Ok, this may be a touchy subject for some, but how does everyone feel about having Paypal or Donate buttons on a site.

I personally feel as though they are kind of tacky, and would feel like I'm begging for cash. It's like when I see tip jars at other establishments.

Granted, we aren't getting paid hourly like at most of those places, but I chose too create and put my comic on the web for free, yet now for one reason or another am asking my readers to help support the comic.

I'm just curious as to everyone's opinion on this. And if you do have a donate button, has it affected your comic positively or negatively in any way.

I'd feel a bit tacky about it myself personally...
But I don't mind other people doing it. I'll even donate :)

I have a donation button, and told people if they collectively donate a certain amount, I'll update more. If I could actually make some decent money off the webcomics, then I don't have to work as much as my "day job", and can spend more time drawing comics. They want more comics, so they donate.

A tip jar in a coffee shop where the employees are already getting paid $10 hourly is tacky. A tip jar on a webcomic where the artist is getting paid nothing is a different story.

As long as it's not some big obnoxious button right up front or directly above your page then i don't see a problem.

I always dislike the 'get paid nothing' excuse though, you could be working at that coffee shop for 10$ an hour and get more in a day then some popular webcomics get in a month. It's nice to get some extra cash but not on the pretentious note of 'i'm doing this for free it's the least you could do', etc.

I actually think that is one the many ways for a webcomic artist to get some income for his/her work. Many people involved in new media do it and it's a way to support them. Is a good way to get some savings before someone could start another webcomic related businness ventures (aka be a "t-shirt salesperson")

Personally, I don't think that I could put that button on my comic yet, since is not big enough, but eventually I will try and see what happens.

I don't mind them at all. I don't mind the author askin' for donations, either- especially if they're in a bind. I fully support anyone tryin' to make a living off what they love to do (or at reimburse themselves for the time/costs of making the comic).

I'm curious if anybody's donated (or does donate) to a comic?

Doesn't bother me as long as they're not obnoxious about it.

I haven't done it yet (before I got paypal my webcomic finished) so maybe in the future? I want to make a living from telling stories (since this is what I suck the least at, haha) and a button would certainly help even if it's just a little bit extra cash... on the other hand there's no point in putting it up until I get to the point where I get let's say a 1000 pageviews a day... So yeah, I'll see in the future (maybe I'll put one on my next title OR on the Amen City Chronicles whenever I start it that with redrawn Din Krakatau).

Consequently, these don't bother me on other people's pages at all.

I have a donate button up right now, but it's more to help pay for the domain name I have as the comic's main site, and I certainly don't beg my readers all the time to donate.

Of course, the button's proven to be very ineffectual, so I've thought about just ditching it. -_-

I have been known to donate now and again ^.^ Personally, I wouldn't put up a donate button without offering something in return, but I don't find them tacky as long as they aren't giant, flashing, and musical.

zaymac
Ok, this may be a touchy subject for some, but how does everyone feel about having Paypal or Donate buttons on a site.

I personally feel as though they are kind of tacky, and would feel like I'm begging for cash. It's like when I see tip jars at other establishments.

Granted, we aren't getting paid hourly like at most of those places, but I chose too create and put my comic on the web for free, yet now for one reason or another am asking my readers to help support the comic.

I'm just curious as to everyone's opinion on this. And if you do have a donate button, has it affected your comic positively or negatively in any way.

You shouldn't be ashamed that you're asking for money.

Be proud of your work.

Nothing wrong with it. I encourage it actually. If you're proud of your work, then you should try to get money off it.

-Darrel

I think it's fine, since a button doesn't force or coerce you into giving money. The artist STILL does it for free, STILL offers the quality they always do. There's no reason why they shouldn't have a donation button for extra encouragement and even a nice side (or even main) financial pore.

I haven't yet done something like this, but for the big projects I have in mind I might actually do it.

