Which is the lesser of the two evils, having excessive amounts of ads on one’s blog to be clicked, in hopes of accumulating a decent amount of revenue or straightforwardly requesting donations with a button linked to PayPal? Is the latter in poor taste?
Times are tough. So, understandably, most people can’t be faulted for trying to hustle.
Let me know what you think.
Go on… Spill It!
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©2011 Heidi Rodney-Nakanishi and ChocolateGeisha Spills the Sake!™
ChocolateGeisha Spills the Sake!™ 
Oct 11, 2011 @ 23:33:29
That is a difficult question to answer. If one is requesting donation to go out drinking, I would have to pass thanks to 26 years of sobriety. If the donation is to feed someone then I give to someone worse off than I am. If the donation is for a diamond mine in Kenya or to cash a check from a stranger…I pass…etc., etc., etc., and then more etcs. Being hustled would be just plain stupid. Helping someone in need is a privilege. Now that I have written a chapter, what is going on?
Oct 12, 2011 @ 23:26:41
Perhaps, “hustle” is too strong of a word in describing those who are trying to make a buck without scamming anyone.
I decided to ask this question after seeing some blogs with “Donate” buttons… something that I could totally empathize with them doing. My only issue is that it may be in bad form.
Even my “Geisha Goodies” page with merchandise might be frowned upon.
Oct 23, 2011 @ 03:00:16
If one needed the money, ads would be preferable to asking for donations. Everyone is used to seeing ads online, and you have a guarantee of getting money when you get a number of hits, I think.
Oct 23, 2011 @ 08:51:25
I think, that’s the catch, Cathy. From what I’ve read and seen it takes tens of thousands of hits to receive anything substantial from Adsense. I had a friend who happily received a check for $5 after several months of writing. Perhaps, that might motivate her to work harder, but I tend to think that she could’ve just earned that same $5 within minutes with a “donate” button.
Nov 23, 2011 @ 01:41:41
So, I just stumbled across this blog post with an ever-so “passive” opinion (NOT) about the donate button. I just had to share! Hahahahaaa… http://www.fucktardrants.com/2008/12/13/asking-for-donations-on-your-blog-or-website/