Make Money with vBulletin Discuss Do you have a suggested minimum donation? in the Community Forum Management forums; Do you suggest a donation amount on your donations page or do you let people decide for themselves what it should be? If so, do they tend to go along ...

[Soliloquy]

Do you suggest a donation amount on your donations page or do you let people decide for themselves what it should be? If so, do they tend to go along with it?

[ArnyVee]

There are some pre-set limits on there. But, since all of my donations are coming in from folks 'upgrading' to different supporter levels, each of those comes with an amount needed to be donated. $10 annual / $20 annual / $50 annual

[Soliloquy]

What level do people generally choose? (If you don't mind sharing that data)

[ArnyVee]

Well, I've never put that data together. But, just off of the top of my head I'd say that about 1/2 select the $50 level and of the remaining 50% it's probably about 80% that do the $20 level.

[Soliloquy]

Wow, 1/2 at the highest level, that's pretty sweet Arny! You must be offering them some primo features

[Caddyman]

the least i offer is 6 bux, it seems my donators are real spread out, from 6 to 50 dollars, a lot when i added the lifetime 50 payed the difference to go to that when i offered it.

[ArnyVee]

It's funny...but whenever I have a new song playlist for the mp3 player go out, I always get donations.

So, those folks that were at 'registered member' status become supporters and lower level supporters upgrade their memberships.

I always try to add some very nice songs or a 'themed' playlist that Disney fans NEED to hear the last songs on to be 'complete'! I know my folks (cause I'm one of them!) and I know what they like. For example....I finished putting out the "Audio Tour of the Magic Kingdom" this week and the 40 tracks start off by what you hear on the Monorail as you enter ("Remain Seated Please...") and then move onto the background music that you hear as you wait to enter the park and then move onto Main Street music. So, it goes through the entire park "land" by "land" and then the final 10 tracks include the nighttime parade and shows that EVERY Disney fan loves. Well, if you're not a "gold" supporter, you have access to the first 30 tracks, but not the last 10. So, I got two upgrades this past week because of the new playlist songs.

The other 'benefits' are alright (and some aren't even 'active' yet like the supporter-exclusive forum), but that's the one that gets the most supporters.

I've made it VERY easy for folks to surf and listen to music and that's what they like .... convenience and Disney. All they do is click a picture of the iTunes lookin' image and the player launches...that's it. So, if they're logged on, they get access to it and that's that. Everyone seems to enjoy it.

[Greek76]

Now back on planet earth on my Greek forum I dont have a specific amount only what they want to donate. Out of the 5 donations which Ive recieved they ranged between 40-60.

[Soliloquy]

Makes me think I should add some music to my forum... what mod do you use for that, Arny?

[ArnyVee]

I actually purchased the Wimpy Player (Wimpy MP3 Player) and had help here on the boards from a fellow vBSer in doing the installation.

[Soliloquy]

Thanks... since my members aren't entirely enthused about the blog idea, they want to know what other new features they can have, so I figured I'd throw it in there.

[Caddyman]

it is definetly always cool to have that trick up your sleeve and if someone doesnt quite like this feature you can offer them that feature.

[Soliloquy]

We'll see what they think... I'm going to list a newsletter mod, P3tz, the music player, see what they want.

[Caddyman]

cool, i give a lot fo regular members cause i want them to sign up and have lots to explore to get them in and posting, then i have some more to give to premiums

[Soliloquy]

Wow, I've gotten several donations this week... I'm on a roll I think all this talk of new features (including what they cost) has made some understand the link between donations and spiffy new stuff...

[Caddyman]

That i think it part of it, i also think that even if you do have your donations options prominent on site people dont think about it till someone mentions it then like the light bulb goes off in some members "hey i like this place, ill throw a few bucks into the pot"

[Soliloquy]

Either that or they just want some bling for their profiles

[Caddyman]

lol, yes the cool username markup and badges are kewl man....although i have had quite a few peeps PM me to "donate without being shown as a donator" they are so selfless...

[Soliloquy]

lol I've only had one do that... and then a few weeks later she asked for her donor star

[Caddyman]

the bling bling got to her...CLASSIC!

[Cori]

I'm thankful to accept anything they want to give. It goes right back into the site anyway.

[Caddyman]

so do you ever spend any money you make on your site for yourself? sometimes things get tight in my life and sometimes that extra money made onthe site can get me out of a real bind.

[Soliloquy]

well right now I still consider it in building mode, there are a few more things I still want to add and I also want some custom programming done... but I'd say spending it on my forum really is spending it on myself

[Cori]

Originally Posted by Caddyman

so do you ever spend any money you make on your site for yourself? sometimes things get tight in my life and sometimes that extra money made onthe site can get me out of a real bind.

Yes, most definitely! It just depends on the situation and how urgent it is..

[Soliloquy]

I've had a few members urge me not to spend their donation on a new feature, some say "you should buy yourself something fun". In many cases adding new bells and whistles is my idea of fun