Similar to the last post, I want to write a bit about another way of making money online that I am researching. It is blogging for money. Originally, the concept puzzled me because I did not know why people would want to pay others to rant or rave about their own lives, but as I've learned, these sorts of blogs or posts or articles are written to be informational instead of updates on personal lives. I figured I could get into this deal because I enjoy learning from what others have written and I think it is time I write to help others as well.
I am looking into two sites to see if they do truly pay for writing online:
Associated Content AKA AC
Associated Content at the Better Business Bureau
So far this site is vast and cumbersome and overwhelming to me but I think with time I will get used to it. So far I wrote an article that looks suspiciously familiar to the very post on this blog. As I see it, why not post in both places? Also, AC's terms say that it is OK to post content from elsewhere when it is your own content (and this article is my own content).
AC pays from $3-$20 per post. When I see I've gotten some money, I'll write about it here on this blog.
PayPerPost
No Better Business Bureau Report that I could find...
This site too seems vast and overwhelming. I am even less familiar with it than Associated Content but I know I'll learn more with time. The concept behind this one is to review different sorts of things on a blog (like this one) and if you follow all rules specified, you will be paid a certain amount of money. This concept reminds me of the surveys I've done.
I'm signed up with PayPerPost and now have to wait a few days to be allowed to start reviewing. When I am allowed I'll post about it here.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Online surveys make little money slowly
Since I want to write about interests that currently occupy my mind I thought I'd put down some introductory words on working online. I have found it is possible to work online or telecommute. There are many jobs posted out there for people who only work remotely. I've seen many legitimate examples posted in Craigslist right next to the scam examples.
The Bad News...
I have found it is very hard to secure one of these jobs. I have tried quite a few times for the telecommuting jobs at Google without success. My feeling is that since so many people would like to have such convenient jobs where they can work at home with their computers, potential hirers make the stakes competitive. You need to be the perfect fit, and maybe lucky! There are so many people out there probably like you that want that job just as much.
The Good News... Surveys!
To make matters more positive, I will add that I have made money myself online through surveys. Yes, it is true that you can earn money for surveys, but never sign up for survey sites that want you to pay them. I never have and I have read that adage in innumerable places.
But before I put my own experiences...
WARNING!
If you ever have doubts about a company, do research! I was scared to sign up with these survey sites at first and give them my name, address, and so on but I was naive because I did not consult outside sources first. This is how I approach these sorts of situations now:
My Survey Experiences
The two survey sites I use that have paid me are listed below with my positive and negative thoughts:
SurveySpot AKA Survey Sampling International
SurveySpot at the Better Business Bureau
Positive
I like this survey site because I get lots and lots of survey offers from them and more and more frequently have I actually been paid. (The amounts are usually $3-$10 depending on the length and complexity of survey.) In the past I used to get trial products to use to report on and I enjoyed that immensely. I got to try orange-flavored toothpaste (disgusting), new flavor of Life Savers (okay), and highlighters with post-its inside (cool and I've seen them at the store since then).
Negative
On the downside is that I get lots and lots of surveys. I've been burnt out on doing their surveys for a few months now because I tended to put off doing them until a day where I'd do as many as I could stand in an hour or two. I know this issue is due to my lack of time management but it could be overwhelming.
I was also discouraged by the fact that SurveySpot will not make me rich. It will help me earn a little money to pay for gasoline or fast food. I suppose if I won a special prize, I would get rich, but I haven't won anything like that in the many years I've been using SurveySpot. Also, SurveySpot takes something like six to eight weeks to pay once you put in a request to be paid. (And bear in mind you make $3-$10 per survey RANDOMLY--meaning you will be doing many, many hours of doing surveys before you can get chances to be paid.)
Finally, some surveys are interesting, and some are very repetitive and very boring.
LightSpeed AKA LightSpeed Online Research
LightSpeed at the Better Business Bureau
Positive
This site works differently in that surveys earn points that can be exchanged for money or rewards. I claimed an Amazon gift certificate for $5 once and was happy to use it conjunction with another Amazon gift certificate when I made my purchase. I enjoy using this site from time to time because there are changes in survey topics pretty often.
Negative
Like SurveySpot, LightSpeed burnt me out with constant surveys. LightSpeed does NOT have as many surveys, but they do have enough to get tiring.
Also like SurveySpot, LightSpeed will not make you rich. Maybe if you win a special prize (and how likely is that?). I don't remember how many points I spent to get that Amazon gift certificate, but it was an absurd amount for the time spent doing all of those surveys and gaining those points for a little bit of money.
