Bloggers Shouldn’t Beg for Donations
Donations are for charities – not bloggers.
I could care less about your “growing bandwidth expenses” when the world is rife with disease and poverty. For the price of a cup of coffee I could help take your blog to the next level – but I choose not to. Something about educating an underprivileged kid or saving a kitty from an icy death tends to warm my heart just a touch more.
And I hope the same goes for you, dear blog reader. You should NOT donate when bloggers and podcasters beg for change – you should be insulted!
I can already hear blogger’s arguments.
“If the guys at Dunkin’ Donuts can do it, why can’t I.”
Well wake up, Francis – THEY shouldn’t be doing it either.
Restaurants shouldn’t automatically tack on gratuity – cause then people are left wondering – ‘should i leave something extra anyway.’
Tips should be reserved for people who go beyond the call of duty – not for people who do the bare minimum just to accomplish their job – the one they are PAID to do. Even if you go “above and beyond” to be the best blogger the blogosphere has ever seen: who cares. That’s your prerogative. Babies don’t choose to be born with clef pallets or cancer – they’re the ones who need help – not suburban bloggers.
You can blog for free these days. It costs pennies to get on the Internet. Just cause you’ve chosen to get a fancy template and the latest WordPress plugins, shouldn’t mean I have to “tip” you. Unless, of course, I get to tip you over.
Let’s cut to the chase. Your plan, dear begging blogger, is to monetize the thing. And you’re hoping “donations” will get you on the road to riches that much faster. If that’s the case, there’s a homeless guy on the corner of Maple and Main who’s a better businessman than you. And he plays the harmonica.
Are bloggers really cash-strapped? Do they need to unionize? Nah, for the most part, we’re just bored big mouths looking for a venue to vent.
Take your virtual tip jar and shove it.
If readers really want to help a blogger – and the blogging community – here’s how you can help for free: Tell a friend about the blog; Leave a comment on the blog; Offer up a guest post on the blog; Tattoo the blog’s name on your knuckles.
The list goes on and on. Just don’t pull out your wallet – I mean Paypal ID. Cyber begging is lame. There are better causes in the world. Go find one.
I think I know what are you up to, but I would leave it to everyone’s decision whom to support. Maybe you will find out that the so-called “better cause” you supported is still just a bussiness.
quirkyalone said this on November 13, 2007 4:08 pm
I agree: all charities should be researched before you donate. And yes, everyone obviously can decide for themselves. I’m just asking for you to think about it next time a blogger begs. What are they using the money for? Or, maybe they’re just doing it because everyone else is…
Andrew G.R. said this on November 13, 2007 8:35 pm
Certainly donations should not be canvassed for basic bandwidth costs. However, I’ve run two reasonably successful micropatronage campaigns for other, tightly-focussed activities. Fundraising isn’t always tacky, you know.
Joe Clark said this on November 13, 2007 9:54 pm
I’m sure there are exceptions to the rule. I love the phrase “micropatronage campaign.” I’m totally stealing that for my next dinner-party conversation.
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