31 replies to this topic

[brotherS]

Many other sites use "donate now" buttons or something like this:


It's already 2007 and this great and very helpful site *still* has no donate buttons! :?

I donated a few times in the past because I really wanted, but others (who could easily afford it) might not even think of that just because they are not asked (that's just human psychology). So, please ask more!

If you don't want/need the money, I suggest you find some awesome, trustworthy coder at a site like http://www.rentacoder.com/ and pay him/her to optimize the code and/or to improve certain features.

I'd love that!

[Chris]

I donated a few times in the past because I really wanted

Thanks.

but others (who could easily afford it) might not even think of that just because they are not asked (that's just human psychology). So, please ask more!

Based on the donation statistics of other projects, I think donate buttons tend to do more harm than good because 99% of visitors have no intention of donating (and I don't blame them) -- so to them, the button is just a nag or distraction. Also, the site has been given free hosting by Aybra, which helps too.

If you don't want/need the money, I suggest you find some awesome, trustworthy coder at a site like http://www.rentacoder.com/ and pay him/her to optimize the code and/or to improve certain features.

I doubt a donate button would collect enough to fund a significant amount of development time unless a single donor gave a large sum, which is unlikely. I think it would be far more valuable to have another developer voluntarily join the project.

This is not to say there will never be a donate button. But as long as the project/site doesn't need the money, I'd prefer not to have one.

Thanks.

[brotherS]

If you don't want/need the money, I suggest you find some awesome, trustworthy coder at a site like http://www.rentacoder.com/ and pay him/her to optimize the code and/or to improve certain features.

I doubt a donate button would collect enough to fund a significant amount of development time unless a single donor gave a large sum, which is unlikely.

You're are saying that exactly like many site owners (or entrepreneurs for that matter) - they assume many things. 8)

I have good news for you: I'm helping several not-for-profit site owners improving their site, growing bigger, getting more users, etc. - and while you are right that many don't care about a donation, some do! Some even donate $100 at a time, and while they are the absolute minority I still figure that $500 to $1000 could really have a noticeable, positive effect on AHK. Don't you?

[Chris]

I still figure that $500 to $1000 could really have a noticeable, positive effect on AHK. Don't you?

True, but I feel it would distract slightly from the purpose of the site. When you multiply that slight distraction by the thousands of visitors per month, I think the total cost to them outweighs the benefit.

On the other hand, I understand why many open-source and freeware projects ask for donations. The costs of maintaining their sites can be enormous in cases like Wikipedia, not to mention that donations provide an incentive for continued development.

I won't deny that donations are an incentive for me too. But I think the total cost of nagging every visitor (admittedly only slightly) would be too high unless the project needed the money to continue operating.

Thanks for your comments.

[brotherS]

True, but I feel it would distract slightly from the purpose of the site. When you multiply that slight distraction by the thousands of visitors per month, I think the total cost to them outweighs the benefit.

[...]

I won't deny that donations are an incentive for me too. But I think the total cost of nagging every visitor (admittedly only slightly) would be too high unless the project needed the money to continue operating.

In my experience site owners greatly overestimate the potential dangers of fundraising, be it a "please donate" button or even Google ads (the harmless text ads). In one case we even asked users how they feel about it, and almost all said that while they hate flashy big banner ads, they are totally OK with this.

Once you show users that you aren't there to rip them off, but that you care for them, that you want to give them the most perfect software to make their lives easier (and all that even for free!), they feel they can trust you. I think that's why they don't hold it against you when you try to raise money for the good cause.

[SanskritFritz]

Chris, can you please confirm that the donate link in brotherS' signature is valid? I just have that fuzzy feeling about it...
;-)

[Chris]

In one case we even asked users how they feel about it, and almost all said that while they hate flashy big banner ads, they are totally OK with this.

Thanks for the info. I know many users here feel that way too.

Chris, can you please confirm that the donate link in brotherS' signature is valid?

Yes it is. But if you prefer, you can just manually send to <!-- e --><a href="mailto:support@autohotkey.com">support@autohotkey.com</a><!-- e -->.

[brotherS]

@ Chris: OK! :-)

Chris, can you please confirm that the donate link in brotherS' signature is valid? I just have that fuzzy feeling about it...
;-)

:twisted:

[PhiLho]

I won't deny that donations are an incentive for me too. But I think the total cost of nagging every visitor (admittedly only slightly) would be too high unless the project needed the money to continue operating.

I won't donate (except my time...) because I am broke... (three years without paid job...)
Note that the "nagging" can be a plain text link on the home page, that would point to a page explaining how that would help and how to do it.
Discrete and not nagging, but it is here for those searching for it and easily skipped by those not interested...

[brotherS]

Almost a year hast passed since my first post and the site looks exactly like back then.
8)