When I was a college student, the constant increasing in the cost of tuition, food, and gas had forced me to stretch every dollar I can and prompted me to look to the internet as a source of additional income.
However, type "free money", "making money online", or anything similar into Google or any other search engine and you'll be bombarded with thousands of sites. Unfortunately, few are legitimate and many are scams designed to trick you into pyramid schemes or worse, inadvertently cause you to disclose your personal information.
So what you'll find here is a small Squidoo lens about legitimate online and free money opportunities that I have encountered and experienced. Below are reviews of each one, not short summaries or "hidden advertisements". Keep in mind this is not a comprehensive list as I am sure there are many legitimate sites out there I have not indexed or come across yet. Nor is it the best site out there. If you look hard enough there are better sites than this one. Instead this lens is merely to be used as a reference or starting off point for those who are looking to make a little more money online.
Online Survey Sites
Get Paid to Take Surveys!
Pinecone Research:Of the survey organizations that I am currently a member of, Pinecone Research is hands down the best one out there. Pinecone Research offers product surveys designed to evaluate a consumers opinion on a prototype product. Occasionally they even send you the product to test yourself. Each survey pays $3 and takes about 30 minutes to complete. Payment is via check (arrives 3-5 business days after survey completion) or you can request to be paid via PayPal. The only problem with Pinecone Research, it's not easy to join. You have to be on the lookout for advertisements or a banner ad from Pinecone Research and these are easy to miss or disregard as "spam". You can visit their webpage via the link above to learn more about Pinecone Research.
MySurvey
MySurvey is similar to Pinecone Research in that the surveys they offer are similar to one another. Their survey's entail asking you about your opinion on a potentially new product and sometimes asks you about specific services. Unlike Pinecone Research though, the payouts for MySurvey survey's vary. There are many screener surveys that are worth about 10 points each (1 point = $0.01) with major surveys worth between 200-500 points. MySurvey also seems to ask for more personal information than any other survey organization on this lens, which is a little unsettling. But they do pay out, with the minimum to cash out being 1000 points ($10.00) and the check arriving within a month. Or you can exchange your points for a variety of prizes instead. Note, MySurvey just recently added an "adtracker" to their cookies that tracks your browsing habits. You must opt out of this by unchecking the checkbox under your profile.
American Consumer Opinion
Of the survey sites I am currently a member of, American Consumer Opinion seems to have the lowest frequency of surveys. In the few months I have been a member of American Consumer Opinion, I can count the number of surveys I've filled out for them on one hand. American Consumer Opinion focuses more on consumer activities, so perhaps this is the reason their surveys are few and far between, as they are not object or prototype oriented. Each survey has a screening criteria you must meet before you are allowed to take the paid survey. The consolation prize if you don't qualify, a sweepstakes entry. However if you do qualify, each survey pays $4 and is paid within 3-5 business days of the completion of the survey.
Online Advertising:
Display Ads for Money
Google Adsense:
Type this into Google or any other search engine and you'll find differing opinions on Google Adsense. Touted as an easy way to make some additional income on your webiste/blog, Google Adsense does deliver in that aspect. Simply sign up, register your webpage, and voila, Adsnense generates the advertisement code. Simply cut and paste the code into your website.
However, getting paid is not so easy. First you must fill out a W-9 and send the information to Google. This implies the IRS will be notified of your earnings. Second, it takes a minimum of $100 to cash out your earnings. This is great if you have a website with a large volume of traffic but horrible if you're a small website host with little traffic. So depending on the volume of traffic, it can take days, or perhaps years before you can collect on your earnings.
Furthermore, due to years of fraudulent activities, Adsense has very finicky fraud prevention software that will immediately ban your account if it even remotely detects fraudulent activity. And with Google acting as the judge and jury with arbitration, if your account is banned good luck getting it reinstated.
Thus Adsense is potentially an excellent means to generate additional income if you're site already has a dedicated flow of traffic. But if you're one of the smaller sites, it's better to wait until you have increased the amount of traffic to your site. .