I don't have a donate button. I tend to think the number of readers who would actually donate money will be a very small percentage of the total number of readers and, since my total number of readers is pretty small to begin with, I'm sure the amount of money I would actually raise would be minimal.

That said, I certainly don't feel offended when I read a comic which does have a donate button. It's a voluntary thing and far less intrusive than ads (which we all take for granted).

I have seen one or two examples of creators trying to use the button as a kind of "emotional blackmail", writing pleading letters about how much work they put in and how the fans should therefore feel obliged to donate and crying that they will pull the comic if they don't receive sufficient funds. To me, that does cross a line and, if anything, makes me less inclined to donate!

I have a donate button.
I dont get paid to make the comic and coloured pencils cost money!
Also, if people dont want to donate they dont have too, I dont feel like they owe me or anything, but if anyone wants to help out they have the option too.
I dont think it is any more intrusive then adverts, in fact less in a lot of ways.

Basically everything in the world costs money, including making my comic, so I think it is unfair to criticise the concept of trying to recoup some of that expense.
I dont like the idea that only people who lose money are true artists!

I dont think it has had any baring on my number of hits, it is just an option for those who want to contribute directly.

having a donate button... I have no problem.

always bringing it up in notes and asking for donations regularly...
irritating and annoying.

I don't read webcomics to be pan-handled.
My opinion of course.

I have no problem with it.

Okay, I can understand having a few holdups on putting a donation button on your page, but WHY is it "tacky"?

It all depends on the way you present it, if you're not putting it up to guilt-trip or like DAJB and TheMidge pointed out, being a total dip about it, then nobody with a rational mind is going to find a donation button on your site terribly gauche.

It comes down to this: is your comic like your job, or is it your hobby? If it's become like a job (albeit a fun job!) then a little compensation isn't out of the question. But you simply don't approach it with "I do this for free, you should want to pay for it!"

Having both a donation button and a cafepress store, I'll tell you that if you don't ask for donations, you usually won't receive them. I have only asked for help once, because they were going to shut the electricity off on us in the middle of winter because our credit union changed policy and screwed us over. I'm not letting their generosity go unpunished though :) I'm working on a 22 page book that I'm giving to them once it's finished. If doing a little extra work isn't too much, I'd suggest doing something like that if you don't feel comfortable with getting "money for nothing" (which is of course, not true).

A donation button isn't twisting people's arms. I of course had to have my arms twisted to actually put one on my site, because I had similar holdups to you. I picked nearly the smallest button available! (I wanted to put something amusing in it though so I didn't go too small)
But as long as you're not begging no one is going to see it that way. Most people realize that an artist needs money for food and supplies.

But there is absolutely nothing tacky about it!!! It's ideas like that which makes people suffer needlessly because they are thinking too much about what others might say than about the bad situation they are in. And it makes people like me who actually have a donation button feel like crap, too.

For me it's more about my own psychology... It's pride basically. It's a built in feature; I have to be self sufficient, I can't ask for help in that sort of way. It feels too wrong.

That doesn't have any bearing on what others do though. No problem at all with that. No problem donating. :)

ozoneocean
For me it's more about my own psychology... It's pride basically. It's a built in feature; I have to be self sufficient, I can't ask for help in that sort of way. It feels too wrong.

That doesn't have any bearing on what others do though. No problem at all with that. No problem donating. :)

Yeah, that's pretty much my feelings on this. It was just a topic I started because it's often something I've wondered about.

It certainly wasn't meant to make anyone feel bad about having one.

Zaymac, I was proud and happy of my comic, but thanks to your psychological abuse, I am now too ashamed to post anymore!
I hope you are happy!
*starts listening to goth music and wearing black*

I did not beg for money, the button do it for me lol.

Amelius
Okay, I can understand having a few holdups on putting a donation button on your page, but WHY is it "tacky"?

Probably because of how frequently donate buttons are seen on comics that don't deserve donations. I've seen comics asking for donations when it's clear the author doesn't take enough pride in their work to do the job properly. It's like a hobo asking for change outside the liquor store.

