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General Software Discussion / Re: "Donationware 2.0" or something like that - opinions wanted
« Last post by app103 on August 13, 2006, 03:04 PM »How about a section of the GUI where a link to donate and a message will appear.
Maybe first time they run the application it can be a message explaining the concept of donationware.
Next time they run it, a counter will appear in that section telling them how many times they have run it.
After 30 uses, a new message will appear asking them how much they think the application is worth.
After 50 uses it can suggest that they must like the software to have used it 50 times.
...And so on.
And change the color of the messages each time...and maybe a small graphic that changes too.
Once they donate, the message section can either be completely removed, or a random thank you message can load there every time they use it. Things like "thanks for putting food on my table", "thanks for helping me pay off my student loans", "thanks for helping me get DSL", etc....and maybe inspiring messages related to generosity that give people a warm feeling inside....something like "Takers may eat better but givers sleep better...thanks for being a giver."
Keep it small enough to not be all that annoying, but visible enough to be a reminder...and since it is constantly changing, it will be more noticeable.
People tend to become blind to things that stay the same all the time, which is why a nag every time they open a program that requires them to click OK doesn't work...it's always the same nag. They read it once and never read it again...they just close it.
I know this from first hand experience with a calculator program that I love and have used for quite a few years and would gladly pay for if I could only find the developer. The nag screen has a dead AOL email address to contact for more info about purchasing a copy without the nag, which comes with the source for the program too.
Unfortunately, the email address was already dead when I downloaded it from the AOL download center. So I am used to clicking OK when I use it.
Maybe first time they run the application it can be a message explaining the concept of donationware.
Next time they run it, a counter will appear in that section telling them how many times they have run it.
After 30 uses, a new message will appear asking them how much they think the application is worth.
After 50 uses it can suggest that they must like the software to have used it 50 times.
...And so on.
And change the color of the messages each time...and maybe a small graphic that changes too.
Once they donate, the message section can either be completely removed, or a random thank you message can load there every time they use it. Things like "thanks for putting food on my table", "thanks for helping me pay off my student loans", "thanks for helping me get DSL", etc....and maybe inspiring messages related to generosity that give people a warm feeling inside....something like "Takers may eat better but givers sleep better...thanks for being a giver."
Keep it small enough to not be all that annoying, but visible enough to be a reminder...and since it is constantly changing, it will be more noticeable.
People tend to become blind to things that stay the same all the time, which is why a nag every time they open a program that requires them to click OK doesn't work...it's always the same nag. They read it once and never read it again...they just close it.
I know this from first hand experience with a calculator program that I love and have used for quite a few years and would gladly pay for if I could only find the developer. The nag screen has a dead AOL email address to contact for more info about purchasing a copy without the nag, which comes with the source for the program too.
Unfortunately, the email address was already dead when I downloaded it from the AOL download center. So I am used to clicking OK when I use it.
