Ask HN: How would you monetize 360K people?

You might not get many donations, but I know that adding ads to a Firefox plugin would make me uninstall it right away and find an alternative.

I guess not a lot of people would mind something like this.

HTH

I happen to run a Wordpress plugin that is free for the base installation (awpcp.com), but I sell premium add-ons. Wordpress plugins have a similar "stigma" if you will, but the reality is, if you have something of value that significantly improves the "free add on", people will pay for it if a) you tell them about it effectively and b) ask them to buy it, but in a nice way. (e.g. don't spam them, don't throw it in their face every time they use your software, etc).

But you have to make it visible and you can't be afraid to ask. Other plugins follow similar models (e.g. Yoast's All in One SEO)

You could try affiliate sales to some users depending on the function. For instance, if you created an add on the is used be web designers you may try to market stock photos.

If you'd like to make money on the side focus on platforms where people pay for things or that have a clearer path for indirect revenue. (The web, Windows, Apple, Android, Facebook, etc.)

I know it seems like the numbers are there and you're providing value but it would be an uphill battle. When focusing on income, your energies are better spent elsewhere.

As your second point suggests, your monetization options will vary based upon the product/service in question. That being said, allow potential customers to try your product (e.g. first 7 RSS transmogrifications are free, then they pay OR first 10 days of service are free, then a one-time charge). OR: Consider the time spent on your initial work as part of your FF-Extension-Corp marketing budget. New products will incur a fee. This will be a lot easier for projects where you predetermine your motivations. To improve your skills & learn something new? Or are you in business to provide a product/service to make a profit? No doubt that if you choose the latter you'll still have to content with competitors who selected the former. Your only hope then is to create more value.

Second, here are some ideas that may or may not feel scummy:

  1. Advertise in non-intrusive spaces.
  Upon update, some add-ons automatically open a window with the 
  changelog. Using this space and the space on the add-on's 
  Mozilla page, to advertise.
  
  2. Get a sponsorship.
  On a related note, pitch to companies that target similar audiences.
  Offer the first few placements for free (or set low enough price that 
  there isn't much risk) and track the traffic. Use these numbers to 
  set a price.

  3. TwitterBar "via" field.
  Twitter links to the webpage for apps that people use to post messages
  (at least they used to). This should give you leverage to rank any other
  webpage highly from all the pagerank juice.

  4. Opt-in link juice/affiliate links.
  A number of the add-ons could potentially have affiliate ID's appended
  or a link included back to your product page (similar to Twitters "via"
  links). Once, you have high ranking pages, the monetization options are 
  unlimited.

  5. [Lastly] Gather email addresses.
  Perhaps there is a reason users would want to provide their email 
  address? As you mentioned, combining add-ons with a hosted service
  opens up a lot of opportunities. Email addresses can be used to provide 
  value in a number of different ways (e.g. get beta testers, etc.).

P.S. One more, use your skills to get hired by companies who could benefit from developing Firefox add-ons for their products.

I'll tell you exactly how to profit