Work at Home Grandma

How To Start Your Own Blog

2011-12-02T08:58:00.000-08:00

Many people ask how they can start their own blog, either to make money, support their business or to share pictures or recipes with family and friends. There are several platforms that allow you to start your own blog. Each one is pretty simple and there is no need to be a computer whiz or even know HTML.

So here is how to start your own blog. Go to Blogger.com and enter the name you have chosen. Then, click on the link below the box that says, "check availability." There are so many blogs that even if you think you have a cute and unique name, you may have to keep trying to find an available name. Once you have found an available name, simply push "create blog." Presto, you now have your own blog.

You can choose your design and format, which Blogger makes super easy under the "Design" tab. You can add gadgets with the "add a gadget" box while in the design mode to browse the many options of what you can add to your blog. You can do it at your own pace, so you do not have to figure it all out at one time. You can also change it anytime you like.

Now under the "posting" tab, click on "new post." Type a title and the content of your first post, then push "publish." If it is just a personal blog or to share family recipes or pictures, then that is truly all there is to it. If you choose to monetize your blog, which means to place ads on your blog to earn money and support your efforts, Blogger even makes that easy with Google AdSense.

You will need to apply for a Google AdSense account, which I believe most people do after there is already content on their site. Just go to adsense.com and Google will guide you through the process. Once you are approved, click on the "monetize" tab of your new blog. It will guide you through choosing and adding your ads.

It's that simple to create your own blog, but there is a lot more to it if you are wanting to create a blog to make money online. No one simply types a couple of articles or posts, joins AdSense and immediately starts making $5,000 a month. There are plenty of people who do make a living with their blogs, but they have put in a lot of time and effort. So it is in no way a "get rich quick" scheme. You will have to learn about SEO, keywords, Google ranking, etc., if you intend to make money with your blog. A Google search for any of those terms will bring up tons of results to choose from in order to get started.

Working Solutions

2011-11-26T08:13:00.000-08:00

Working Solutions provides opportunities to make money online working at home on the phone. Working Solutions looks for "skilled, educated, and motivated people" to assist customers with sales, service and technical support transactions. You will need an up-to-date computer, a high speed internet connection and a land line telephone. Each project pays differently, ranging from $7.50 to $30.00 an hour. Agents are paid every other week by direct deposit or a check in the mail. The apply, fill out the application on their page. The application process also includes a two part test.

More Sites Like Fiverr

2011-11-21T18:19:00.000-08:00

Here are nine more sites like Fiverr. So you do not have to limit yourself to only Fiverr or only $5 tasks with or without the upsell. Fiverr is a good choice, but these sites allow you to sell services for anywhere from $3 to up to $100. If you already offer a great gig, you can earn more by adding it to more sites. If you do not already have a great gig, then do some brainstorming as you browse these sites and come up with one!

FittyTown.com - On this site the gigs go for $50, paid via PayPal.

TwentyVille.com -Everything goes for $20, paid via PayPal.

JustaFive.com - Choose between $5 or $10 or $20.

GigBucks.com - Post your gigs for $5 to $100, paid via PayPal.

GigHour.com - Post gigs for $3, $5, $7 and $10, paid via PayPal.

GigMe5.com - Another site like Fiverr with $5 gigs.

TaskArmy.com - Gigs go for $19, $49 and $99.

TenBux.com - More $5 or $10 gigs.

Tenrr.com - You can offer gigs for up to $10.

Fiverr

2011-11-21T17:48:00.000-08:00

Make money online with Fiverr. Fiverr is becoming a very popular site where you post what you will do for $5. What some do not realize is there is an upsell feature. So when you present a gig for $5, you can include additional options for say $10. Think of it like reverse freelancing, where you state what you will do then the client chooses the jobs he or she wants to buy - instead of the other way around. You can sign up and add a job, which is called a gig, in just a minute or two. What may take some time is thinking of something creative that is in demand. Some examples of gigs offered is bookmarking sites, mailing a child a letter from Santa and many, many others. Some of the gigs are quite comical and browsing through them can give you some good ideas. The key is coming up with the right idea that you can perform quickly and receive many orders. So do some brainstorming and see what you can come up with to make money with Fiverr.