Type this into Google or any other search engine and you'll find differing opinions on Google Adsense. Touted as an easy way to make some additional income on your webiste/blog, Google Adsense does deliver in that aspect. Simply sign up, register your webpage, and voila, Adsnense generates the advertisement code. Simply cut and paste the code into your website.
However, getting paid is not so easy. First you must fill out a W-9 and send the information to Google. This implies the IRS will be notified of your earnings. Second, it takes a minimum of $100 to cash out your earnings. This is great if you have a website with a large volume of traffic but horrible if you're a small website host with little traffic. So depending on the volume of traffic, it can take days, or perhaps years before you can collect on your earnings.
Furthermore, due to years of fraudulent activities, Adsense has very finicky fraud prevention software that will immediately ban your account if it even remotely detects fraudulent activity. And with Google acting as the judge and jury with arbitration, if your account is banned good luck getting it reinstated.
Thus Adsense is potentially an excellent means to generate additional income if you're site already has a dedicated flow of traffic. But if you're one of the smaller sites, it's better to wait until you have increased the amount of traffic to your site. .
MMO/Online Gaming
Playing and Making Money? - It's Not Easy, But Possible...
Second Life(R):Second Life is a viable means to generate a second income for yourself. As a virtual world, Second Life has its own virtual economy which rotates around the in-game currency known as the linden(TM). And in many ways earning lindens is similar to earning money in real life. You can deal with virtual property, run a shop, fill out "surveys" for lindens, run a dance club or bar, and more. Not to mention, there is the most controversial method to earn linden, known as camping. This involves literally sitting at one location for a fixed period of time to earn linden dollars.
All your earnings can be cashed out via Linden Labs internal exchange, known as the LindeX(TM). This does involve verifying your account, meaning you have to purchase at least $1.00 of lindens before you are allowed to use the LindeX. There are other exchange sites available if you are uncomfortable with this, such as SLexchange.com.
However, keep in mind it takes quite a bit of linden to cash out any significant earnings. Lindens are currently worth about $0.0033/linden, according to this article And while the basic account is free, there is a very steep learning curve involved with Second Life. After going through the tutorial, you are literally "dumped" into the Second Life world with no money akin to a homeless person on the street. Furthermore, only premium account holders, not basic account holders, can own land in most areas of Second Life.
If you are able to overcome the learning curve, you may find Second Life a viable source of second income. You can also click here to access a lens I designed outlining the easiest method to earn lindens. Just be prepared to spend a bit of time establishing yourself as well as earning enough linden dollars to get started.
Online Publications
Write Articles For Money!
Associated Content
A site I stumbled across when I first started looking at the internet for revenue, Associated Content offers both an upfront payment (upon which you sell your entire copyright right or partial copyright rights) as well as an additional bonus payment of $1.50 per 1000 views of your article with better payouts as you increase in "clout", or page views. You can also post slideshows and videos as well, so don't think you are limited to simply writing articles. As Associated Content has grown through the last few years, their "editors" have increased scrutiny and reduced the frequency of their upfront payments, however the bonus payments still remain. Recently Associated Content implemented a new policy allowing users to publish and control the time their articles and seem to be geared less toward upfront payments and more toward the aforementioned bonus payments. An additional benefit to publishing on Associated Content is that articles listed are indexed by Google relatively quickly (slideshows and videos take some time to be indexed unfortunately...). Articles require 450 words at a minimum and can be on any topic you desire to write about. Payout minimums are $1.50 for bonus payments (payable to PayPal) with no minimum required for up-front payments (also payable to PayPal). Upfront payments vary, usually with the minimum being $2 per article going up to $10-12 depending on how well the editors believe the article will bring in traffic.
Squidoo
And of course I must mention Squidoo. Similar to Associated Content, Squidoo allows users to write on anything they desire. However, unlike Associated Content's more serious atmosphere, Squidoo (if you haven't noticed already) has a much lighter and fun atmosphere. Creating a "lens" in Squidoo is easy and takes a few minutes, especially with the convenience of pre-made modules. Each lens also receives a ranking, and this ranking is what determines the amount you earn from ad-sharing revenue which is distributed every month. Payout minimums are $1 but you can earn additional money through royalties and affiliate sales on your lens too. Remember though, if you are writing on Squidoo not for fun but for money, your lens rank needs to be high in order to generate good amounts of secondary income.
