The kindness of users donating

[cpvr]

Did you know having your users donate your pet game can be another source of revenue? Well, it's true, so let's come up with ways that will get users to donate and support your pet site.

I know of a few methods that can get your users donating and they are:
-Let them purchase in-game items (only for donators)
-let them buy their way to the top. If they can't play the game, why not let them buy x,xxx amount of points for $5 or so?
-Let them buy special access to certain features. Is a feature once a day or twice a day? Let them play more.
-Special colors, let them have their own font.

So, what ways do you think users will donate to your pet site? What methods have you come up with?

[Fly]

Hmm...well I play on Pooka, and Bern has credits you can buy. Also he has a thing where you can contribute 15 bucks and that's a one time thingy.

[SaiKaorii]

For my site, there is an island where hybrids exist. They are created by a centaur on the island, who is an "animator" and the islands name is from him, Animae. The island is invisible to outside viewers, so there are a lot of ships that wreck along the mountain borders. He finds things (which the user will do) and then combines them to create a hybrid. What the user has to do is buy (real life money) a magical language book, then they can read the scrolls for the spell to create a certain hybrid.

[mara]

I believe if you buy donator status on any pet site you shouldn't see ads.
I know marapets doesn't care bout their users and still displays ads to donators

[hermione_22_a74]

In neopets when you buy from the ncmall your waisting real life money just to make your pet look good!What a waste of money.But use cards only.

[TheDarkBaron]

Hermione, the problem with Neocash items is that they go away after a while. NeoCash items such as clothing are only good for a year. If you BUY an item, it should be yours for as long as your account is valid. Only a truly obsessed player would fall into the pattern set by the NC system.

[Kitty]

The neocash ones don't have expiry dates anymore. They all say 'Expires: N/A'

[Zephyria]

I believe if you buy donator status on any pet site you shouldn't see ads.
I know marapets doesn't care bout their users and still displays ads to donators

Adblock? ;P

[crystalpetzadmin]

good ideas but I already have ads blocked to everyone due to the fact that i dont want a younger child clicking on a ad that there not alolowed to click on and the add bringing them to a bad page

[ben]

good ideas but I already have ads blocked to everyone due to the fact that i dont want a younger child clicking on a ad that there not alolowed to click on and the add bringing them to a bad page

Google Adsense does not carry advertising for Adult/Mature Content. Along with most other 'lead' advertising companies.

[Richy]

For my site, there is an island where hybrids exist. They are created by a centaur on the island, who is an "animator" and the islands name is from him, Animae. The island is invisible to outside viewers, so there are a lot of ships that wreck along the mountain borders. He finds things (which the user will do) and then combines them to create a hybrid. What the user has to do is buy (real life money) a magical language book, then they can read the scrolls for the spell to create a certain hybrid.

What is your site? It sounds very intriguing.

[mellodieh]

SO it is a pay to play?

[Anadora]

On Kuepets they offer a Premium setting for a one time fee of 10 USD with added enhancements to your account and for use around the Site and I have noticed many have gotten their Premium-status within 24 hours of registering ... there is another donate option for Items @ 5 USD and even that one is nice as you get double the Items of what would normally be separated in to two on other Sites....

Kuepets - Home (http://www.kuepets.org/?game=1&referer=anadora)

[KeptSoul]

On Willow (http://www.mysticalwillowgrove.com) We offer both a straight donation (any amount) and a premium upgrade (15.00 one time). We also offer Specialty created items with the names of the user on them for around 5-15.00 depending on the complexity of the items. The items they pay for are theirs alone to keep for the life of their account with the site,

We have some ads, google, Kontera, and amazon however, those do not currently give the any revenue. We do indeed rely on the kindness of our members and their love of the site and it's art work.

And now that we are getting ready to include a standard pet site version alongside the version we already have in place it's even better. I believe being personable to a decent extent with your member base also encourages them to donate/upgrade/purchase items.

Just my own personal thoughts on the matter lol.

