Suggestions t o help support CodeProject
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I was thinking about the offer to buy VisualStudio.Net here on CodeProject and it got me to thinking that there has to be other ways for us to help support CodeProject (Alot of us do not purchase our own copies of VisualStudio, it comes thru the company, and many probably are not in position to afford it) Here are some suggestions that may allow us who use CodeProject to help support it. These ideas came from seeing how variuos 'bloggers' try to make some money off of their writings. 1. Add a simple "tip jar". I know I've used articles/code from CodeProject and these items have saved me many hours of work (time == money). If there was a mechanism in place like a tip jar to donate a small amount of money, I would toss in a bit- even if people gave 1 or 2 bucks for code they used in their products. It would generate some revenue. 2. Add a link to Amazon and work out a deal with them that CodeProject gets a % of the sales (Andrew Sullivan- www.andrewsullivan.com - has a book club where people buy books thru Amazon and he gets a cut- I think anywhere from 5-15% - not only on the books but also on any other items they may purchase). I buy a fair number of books and I would certainly click thru CodeProject - I would then be helping this site to raise revenue and it would seemingly cost me nothing. I'm sure many others would be willing to do the same. I think the trick is to not make it obtrusive - Things like "Hey here's a tip jar why don't you give me some money". A simple link with a jar and another link to Amazon (or whereever). Just some thoughts. Mike
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I was thinking about the offer to buy VisualStudio.Net here on CodeProject and it got me to thinking that there has to be other ways for us to help support CodeProject (Alot of us do not purchase our own copies of VisualStudio, it comes thru the company, and many probably are not in position to afford it) Here are some suggestions that may allow us who use CodeProject to help support it. These ideas came from seeing how variuos 'bloggers' try to make some money off of their writings. 1. Add a simple "tip jar". I know I've used articles/code from CodeProject and these items have saved me many hours of work (time == money). If there was a mechanism in place like a tip jar to donate a small amount of money, I would toss in a bit- even if people gave 1 or 2 bucks for code they used in their products. It would generate some revenue. 2. Add a link to Amazon and work out a deal with them that CodeProject gets a % of the sales (Andrew Sullivan- www.andrewsullivan.com - has a book club where people buy books thru Amazon and he gets a cut- I think anywhere from 5-15% - not only on the books but also on any other items they may purchase). I buy a fair number of books and I would certainly click thru CodeProject - I would then be helping this site to raise revenue and it would seemingly cost me nothing. I'm sure many others would be willing to do the same. I think the trick is to not make it obtrusive - Things like "Hey here's a tip jar why don't you give me some money". A simple link with a jar and another link to Amazon (or whereever). Just some thoughts. Mike
MikeG wrote: 2. Add a link to Amazon and work out a deal with them ... This sounds like a good idea and I also wouldn't mind clicking through CP to buy things off Amazon. MikeG wrote: 1. Add a simple "tip jar". I know I've used articles/code from CodeProject and these items have saved me many hours of work (time == money). If there was a mechanism in place like a tip jar to donate a small amount of money, I would toss in a bit- even if people gave 1 or 2 bucks for code they used in their products. It would generate some revenue. I'm not quite sure it would be fair to the authors to ask for money for their specific code. Maybe just a global 'donate' link in the navagation bar. -Jack To an optimist the glass is half full. To a pessimist the glass is half empty. To a programmer the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
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I was thinking about the offer to buy VisualStudio.Net here on CodeProject and it got me to thinking that there has to be other ways for us to help support CodeProject (Alot of us do not purchase our own copies of VisualStudio, it comes thru the company, and many probably are not in position to afford it) Here are some suggestions that may allow us who use CodeProject to help support it. These ideas came from seeing how variuos 'bloggers' try to make some money off of their writings. 1. Add a simple "tip jar". I know I've used articles/code from CodeProject and these items have saved me many hours of work (time == money). If there was a mechanism in place like a tip jar to donate a small amount of money, I would toss in a bit- even if people gave 1 or 2 bucks for code they used in their products. It would generate some revenue. 2. Add a link to Amazon and work out a deal with them that CodeProject gets a % of the sales (Andrew Sullivan- www.andrewsullivan.com - has a book club where people buy books thru Amazon and he gets a cut- I think anywhere from 5-15% - not only on the books but also on any other items they may purchase). I buy a fair number of books and I would certainly click thru CodeProject - I would then be helping this site to raise revenue and it would seemingly cost me nothing. I'm sure many others would be willing to do the same. I think the trick is to not make it obtrusive - Things like "Hey here's a tip jar why don't you give me some money". A simple link with a jar and another link to Amazon (or whereever). Just some thoughts. Mike
Maybe Nish could sell some poetry to help? :) Jeremy L. Falcon "The One Who Said, 'The One Who Said...'" Homepage : Feature Article : Sonork = 100.16311