A site I stumbled across when I first started looking at the internet for revenue, Associated Content offers both an upfront payment (upon which you sell your entire copyright right or partial copyright rights) as well as an additional bonus payment of $1.50 per 1000 views of your article with better payouts as you increase in "clout", or page views. You can also post slideshows and videos as well, so don't think you are limited to simply writing articles. As Associated Content has grown through the last few years, their "editors" have increased scrutiny and reduced the frequency of their upfront payments, however the bonus payments still remain. Recently Associated Content implemented a new policy allowing users to publish and control the time their articles and seem to be geared less toward upfront payments and more toward the aforementioned bonus payments. An additional benefit to publishing on Associated Content is that articles listed are indexed by Google relatively quickly (slideshows and videos take some time to be indexed unfortunately...). Articles require 450 words at a minimum and can be on any topic you desire to write about. Payout minimums are $1.50 for bonus payments (payable to PayPal) with no minimum required for up-front payments (also payable to PayPal). Upfront payments vary, usually with the minimum being $2 per article going up to $10-12 depending on how well the editors believe the article will bring in traffic.
Squidoo
And of course I must mention Squidoo. Similar to Associated Content, Squidoo allows users to write on anything they desire. However, unlike Associated Content's more serious atmosphere, Squidoo (if you haven't noticed already) has a much lighter and fun atmosphere. Creating a "lens" in Squidoo is easy and takes a few minutes, especially with the convenience of pre-made modules. Each lens also receives a ranking, and this ranking is what determines the amount you earn from ad-sharing revenue which is distributed every month. Payout minimums are $1 but you can earn additional money through royalties and affiliate sales on your lens too. Remember though, if you are writing on Squidoo not for fun but for money, your lens rank needs to be high in order to generate good amounts of secondary income.
Paid to Post Sites
Get Paid to Post/Write on Forums
Cashtalk
Cashtalk is primarily a forum in which users can discuss and talk about various PTC sites as well as other online money making opportunities. In addition to this, if you are active and post long enough, you can purchase specific items that you can cash out for real cash. Each post gives you one point for each word in your post with a 50 point bonus for starting a new post. However, the payout and rates tend to change/increase constantly. Currently, 100,000 points are needed to cash out $0.50, an increase from 30,000 points back in March of 2008. Furthermore, there is no direct method of payment. Once you purchase an item, you must send a private message to one of the forum moderators with your account information to cash out. E-gold and Paypal are the two most common methods of payment. If you like to discuss and stay active on forums, than Cashtalk may work for you. Everybody else, keep in mind that it takes a long time to earn the 100,000 to cash out. Oh...and be careful when you post. Even if you think you are posting a new PTC or other online money making site, the mods can decrease you karma/reputation on Cashtalk if they remotely think you are "double posting".
Cashtalk is primarily a forum in which users can discuss and talk about various PTC sites as well as other online money making opportunities. In addition to this, if you are active and post long enough, you can purchase specific items that you can cash out for real cash. Each post gives you one point for each word in your post with a 50 point bonus for starting a new post. However, the payout and rates tend to change/increase constantly. Currently, 100,000 points are needed to cash out $0.50, an increase from 30,000 points back in March of 2008. Furthermore, there is no direct method of payment. Once you purchase an item, you must send a private message to one of the forum moderators with your account information to cash out. E-gold and Paypal are the two most common methods of payment. If you like to discuss and stay active on forums, than Cashtalk may work for you. Everybody else, keep in mind that it takes a long time to earn the 100,000 to cash out. Oh...and be careful when you post. Even if you think you are posting a new PTC or other online money making site, the mods can decrease you karma/reputation on Cashtalk if they remotely think you are "double posting".
A Word of Warning for PTC Sites
Below you will find my reviews on PTC sites. Before you consider them though, do the following to protect your personal information and your computer.