TDEC

2011-11-18T17:56:00.000-08:00

TDEC is another work at home making money online doing data entry opportunity. TDEC has governmental and business clients. You will need a broadband internet connection, a PC with Windows, at least a l.5 Ghz processor, and at least 512 MB RAM. The application process involves filling out and submitting the paperwork on their page. TDEC only responds to successful applicants who are then interviewed and given a short keying text. TDEC provides training via a toll free conference call.

There are no complaints again TDEC on Ripoff Report.

Purple Shark Transcription

2011-11-16T12:32:00.000-08:00

Purple Shark Transcription is another work at home making money online transcription opportunity. Purple Shark has been in business since 1995 and there are no complaints on RipOff Report against them. Purple Shark provides transcription for corporations, authors, journalists, doctoral students and others. The transcription consists of interviews, speeches, dictation, audio conferences, webinars, etc.

I have heard a lot about Purple Shark, and I believe they are legitimate even though I have never worked for them. I understand there is test and a minimum typing speed requirement, but I am unable to verify that on their webpage. I am also unable to verify their pay scale and the employment process! I am making you aware of this opportunity, even though there is not much information.

We Scribe It

2011-11-13T13:07:00.000-08:00

We Scribe It offers general, legal and medical transcription for experienced transcribers who are U.S. residents. Here are the requirements:

The general requirements are six months of experience in the last two years, a typing speed of 55 wpm and knowledge of the correct formats of various documents. For legal you need one year of legal transcription experience in the last two years, a typing speed of 55 wpm and knowledge of the formats of relevant documents. For medical one year of medical transcription experience in the last two years is required, as well as a minimum typing speed of 55 wpm and knowledge of the formats of the relevant documents. In all cases you must also be able to follow instructions and be detail oriented.

The pay scale starts at one-half cent per word ($0.005) for general and legal work and three-quarter cents per word ($0.0075) for medical. I believe they pay twice a month, but I have not been able to verify that.

There is an application on their webpage at the above link, to fill out and submit. The test will then be mailed to you. If you do well on the test and We Scribe It is hiring, then you will hear back from them. So you could hear back quickly or not for quite some time depending on your score and their workload.

Quality Gal

2011-11-13T12:45:00.000-08:00

Quality Gal is another way for even a beginner to make money online by writing quality content. While no experience or even a resume is required, all writers are held to the same standards. There is an application process and a test assignment. Quality Gal pays an average of $18 per article, with a range of $12 to $30. Quality Gal pays every Friday via PayPal or by check. Depending on your situation and goals, receiving earnings that quickly can be a huge plus over waiting a month or more for payment or revenue sharing.

Writers are given writing assignments with instructions, which must be completed and submitted by the deadline. So you will not be choosing your own specific topic, but part of the application process is asking you what topics are of interest to you. I have not worked for Quality Gal, but those who have often give rave reviews of the great staff and positive environment.

Textbroker

2011-11-10T21:57:00.000-08:00

After my experience with Textbroker in the last week, I am updating and expanding my original review. Many times I have seen Textbroker suggested as a way to make money online writing. I had previously considered checking it out personally, but I guess I never took the time to actually sign up. I knew Textbroker was legitimate prior to my original review, but now I have personal experience to share with you.

I am quite impressed with Textbroker so far. I have some experience with HubPages and Squidoo, which are revenue sharing sites where you can pretty much write about whatever you want. Textbroker is different in that it is not revenue sharing, but you are paid a set price upon acceptance of your article. Secondly, you choose from the available topics. So, you can choose within the available topics, but you are writing according to the directions of the assignments. None of these sites require you to be a professional writer to participate.

For HubPages and Squidoo, you just sign up and start publishing within the guidelines. You apply at Textbrokers, but you only need to submit a 120 word writing sample. You will then receive an email with a rating of level 2, 3 or 4. There is a level 5, but that is for professional writers. I finally decided to try this last week. I submitted a writing sample based on the one of the four suggested topics. I received a rating of 4 in an email the next day. I was pleasantly surprised with the rating! I am not an English major or a professional writer, so that should be encouraging to anyone considering Textbrokers.