[marblekittykat]

Am I the only person who kind of objects to people paying for in-game privileges? I mean, I really object! Unless like Nutrino, it's for a charity, I really hate players getting advantages by paying real money. This doesn't include badges or advert-free (which doesn't affect gameplay) but mainly items, or extra pets.

I think it stems back to when I was 14 and playing Neopets, and they started having things you could only do if you bought the merchandise. It's unfair on younger players who can't pay for things online :/ Or people who can't afford to spend money on virtual pet sites.

I know sites have to make money but it's just something I will never do for mine.

[Leah]

I agree with you in a way Marble, but this is where pet sites turn into more of a business than just a hobby.

But then again, if you want to be able to pay the bills for your site (if you are absolutely serious about owning a site instead of holding a regular job) then you have to have some sort of income. Sure, you can occasionally find free hosting and staff, but not everyone is that fortunate. Regardless of whether or not you have donations and ads the site is still going to cost the owner some for upkeep of the site, especially if the site is still in development.

Though some people might think it isn't fair, donations/account upgrades are a part of pet sites and always will be. If you want some members to donate, most of them want some sort of incentive, and if they spend money on the site they should get those incentives. Some sites choose to be filled with ads instead of having donations, which really, I'd prefer there to be a bit of unfairness. I've never donated to a site as there has never really been one I have felt that my money would be used efficiently, or a pet site I knew I would stick with.

[marblekittykat]

Hmm. I realise how difficult it is to make money with this kind of thing. I guess you just have to find a balanace and everyone will see the balance as being in a different place. I don't think I'd ever donate to a site. If anything, I'd be more inclined to buy a t-shirt or poster where the profits go to the site's upkeep.

[Inomae]

I like custom items, but of random rarities, not just a rarity 500 something that only one or two people could get. Something that stocks alot, and when the user is banned or in some way leaves, the item stops stocking. If the person later comes back, the item could start stocking again, but it doesn't have to. Depends on preference.

Also, for the younger kids who can't donate, let them make site credit by inviting friends. When invited, you get 10 credits (or something) and then, the more activity in the referred accounts, the more credits you earn from those referred players. Every 100 credits you make, you get one dollar towards donation.
Depending on how active your friends are, at the most, every ten people gets you a dollar, and of no cost to you. And for the site, these are more people to generate traffic for the ads you have, or more likely to donate themselves.
It also gets word of your site out. :)

[KeptSoul]

Just to Clarify...
I do not ask my members for donations, I never solicit money from them, not even for the premium/upgraded accounts, they can play free forever if they choose to do so.

ALL of the money that comes in goes right back into the site for payment of Art, Programming, Hosting, etc. I don't make any money.

LOL if you could see my paypal you would see how lopsided the scale is in relation to what comes in and what goes out lol. I understand how folks feel about giving up their hard earned money for virtual goods.

It is simply to me a way to make them feel more involved in the site and it's continued success. You would never give anything to something that you thought would fail. So I guess it's nice when people do donate, cause that means they expect us to succeed.

Again, Just my very own personal thoughts on the matter.

[cutecat28]

good ideas but I already have ads blocked to everyone due to the fact that i dont want a younger child clicking on a ad that there not alolowed to click on and the add bringing them to a bad page

I think thats a good idea, there are a lot of scamming ad's too like for the cell phone things my mum got charged $5 for every text she got even if she dident read it, but all you need to do is text "STOP" back to the people..

[Anadora]

Not sure how it goes on the other mentioned Sites, but on Kuepets there are members who sell the Donation/Premium Packages for Kue-points so no one is actually left out of the opportunity of having the privileges and items that can be gained...

[Shiki Misaki]

Uh huh?! Guys if you have trend micro pro you can click on the parental controls to stop web adverts. It works! Well only for you of course

[Anadora]

i would also like to mention the rate exchange on purchasing packages on sites...

for the States it is double the amount to purchase a package at a GP rate... this makes for less donations =/