Under your browser settings, make sure ActiveX controls are turned off or set to ask you for permission to run the ActiveX control.
Second, make sure you have an up to date virus scanner such as Norton Antivirus. Many of the advertisements on PTC sites carry downloaders and other viruses that will download themselves to your computer.
Third, make sure you have an up to date spyware scanner such as Microsoft Antispyware, or the free versions of Lavasoft's Adaware or Spybot Search and Destroy. Like viruses, many PTC sites have advertisements that will downoad spyware onto your computer via ActiveX controls (which is why they're turned off).
If you are unfamiliar with computers I highly recommend you avoid PTC sites as a virus or massive spyware infection can be very difficult to fix or remove.
Under your browser settings, make sure ActiveX controls are turned off or set to ask you for permission to run the ActiveX control.
Second, make sure you have an up to date virus scanner such as Norton Antivirus. Many of the advertisements on PTC sites carry downloaders and other viruses that will download themselves to your computer.
Third, make sure you have an up to date spyware scanner such as Microsoft Antispyware, or the free versions of Lavasoft's Adaware or Spybot Search and Destroy. Like viruses, many PTC sites have advertisements that will downoad spyware onto your computer via ActiveX controls (which is why they're turned off).
If you are unfamiliar with computers I highly recommend you avoid PTC sites as a virus or massive spyware infection can be very difficult to fix or remove.
PTC - Pay to Click Sites
View Advertisements and Get Paid!
ClixnCash:
The best aspect of ClixnCash is its low payout threshold, $0.50 for a PayPal account (used to be $0.25). Unfortunately, the earnings rate for each advertisement is very low too, around $0.001 per ad which must be viewed for 10 seconds each. Fortunately, ClixnCash offers an average of 9-11 advertisements per day which is more than some other click and earn advertisement programs. You can only look at one advertisement at a time though. ClixnCash also has a banner advertisement bonus system, paying $0.75 per CPM. For those interested in trying out PTC sites, I highly recommend starting with ClixnCash. If you're interested, please click on the banner ad below to learn more and use me as a reference!
Neobux:
Neobux has a relatively higher average view per advertisement at $0.01 per ad. However, the basic membership only sees an average of 5-7 ads per day. The payout for Neobux starts out low, at $2. However this increases by $1 each time you cash out and peaks at $10. This means the first time you cash out, the minimum is $2. The next time it is $3. And this goes on until $10. Each ad also requires about 30 seconds of view time and like other PTC sites, you can only view one at a time. If you're interested, please click on the banner ad below to learn more and use me as a reference!
Adverbux
On the recommendation of others, I signed up and tried the Adverbux PTC site. Adverbux claims to allow you to earn money not only by viewing ads, but also by playing games. However, the minimum payout for Adverbux is initially $10, which then increases to $15 after you cash out the first time. Furthermore, unlike Neobux or ClixnCash, I have only seen between 3-5 advertisements per 24 hours on Adverbux. And these advertisements are only worth about $0.001-$0.0035 per click. The games, while fun, are also worth little too, paying $0.001 per play. You can play 100 games a day to earn $0.10 a day, but I don't see myself spending that much time. I also have been flagged for cheating on Adverbux, which further irritated me since I DON'T CHEAT!!! Perhaps with referrals Adverbux may be a viable PTC site, but for those new to the PTC arena I highly recommend you stay away from the site. But if you're interested, consider me as a referral by clicking the banner below. But remember my recommnedation for the site...
Deep-C-Links
Like Adverbux, on the advice of other PTC users, I was referred to Deep-C-Links. Like other PTC sites, Deep-C-Links offers the clickable ads for cash. Unlike the other PTC sites I've used, Deep-C-Links also offers "paid e-mails". This entails an e-mail being sent to your inbox with an advertisement link. Clicking on the link/advertisement and viewing the page for up to 15-20 seconds then credits your account with points or cash. The number and volume of paid e-mails is intense, and e-mails from Deep-C-Links now constitute a majority of messages caught by my spam filter. However, note the payout is extremely low, the ones I've been getting average about $0.0002 per click. And no...I am not mistaken with the number of zeros in that value. Furthermore, the minimum to cash out is $8, so like other PTC sites unless you can get tons of referrals, don't expect to cash out anytime soon. Other than that, Deep-C-Links appears legitimate. If interested, please use me as a referrer by clicking on the banner ad below!
