I have seen quite a few web sites that are ad free and only have a small graphic in which visitors can click to take them to a Paypal payment page in which they can donate money. I have always wondered how well this would work - this is assuming the web site is content rich and well used.

Have you ever donated to a web site? If so, how much and how long did you use the web site before you donated? I just have a hard time believing that web designers could make much money this way.

In my opinion, ads make everything look ugly and I would rather do without. Would a Paypal donation box be a profitable alternative to gaudy advertisements?

In my opinion, I think that you're wrong. I use ads for my site, and it's been very profitable. Each day, I make around 3 bucks, and I think that it's more than what most webmasters make with the donation box.

To answer your question, I have never donated to anyone, but I have "accidently" clicked a few ads.

Ads will not look ugly as long as you design it to match your site. That way, it will look like normal links, and people will click them, and you'll get money.

Yeah, that is true. Ads are a better way to make a little bit of cash. As with snlildude87, I've never donated any money to any site, mainly because I'm broke on my Paypal account . It also helps depending on what kind of ads you show on your site. Popups annoy your visitors and popunder ads...annoy them even more. The best kind of ad to show is a banner ad.

It is worth adding it because you truly don't know how many people might donate. I have never donated to a site, and the main reason is because I don't have a PayPal account.

Even so, I probably wouldn't donate.

I think that people will donate if your site is really useful. No harm adding it, after all like you said it's just a small box.

What irritates me are sites which beg for donations.

Sites, which constantly ask for donations, are rather annoying. If every other news item that comes up on the main page is "We are hundreds of dollars behind budget! Please donate!" or "If you donate, we'll appreciate it!" then they're trying to rip you off. None of that stuff is true.

Same here. I don't own a Paypal account because I'm not 18 years old, and even if I owned one, I'm not gonna donate unless I'm filthy rich.


Well, what if you replace that box with interesting ads? People will surely click, and you'll get money.


Yep. And when sites tell you to click their ads because "they're getting a new server", that's a lie, too. Only <- snipped -> if they're appealing or interactive or both.}

It sounds like ads are the way to go. I never even thought about younger people that don't have a Paypal account. I've had a Paypal account for so long I just assumed everyone else must have one by now. lol But it sounds like a Paypal payment is more of a hassle than just simply clicking banners when you visit a web site you would like to support. Good information. Thanks for all the responses!}

I don't think it can hurt to add a donate through paypal button. I mean, I've heard of people making all different amounts from donation buttons. Personally, I've never donated. I've only recently gotten a paypal account and am not all that familiar with it. Plus, I still have to do some things to get it verified, but I will eventually.

Maybe if you have a large enough group of people who keep returning to your site, and find it very helpful, it can work, but not having one in the first place means there is no way that it can work. And the button is rather small, so it isn't going to look bad on your site even if it is just there incase.

If you want money though, I'd suggest ads. I mean, we've all clicked them at one time or another, so I'd be more than likely that someone would come along and click yours. It's probably the best idea too, if you don't get many returning visitors.