Once you receive your rating, you will have access to choose assignments at your level and lower. For example, a level 4 can accept assignments for levels 2, 3 and 4, but not level 5. So I signed in after receiving my rating and began searching for the first assignment. I chose one that gave me a full 24 hours to finish. I wrote it and submitted the article.

A couple of hours later the client accepted my article and the funds were immediately credited to my account. In my earning money online experience, that is a fast payday! Many online jobs pay once a month or even once a month for work done the previous month. That can leave you waiting for several weeks or even a couple of months for a paycheck.

Two things are required to transfer your funds from your Textbroker account. First, you must have a PayPal account and enter your PayPal email. Secondly, no funds will be released until Textbroker receives your W-9 by fax or snail mail. So you may want to take care of those two things as quickly as possible. While Textbroker previously paid on the 5th and the 20th, they now pay every Friday. You must submit your request for payment on Thursday. So, see their guidelines to make sure you meet the deadline.

I am impressed with Textbroker even in this short amount of time. There have been several hundred assignments available each time I have logged in. The format is easy to follow and the payment process is fast. There is also a note on the page indicating once you establish yourself much higher paying assignments become available to you. At this point most of the assignments are for a few hundred words and pay up to $15.00. If you can knock several of those out in a day, then you should be able to make money fairly quickly. I have seen a couple of assignments paying more than that, but it is by the word so those required larger word counts. I would highly recommend Textbroker if you enjoy writing and you are looking for "upfront" payment.

Landmark Associates

2011-11-08T21:59:00.000-08:00

Landmark Associates is currently hiring experienced transcribers. This work at home opportunity offers academic, legal and insurance transcription. The instructions and test are right on the application page. Once you complete the test, send your completed transcript and resume to Landmark Associates via the email address listed. I did not find the pay rate listed on their page, but from what I can gather from around the web, it is $0.85 - $0.90 per audio minute (or $51.00 - $54.00 an audio hour).

Landmark Associates, Inc., was founded in 1987 in Tempe, Arizona. There are no complaints on Ripoff Report, nor do I find the company registered with the Better Business Bureau with the Tempe address.

Associated Content

2011-11-08T18:35:00.000-08:00

Associated Content welcomes writers from beginners to professionals to make money online writing. Submissions are reviewed by editors. You choose between upfront payment and/or revenue sharing options, with upfront payments generally ranging from $1.50 to $15.00. Associated Content pays the second Wednesday of each month via PayPal for work from the previous month. This opportunity is available worldwide, but make sure that PayPal is available in your country.

Demand Studios

2011-11-08T17:55:00.000-08:00

Demand Studios is a popular site to make money online writing if you have an intermediate skill level. Demand Studios pays on Tuesday and Friday each week, paying between $7.00 to $40.00 an article. This opportunity is open for those in the United States and Canada. To apply, fill out the application and attach your resume.

ChaCha

2011-11-05T09:55:00.000-07:00

Do you ChaCha? ChaCha is something I have heard a lot about so I decided to check it out. There are five different guide roles ChaCha offers, paying from $0.005 cent per task to $0.20 per task. You sign up and take a test. Be sure you do well the first time because if you do not pass the test you can NEVER take it again!

I took the test and got an email the next day telling me I had passed. I was assigned the role of Vetter. A Vetter has the incoming question display on the dashboard, does a quick search within ChaCha for the best answer, corrects any grammar or spelling errors in the selected answer, then sends it off to the client. A Vetter can also give an original response instead of choosing one of the available answers. There is a three minute time limit in which to answer each question. For satisfactorily completing each task ChaCha pays $0.005 (one-half cent).

The pay is monthly after reaching the threshold amount of $150, which is deposited into your bank account via direct deposit. You can also set up an account with the bank ChaCha recommends and get paid as you go, but there is a $2.00 fee per transaction.