Of course, there are plenty of good comic authors out there that deserve a little love back from their fans. I won't fault them for putting up a donate button, but I'd much rather buy merchandise, personally.

One time I did donate to my favorite comic, but I also got a sketch from the author out of it. I suppose I might have even done it without getting the sketch, but the sketch made it feel really good to donate.

As for my comic, comments in the comments box are donation enough. Webcomics are a hobby to me and getting donations from people would open up certain obligations. I don't want my comic to be a job.

Hawk

Amelius
Okay, I can understand having a few holdups on putting a donation button on your page, but WHY is it "tacky"?

Probably because of how frequently donate buttons are seen on comics that don't deserve donations.

That's somewhat relative though, isn't it? Your idea of a bad comic might be someone else's idea of a good comic, and if someone wants to give them money, who are we to say they shouldn't?

As far as merchandising goes, it's a lot of work with not a lot of money in it for the webcomicker, and it's hard to stay above the flow of filling orders while still making sure to get updates done. Unless you're part of Topatoco, then you can go balls out with your crazy merch.

Hawk...so you are suggesting I bribe people to donate with free art?
Hmmm....interesting concept....

harkovast
Hawk...so you are suggesting I bribe people to donate with free art?
Hmmm....interesting concept....

Yeah, a lot of webcomics have a "donate and receive a thankyou present" type thing- sometimes it's any amount, but usually it's like, $10+.

If I were to put one up, that's what I would do- send folks artwork or minicomics or something in exchange for their donation. In any case, I figure that if they're givin' me cash then they're a dedicated reader, and deserve a little something in return.

megan_rose
That's somewhat relative though, isn't it? Your idea of a bad comic might be someone else's idea of a good comic, and if someone wants to give them money, who are we to say they shouldn't?

I'm pretty sure he was trying to explain that the overall idea seems 'tacky' because of the negative 'association' that people link to seeing donation buttons on comics they think are crap.

It's exactly like how trends are formed and killed; you see beautiful people wearing X item and it's then associated with beauty in your mind, but then X item becomes a trend and many hambeast/ugly people start wearing it so the item gets associated to ugly/detestable.
It's the same item the entire time but your mind formed a blanket association for it. (i.e. 'tacky')

I figure if they like my art, they'll buy an issue. That's as good a paypal donation as I'd need. And those who put the the paypal button on their site for donations? Totally understand it and support it. But I agree with others on here that say drawing TOO much attention to it can be in bad effort.

I have one. I don't think I "deserve" to be paid. Heck, I've never ven mentioned it in my notes. No one is going to pay me for something that is free. I totally understand that, cause I am the same way.

But I have donated to authors that really influence me. And I host some people on my server that told me if I had a donation button they would donate every once in a while to help the costs. They never did, but who am I to DENY that?

No one has ever donated, I never hope or expect anyone to donate. But who am I to argue if I wake up and have an extra buck or 2? :P I'm so bad that I'm going to give away the PDF that I am using for the print comics. Meaning no one even has to buy the print versions if they just wanted to print them.

I like working on my comic. I want as many people to enjoy it as possible. And it's a lot easier to enjoy free things. Currently my art and/or story is simply not good enough to garner a donation out of simple respect. But I'm not as "PROFESSIONALLY" driven as some artists that want to make this a career either.

I say support the people that want to make a living out of this. But if you just want to give me cash cause you happen to have too much laying around - well, I won't argue with you ^_^

they'd donate if:
- you're someone like Alex Jones or Ron Paul and you are seriously fighting the New World Order in the infowar.
- you've convinced your readers that they'll go to hell if they don't donate 10% of their income to you.
- you've managed to incorporate NLP, subliminal messages, and hypnosis in your comic.

Otherwise, you'd be lucky to get spare change. Especially in this economy.

--

btw I've just put a donate button in MAG-ISA. Pls donate. And I'll increase the update rate. thanks. :)