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I was thinking about the offer to buy VisualStudio.Net here on CodeProject and it got me to thinking that there has to be other ways for us to help support CodeProject (Alot of us do not purchase our own copies of VisualStudio, it comes thru the company, and many probably are not in position to afford it) Here are some suggestions that may allow us who use CodeProject to help support it. These ideas came from seeing how variuos 'bloggers' try to make some money off of their writings. 1. Add a simple "tip jar". I know I've used articles/code from CodeProject and these items have saved me many hours of work (time == money). If there was a mechanism in place like a tip jar to donate a small amount of money, I would toss in a bit- even if people gave 1 or 2 bucks for code they used in their products. It would generate some revenue. 2. Add a link to Amazon and work out a deal with them that CodeProject gets a % of the sales (Andrew Sullivan- www.andrewsullivan.com - has a book club where people buy books thru Amazon and he gets a cut- I think anywhere from 5-15% - not only on the books but also on any other items they may purchase). I buy a fair number of books and I would certainly click thru CodeProject - I would then be helping this site to raise revenue and it would seemingly cost me nothing. I'm sure many others would be willing to do the same. I think the trick is to not make it obtrusive - Things like "Hey here's a tip jar why don't you give me some money". A simple link with a jar and another link to Amazon (or whereever). Just some thoughts. Mike
That's a great idea, Mike. I'd like nothing better than to be able to buy VS.NET through CP, but I'll never be able to pay $799 for it. However, since CP is almost always my first and last stop when I sit in front of the PC, A few click-thrus would be a very handy way for me to access sites that I would visit anyway. If Chris can get some links that generate revenue, I'm all for it. The tip jar is also a great idea, especially if something found here ends up going into a profitable product. It would be quite appropriate to say thanks by tipping the site that provided free assistance.
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Maybe Nish could sell some poetry to help? :) Jeremy L. Falcon "The One Who Said, 'The One Who Said...'" Homepage : Feature Article : Sonork = 100.16311
Peterchens used ropes-and-gag trade - new: Emergency service! We come everytime, every place... :cool:
the programmers just set it so that when in doubt, the women still think they're involved with you. It's much less frustrating that way - BGII Quest Directory
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That's a great idea, Mike. I'd like nothing better than to be able to buy VS.NET through CP, but I'll never be able to pay $799 for it. However, since CP is almost always my first and last stop when I sit in front of the PC, A few click-thrus would be a very handy way for me to access sites that I would visit anyway. If Chris can get some links that generate revenue, I'm all for it. The tip jar is also a great idea, especially if something found here ends up going into a profitable product. It would be quite appropriate to say thanks by tipping the site that provided free assistance.
Roger Wright wrote: It would be quite appropriate to say thanks by tipping the site that provided free assistance. What about the author of the code that provided their work for free? -Jack To an optimist the glass is half full. To a pessimist the glass is half empty. To a programmer the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
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I was thinking about the offer to buy VisualStudio.Net here on CodeProject and it got me to thinking that there has to be other ways for us to help support CodeProject (Alot of us do not purchase our own copies of VisualStudio, it comes thru the company, and many probably are not in position to afford it) Here are some suggestions that may allow us who use CodeProject to help support it. These ideas came from seeing how variuos 'bloggers' try to make some money off of their writings. 1. Add a simple "tip jar". I know I've used articles/code from CodeProject and these items have saved me many hours of work (time == money). If there was a mechanism in place like a tip jar to donate a small amount of money, I would toss in a bit- even if people gave 1 or 2 bucks for code they used in their products. It would generate some revenue. 2. Add a link to Amazon and work out a deal with them that CodeProject gets a % of the sales (Andrew Sullivan- www.andrewsullivan.com - has a book club where people buy books thru Amazon and he gets a cut- I think anywhere from 5-15% - not only on the books but also on any other items they may purchase). I buy a fair number of books and I would certainly click thru CodeProject - I would then be helping this site to raise revenue and it would seemingly cost me nothing. I'm sure many others would be willing to do the same. I think the trick is to not make it obtrusive - Things like "Hey here's a tip jar why don't you give me some money". A simple link with a jar and another link to Amazon (or whereever). Just some thoughts. Mike
MikeG wrote: Add a link to Amazon and work out a deal with them that CodeProject gets a % of the sales Good idea, just don't use Amazon. Barnes and Noble or Fatbrain.com have a bigger selection of Technical books for a better price. Jason Gerard
