Media Manager Donation Goals
Media Manager has been an experiment for me in how someone like me who really wants to make Free Software pay, actually pay. The goal I set for myself was to see if I could raise just $200 from donations in 2005.
I have been experimenting with various ways to solicit donations. First I placed a simple donation form on the download page. Then I embedded a personal message into the installation process in a hope to appeal to people in a personal tone and manner. Finally, I embedded unobtrusive (at least I think they are) solicitations for donations within the Media Manager application.
I even created a drop cash campaign hoping that if I provided some transparency into the donations received that it may encourage more.
Sadly, it hasn't. Now, these mechanisms haven't been a complete failure. There have been a few individuals who have shown tremendous support of Media Manager by contributing bug reports, as well as money. Some have even contributed more than once! To everyone who has contributed in some way: I love you guys. But for the most part I have not had a tremendous amount of success in soliciting donations from my users.
I am starting to run out of ideas. I don't want to resort to creating a paid version of Media Manager (I doubt I ever would to be honest). So I would like to hear from my community: how might you suggest I solicit donations from users without pestering or annoying them?
Comments
Well, Byrne, I have given what I can, which is very little. I have had a Paypal donation button on my site since its inception. I have asked politely that any teachers who find my lesson plans (including handouts and online webquests and scavenger hunts) useful to donate. I have received not a single red cent. The reason why is clear to me. I provide it for free, so why should anyone feel they need to pay? Then again, times are tough for some of us.
Posted by: Dana Huff | December 5, 2005 3:57 PM
I've been having a similar dilemma with my own plugin. Had I charged $10.00 each time the plugin was downloaded in November I would have approx $6000.
I'm sure that if I was charging the number of downloads would probably be half that. But I have decided to offer two versions of the plugin; version 1 will be free but limited in use and version 2 will be the paid for fully functioning product, for which users will be entitled to free upgrades as when they are released.
Posted by: Nick Punter | December 5, 2005 10:41 PM
Well, I am just waiting for the final release...
Posted by: Naturelich | December 6, 2005 11:22 AM
A very, very good point. :)
Posted by: Byrne Reese | December 6, 2005 12:36 PM
Hi . . . I'm having a problem with Media Manager . . . it is just not returning any results at all when I do a search on books that I know exists at Amazon. Can u help me with this?
Posted by: Lola | December 22, 2005 8:58 AM
Hi, After hours of installing, deinstalling an installing both MTAmazon32 and MediaManager I really have no clue why it isn't working.
First I've installed MTAmazon32 (its 32, right.. ) It appeared in the plugin menu. Strange thing is that it appeared that Amazon changed the Subscribers id in something different with two codes. So i) which code should I enter? Can I use an example just for testing??
Second thing... after installing MediaManager, the first error message told me that I didn't install MTAmazon32.. Right.. I did, but it was looking for MTAmazon32, in stead of MTAmazon. So I find-replace all the appearances of MTAmazon32 into MTAmazon. Now, the error messages didn't appear. ii) how can i check if MTAmazon32 is installed the right way?
Third question... I can access the MediaManager via the main menu and the forms for searching and adding items appear. But after submitting it gives an 500 internal server error with no other hints.....
I really am jealous about you guys who seems to have the whole thing working..... So please help. Thanks a lot.
iii) When it's working, then I will pay for it..
Posted by: beemsterman | December 27, 2005 6:15 AM
I've already seen it said a time or two, but even while I'm all about supporting works-in-progress, I have a hard time justifying putting money itn something that still doesn't work for me. It's probably hopelessly captialistic and consumeristic of me, but usually, when I give out money, I expect something ni return...be that a product, a return on investment or (as in tithing) an investment in Kingdom Work.
I love the idea of this plugin, and when it's stable and actually works for me, I'd gladly give a few bucks to it's continued success and prosperity...but right now, it just doesn't do anything for me.
Keep on keepin' on though--I sure do look forward to a working edition!
Posted by: jim sharp | January 7, 2006 5:25 PM
Well man, MM has been great so far. You're now 3/4 the way there!
Posted by: ajp | January 23, 2006 6:16 AM