So how exactly do you get started on the road to making a full-time living by working part time from your computer? The first step is to find out which companies are looking for people just like you who want to work flexible hours. It's easy to sign up to fill out survey websites that pay real cash for opinions. There are hundreds of legitimate sites offering surveys and some offer higher payments than others so be sure to check them all out before signing up. Don't forget when filling out surveys there will usually be an option where you can join their affiliate program as well, allowing you to receive even more rewards. This article explains what you need to know about this lucrative career opportunity.
We'll start with a quick review of the types of jobs available through these websites then move onto answering several questions regarding how much money can you realistically expect to make. Let's jump right into it...
Surveys vs Product Testing
There are two main options open to those wanting to earn money taking surveys - either take surveys and sell the results on eBay, Amazon etc., or simply buy products (and possibly resell) and use those earnings to fund further surveys. Some users prefer one over another but both have pros and cons. The best way to decide whether selling surveys is worth the effort depends upon your preferences and skills. If you enjoy collecting things or if you're good at writing, think carefully about choosing surveys versus buying & selling.
Selling Surveys Online
If you choose to go down the path of selling surveys online, there are many ways to generate profits. Most of us would assume that someone earning $50 per hour must obviously be better at something than we are. However, not necessarily so. There may be plenty of reasons why someone might earn less than they should considering experience level, education, skill set and so forth. For example, while many people consider themselves "good" writers, few could write fiction convincingly (unless perhaps Stephen King). When selling surveys online, it pays to remember the old adage that says 'knowledge is power'. In other words, the more knowledge you possess, the greater your potential profit margin. You don't have to be Einstein to succeed but having basic literacy, a willingness to learn and an ability to research information thoroughly is important.
Buying Products To Sell On Your Own Site Or Another Website
Another popular method is to purchase items to resell and/or keep on hand yourself. As such, the type of item bought often determines the amount earned. Those willing to spend a little bit more are likely to make more money. For instance, while a $100 DVD player may cost only a couple of dollars to acquire, it will give you significantly more room to negotiate price than say, a box of DVDs. Obviously the more expensive the product, the larger the payout. Generally speaking however, most buyers won't notice any difference between low end and high end products anyway. People generally tend to focus on features instead of prices.
An additional benefit of purchasing particular goods rather than conducting surveys is that you can also look forward to future sales made by others. By creating a website dedicated to a specific niche market, you allow visitors to easily navigate around your site via search engines. After registering a domain name, setting up hosting and building content, you can begin marketing your site using free advertising methods. Once you've built traffic to your site, you can charge fees for subscriptions, downloads or purchases.
Other Ways To Make Money With A Survey Website
In addition to selling completed surveys, there are other opportunities to make money with survey websites. One of my favourite ways to earn money with a survey site is by completing offers related to products that interest me. For example, recently I was sent emails asking me to participate in trials of new skin care treatments. While I'm certainly no beauty expert, I did enjoy reading about these promising new developments. I was invited to complete a short trial application form and provide feedback regarding each product. Although I wasn't required to leave my email address, I opted to register with the site because I knew once I had tried the treatment, I'd want to continue receiving updates on its development. I didn't mind providing feedback because I genuinely wanted to help improve the quality of life of people suffering similar problems to mine. What impressed me about this company was that it offered a range of different skin conditions to treat so if you suffer from a condition that isn't listed, feel free to contact customer support directly.
As mentioned previously, the easiest way to make money from surveys is to simply create an account and fill out forms for various companies. These same companies will typically send periodic emails reminding you to stay subscribed. Of course, you can unsubscribe anytime you wish although you may miss out on special deals and promotions that come along now and again. Not every company does this but it helps remind you to stay active with the service and gives you the chance to explore alternative services. Just click on the link below to see which companies you qualify for today.
It's hard to accurately predict how much money can you actually make with online surveys. Factors affecting your earning include the number of surveys taken, the frequency of sending off requests, the average payment received and how quickly you respond to invitations. Unfortunately, there aren't too many reliable statistics available for online survey takers. That being said, certain factors seem to play a key role in determining how much money you'll make. First, let's examine the typical compensation rate provided by different survey panels. According to the U.S.-based Consumer Intelligence Research Partners' 2012 report titled How We Perceive Payments From Marketers Report [PDF], the median annual compensation ranged from approximately $900 for Internet panelists to $2,000 for phone panelists. Interestingly enough, the study found that men took slightly lower paying positions than women. Second, how long has it been since you last filled out a survey? Do you fall within the category of inactive members? Finally, are you aware of any negative experiences you've encountered due to poor customer service? All of these variables affect your chances to make money with surveys.