I also use Harris Poll but have not yet tried to claim a payment or reward. I am not as familiar with them yet so I will not elaborate for the time being. Harris Poll at the Better Business Bureau. (Harris Poll is also known as Harris International.)
Final Notes for Now
Using surveys to make a little extra income is fine as long as you remember that you will make a LITTLE money and you might spend more time than you want doing it. Make sure to balance your free time with everything else you need to do, not just surveys!
The Bad News...
I have found it is very hard to secure one of these jobs. I have tried quite a few times for the telecommuting jobs at Google without success. My feeling is that since so many people would like to have such convenient jobs where they can work at home with their computers, potential hirers make the stakes competitive. You need to be the perfect fit, and maybe lucky! There are so many people out there probably like you that want that job just as much.
The Good News... Surveys!
To make matters more positive, I will add that I have made money myself online through surveys. Yes, it is true that you can earn money for surveys, but never sign up for survey sites that want you to pay them. I never have and I have read that adage in innumerable places.
But before I put my own experiences...
WARNING!
If you ever have doubts about a company, do research! I was scared to sign up with these survey sites at first and give them my name, address, and so on but I was naive because I did not consult outside sources first. This is how I approach these sorts of situations now:
- I check out the company on Better Business Bureau. If the company is registered with them and has a good rating, then all the better. Some legitimate and well-meaning companies may not be signed up and that doesn't mean they should be ignored, but with Better Business Bureau, you know that matters have been investigated and confirmed.
- I put the business name into Google and add with it "scam" or "fraud" to see if there are reports online that come up with people complaining of scams or frauds with that company on websites or forums. Or if on the positive side, there are reports of people reporting NO scams or frauds with that company.
- By searching like that you will come into contact with many forums that are good places to check beforehand. I like to check and revisit multiple forums to get varieties of views. (I will make a post dedicated just to forums at another time.) One such site is Work at Home Moms Forum. Just type in the company you're researching in the search bar of the forum and see what people have posted.
My Survey Experiences
The two survey sites I use that have paid me are listed below with my positive and negative thoughts:
SurveySpot AKA Survey Sampling International
SurveySpot at the Better Business Bureau
Positive
I like this survey site because I get lots and lots of survey offers from them and more and more frequently have I actually been paid. (The amounts are usually $3-$10 depending on the length and complexity of survey.) In the past I used to get trial products to use to report on and I enjoyed that immensely. I got to try orange-flavored toothpaste (disgusting), new flavor of Life Savers (okay), and highlighters with post-its inside (cool and I've seen them at the store since then).
Negative
On the downside is that I get lots and lots of surveys. I've been burnt out on doing their surveys for a few months now because I tended to put off doing them until a day where I'd do as many as I could stand in an hour or two. I know this issue is due to my lack of time management but it could be overwhelming.
I was also discouraged by the fact that SurveySpot will not make me rich. It will help me earn a little money to pay for gasoline or fast food. I suppose if I won a special prize, I would get rich, but I haven't won anything like that in the many years I've been using SurveySpot. Also, SurveySpot takes something like six to eight weeks to pay once you put in a request to be paid. (And bear in mind you make $3-$10 per survey RANDOMLY--meaning you will be doing many, many hours of doing surveys before you can get chances to be paid.)
Finally, some surveys are interesting, and some are very repetitive and very boring.
LightSpeed AKA LightSpeed Online Research
LightSpeed at the Better Business Bureau
Positive
This site works differently in that surveys earn points that can be exchanged for money or rewards. I claimed an Amazon gift certificate for $5 once and was happy to use it conjunction with another Amazon gift certificate when I made my purchase. I enjoy using this site from time to time because there are changes in survey topics pretty often.
Negative
Like SurveySpot, LightSpeed burnt me out with constant surveys. LightSpeed does NOT have as many surveys, but they do have enough to get tiring.
Also like SurveySpot, LightSpeed will not make you rich. Maybe if you win a special prize (and how likely is that?). I don't remember how many points I spent to get that Amazon gift certificate, but it was an absurd amount for the time spent doing all of those surveys and gaining those points for a little bit of money.
I also use Harris Poll but have not yet tried to claim a payment or reward. I am not as familiar with them yet so I will not elaborate for the time being. Harris Poll at the Better Business Bureau. (Harris Poll is also known as Harris International.)
Final Notes for Now
Using surveys to make a little extra income is fine as long as you remember that you will make a LITTLE money and you might spend more time than you want doing it. Make sure to balance your free time with everything else you need to do, not just surveys!
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