Ask for Donation on the Clockflace via Donate Button

[SarahBass]

I have a few questions about asking for a donation in the actual program via a donate button. I hope that a developer could give some insight on this. 

1. If you ask for an optional donation inside the clockface do you have to label the watch 'Paid' or is it still "free" in app gallery. For example, I was thinking of putting in my clock a tiny button that says "Donate". When you click it, a QR tip jar .png image shows up. When you click the button again, it disappears. The clockface would work exactly as it should - nothing limited and still free. 

2. Just general question, has anyone ever used Paypal's (2021 launch) tip jar QR code to ask for a donation? How has that worked for you?

3. Has anyone asked for a $1 donation or something along those lines in the actual program as a pop up or button, and not just on the website description? Maybe you could share your experience doing that. 

I feel like if the user sees the donation jar on the actual watch, it is actually more effective than if it is just in the description - most people just click download and rarely even go back to rate your watch- let alone give you a donation. On Android watches - most people have a little donation button on their clockface - but Google Play is better at helping vendors manage payment, so you don't need paypal QR codes or Kiezel. 

I have never asked for any donations in the 1 year I have made clockfaces on either Google Play or for Fitbit. So I'd love any advice. (I actually do get quite a few downloads on my free clocks and really pour my heart into the art). 

[Guy_]

Hi @SarahBass - there are issues if you are going to include Internet access on a clock face or app.

Security conscious people may not load a face that requires open access to the internet due to the risks that go with it, and they may or may not load faces where money is an issue, most people look for free stuff and as you rightly point out often don't bother to rate.

As you have been doing, if sharing for others to enjoy is your aim then adding money is a complication which may mean less people get to enjoy what you produce. For that reason all my clock faces and app tools are available free. In addition it avoids the unnecessary complication of having to implement dealing with money [which may not be worth the investment time for the little amount received back] instead of concentrating on the artistic and functional side of things to make the product good and useful.

However you do raise an interesting issue and that is we don't get any form of download statistics which doesn't help developers know what is going on.

[SarahBass]

Thank you for your insight!

It is great that you are so eager to share your skills and talents for free. That is very generous of you towards Fitbit which I am sure is eager to have as many people develop for free as possible. However, I just wanted information to make sure I wasn't breaking any rules ,and if anyone had experience asking for a tip on a free app.

It would just be a .png of a QR code - no internet involved- with a tiny note that says "Thank you! Tip $1 or Rate". I think I will just go for it, and see if it passes the review.

I do agree that not knowing the number of downloads is discouraging as a beginner developer. Sometimes I will even get a thank you email (which I appreciate, and it is really nice), but no rating from the user that sent that email. I can't use ratings to know how many downloads I am getting. I bet a ton of users don't know there is a rating feature, and they have no idea where to find it. That's why I think that putting the QR code on the watch will actually get me some interesting feedback.

Thanks again!

[Guy_]

@SarahBass - thanks, the ratings to non ratings ratio I reckon is in the order of 1 to 8.

The actual rating system is poor because if a user starts adding stars (and some must do) starting at 1 you end up with 1 when everyone else gives 4 or 5. It's not obvious to correct it after that and very few ever change a rating because it's hard or can't be bothered.

I too receive a thanks email or even an empty email instead of a rating. Each has their own understanding of the procedure, and ratings especially for apps is not that obvious. The app may appear before the rating is requested. By then the user is pkaying with it.

A lot of room for improvement on the Gallery side to encourage developers more.

[Guy_]

@SarahBass- here is a link about improving the rating / statistics which may be of interest.