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I was thinking about the offer to buy VisualStudio.Net here on CodeProject and it got me to thinking that there has to be other ways for us to help support CodeProject (Alot of us do not purchase our own copies of VisualStudio, it comes thru the company, and many probably are not in position to afford it) Here are some suggestions that may allow us who use CodeProject to help support it. These ideas came from seeing how variuos 'bloggers' try to make some money off of their writings. 1. Add a simple "tip jar". I know I've used articles/code from CodeProject and these items have saved me many hours of work (time == money). If there was a mechanism in place like a tip jar to donate a small amount of money, I would toss in a bit- even if people gave 1 or 2 bucks for code they used in their products. It would generate some revenue. 2. Add a link to Amazon and work out a deal with them that CodeProject gets a % of the sales (Andrew Sullivan- www.andrewsullivan.com - has a book club where people buy books thru Amazon and he gets a cut- I think anywhere from 5-15% - not only on the books but also on any other items they may purchase). I buy a fair number of books and I would certainly click thru CodeProject - I would then be helping this site to raise revenue and it would seemingly cost me nothing. I'm sure many others would be willing to do the same. I think the trick is to not make it obtrusive - Things like "Hey here's a tip jar why don't you give me some money". A simple link with a jar and another link to Amazon (or whereever). Just some thoughts. Mike
MikeG wrote: 2. Add a link to Amazon and work out a deal Yes I think thats a kewl idea, there are other sites that give paybacks like that as well. Also there are some search engine sites that search the web that provide a kickback as well, if CP offered that I'd make it my number 1 search engine page, (if it was a good one ). Regardz Colin J Davies
Sonork ID 100.9197:Colin
I think it's interesting that we often qu-ote each other in our sigs and attribute the qu-otes to "The Lounge". --- Daniel Fergusson, "The Lounge"
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Roger Wright wrote: It would be quite appropriate to say thanks by tipping the site that provided free assistance. What about the author of the code that provided their work for free? -Jack To an optimist the glass is half full. To a pessimist the glass is half empty. To a programmer the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
Jack Handy wrote: What about the author of the code that provided their work for free? Presumably we all give and take on this site; it's the site, and the free sharing of ideas here, that makes it useful. Preserving and improving CP works to the benefit of all.
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I was thinking about the offer to buy VisualStudio.Net here on CodeProject and it got me to thinking that there has to be other ways for us to help support CodeProject (Alot of us do not purchase our own copies of VisualStudio, it comes thru the company, and many probably are not in position to afford it) Here are some suggestions that may allow us who use CodeProject to help support it. These ideas came from seeing how variuos 'bloggers' try to make some money off of their writings. 1. Add a simple "tip jar". I know I've used articles/code from CodeProject and these items have saved me many hours of work (time == money). If there was a mechanism in place like a tip jar to donate a small amount of money, I would toss in a bit- even if people gave 1 or 2 bucks for code they used in their products. It would generate some revenue. 2. Add a link to Amazon and work out a deal with them that CodeProject gets a % of the sales (Andrew Sullivan- www.andrewsullivan.com - has a book club where people buy books thru Amazon and he gets a cut- I think anywhere from 5-15% - not only on the books but also on any other items they may purchase). I buy a fair number of books and I would certainly click thru CodeProject - I would then be helping this site to raise revenue and it would seemingly cost me nothing. I'm sure many others would be willing to do the same. I think the trick is to not make it obtrusive - Things like "Hey here's a tip jar why don't you give me some money". A simple link with a jar and another link to Amazon (or whereever). Just some thoughts. Mike
MikeG wrote: 2. Add a link to Amazon Good idea. I thought about a way to improve it, you can put a list of selected books and add each a forum (like you do for articles or surveys) and CPians could post comments and reviews about the book. Coming from professionals it is of great value, opposed to Amazon reviews that sometimes present misleading information from amateuristic readers. MikeG wrote: 1. Add a simple "tip jar" I don't know about that one. It might raise some legal problems, and considering some Americans tend this site I'd predict lawsuits... ;P ;P ;P Isaac Sasson, Lean, mean posting machine! Sonork ID 100.13704
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I was thinking about the offer to buy VisualStudio.Net here on CodeProject and it got me to thinking that there has to be other ways for us to help support CodeProject (Alot of us do not purchase our own copies of VisualStudio, it comes thru the company, and many probably are not in position to afford it) Here are some suggestions that may allow us who use CodeProject to help support it. These ideas came from seeing how variuos 'bloggers' try to make some money off of their writings. 1. Add a simple "tip jar". I know I've used articles/code from CodeProject and these items have saved me many hours of work (time == money). If there was a mechanism in place like a tip jar to donate a small amount of money, I would toss in a bit- even if people gave 1 or 2 bucks for code they used in their products. It would generate some revenue. 2. Add a link to Amazon and work out a deal with them that CodeProject gets a % of the sales (Andrew Sullivan- www.andrewsullivan.com - has a book club where people buy books thru Amazon and he gets a cut- I think anywhere from 5-15% - not only on the books but also on any other items they may purchase). I buy a fair number of books and I would certainly click thru CodeProject - I would then be helping this site to raise revenue and it would seemingly cost me nothing. I'm sure many others would be willing to do the same. I think the trick is to not make it obtrusive - Things like "Hey here's a tip jar why don't you give me some money". A simple link with a jar and another link to Amazon (or whereever). Just some thoughts. Mike
I like both ideas :) James Simplicity Rules!
