How to Make Money Online

This lens is especially for Barb and others like her. (I was once like her.) Her request: "Please tell me about other online opportunities that actually pay out some quick cash. Anything with quick legitimate payments through paypal?"

This seems like an easy request. All I need to do is list ways on the internet where people can make quick cash. Ha ha, not so fast my furry little friend, there are many ways to make money online, but most (not all) pay out 4-6 weeks down the line.

Take the subject of my other lens "Becoming a ChaCha Guide" for instance. ChaCha allows their guides to get paid instantly! BUT that is only after you have tested and become a guide. Then you must have set up a bank account through their bank, which requires you to print out and sign a signature card, mail it back, and receive their VISA debit card in the mail. THEN you can get instant funds. Of course you pay a $2.00 fee every time you request that they download your paycheck to your VISA debit card.

Okay, so isn't there ANY way to make quick cash online? YES and NO. First the bad news, there is no website where you sign up, log in, do what they ask you to do and then they instantaneously deposit your day's pay into your Paypal account -- bummer. Now the good news, if you sell something on Ebay and use Paypal as your requested payment processor, voila! As soon as the item sells, there is money in your account.

If you have a website that generates a lot of traffic, or you have a big social network on the internet, then you can buy into a business like IPC, have it set up in two hours, direct your traffic/network there, and have $200 deposited into your Paypal account every time someone buys into the business. BUT since IPC and most other quick big money makers are scams, I wouldn't suggest scamming folks.

The time-tested, well-known ways of making money online:

- Become an online freelance writer (See the Demand Studios and Textbroker links below)

- Telecommute (Find a job that will let you work from home -- see my OSN link and Work at Home Moms link)

- Affiliate Marketing (Set up your website or blog and sell advertising)

- Start a Web-based Business (Self-explanatory)

- Sell stuff on Ebay

Did I forget anything? In my link to Craigslist ideas you will find some self-employment ideas.

If you have the skills and thick skin that is. Another way to make quick (easy for some) cash is to apply to write for a web content site like Demand Studios or Textbroker. Demand Studios pays twice a week (YES TWICE A WEEK) on Tuesdays and Fridays. They will pay a flat rate per article and once your article has been approved for publication you are paid via paypal according to the pay schedule. The caveat: the article must pass an editor and be approved. Some articles are approved on the first try, others may be subject to a rewrite request, and others may be rejected after going through the rewrite process. Articles must be written in a strict format according to Demand Studios' guidelines, AND they must contain at least one verifiable reference. Also, all articles go through a plagiarism check, and a plagiarism flag can hold up your article, too. Textbroker is similar to Demand Studios, but they pay less. They are set up to make paypal payments twice a month.

Some Demand Studios freelancers write full-time and claim $1000 or more a week writing for Demand Studios. That is quite a bit of change. Other, more casual/part-time writers like myself make a decent $100 a week. Many more make $400-$600 a week online with Demand Studios. Freelance writing for Demand Studios can be quite lucrative, but you have to be willing to put in the time and do what is asked of you. Also, DS goes on hiring sprees and hiring freezes just like any other company. Oftentimes I will see Craigslist postings for Demand Studios, so I know they are hiring. At other times I hear a lot of people on writing forums lamenting that they have applied to DS three times and still were not accepted to write for them. As far as I can tell, there is no magic bullet, it is either hit or miss. If you know your writing skills are at least average, read a couple of eHow articles written by "contributing writers" (DS writers) and make sure your writing samples measure up. Do include any and all print writing you have done (school newspapers and company newsletters included). Try, try again.

2012 News: Demand Studios did major downsizing in the second half of 2011, so there's not much work there now. Don't lose hope just yet, though. Tighten up those writing muscles and apply. Just make sure you highlight your EXPERTISE. Demand is now looking for "experts."

Everyone has complaints. Take it as a given and choose the issues you are willing to deal with. There are many reputable websites that have done 'undercover work' regarding demand studios. Most will tell you that they are lowering the standard of journalism to the 3rd grade level. However, writing for Demand Studios IS NOT journalism. It is content writing. Demand Studios can be considered a 'content mill.' They simply churn out material for the consumption of everyday users. If you are interested in winning a Pulitzer, then look elsewhere. You are not going to do it writing for Demand. You will be able to make a nice chunk of change in this iffy economy. You will be paid twice a week. You will be paid more than the other 'content mills' on the internet. So choose your poison... This website is funny and provides a balanced look at Demand Studios from an inside perspective. Check it out and tell me what you think.

I did not mention wiseGEEK before because it is notoriously difficult to get on with them. If you do get invited to test for wiseGEEK you must write three batches of three test articles. These articles let the editorial staff see if your writing is up to par for wiseGEEK. You are paid for your test articles, and they are published -- assuming editorial approves them. Once you have finished your test articles you get to choose from a variety of articles that pay from $11 - $14 up front. There is no revenue sharing or passive income with wiseGEEK. Their articles do require research and references although the web article may not include your list of references. wiseGEEK does have strict editorial guidelines, so be prepared to follow them to lead to article approvals. Also, there is a mandatory 20 articles a month minimum that you must submit in order to remain a freelancer with wiseGEEK, and yes, they will cut you from the team. There is no room for inactive writers here. They offer a variety of topics in areas such as: beauty, manufacturing, finance, and business.

To apply with wiseGEEK follow these directions from wiseGEEK's FAQ page: "From time to time, wiseGEEK seeks out additional freelance writers to regularly contribute to wiseGEEK. If you're interested, you can send some writing samples (in the body of your email, not as an attachment) to catherine [at] wisegeek -dot- com. Writing samples don't have to be similar in format and style as wiseGEEK articles, although they are preferred. If the samples are something we're looking for we'll get back to you with more details about the job and let you know your next steps."

Good luck with wiseGEEK!