It is that time of year again as we approach a new year to echo my decision from 365 days ago to donate to the Wikimedia Foundation, owner of the human-powered Wikipedia reference tool. Cognizant of comment flak I received last year that donations don’t necessarily go where some may think, I figure I use the site enough times for research to warrant giving a little something to the nonprofit organization.
In 2008, I restricted my December donations to Wikimedia. This year, I went further.
In addition to the Wikimedia Foundation, I also opted to donate to the Mozilla Foundation last night, furthering the creation, promotion, and development of open source software like Mozilla Firefox, the web browser I use to read blog posts like this. I also directed small donations to WordPress plugin developers Andy Bailey, Mark Jaquith, and Jon Bishop as a way of saying thanks.
If you want a link to your latest blog post to appear at the bottom of your next comment on my blog or another blog that is part of the CommentLuv community, such as one by Kristi Hines, Danny Brown, Kim Woodbridge, or Steven Aitchison, you need to install CommentLuv first, and follow Andy’s directions next to learn how to register and optimize yourself.
CommentLuv provides an easy way to share the love of your blog with other readers, and is a more direct call to action that assuming someone will click the blog linked to your name. You can donate to Andy here.
The one essential plugin for your WordPress blog, though, is not CommentLuv but something called Subscribe to Comments. Before submitting your comment, check the box below that states such and you will receive emailed notifications whenever I or someone else reply to your comment — thus, continuing the conversation.
Mark’s plugin promotes social connections within a blog. His donations link is about halfway down this link.
Both of the above plugins were listed among 22 I used in September; Jon’s Socialize plugin is a newer one to me — that, in Jon’s words, enables actionable social bookmarking. I’ve played with it for about two months and enjoy the Twitter and Facebook sharing buttons much more than what I previously used.
You can donate to Jon here, and if the link doesn’t work, you can click his contact link for the email address to PayPal him at.
A thank you note goes a long way, but so does a small token of your appreciation for the things like WordPress plugins many people take for granted when they install them on their blogs, so in my own little way, I am trying to give back to the community.
Happy holidays.
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{ 15 comments }
Many people including me don’t want to donate to wikipedia either because they make contributor experience awful or it’s just not needed anymore.
.-= New from Brad: 2009 The Year In Review =-.
While I’ve never contributed to Wikipedia, I’d argue it’s very much needed — or I wouldn’t use it.
Donating to Wiki is a very worth cause. It contributes to general intelligence and an overall unbiased opinion of what has occurred in our world. I might have to do the same…and its hard not to feel a bit guilty when you are using it and then you see their big DONATE banner on top of the page!
.-= New from Richard@How To Videos: How Do I Figure Sales Tax =-.
…indeed, though the large appeal banner is slightly unappealing.
Ari – Thanks for sharing who you donated to and why. I donated to FireFox, ShareOurStrength and a few others in 2008.
Regarding the Socialize plug-in: It does not shorten links on Twitter, so I switched to ShareThis.
Enjoy the week, Ari!
.-= New from John Haydon: How To Integrate Your iTunes Podcast Into WordPress (video) =-.
How’s that? Socialize’s Twitter button (which I use above) shortens links to bt.io.
People confuse my plugin with all the other bookmarking ones all the time. Sigh. One of the reasons I created socialize was to be rid of problems like unshortened URLs. Probably confusing socialize with sociable.
.-= New from Jon Bishop: Christmas Survival Guide for Twitter =-.
Contributing to online services is a great idea, Ari. Thanks for the links and information. I wish you an enriching holiday!
.-= New from Paul C: The Reminder =-.
Same to you!
Your Post has inspired me. Wikipedia has helped me is so many ways as far as my obtaining accurate, mostly unbiased information is concerned. I have been on the fence lately, about donating and your post has helped me reach a decision. I will donate something by the end of the year. It may not be much, but it will a nice way to say “Thanks” for all the help the site has been.
Thanks for helping me make a decision.
I don’t mind guiding and advising, but only you can decide.
Happy Holidays Ari! And thanks for the mention
It seems like I only give back in non-monetary ways such as by trying to answer questions on the WordPress forums. But now I’m thinking that I should donate to the developers who create the free tools that I use daily …
.-= New from Kim Woodbridge: Merry Christmas Scrooge Style =-.
Giving back is something we should do all year long if we can. Almost always, there’s someone who could use a little help, no matter how small it may seem.
.-= New from Gabe | freebloghelp.com: Factors contributing to blog failure =-.
That’s really good to hear your giving back
. I’m sure everyone can learn from following your good example.
.-= New from Brandon Walker @ how to make money blogging: Part 4: WARNING! Don’t Get Scammed By Expired Domains! =-.
Twitter: kikolani
December 25, 2009 at 9:53 PM
As much as I use Wikipedia and Firefox, I should probably do the same in the ways of donations. Thanks for the mention in relation to CommentLuv… I’m in the middle of writing an article specifically about the benefits of CommentLuv for everyone, commenters and blog owners alike.
I hope you are having a happy holiday!
.-= New from Kikolani: Fetching Friday – Resources Mashup, Old City Bar & Happy Holidays =-.
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