crazy stab at the e panhandling world? I know its crazy but had to give it a try.
@Bum 4 Life – That’s a funny little site you got there, good luck.
This plugin need to be used in such way: you don’t ask to press on image of beer or coffee at the end of value information. Man is too weak for good deals))) So change the image of ber to image of Good Lock and set it on the beginning of value post which protected by password
Hackers, of course, can resd your blog for free — but good mind must have some advantages :-))))
I guess the author of this post should be very proud to see a matter lasting almost 2 years and still freshly. Well I do disagree of the terms “panhandling”. In my case I’m searching a way to make money to keep my blog alive. My blog doens’t allow adsense. It’s hosted with wordpress.com.To change it to a private host I’ll have to pay a server . Now I decided to insert a personal button asking for a “tip” in order to keep my blog alive and updated. Here in Brasil things aren’t easy and,unfortunately, we have to ask for support, proudly or not. Anyway I don’t see it as begging. In my case it’s just a matter of “you like it ?, help me to keep it alive”.
thank you, wonderful blog
I think that the people who complain about bloggers asking for donations are just being judgmental and self-centered. Especially those who think that they are doing a blogger a favor by reading their posts. You have it all backwards! The blogger is doing you a favor by creating quality content and providing you with useful information without charging you for it.
If a blogger is working hard to produce quality content then why would it be wrong for them to ask for a donation? Isn’t their time worth it? Don’t you think they have bills to pay too, such as hosting and Internet? And what if their computer crashes and they need a new one; you don’t think that it would be a kind gesture on your part to give them a donation that could go towards helping them keep up with their costs?
I just spent about 5 hours the other day working on a page for my readers. In fact, I already put hundreds of dollars into my blog to make it a valuable resource to my readers. I don’t ask for donations at this time, but to try to make me feel bad for doing so is immoral.
There is nothing wrong with supporting someone monetarily if you believe the work done is good. Take for example Campus Crusade for Christ who inculcates staff to fund raise on their own with family, friends, church members, etc. They are given money to support their ministry and to basically make a living. People willingly give these people money because it is for a good cause, the salvation of souls.
In principle, should a blogger have as her intention to edify the Church, then I see nothing wrong for her to have a “support this blog” on her blog page. And, if it is actually morally okay, then,in principle putting a “buy a beer” button is not immoral. The mere placing of a support button on your blog, in and of itself, is morally neutral. Primarily, what makes it immoral is the intent of the blogger.
Rather than making sweeping generalizations, I suggest looking critically at each instance to insure you are not calling someone innocent an evil person. How do you know he is not an Iranian student fighting for democracy or a missionary penniless in Thailand?
Hmm, you have an interesting position on this. And I disagree.
I guess I look at it like this. One, I’m not on the corner asking people walking by for money. And I’m certainly not asking for free money. Asking for a “tip” or a “beer” is a far cry from standing outside and asking for money. Just standing there, not doing anything for it, but just asking.
your comparing apples and oranges Ben. If I take the time and effort to make a website, or blog, and I offer something of value, whether it’s “tips and tricks”, or “how to’s”, or simply some sort of entertainment I should be compensated for my efforts.
If I have a button on my site asking for a beer it’s a tip jar, and just like real jobs where you make tips, some are good tips, some are poor, and sometimes you don’t get a tip. If a user where to buy me a beer (on my website) I would be thankful, it’s not greedy as someone mentioned above.
There is nothing wrong with this if your information is of value a “buy me a beer” donate button isn’t panhandling. It’s a way for people to appreciate your work. Users will either use it or not. It’s always up to the end users.
I have often left a couple bucks in a bloggers paypal account because their article was entertaining (made me laugh) or the blog post helped me figure something out (a computer problem). there’s no reason why you can’t do this.
If you think it’s panhandling, or greedy, you are basically convinced that you are aren’t worth making money off your blog. Why not add one and see what happens.
Users have to be told what to do on a website, and putting out a simple message that says “Like my blog?, why not buy me a beer” is a great way break the ice and let people know that you need the support to keep your blog going without being a douche about it and to be compensated for your time and effort.
Honestly I am going to add some sort of “Buy us a Beer” or “Buy us a Coffe” or “buy us a Cookie!” or something like that.
Because I would rather have people go to my site and enjoy it and donate a couple of bucks, rather than saturate my site with Advertising. Maybe if my site ever got big enough I could get one or two sponsors, but users are getting tired of ads, and most blogs put way to many. I hate it when they are in the blog post and you have to scroll past them to keep reading.
I would rather a couple of bucks from a end user that really appreciates my website vs. ad clutter.
The people that have an issue with a donate button, or asking for donations really just have an issue with their own self worth.
You have to understand that there is nothing wrong with being supported by your users who enjoy what you do. Don’t feel bad about it, enjoy it, and appreciate it. Just my two cents.
Hi there, I see your point however I feel its a fair enough trade off for someone to earn the price of a coffee for the hours spent on an article. We should all be allowed to earn a living….
I have to disagree. I really would not put begging and ‘Buy me beer’ buttons in the same category. Charity workers hassling me on the street bug me, targeted re-advertising on websites bug me, and persistent beggers bug me. A little button on a website does not bug me!
If that same little button flashed up on the screen interrupting what I was doing, that would bug me, but they don’t! If charity workers on the street didn’t hound me every time I am in town, they wouldn’t bug me. If beggers didn’t approach me, they wouldn’t bug me. If adverts weren’t flashing all over my screen, they would not bug me. I hope you can see the pattern forming here
Bloggers and website owners have every right to receive support from their visitors if said visitors wish to support. Especially if people find value in the author’s work.