| If you are thinking about starting an open | | | | small list of possible programs to sign up |
| source project or even a website then one of | | | | for please look at the following article: |
| the big questions will be on how to fund and | | | | |
| sustain such a project. Hopefully this | | | | Sell E-Books |
| article will shed some light on the subject. | | | | |
| Listed below is but a few option you might | | | | Another possible source of income would be to |
| want to consider when trying to find a | | | | try and sell e-books to users of your open |
| solution to your funding problem. | | | | source projects. E-Books that you could write |
| | | | about may include an advanced user manual for |
| Request sponsorship | | | | your products, programming guidelines, maybe |
| | | | even through in a small hints and tips |
| Not many companies are willing to sponsor | | | | e-book. |
| open sources projects or websites as they | | | | |
| receive numerous such funding requests. But | | | | Sell promotional material |
| maybe you could convince them that your | | | | |
| product is worth a sponsorship deal. If not, | | | | You could create additional exposure for |
| then they might however be willing to sponsor | | | | yourself by selling anything from coffee mugs |
| products/prizes for competitions instead, so | | | | to clocks with your company logo on it. |
| keep this in mind for the future. | | | | T-Shirts is another possibility as this |
| | | | creates that extra awareness for your company |
| Sell advertising space | | | | or product. |
| | | | |
| You could try and sell exclusive advertising | | | | Provide additional services (for a price) |
| space in your e-mails and on your website to | | | | |
| companies that you think might benefit from | | | | If your product can be easily modified, maybe |
| such exposure. That is only if you have a | | | | you could create a service where you are |
| large client list to start off with, so here | | | | willing to redesign your product to specific |
| possible advertisers might decline and | | | | guidelines. Such a service could be aimed at |
| redirect you to their affiliate program | | | | companies using your products, or even people |
| instead (if they have one). However, there | | | | looking for that special touch. Doing this |
| are many companies starting off that might | | | | would have the added advantage of providing |
| just be looking for add space and massive | | | | you with ideas for the next major update as |
| exposure, so be on the lookout for them. | | | | well as identifying features that needs to be |
| | | | included in your open source projects. Other |
| Affiliate programs | | | | possibilities could include installation |
| | | | services, selling your products on CD's and |
| As there are many affiliate programs to | | | | only charging duplication & postage fees, or |
| choose from, this is probably the best way to | | | | even physically going out and teaching people |
| fund and sustain open source projects and | | | | companies how to use your products |
| even websites. An important thing to remember | | | | effectively. |
| is to be on the lookout for affiliate | | | | |
| programs that will be beneficial to your | | | | Conclusion |
| income. Example: if your project or website | | | | |
| is about gambling then visitors to your | | | | The above is but a few options available to |
| website will most likely not be interested in | | | | you, so keep on the lookout for other sources |
| flower adds, but then again you never can | | | | of income towards your open source projects |
| tell what your visitors interests are. For a | | | | and websites. |