OK we all get those messages and have seen the ads, make money filling out surveys, make money reading email, make money surfing the web, free iPod. Since about October of last year I’ve been filling out and working the various systems and have found a few interesting tips and tricks that will help you make more as you go forward.
First off, unless you are doing this full time 24/7, and have some disposable cash you will probably get discouraged. You will not be making thousands filling out surveys. The people who claim this are those who make money by getting others to fill out surveys (i.e. referral and affiliate programs)
Rather than give out names and URL’s as that might be a bit of conflict of interest I’ll go over the ‘finer points’ of many of these programs.
- A free iPod/XBox/Box of Soap. Most of these programs are nothing more than if you buy this through our affiliate link we’ll send you your prize. More often then not the steps you have to go through are either expensive signups, complicated registrations or just really really annoying. You may even have to fill out several different offers, wait 30 days, do another thing and another. In other words, if you don’t have the time don’t bother it will cost more in your time than anything else. And some of the offers have a free month that has a big bad fee at the end of it.
- Cash for reading emails – Sound simple? YEP it is. In about 3 months I made, $50. Well that’s what I would have if I could cash them in. Most of these offers give you very little for reading the email (e.g. one system I earned less than $7 for over 250 emails or about $.03 an email) with the bigger payout for actually taking advantage of the offer. In addition they have a minimum reward amount that they will send out so don’t expect to quit your day job. It IS nice to get a little bonus and take the family out to dinner.
- Rewards Points – ok if you read this take this survey you’ll get 100 points! Yep sounds like a lot BUT it costs 2500 points to get a $5 gift card. Sometimes it’s a bit better than that but more often it’s not. Unless you’re doing a LOT of buying online. They you can use the affiliate links that a points reward system has to ear points per dollar. THEN it can add up quickly and actually be a nice thing. Some programs have a GREAT selection of gift cards, airline miles and discount that do add up.
- Survey gold! – Yep take this 45 minute survey and we’ll pay you $20. I ACTUALLY had this happen and got a check in the mail! Once… More often then not I’ll spend 5 minutes filling out the survey only to be told “You do not qualify” while the payout can be real and worth the time you’ll probably end up being disqualified.
- Referral programs – they DO pay but most often only if your referral takes advantage of offers. So if you don’t have people who like to spend money it’s probably going to be for nil.
- Pay games for money – yep you can do this, BUT you will have to shell out money to do this. So while you CAN earn money you have to front money to do so. A bit deceptive but overall not too bad if you’re really into games.
- Sweepstakes entries – this is where your reading/survey taking gets you chances to win something. Not TOO bad but you’re banking your efforts on a chance. If you like risks it can pay out.
Overall you might think that I’m against these types of programs. Far from it. For a little bit of time (and I have a system) I’ve gotten a little pocket money, some magazines and a few gift cards. In the next couple weeks I should even have a bit more cash coming my way. So will it make you rich and happy like the people in the ads? No, those are models they get paid to look happy (or is it they look happy cause their paid?) but you CAN have a bit more dough.
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Follow-up comment rss or Leave a Trackback[...] my prior post about making money, I talked about how different programs paid out. Now how do you work the system to get it to pay [...]