To illustrate how these factors impact your earning potential, I decided to run a hypothetical scenario based on data collected by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners. I chose a random respondent named Timmy whose age is 36 years old. He's married and works full time as a manager for a local supermarket. His wife doesn't currently contribute financially to household expenses. Timmy receives his monthly salary via direct deposit. He's interested in finding a second source of income and wants to determine how he can earn extra money during holidays without leaving his current job. Based on this profile, Timmy qualifies to participate in dozens of different surveys throughout the year.
Timmy takes roughly three months to fill out surveys. Assuming he completes five surveys per week, he expects to earn $1,200 total during the next twelve month period. During this 12 month period, Timmy responds to 60% of invitations. He earns half of all compensations ($600), meaning he spends 20 days working solely on surveys. Given his response percentage, Timmy believes he can increase this figure to 80%. Using our earlier example, Timmy decides to double his efforts and sends 10 responses to surveys per week. Over the next six months, he makes $3,300 compared to the previous $1,200. At the conclusion of this six month period, Timmy still continues to complete 5 surveys per week. Because of his increased success rate, he increases his expected revenue to $4,800. Also, assuming he maintains his present participation ratio, Timmy estimates that he'll finish his surveys sooner resulting in him saving 1 day of work.
After calculating his projected revenues over the entire 12 month period, Timmy concludes that he can reasonably justify quitting his regular job to pursue this endeavor. After factoring in inflation, taxes and overhead costs associated with keeping a traditional business afloat, Timmy calculates that he'll save himself nearly $10,000 annually. So, how much money can you really make doing online surveys? Click here to discover 28 ways to make money online in Australia. Work from home and earn extra income.
For those keen to investigate their eligibility to participate in surveys, there are several reputable organizations including Global Test Market, Harris Poll, Opinion Outpost, PanelBase, Propeller Consulting Inc., Voice User Experience Lab and Zogby International. Each organization requires slightly different criteria. For starters, registration varies according to country. Be sure to read through the terms and conditions of participating in surveys prior to submitting applications.
This post written by Ryan Dube.
There are many different methods of making money online. Some work better than others for Australians looking to get started with a part-time job that allows them the flexibility to pursue their passions while earning some cash at the same time. If you're wondering how you can start making good money on the internet, this article will tell you everything you need to know about getting involved in affiliate marketing, selling your own products, freelancing, and more.
Even if you don't want to go into one specific area, there's always room for improvement. You can try new skills once you've mastered what works best for you, whether it be blogging, social media management, copywriting, etc. Once you have experience under your belt, you'll eventually find something that suits your talents and interests the most. But before we dive into those options, let's take a look at four simple strategies anyone can use to begin earning an income online today.
1. Sell your stuff
The first step is to sell your unwanted items using platforms like eBay, Gumtree, OfferUp, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, Letgo, Mercari, Depop, Thredup, Shopify, Amazon, Etsy, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Nextdoor, Vinted, Fiverr... The list goes on! There are literally thousands of websites where people post used goods they'd like to buy. And because these sites allow you to set up your own listing, price it however high or low you wish, then promote it yourself, you could potentially turn your "junk" into big profits quickly.
2. Take surveys
You may not think of taking surveys as potential opportunities to make money online, but it really depends on who you ask. In general, survey companies pay around $5-$15 per completed questionnaire, which usually takes between 15 minutes and 2 hours. So depending on how long each question lasts, and how much information you give away during the process (including personal details), you can end up making significantly higher sums of money by filling out surveys instead of just writing off the cost of postage. To maximize earnings, check out our guide on the best places to fill out surveys and sign up to multiple offers simultaneously.
3. Start a blog/podcast/YouTube channel
If you enjoy expressing yourself through words, why not share your thoughts with the world? Writing blogs, creating podcasts, shooting videos, hosting webinars — all of these activities require no special technical knowledge or expensive equipment. All you need is passion and drive, plus persistence and patience when it comes to building readership and monetizing traffic.
