Tip jars are everywhere it seems these days. Go into any coffee house or ice cream shop and a jar all set up to take left over change will be right next to the cash register. The question is how can someone place a virtual tip jar on a website or blog to receive actual money to pay for the time, effort and expense of running a site.
TipJoy
Tipjoy.com has developed a simple application to receive tips any blog or website. After typing in some brief information, html code is generated to place in a sidebar. The tips are left in designated accounts and after $5 accrues, a blogger can cash out the tip jar by giving it to another website, giving it to a charity, buying an Amazon giftcard, or having it sent to a PayPal account. TipJoy makes money by charging a 3% transaction fee when someone spends their money.
Recently, TipJoy has developed a feature for Twitter. Twitter members can leave money (tips) for different members using simple twitter "speak." This feature is a great way to raise funds for a charity that a twitter member has featured.
TipJoy sends emails to bloggers or website owners letting them know money has been left in their account and it can now be claimed or used to tip other sites and blogs.
PayPal
PayPal is most likely the easiest way to create a tip jar for a site. By using the "Buy Now" button that is available through the Merchant Services area, bloggers can "sell" a product or a tip in this case. Many website owners give readers an opportunity to "Buy a Cup of Coffee" and charge 25 cents or more.
Wordpress
Wordpress bloggers can install the plugin "Buy Me a Beer" to capture tips for their blog. A simple button with a beer mug can be placed in a side bar with a suggest cost to buy a single beer or an entire pitcher.
Wordpress also has a series of options for sites looking for charitable donations. These plugins will show how much of a goal has been reached as well as the names of those who have donated and the amounts.
Typepad
Like Wordpress, Typepad bloggers have the option of adding a widget that captures tips as well. Webmasters can determine the size and color of the button created as well as specific text. Funds are placed into a Paypal account.
Chipin
Chipin is a visual widget to track the amount of money that has been raised as well as the number of donors. This app is a great choice for teams who are raising money for a trip or new uniforms or non-profits who are raising program funds. There is currently no charge to use this program and money is transferred to Paypal accounts.
ScratchBack
Scratchback is a unique tipping option. Bloggers place this widget in a sidebar. The tipper leaves a tip as well as a link to a website he wants to promote. Its name comes from the "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine" saying. The idea is that since a tip was left, he can be rewarded by having his website promoted. It is similar to accepting advertising on a site, but the blogger does not have to be part of the transaction.
Scratchback charges 10% to manage the data and funds are placed in a Paypal account. Bloggers can select a bumping process to determine how long the tipper's link stays on the site or a specific length of time.
Adsense (?)
Suggesting that Adsense be used as a tip jar is a tricky proposition. Internet marketing guru, Seth Godin, recommended last year that when someone found a blog post to be informative, the reader should click on ad and leave the blogger a tip. The firestorm he ignited was intense and he posted a follow-up explanation which clearly stated he did not advocate click fraud. Google will close accounts that do not follow its terms of service.
But, for many bloggers Adsense is the selected method to monetize and pay for the time spent writing posts and managing a blog. Asking readers to understand how the blog can sustain itself is not inappropriate and subsequently asking readers to support the advertisers through purchasing services and products is also not inappropriate. This may not be an approach for everyone but it is an option.
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