It is fast paced during peak times and can even be fun. I might take it more seriously if the pay was not so very low. I immediately began receiving high volume alerts with bonuses as high as $800. This means there are more questions coming in than they have guides available to handle them. I think I have received these alerts pretty much every day since signing up. So it definitely appears they are in need if this is something you are interested in.

My issue is the pay is one-half cent per task. So for example if I answered even one question per minute for one hour, that would be $0.005 x 60 tasks = 30 cents! The way I understand the bonus system is everyone who completes the required number of transactions during the peak alert period receives a portion of the bonus amount ($800 in this example). There are other bonus systems as well. So that does increase the pay some, but unless I am missing something this appears to be something one would only do for fun or a few dollars. Some of the other guide positions do pay up to $0.20 per task, which might be more worth the effort. It's my understanding that currently ChaCha is only hiring Vetters, which I would guess is subject to change at some point.

Hausernet Mail Decoy

2011-11-05T09:13:00.000-07:00

Hausernet is another of the mail decoy opportunities available to make a little extra money online. Like U.S. Monitor and Quotas, Hauser sends mail to your address and you let them know when you receive it. You let Hauser know what condition the mail is in when you receive it and you may need to be able to scan a piece of mail at times.

I want to make you aware this opportunity is out there, but there are currently a couple of complaints on Ripoff Report. So you may want to check those out prior to determining if this is an opportunity you are interested in.

Quotas - Mail Decoy

2011-11-05T08:59:00.000-07:00

Quotas is another mail decoy opportunity like U.S. Monitor. You sign up, if Quotas needs someone in your area they send you mail. You then let Quotas know when you receive the mail and what condition it is in.

U. S. Monitor

2011-11-05T08:02:00.000-07:00

U.S. Monitor is a unique way to earn some extra money online as a mail decoy. What in the world is a mail decoy? Well, you sign up with U.S. Monitor and they send you mail - snail mail, not email. Then you log on to tell U.S. Monitor the date you received the mail and the condition it was in. It's as easy as that and you will be paid $0.25 per piece of mail. At first you may not receive much mail, but the amount of mail generally increases with time. To apply just fill out the brief application and U.S. Monitor will contact you if there is an opening in your area. There are no complaints against U.S. Monitor on the Ripoff Report.

Dion Data Solutions

2011-10-31T22:53:00.000-07:00

Data entry is said to be the most popular online search for those wanting to making money online working at home. Undoubtedly, it was that popularity that led to the seemingly endless data entry scams. Do NOT pay anyone claiming to offer data entry work! Legitimate companies do not charge you to work for them!

I previously mentioned Key for Cash in another article. Key for Cash is one legitimate data entry company that allows you to make money online working at home. The second legitimate online data entry company that I am aware of is Dion Data Solutions. Be warned, no one ever seems to leave this job once they get in! Dion Data is currently accepting applications! So, if you type 60 wpm or more and you are interested in data entry, then now is the time to apply.

Paid Surveys for Beginners

2011-10-31T22:29:00.000-07:00

The first thing many people searching for ways to make money online or work at home opportunities often do is start signing up for paid surveys. I started with a few when I began working at home, too. I also unsubscribed from several! There are a few things to remember if you are interested in earning money online with paid surveys. You want legitimate paid survey companies with sound privacy policies, reasonable surveys and who actually pay! There were several I did not join after a little bit of research. Also, remember it takes some time in the beginning to complete your profiles which are used to qualify you for surveys. So in the beginning you may get various surveys you do not qualify for, but if you hang in there that should pretty quickly change as you complete your profile information. Also, it is not unusual to receive better paying surveys as you establish yourself with a company, as well as possible product testing opportunities if that paid survey company offers product testing. So there is an initial investment of time, but if you are with a legitimate paid survey company, it should pay off in the long run.

A few will say you need to pay for a list of surveys, but I found those are usually the ones selling the lists or benefiting from the sale in some way. You also have to be careful in that some work at home or make money online webmasters have numerous webpages or blogs, which can cause it to appear that everyone thinks this or that is great when it actually may only be the same couple of people. Mostly what I have read from people who did pay for a list of surveys was that they could have gotten the information for free. So I would caution you about paying anyone for a list of paid survey companies. Actually, I would strongly caution anyone about paying any company to work for them! The fancy cars, stacks of money and promises of making a fortune on these sites are also usually good warning signs of scams.

