Every now and then I run across a news item that is relevant to what we are doing here at My-Friend-In-Need. The following is a reprint of an article that was syndicated earlier this year. I hope you enjoy it!
Desperate For Money? Try Asking!
The economy stinks, you’ve lost your job, and you can’t make your house payment. Maybe it’s not quite so dire: you need a new pair of glasses or some dental work, and your insurance plan won’t cover it. Or perhaps you’re a college student and you want to finish up your degree without accumulating quite so large a mountain of debt. It could be these or one of a thousand other situations, but one thing is clear: you need more money than you can put your hands on right now, and you have no idea how to get it. Has it ever occurred to you to just ask?
We’ve all heard the old adage, “ask and you shall receive.” What if it’s true? What if we could get our needs met, our wishes fulfilled, merely by asking? Recent history has shown that some people can! Documented examples of “cyber-begging,” as it’s become known, can be traced as far back as 1998, but it first became widely known during the summer of 2002 when Karyn Bosnak, a twenty-something woman from Brooklyn, New York, started her own web site. She wanted to raise $20,000 to pay off her credit card debts, and she did it! Within 20 weeks, her website had received over two million hits and her debt was paid off.
Since then, there have been other notable examples of successful cyber-begging: a woman in 2003 who paid for her breast implants with donations she raised online; a family from Aberdeen, Maryland who in November 2008 raised almost $11,000 online and saved their house from foreclosure. So, how do they do it? And will it work for you?
There are two basic approaches to asking for money online: you can set up your own web site with your own domain name, or you can create a page on a site that is dedicated to providing space for people to do this. There are advantages and disadvantages to both methods.
Setting up your own dedicated web site may appear to be the best, most successful approach to asking for money online. You aren’t competing with anyone else’s hard-luck story (that may well be more compelling than yours). Furthermore, all the “famous” successful sites have revolved around one person/family and their specific need for money. On the other hand, publicizing and driving traffic to your own personal cyber-begging site is easier said than done. The Internet is no longer a world where “if you build it, they will come.” So, unless you get an extremely lucky break and your situation gets picked up by the media or something else happens to send your story “viral,” you could easily spend the time, money, and effort to set up your site with no return.
Alternatively, you can tell your story on a web site that’s designed to allow people to set up their own page to describe their situation and ask for money. For someone who doesn’t have much experience administering web sites, this may be the best way to go. There are usually features you can select (such as presenting your link in a different color, or in bold, or closer to the top of the list), that will make your page stand out a bit in the crowd. Also, if you can create a compelling, well-written story with an eye-catching title, you may also persuade more site visitors to donate to you, rather than to your fellow “beggars.” Finally, this is a low-cost, low-commitment approach. Most sites allow you to advertise for a small monthly charge, and you can cancel your listing with no further obligation. You don’t need to secure your own domain name, arrange for personal web hosting, or design your own site.
Finally, no matter which approach you try, make sure you take advantage of any opportunities you have to bring traffic to your site through free publicity. If you have a Facebook or Myspace page, add a link to your site there. Do you regularly visit or post on a message board for one of your hobbies or interests? Check the terms of service to see if you are allowed to add a link to your site in your signature. Many grocery stores, libraries, or other public places in your area may have bulletin boards – see if you would be allowed to post a short summary of your situation and include the URL of your site. You may even want to invest in business cards (you can sometimes order them online for free or for a small shipping charge) or flyers – take these with you when you visit your local mall, park or other place where people congregate and pass them out or place them on car windshields. Anything you can do to make more people aware of your site will boost your traffic and make you more likely to succeed.
So, is asking for money online an option for you? You may never know until you try!
Desperate For Money? Try Asking! Copyright (c) 2009 Article Syndication Service. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
June 22nd, 2009 at 12:59 am
What a fab idea,having been in a financially despirate state for a number of years since my marriage break down,I would never have thought of that. Too proud,suffer in silence and so on.Amazingly simple!
September 6th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
I met my soul mate online around May 15th of this year. To make a long story short, he was on his way to met me at the airport and got into an accident, broke his shoulder, and has no money coming in for what he needs to survive in Ghana Africa. I have sent all the money I have and don’t where else to turn. Is there any God loving people out there that would love to see to people together as the Lord wants. He needs money to come back to the states and once he’s here I know he would return the favore for someone else in need. His debts are around $5,000 and I’ve already have sent $10,000 myself. I just don’t know where else to turn for help. God Bless for anyone who can help. Claudia
September 11th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
In need of living room furniture. Doesn’t have to be new just clean, and in good condition. thanks
September 11th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Having a hard time right now, and can’t make ends meet in a lot of areas. Just need a little help.
