Comments on: Site Notices: People Actually Read Them?

By: Casey Brown

Casey Brown — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:11:24 +0000

@ABC

By: ABC

ABC — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 07:27:21 +0000

I have to admit, clicking through, my first immediate question is…

Where does it go? Exactly?

I mean, I have the technical knowledge to determine that a large amount of money probably goes to simply maintaining the “computers that run Wikipedia” and the “connection of those computers to the Internet” — If this were a fundraiser for anyone else and I had similar questions, I’d immediately say no way…

I’d strongly recommend an approach that says, “Where does this money go?”
and gives a few strong examples when you click that link (preferably not taking you away from the page, but simply expanding).

In TV Fundraising they spend a lot of time giving powerful examples of their best. I think this shouldn’t be any different. It adds a layer of transparency and it says, “This is how I helped wikipedia.”

Instead of giving the appearance of just dumping money into a hole.

Me.

By: Klint Hull

Klint Hull — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:21:17 +0000

Erik’s comment makes sense. However, green is also the color of decay, depending on where you live. Red can also mean “near empty” or “danger.” Maybe try different kinds of meters, such as a glass filling up, a fuel gauge, or something more meaningful, such as a gauge with “sustainability” at its goal end (or whatever the specific goal is you’re after).

[By the way: this text-entry box stretches to the right about 20% beyond the edge of my window, even though I'm scrolled all the way right. Glitch?]

-K

By: Erik Zachte

Erik Zachte — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 15:42:47 +0000

Have you considered experimenting with color?

The donate button in red is very visible, yet red has all kinds of connotations that are strong and often negative. Danger! Do not pass! Etc. Even the red in the Red Cross reminds people of blood and war scenes. One might argue that the Red Cross has a long track record and this validates their choice of color, but it might work differently for an encyclopedia.

Green is the color of hope.