Money trees

Is it worth putting up a money tree? I want to increase traffice and sales, but am worried about the cost of putting up a tree like this versus how much it will improve sales and traffic. Will it improve a traffic number under 100? What's everyone else's experience with these?

I've never felt the urge to visit a place simply because it has a money tree. To me, it's just like camping chairs, in other words an admission that your build or content doesn't have the quality to attract visitors on its own merit.

I don't think my traffic has hit 200 yet - but I know that every single person that has dropped by has done so because they are curious or interested in what I have there, rather than a chance to just get some free money. It's a much more rewarding - and inexpensive - experience.

After all, I'm already paying LL enough money just to own a small patch of land, so why I should have to spend more money to buy L$ just to give out to visitors who probably don't appreciate the fact you're giving it to them anyway is not part of my game plan.

Lewis

My experience with having a money tree (may not be others experience).

under 30 day AVs pop in pick it clean and leave. They usually did not stop to shop or look around or wait for new money to appear on the tree. As a result they were not on my land long enough for me to get any traffic at all from them. This was ok by me since I was doing it to help new people. But if your motive is increased traffic from my personal experience a tree does not help.

I have had my tree for a while but I just set it down more then 24 hours ago. I had my concerns too if it was worth putting up. but not to increase traffic.

here are my thoughts from monitoring.
MOST pick and run. some stay because there is a nice build around them but really if they are picking off the tree they can't afford to shop much anyways. But it make great conversation to welcome new people.

"but an admission that your build or content doesn't have the quality to attract visitors on its own merit", is crap. Our traffic holds up steady around 3000-4000 average daily. (without the tree)

Trees are nothing like money chairs, (I don't own them either, don't like them) they don't sit around collecting money in exchange for time and traffic. Money Chairs buy traffic. Money trees don't, it only helps out the new members, especially ones that are on basic only getting 50L a week. Trees are limited to 25L per avie in the last 5 pepople to pick. they have to let their names rool off before they can pick again once they reach 25L. on top of it unless you sawn or have high donations to the trees they really down spawn mroe than a dollar here and there every 20 minutes. If I see the tree is empty I'll spawn it so the next lucky newbie can collect 25L.

My concern was alt abuse, but honestly that is alot of trouble to go through for an alt to get a few hundred lindens a week tree hopping when they can just pay their alts. So is it worth having, IMHO yes if you are out to help the new people, is it worth having for traffic increase? no. (avie needs to stay 5 minutes to count, tree pickers pick in 5 seconds and leave) your traffic does not just have to do with build but location and how much time you spend advertising it.

My tree is on a 64m2 plot just so it can be advertised alone.
7 am for me so I hope my opinion helped mcgeeb. *waves*

I agree with everything Kat said...

Money trees do not bring much dwell at all, mine has been out for many months and I've watched them come in pick and leave within a minute 9 times out of 10. But the odd one will look around, see where they are, explore for a bit then leave which is what I want them to do at Lauks Nest park. If you own a shop and expect a money tree to bring in shoppers or dwell I expect you'll be dissapointed as hardly anyone picking from a tree can afford to shop. Also don't expect much appreciation for your gift, only 1 in a 100 will tell you they appreciated it, which is nice when it happens but rare. My particular tree seems to almost pay for itself in an unexpected way, I have found my tree gets many donations from park visitors and for that I'd like to say a big thank you to all who do so.

Worth it? Sure. I think Money Trees are awesome. It was a clever concept, and a generous showing for the creator and anyone who ever put one on their property. If you want to help newbies out, definitely put one up.

But if you're looking to increase traffic, they aren't the answer. Like people have said above, people tend to grab and go with money trees. Surely not in all cases, but it stands to reason that they'd probably pick, leave, and find a new tree.

If you want to increase traffic: advertise, hold events, and work on the content you're providing at your place. It isn't just about getting a person to your place, but about getting them to stay a while.

Best of luck.

I believe Money Trees are a good idea. New residents start off with L$250, which is practically nothing. Money trees supply new residents with much needed cash, while at the same time exposes them to a variety of different locations in the SL world that they might not have thought of visiting before. Money tree hunting is also is a scavenger hunting game in itself- making new residents research and correspond with other residents to find their locations, then having them visit all these places trying to find the tree is that will yield L$ for them.

Camping Chairs are very much different. They promote sitting still in one place and stagnate for hours.. It's the antithesis of exploration.

This is so funny! (As in funny-charming.)

When I was new, I flew to money trees like a fiend - if you could apply that sort of image to someone on a computer with 256 memory and only able to see 64 meters. Well, I guess I could say I lagged my way slowly from one telehub and one tree to another, like a fiend!

Anyway, no, I never hung around, particularly. But - in my several weeks of doing the money trees, I did become very familiar with those places that had them, and built up a very favorable impression of the places, as if they were friends of mine or something. No, they didn't get traffic out of me, but yes, they got very good PR bang for the bucks for it.

The funny-charming part was one of those places was Lauk's Nest. And on one of my visits there, there was Lauk! We chatted for a bit, and I praised the place, as it was more of the sort of place I liked to see than I usually had.

And I have never forgotten Lauk, and have always had a wonderful impression of both the person and the place.

Traffic - purchases - all that stuff - all good, if you get it. Making the impression of caring about the new player and welcoming the new player - priceless.

coco

A money tree provides a type of advertisment.
You set a tree and new people come to pick and run. Meanwhile they get to see what is around that area.
That gives the owner the ability to show off their builds.

Basically If your build is good and you actually have something interesting then they will remember your place for that reason.
The trees & chairs just get them there to see the place.

I have found some interesting places that I like because of camping chairs bringing them up on the search list.
Back when BlueStone theater was running for example. I never knew they existed except once in awhile I saw a sign. But because of the chairs I got to see the place fully rez because I was there for awhile in the chair. And they make some really nice stuff I never would have seen otherwise.

Nor would I have cared to see it. But I baught a few things because of it.

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll put one up at a later time when I can afford it and use my effort in making the place more desirable to go to first with more and better content.

I fear the money tree is now just an ancient device t help noobs out we are now a fast pased p2p world with camping chairs and electric crack....