One of the great strengths of WordPress (the software that runs this humble beer blog) is that it is nearly infinitely extendable. The core software is solid and does a lot, but there are literally thousands of “plugins” one can add to their blog to really add functionality.
One newly popular plugin is entitled “Buy Me A Beer“. (That’s why I’m even writing about it.) It allows the blog owner to add an icon in the sidebar as well as add a link to the end of each post, that allows readers quick access to a PayPal donation page.
Links to solicit donations to individual blog authors and site owners is nothing new, of course, nor are plugins to facilitate donations. What makes this one slightly different is that it’s suggesting something a bit more concrete. If you like something I’ve posted, or just the blog in general, “send me a donation” sounds a lot more like virtual begging than asking if you’d like to buy me a beer. The latter sounds a whole lot more friendly and personable. (It looks like Jay Brooks is using it, but I haven’t seen it on any other beer blogs that I frequent.)
For the teetotalers out there, or those unusual individuals who don’t like beer, the plugin makes it easy to transform into “Buy me a coffee”. If neither is your “cup of tea”, then like (almost) all plugins, the source code is easily modified to the beverage or other goodie of your choice.
I don’t think we’ll be using it here at Hop Talk, though. Frankly, if you’d really like to buy me a beer, I’d rather just meet up at a brewpub. Still, for us hobbyist beer bloggers, a little cash would help defray hosting an other costs, making it easier to justify our hobby to our significant others. This might be helpful.
Download the ‘Buy Me a Beer’ Plugin
The HTGuys, of the HDTV Podcast, have had the “buy us a cup of coffee” on their website for sometime now. At some point, I may ask them a question I can’t find the answer to and for something like that, I’d me more than happy to buy them a grande frappe latte (or whatever they call it)
Genius! Now I can afford to quit my job and still support my beer habit! If I didn’t enjoy beer so much I might have thought of this.
Unfortunately, I don’t see your “buy me a beer” icon — otherwise, you’d be having a pint on me right now.
Well, we’ve opted not to use it.
If you insist, though, al (at) hop-talk (dot) com is a valid PayPal address.
Better, though, is to come to Frederick.