Nice video on using whaleshares. The $20 of whaleshare got you $16...the author only gets 75%, so you got about $12 benefit for the $20...plus whatever extra views that money got you. I call that the tip jar effect.

I've used whaleshares a few times and had just about the same experience as you. I wrote a detailed post on how much whaleshares gets you back, along with the other paid voting bots. Check it out if you have a sec!