The best aspect of ClixnCash is its low payout threshold, $0.50 for a PayPal account (used to be $0.25). Unfortunately, the earnings rate for each advertisement is very low too, around $0.001 per ad which must be viewed for 10 seconds each. Fortunately, ClixnCash offers an average of 9-11 advertisements per day which is more than some other click and earn advertisement programs. You can only look at one advertisement at a time though. ClixnCash also has a banner advertisement bonus system, paying $0.75 per CPM. For those interested in trying out PTC sites, I highly recommend starting with ClixnCash. If you're interested, please click on the banner ad below to learn more and use me as a reference!
Neobux:
Neobux has a relatively higher average view per advertisement at $0.01 per ad. However, the basic membership only sees an average of 5-7 ads per day. The payout for Neobux starts out low, at $2. However this increases by $1 each time you cash out and peaks at $10. This means the first time you cash out, the minimum is $2. The next time it is $3. And this goes on until $10. Each ad also requires about 30 seconds of view time and like other PTC sites, you can only view one at a time. If you're interested, please click on the banner ad below to learn more and use me as a reference!
Adverbux
On the recommendation of others, I signed up and tried the Adverbux PTC site. Adverbux claims to allow you to earn money not only by viewing ads, but also by playing games. However, the minimum payout for Adverbux is initially $10, which then increases to $15 after you cash out the first time. Furthermore, unlike Neobux or ClixnCash, I have only seen between 3-5 advertisements per 24 hours on Adverbux. And these advertisements are only worth about $0.001-$0.0035 per click. The games, while fun, are also worth little too, paying $0.001 per play. You can play 100 games a day to earn $0.10 a day, but I don't see myself spending that much time. I also have been flagged for cheating on Adverbux, which further irritated me since I DON'T CHEAT!!! Perhaps with referrals Adverbux may be a viable PTC site, but for those new to the PTC arena I highly recommend you stay away from the site. But if you're interested, consider me as a referral by clicking the banner below. But remember my recommnedation for the site...
Myclix.biz
Based on what I read in a PTC forum, I decided to give Myclix a try. Myclix more or less tempts you with a $0.02 payout. You're reading that right...only two cents to payout to a Paypal account. That's the good news. The bad news is that the number of ads usually range between 0-2 a day paying about $0.001-$0.0025 per ad. So while the payout is low, it does take a little time to even reach the $0.02 making high earnings for this PTC site dependent on referrals. And note the "0", that's right...some days there are no ads to click on. Furthermore, once you register, you will notice an eerie resemblance to Clixncash as the user interface for Myclix looks exactly like Clixncash. Regardless, Myclix can be a useful as another PTC site to click upon in your spare time. After all, those $0.02 are going to add up over time! (My referral link is below, please use me as one if you're interested!).
Deep-C-Links
Like Adverbux, on the advice of other PTC users, I was referred to Deep-C-Links. Like other PTC sites, Deep-C-Links offers the clickable ads for cash. Unlike the other PTC sites I've used, Deep-C-Links also offers "paid e-mails". This entails an e-mail being sent to your inbox with an advertisement link. Clicking on the link/advertisement and viewing the page for up to 15-20 seconds then credits your account with points or cash. The number and volume of paid e-mails is intense, and e-mails from Deep-C-Links now constitute a majority of messages caught by my spam filter. However, note the payout is extremely low, the ones I've been getting average about $0.0002 per click. And no...I am not mistaken with the number of zeros in that value. Furthermore, the minimum to cash out is $8, so like other PTC sites unless you can get tons of referrals, don't expect to cash out anytime soon. Other than that, Deep-C-Links appears legitimate. If interested, please use me as a referrer by clicking on the banner ad below!