I have found SurveyPolice.com to be a good resource. Due to my personal taste, I have a different set of top 10 paid surveys, but Survey Police was a good resource for me. Survey Police verifies the legitimacy of survey companies, reviews their privacy policy, their rewards, etc. Survey Police also allows individuals to comment on their experiences with paid survey companies and rate that experience. So I would definitely start there instead of paying someone for a list of paid survey companies. Then, of course, checking sites like scam.com and Ripoff Report is usually a good idea, too. Also remember to check different sources because sometimes there are great reviews of not-so-great companies simply because the person is earning from the referral program. When you click on their referral link to that company after reading the great review, they are making a percentage of what you make after you join.

Some claim to be making a living off of paid surveys alone and I guess that is possible depending on how many survey companies you sign up for and how low your monthly expenses are, but I do not see it as very probable. I think it is more realistic for most to view paid surveys as some extra pocket money, which may take a couple of months to build before you begin to reap the rewards. By this I mean paid survey sites of actual brick and mortar research firms, not the companies claiming to be paid survey sites that really offer "get paid to" (GPT) choices much more than paid surveys. You will find several of those kind of sites listed at the bottom in the "unverified" portion of the Survey Police site that are widely promoted on other forums. Some people swear by these pure or hybrid GPT sites, but I am not one of them.

This is all of the information I am aware of to give you in order for you to make an informed decision. I think this will give you a good start with paid surveys and help you to avoid the popular scams. Good luck!

Verbal Ink

2011-10-28T19:26:00.000-07:00

Verbal Ink is a transcription company with happy independent contractors. While you rarely read a complaint, it is just as rare for anyone to state the pay! I have never worked for Verbal Ink, but I understand the pay is fair and the testing is difficult. Verbal Ink hires highly skilled transcribers and apparently compensates them accordingly.

Verbal Ink is currently hiring! You must be a citizen of the United States and type at least 65 wpm. To apply email a resume with a cover letter telling Verbal Ink why you will be a great addition to their team. Submissions without a cover letter will not be considered. Located in Santa Monica, Verbal Ink was founded in 2003. Verbal Ink boasts an A+ rating with the BBB (as Outskirts, Inc.) and has no complaints on the Ripoff Report.

Key for Cash

2011-10-28T18:37:00.000-07:00

Data entry has gotten a pretty bad reputation online because of the number of scams. However, I am aware of a few legitimate companies offering data entry online. Key for Cash is one of those companies. Key for Cash does not charge a fee to work and they have been offering data entry opportunities since 2001. The pay tends to fluctuate with the market, but it is generally between $.40 to $.60 per 1,000 keystrokes. However, it has been as high as $.80 and as low as $.20 per 1,000 keystrokes. Your results may vary depending on your speed and the pay rate at any given time, but that's in the range of about $5.00 to $9.00 an hour.

There are three tests to take - one is letters only, one is dollars only and one is numeric. Be sure to read the instructions for the tests carefully before starting. The scanned snippets will appear in the window and you enter the data as instructed. Key for Cash hires in accordance with your score, so get the highest score possible even if you need to practice a few times. This score is in comparison, by speed and accuracy, to others who have taken the tests. Some say you need to get 100%, others will tell you 95% or higher is required to be hired. Whatever the case, the tests can be taken every 24 hours until you are satisfied with your score. Key for Cash generally reviews the score every two weeks to invite new independent contractors based on workload. Key for Cash pays every two weeks. Key for Cash is not accredited by the BBB, nor are there any complaints against them on Ripoff Report.

Pinecone Research Banner Links

2011-10-28T18:04:00.000-07:00

Pinecone Research is one of the top paid survey sites. Pinecone generally pays $3.00 for each completed survey. There is no sign up on their webpage because they generally acquire new members by invitation only. At times Pinecone will open new enrollment through advertising their banner. These are the banner links for enrollment in the corresponding countries: United States, United Kingdom or Canada. Depending on their current status, you may hear from Pinecone immediately or you may be put on their waiting list.

