I have an extension I wrote that is literally for a single regional website to do some extra blocking to get around a paywall. There are under 10 installs total. For some reason, the most recent monetization email I got thought it was 10,000.
> I'm reaching out to discuss a unique monetization opportunity for your extension, <name>, through our exclusive Premium Bing Hosted Product.
> I'm thrilled to let you know that this invitation-only product offers the chance to earn as much as $500 per month for every 1000 users. Given that your extension has a user base of 10K, you stand to make up to $5000 monthly just by integrating the search functionality into your extension. This could be a significant source of passive income, and I truly believe it's an opportunity you won't want to pass up.
I... I... I know the 10 installs are all basically /my devices/...
You should counter by offering to sell them the whole thing for a flat price and then have all your users (you) switch to a new extension that does the same thing under a new name. :)
Okay, even better, to follow on another user's idea and up the ante:
Fake extensions created under burner dev accounts (w/ fake identities), astroturf the installs like crazy. Use ChatGPT to write the code, pump it out like chocolate out of Willy Wonka's Fudge Sludgefest.
Sell to scammers/info scalpers for a flat fee via a non-refundable route under a semi-reputable escrow, rinse and repeat.
The one downside is if you do that to somebody bad, and you've left any personal info out by accident....
Additionally, it's highly unethical. Don't do this. But it seems like 'easy money', the whole 'curse of maybe getting doxxed and XYZ from a sufficiently-motivated data thief' aside.
> I'm reaching out to discuss a unique monetization opportunity for your extension, <name>, through our exclusive Premium Bing Hosted Product. > I'm thrilled to let you know that this invitation-only product offers the chance to earn as much as $500 per month for every 1000 users. Given that your extension has a user base of 10K, you stand to make up to $5000 monthly just by integrating the search functionality into your extension. This could be a significant source of passive income, and I truly believe it's an opportunity you won't want to pass up.
I... I... I know the 10 installs are all basically /my devices/...