Most folks blog for free.
A few put out a tip jar.
Assuming that I actually derive entertainment, information, and/or thought-provocation from them, why wouldn’t I toss a fin into the PayPal/Amazon/Whatever?
I’ve tried doing this in the past, but have been unsuccessful at doing so on a regular basis. So I’ve set up a quarterly (or maybe semi-annual, I don’t remember) reminder to run through the blogroll and, them as has hands out (not many) and who deserve it, give ’em something.
(And debate whether I have the cojones to add a tip jar. See, it’s different for me, natch. When I give to someone, it’s an honest acknowledgment that I think they’ve given me something of value. When I ask for something, it’s a tawdry ploy for ego strokes.)
And that happened today, so I did it. I also did some minor rototilling and reseeding in the blogroll, too.
Actually, and by sheer coincidence, Andrew sent me a book through Amazon today, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, which has been on my gotta-get-around-to-reading list for some time. Wholly unsolicited, out of the blue from a Blogathon-related conversation. Keen.
“Cast your blog upon the waters –” and all that, I guess.
I’ve given thought to putting a tip jar out as well, but just can’t bring myself to do it. I have little in the way of costs, and I don’t think I produce the quality of content of a professional writer, so I’m reluctant to troll for bucks. Besides that, I figure that I’d get so little that it would be embarrassing. 🙂
Well, I’d certainly nix the idea if I actuallyt had to report on how much I made.
I don’t have a tip jar mainly because I’m just happy people actually bother to stop by my blog on a regular basis as it is. Like Ruminator it’s not costing me a whole lot to maintain the site so until I get so popular that it does (not holding my breath on that one) I’m not worried about it.
I do have a link to my Amazon Wish List on my site, but that’s mainly so that family members who are always whining about how they don’t know what to buy me for my birthday/Christmas/whatever can have a place they can go to to find a list of ideas. I have had one person who reads my site regularly send me something from my wish list, but that’s the only one. I help a lot of people out with their PC problems too so I’ll direct them to my wish list when they want to reimburse me for my efforts. I don’t expect anyone else to buy me stuff off of it, but I won’t stop people from doing it either. 🙂
Yeah, I keep my wish list up there for much the same reason. I really wouldn’t expect strangers, as a matter of course, to buy me movies and books (though it’s always welcome, of course).