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MikeG wrote: 2. Add a link to Amazon Good idea. I thought about a way to improve it, you can put a list of selected books and add each a forum (like you do for articles or surveys) and CPians could post comments and reviews about the book. Coming from professionals it is of great value, opposed to Amazon reviews that sometimes present misleading information from amateuristic readers. MikeG wrote: 1. Add a simple "tip jar" I don't know about that one. It might raise some legal problems, and considering some Americans tend this site I'd predict lawsuits... ;P ;P ;P Isaac Sasson, Lean, mean posting machine! Sonork ID 100.13704
Isaac Sasson wrote: It might raise some legal problems, and considering some Americans tend this site I'd predict lawsuits... Hey now... ...the Americans that frequent CP are the "creme of the crop" and are above petty lawsuits! ;P ;P ;P
Mike Mullikin If you can't beat your computer at chess, try kick boxing.
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Maybe Nish could sell some poetry to help? :) Jeremy L. Falcon "The One Who Said, 'The One Who Said...'" Homepage : Feature Article : Sonork = 100.16311
Jeremy Falcon wrote: Maybe Nish could sell some poetry to help? I would be glad to do that ;-) Just get me some buyers for my poetry Nish_
One little CD gone, Then two CDs gone, Then 5 more gone, For a total 7 gones, If I was a CD R, I'd wanna cry, Cause I'd be just a goner, For a nasty CD burner. [funny how frustration wakes up the poet in me]_
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I was thinking about the offer to buy VisualStudio.Net here on CodeProject and it got me to thinking that there has to be other ways for us to help support CodeProject (Alot of us do not purchase our own copies of VisualStudio, it comes thru the company, and many probably are not in position to afford it) Here are some suggestions that may allow us who use CodeProject to help support it. These ideas came from seeing how variuos 'bloggers' try to make some money off of their writings. 1. Add a simple "tip jar". I know I've used articles/code from CodeProject and these items have saved me many hours of work (time == money). If there was a mechanism in place like a tip jar to donate a small amount of money, I would toss in a bit- even if people gave 1 or 2 bucks for code they used in their products. It would generate some revenue. 2. Add a link to Amazon and work out a deal with them that CodeProject gets a % of the sales (Andrew Sullivan- www.andrewsullivan.com - has a book club where people buy books thru Amazon and he gets a cut- I think anywhere from 5-15% - not only on the books but also on any other items they may purchase). I buy a fair number of books and I would certainly click thru CodeProject - I would then be helping this site to raise revenue and it would seemingly cost me nothing. I'm sure many others would be willing to do the same. I think the trick is to not make it obtrusive - Things like "Hey here's a tip jar why don't you give me some money". A simple link with a jar and another link to Amazon (or whereever). Just some thoughts. Mike
Hey Mike, Thanks for the suggestions and sentiments. We've been thinking long and hard over the last few months about the best way to raise revenue to pay the bills while ensuring that the basic principles remain the same. I've talked to people who have tried the donation jar idea and it's been a total failure - though the guys and girls who hang out here are certainly a closer knit (and more sharing) community than many others. Linking to Amazon is a possibility too, but often the returns on the amount of effort - and advertising - needed to generate enough interest and produce sufficient sales is simply not worth the time it takes, and the annoyance factor to the readers. I would much rather work with a company that has a cool product and promote them on their merits, bringing them into the CodeProject community as a sponsor and helping them and those looking to use their products rather than give away thousands of dollars of potential advertising in the hopes of gaining a few hundred in cut. Our advertising is more on forming close relationships with talented companies than just hiring out space to anyone. That's not to say we haven't, and won't, look at further reselling ops (like the VS.NET package we currently have) but many of the 'sell on your site and get a percentage' schemes just aren't that appealing when you do the numbers. cheers, Chris Maunder