Let's talk about possible UI changes to make donating to Tildes more obvious.
How do you all feel about making some UI changes to prompt more donations to Tildes?
For newer users' edification, at the very least we need to pay Deimos enough to keep working on this project full time. If I understand the situation correctly, Deimos has put around 2 years into this project and I know that we are really lucky to have someone as skilled as he is, working on a project as noble as Tildes.
I feel that the current UI which prompts users to donate is much too passive as compared to a normal "call to action." All we currently have is:
It has no advertising, no investors, and is supported by your donations.
The subtlety of that donate link is part of the coolness of Tildes, but I have come across users' comments about how they were not aware of the Tildes Patreon.
So how can we do better without being annoying? What design patterns for this do you like on other sites?
edit: phrasing
I have no clear solution in mind, but two aspects I would like to see improved are:
a) I personally feel that the theme in docs should be the same as the default Tildes theme. (the cream/beige looks dated to me)this is done alreadyb) The Patreon, Stripe, and Coinbase links might belong on the top of the page, currently you have to scroll down. Maybe make the link style more button-y for these?
c) Would it be good to have a progress meter on the donate page? (Can't take credit for this good idea.)
edit: formatting
That’s weird, prior to writing this topic I opened it in a FF private window to make sure and saw the old theme. Must have been cache somehow. Thanks.
If you open in a private window, it defaults to solarize light. Otherwise it respects your theme choice from the content site.
We could add a donate link in the User Menu under misc, I don't think many people read the footer on any site.
Another idea is that we have a Wikipedia style push for donations each year.
Maybe have a donate button or Patreon logo at the footer or header of each page, and get someone to write up Patreon updates on the status of the site and it's development.
Another option is having a nice donation page like this.
I think a more campaign-style donation page would be great.
Personally I'm a fan of micropayments, and would like to see Tildes join more of these services. It already accepts BAT micropayments, but not my personal choice Flattr. Mozilla is in talks with a service named Scroll, so that might be worth looking into.
How about a 'Donor' tag to users who have supported the cause?
Sounds very reddit-y and hopefully it wont reach the money whore which it has become, but I kind of like the idea of gilding a good post or comment.
I received it once in my use of reddit and really disliked it. Felt like money thrown at a stripper or a belly dancer on stage. I am not participating here for financial gains.
Oh.... I just thought it's a good way to support... maybe a paypal support me button will be the winner then? I dunno
Please no 2002-style yellow Paypal button, though paypal support would be nice.
Regarding the Donate link, I just mean something like a Donate nav item at the bottom of the page, maybe to the left of Docs. But maybe, just maybe, there is a non-annoying way to put that link somewhere else even more obvious, possibly in the sidebar.
I think there should be a pop-up everytime you do a mouse-click! I suggest a bright-yellow-colored popup that flashes and asks for donations, all in capslock.
I would say so