4. Freelance jobs
Many Australian businesses hire third party contractors in order to meet temporary needs such as event planning, digital content creation, data entry, translation services, proofreading, voiceover recording, website design & development, graphic designing, photography, editing, virtual assistance, customer support, administrative tasks, SEO, video production, app development, consulting, project management, IT admin duties, etc. It's easy to see how you too could offer value to local small business owners, helping them save money on outsourcing costs. If you have unique qualifications or expertise, freelance projects might soon become available to you as well. Just search for relevant keywords related to your field of interest, and you should be able to locate plenty of gigs within minutes.
Of course, there are also other ways to make money online besides choosing to do so full-time. For example, you could consider investing in passive income streams such as real estate property rentals, buying foreclosures and flipping houses, starting your own membership site, launching a home delivery service, running a subscription box company, operating a network marketing business, becoming a consultant, teaching courses, promoting niche products, opening a catering business, offering children's parties, doing art commissions, providing dog walking services, renting office space, working as a life coach, conducting interviews, being a ghostwriter, coaching entrepreneurs, tutoring students, producing your own podcast series, etc.
With the right mindset it's possible to start making money online in Australia as soon as today. You just need a plan of action, focus on one task at a time and avoid distractions like social media. Follow these steps below for more ideas on how to get started earning an additional income in your spare time. This will be especially helpful if you're looking for some quick cash that doesn't require too much investment up front.
1) Set Your Goals - It sounds obvious but many people don't set goals so they never achieve them. Before starting any new project always take 30 minutes and write down what exactly do you want to accomplish. If you haven't done this yet then go ahead and create a list now. The most successful internet marketers have clearly defined their own goals before diving into anything new. When you know where you are going there is no room for doubt, confusion or fear which prevents progress. So think about what you really want to accomplish with each day and break those big tasks into smaller ones. For example, if you want to spend 6 hours completing research on Google AdWords, divide that goal by 5 (that would give you 2 hours per day). Now try not to spread yourself thin across multiple projects because chances are you won't finish everything within the timeframe you've allocated. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day!
2.) Find A Niche That Interests You - One way to generate passive income quickly is to find a niche market that has high demand for information products. This means finding something that interests you and building content around that topic. People love reading informative articles and learning new things so why not publish quality pieces that help others solve problems related to your area of interest? Once again, it all comes back to having clear objectives when working towards specific goals. Don't worry if you aren't sure what topics to choose because there are plenty out there. Just remember to keep it simple. Think of three topics that you'd enjoy talking about and stick to only those. The best part is once you master one subject, you'll build momentum and confidence to tackle other areas without feeling overwhelmed.
3.) Learn How To Market Online - There are loads of great marketing strategies available and it pays to learn several of them. Here are two top tips for beginners who are still unsure what works well for them. Firstly, search forums and blogs that relate to your chosen field and see what types of questions people ask most often. Then use relevant keywords throughout your article titles, subheadings and body copy. Secondly, look at what type of ads affiliate programs pay attention to. They usually feature links leading to sales pages with special offers such as free giveaways. Also, check out our complete guide to digital marketing.
4.) Join Social Media Networks Like Facebook & Twitter - These sites allow users to connect together based on mutual interests, hobbies and opinions. Use this power wisely by sharing valuable information through meaningful updates and comments. Never spam anyone though, otherwise they may report your profile to the authorities. Another tip is to join groups that share similar passions or hobbies. By responding to posts or commenting on discussions you'll gain followers interested in what you have to say. In turn, offer advice or recommendations to others while offering value rather than selling products. Keep focused on providing good service and eventually someone will notice.
5.) Start An E-Book Or Membership Site With Information Products - Creating your very first information product could be quite daunting for newcomers. But if you follow step 1 above you should already have enough clarity over what you want to provide others with. Next, consider creating a hand picked collection of eBooks, videos or audios related to your main theme. As long as the material isn't outdated, you should be able to sell it as an electronic download or physical book. Alternatively, you might prefer creating membership sites instead since memberships tend to cost less upfront and bring in recurring monthly revenue after that. Either way you decide to proceed, ensure you include detailed descriptions of every item included in order to increase conversions.
6.) Build Traffic And Conversions On Web Pages Related To Your Topic - Having traffic visiting your website is essential for generating leads, converting visitors into customers and ultimately turning them into repeat buyers. While getting targeted organic searches is difficult unless you know SEO inside out, using PPC advertising methods like Google AdWords allows you to promote almost any web page regardless of its popularity. There are lots of different approaches you can employ including blogging, email campaigns, video promotion and even forum marketing techniques. However, if you aim to rank highly on Google AdWords you must also understand the importance of keyword selection and bidding prices correctly. Fortunately, we wrote a full guide explaining how to drive massive amounts of qualified traffic to your site via PPC.
