Experimenting With Selling App Recommendations

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Are you looking for an app that does something you need but can’t find it, or don’t want to put in the time and effort to search for it? For a small fee, I will search the app for you and recommend one that matches your requirements.

Paid app recommendation services on a Buy Me A Coffee page
The app recommendation services I sell on my Buy Me A Coffee page.

I can search for Android apps, web apps, cloud tools, Chrome extensions, add-ons, or websites that work in Chrome. Except for games as I’m not into gaming. I’ll recommend at least one app that does what you want, summarize its key features and issues, and try it on different Android and Chrome OS devices to report how it works — if possible or practical.

If no such app exists, or I’m unable to find it, I’ll suggest one that does something similar or matches some of your requirements.

I have extensive experience with searching for Android and web apps. I love looking for and experimenting with new and interesting apps I may need someday. I showcase some of the best apps in my Practicing Google newsletter.

I set up these app recommendation services on my page on Buy Me A Coffee, the creator support and crowdfunding platform I use for onetime contributions and membership plans. The new feature my services build upon, Extras, is a versatile tool for selling digital content, experiences, commissions, or consultations.

Extras does all I need, except cancelling the buyer’s order with no charge in case I’m not sure I can provide a suitable recommendation.

If I’m unable to find a suitable app, I’d prefer to decline the buyer’s request with a brief note. Otherwise I could manually accept the request and charge.

As a workaround, Buy Me A Coffee allows refunds. But refunds make me uncomfortable because they involve costly chargebacks and may affect my status with payment providers such as PayPal, Stripe, or my bank. Luckily, Buy Me A Coffee will address the charging issue.

Update

On 17 Dec 2020 I deactivated the existing Extras and I won't add any new ones.

The main reason is Gumroad, which I'm now using for my content store and loving, is much better at selling info products. Gumroad has more features like workflow automation and customer segmentation.

I have other reasons for discontinuing Extras though. It's still not easy to decline commissions if I'm sure I can't provide good recommendations. And, unlike digital products, commission work can't be automated well and doesn't scale.

Finally, I haven't sold a single Extra. Although I still have no major audience, there's probably not much demand for the kind of commissions I was offering.

My current plan is to move all my products from Buy Me A Coffee to Gumroad, except for one-time contributions.

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