Thanks so much
September 14th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
I’m a 43 year old widow raising a 13 yr old son, my husband died 1 yr ago. I have lost my job of 15 yrs, and I found out I have Cancer
I was fired because I could not work and have my treatments,and I have had my 1999 jimmy repossessed
because the bank would not work with me on the 1200.00 I still owe
my medical bills are 6,581.37 and
growing. I’m the only parent that my son has and He Is My Everything I’m holding on for him he is full of life and I have to be here for him can anyone PLEASE HELP US I need your help desperately I have never done this before but I’m begging you Please Help
February 18th, 2010 at 6:27 am
I am currently attending college to be a Community Service Worker and my classmates and I are trying to raise money for a program called Shape Your Life. It is a program that helps women who are survivors of violence.My instructer will give receipts for any money donated, for tax purposes.Anything is appreciated. Thank-you
Sincerely
Carmel
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:52 pm
i need 10,000 for tubal reversal surgery so that my husband and i can have a baby. we have ben married for 9 years and have wanted a baby all that time. i have a specialist. all i need to do now is pay him and set a date to go for surgery. i want my baby to be born on my husbands birthday in febuary. so i will need to have the baby concieved by may of 2010. i have a 64 studebaker i will give someone if they will give me the money i need to make this happen. thank you andrea
March 25th, 2010 at 5:07 am
Hello this is David Michael
I am married. I have a son he is 3 Yr old
My Blood Group is O+ Hemoglobin 14.8
Height: 5’8” Weight: 74 Kg
I am donated blood in 19 times and donation is continue in 3 months
Because, I am in big problems I have a big loan amount
Please do something for me, some financially help
April 10th, 2010 at 9:45 pm
Need Money urgently…Please assist….. Donate Generously…..
April 10th, 2010 at 11:53 pm
The bible says that “you have not because you ask not”… So today I am asking for help. I want to help my family out, and I do as much as I can but it’s so hard to help them when I can’t even help myself. I am a 25yr old african american female and I feel like I’m drowning. I keep telling myself that things will get better, and I believe they will with all my heart. I stand in need of a miracle! Thank you for taking the time to read this.
April 23rd, 2010 at 3:47 am
my wife has put me out I a’m only asking for 1 dollor if you can help a old man get back on his feet send 1 dollar to me. I have nothing your donation will go to a good cause I ‘m bankrupt have no credit any thing would help. desperate man
June 2nd, 2010 at 5:09 pm
I HAVE BEEN LAYED OFF FROM MY JOB SINCE JANUARY WITH NO CHACE OF GETTING CALLED BACK DUE TO THE ECONOMY BILLS HAVE BEEN PILING UP IREALLY NEED HELP GOD BLESS EACH AND EXERY ONE OF YOU
June 30th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
How much more can we deal with?? I keep telling myself there is a God and how long does it take to be heard? After submitting 100′s of job resumes online and chasing monster com and beating the pavement days on end, it’s just about useless!! I’m 52 no job for 4 years, child support payments, health insurance payments, just those 2 are $1,200. a month. I have to live with my mom when I used to make $55,000. a year, My kids lived with me, I was a dad, I had a life, now it’s all gone and no light in the tunnel. How much longer can it last for any of us? Forget the government they don’t care. I just want my life back, I just want to catch up, I just want to stop stressing all day every day, this is not quality of life, this is not the country I grew up in, what has happened to our great country? If I had $10,000. my life would at least be a lot less stressful and I wouldn’t feel so helpless over my situation, I take meds every day and need my insurance without it I will end up in the hospital for days without insurance, that is the worst stress of all, if you take meds you understand, what to do????????
July 18th, 2010 at 9:49 am
i am desparte i have a 10 month old baby no job. and we are down to nothing
July 19th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
I lost my job last year after having to take care of my elderly parents. I also had taken off work due to a false cancer diagnosis and had to have surgery. I have tried to find a job and my unemployment ran out. I can’t afford for a place for my parents to stay, they did not qualify for medicaid or extra help. I can’t even get food stamps right now. I need help. I was always the one to help everyone else out, but no one wants to return the favor. I really need help but don’t know how to ask for it. If any one can help me with a place to live for my parents, please let me know. I just need enough money for a down payment and to pay for my medicine.
July 24th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
I was in a car reck some years ago,hurt my back & nack and i’m sure paying for it now!i need your help so much to pay off this reinstatement fee of $680,it would be so easy to get my liecense so i can get around.and do my errands,and visit my family,i’m now 49yrs og age and be going on 50 very soon,please help me out kiddo’s!!!thank you and be good to yourselfs!
August 11th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
I would like to do an At-Home-Bussiness. I know I can do it. I just need financial backing. Have have 3 routes I can go. I am on a fixed income. I just want to work. There are things I want to do that a fixed income want allow me to do. I would love to have my own home based bussiness, or I would love for someone to give me a part-time job. If you could help, it would be greatly apprciated. Thank You.