7.) Offer Free Reports Or Guides Through EzineArticles - Writing useful reports and guides for your target audience is another effective method to attract readers. Many Internet Marketer swear by the effectiveness of producing short mini-reports containing key points that can easily fit onto websites. Visitors can read these freely and sign up to receive regular emails informing them of future releases. We recommend writing at least four concise reports covering various aspects of your chosen niche. Afterward, simply submit the finished documents to popular article directories like EzineArticles.com.
8.) Write Articles Yourself And Sell Them To Other Websites - Article submission services exist solely for uploading your written materials directly to reputable websites. Although this strategy does involve a little effort, it provides numerous benefits. First off, you retain ownership rights over your original content. Second, you avoid being penalised by ad networks and article directories due to duplicate submissions. Third, it helps improve your overall reputation as an expert in your field. Finally, article marketing is fast becoming one of the most lucrative forms of Internet Marketing thanks to the huge number of visitors it attracts. Therefore, if you're serious about growing your business, submitting unique articles should become part of your daily routine.
9.) Create Video Tutorials Of Popular Steps Within Your Field - Today's consumers are visual creatures so they respond better to images than words. Videos are also easy to upload and distribute online for maximum exposure. If you're confident speaking in public then you could record audio versions of your texts and add voiceovers. Most importantly, produce tutorials that explain complex concepts in straightforward language. Avoid technical jargon and speak slowly and calmly. Remember, viewers are unlikely to watch lengthy presentations so shorter clips usually perform better.
10.) Promote Affiliate Offers Via Email Autoresponder Mailing List Services - Sending promotional messages to a large group of potential buyers is known as "email marketing". Since most people open email accounts only rarely, sending a newsletter to subscribers ensures your clients remain informed about your latest offerings. Several companies charge a small fee for managing mailing lists but there are many affordable alternatives too. Some even let you send unlimited newsletters for the same price. Try using a tool called ActiveCampaign to manage your subscriber database and stay compliant with anti-spam laws.
11.) Make Money From Survey Takers - Taking surveys online is a tried and tested technique used by thousands of businesses worldwide. Simply register for a few survey panels, complete the mandatory demographic details and select the options you wish to answer. Depending upon the nature of the survey panel you signed up for, you'll either receive payment via PayPal or direct bank transfer. Be aware however, that you normally won't qualify for higher payments until you reach a certain threshold of completed surveys. Generally, you'll receive between 25 cents and $15 per hour depending on the company you registered with.
12.) Become A Freelance Virtual Assistant - Working remotely as a virtual assistant requires flexibility and self-discipline. No matter whether you live in Sydney or Melbourne, there's ample opportunity to earn money helping other people fulfil their needs. All you need is a computer connected to the Internet and a reliable broadband connection. There are hundreds of freelance jobs currently listed on job boards like Gumtree, Seek and Indeed. Take advantage of the fact that employers rarely visit websites themselves and approach fellow Australians face to face. Ask local friends and family if they ever hired a VA and perhaps they could benefit from assistance.
13.) Earn Extra Income Doing Odd Jobs Around The Home - Are you handy with electronics or creative in arts and crafts? Do you possess skills in sports or music? Even kids can make excellent side hustles that pay real money. Consider setting up lawnmowers, cleaning carpets, assembling furniture, mowing gardens and running errands for neighbours. Parents can hire teenagers to deliver groceries, clean windows, wash cars and run errands. Kids can also babysit younger siblings or act as troupes to entertain children during school holidays. Whatever role appeals to you, remember that you don't necessarily need formal training or qualifications. Instead, pick up knowledge and experience from personal experiences and trial and error.
14.) Buy Used Items At Garage Sales Or Collectibles Shops - Buying items secondhand saves money and keeps resources away from landfills. Look for garage sale signs outside shops and supermarkets or browse eBay listings. Visit flea markets and swap meets to buy and sell used clothes, books, CDs, DVDs, toys and games. Check out eBay classified sections for collectible antiques and vintage memorabilia. Visit pawnshops or charity stores to trade unwanted goods for gift cards, vouchers or cash.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.