Observations on Tip-at-Whim

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

I've been experimenting on and off with different kinds of online-payment models for... five+ years now, I'd say. In that time, I've observed that this model is excellent for one-time-only offers. If you do a single story, free-something-day, etc, you'll get a good response. However, it's very poor for on-going offers. Serials, tip buttons you leave on websites or next to blogs you update pretty much continuously, etc. Anything where the content arrives predictably but you don't specifically call attention to or require the donation.

Anyone else have a different experience? I'm pondering moving models with Spots; tip-at-whim works very well for me for the One Card Draws but not so well with serials. (The other way I use tip-at-whim, for my Livejournal content and my website's art updates, aren't meant to be consistent money-makers, just opportunities for lagniappes.)

Comments

Hmm...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

This matches my observations.

I have a permanent tip button on my Profile page that occasionally generates surprise income. My Poetry Fishbowls happen once a month; I get a fair amount of general donations (basically tip-at-whim) but usually more in sponsorships of specific poems.

[themaskmaker.livejournal.com]

As I've watched (and tipped), I have to agree with you. People tend to not remember to tip unless you remind them.
Some people are better at "passing the hat" in an amusing, coaxing way than others.

I remember what seemed to work really well for the Aphorisms and Admonishments was you setting a cap, and when donations hit it, then you posted the segment.

I remember people competing to get in before the cap. :)

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

*nods* I'm trying to decide on the price tag now. The Kherishdar shorts were $15 once a week. This is twice a week, and they tend to be anywhere from half as long to as long... not sure yet.

[jolantru.livejournal.com]

At the moment, I am still building my readership/audience. But ditto about the constant reminding there.

I am not sure if people tip "as and when they like it" though... but it looks to me that they do.