Update November 9, 2011: Pinecone has apparently changed the above banner links, as well as the others I have found around the internet. The links still lead to their page, but you can no longer sign up it on the page. So, if you want to join Pinecone you will have to do what most people do - search for their active banner links.

Way With Words

2011-10-26T20:48:00.000-07:00

Way With Words hires home based transcribers. This is an independent contractor position paying between $30 to $67 per audio hour. The rate is $30 to $45 per audio hour during the initial probationary period, then goes up as high as $67 per audio hour. This is based on factors such as performance, availability and length of service. Way With Words hires in Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.

No in depth expertise is required, but you do need to be able to type a minimum of 50 wpm and transcribe an hour of clear audio in four hours or less. There is a two part test. The first is to test your understanding of the English language. This part of the test only takes 10 to 15 minutes, but this is not an easy test for most people. If you pass the first part, Way With Words will then invite you to take part two, which is 20 to 30 minutes of transcription. Way With Words then asks you to be able to commit to at least 20 hours of work per week, but preferably more. The types of transcription include focus groups, legal and medical records, police interviews, board meetings, disciplinary hearings, television and radio shows, etc.

Way With Words is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau, but many companies do not seek accreditation. There are no complaints about Way With Words on the RipOff Report.

Quicktate

2011-10-26T19:07:00.000-07:00

Quicktate is another work at home job doing transcription. Quicktate's page states that they require experience, but I have heard of inexperienced typists being hired. A test is required and there is a lot of transcribing voice messages. Quicktate hires transcriptionists as independent contractors, so you will need fill out an I-9 for tax purposes if you make more than $600 in a year. Quicktate also requires a confidentiality agreement, which is standard practice when a position requires someone to potentially be listening to confidential personal or business details.

The pay is $.0025 a word for general transcription and $.005 per word for transcribing medical dictation. Whether pay is reasonable or not varies greatly from person to person and even from situation to situation you find yourself in. Depending on your typing speed and the quality of the audio, this may be better pay than Scribie. For example, if one of Scribie's six minute audios is 900 words, you will receive $1 for transcribing it. This is assuming you have not yet qualified to be a reviewer, in which case you could get an additional $1 for reviewing that six minute audio. If you type 900 words of general dictation for Quicktate at $.0025 per word, that equals $2.25. This is just an example to illustrate the differences in pay, but your results may vary.

Once you have worked with Quicktate long enough to have your work evaluated, you may qualify for work with their sister company iDictate. iDictate does pay better, so that could be an incentive to begin working for Quicktate until you qualify for iDictate. I did not find the requirements for this qualification process anywhere on their page.

Quicktate is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau. However, some companies do not attempt to gain accreditation with the BBB. So this could be fine or negative depending on your viewpoint. There is also a complaint on Ripoff Report followed by positive comments from others. I have never worked for Quicktate, nor am I affiliated with Quicktate in any way. However, Quicktate is often discussed on various work at home boards with generally positive comments. The one exception to the positive comments is usually the pay rate. So I include Quicktate with all the relevant facts known to me so you can make your own decision whether this is an opportunity you want to pursue.

AccuTran Global

2011-10-24T23:10:00.000-07:00

AccuTran Global is located in Ontario and has been in business since 2002. AccuTran Global is currently hiring transcribers with a minimum typing speed of 70 wpm. AccuTran Global pays by the word with a range from $.005 per word to $.0066 per word. The range is from beginners for basic transcription to the best rate for foreign or difficult audio by senior transcribers. Their example if to take an average 130 to 150 words per minute. (Example: .005 x 150 = .75 per minute x 60 minutes an hour = $45.00 an hour). It is my understanding AccuTran also offers opportunities for editing positions to earn up to $30 an hour. The focus is on medical, financial and other areas and they do hire beginners. To apply, download the questionnaire and audio on their webpage, fill it out, then send it in via email. Good luck! AccuTran Global is not accredited by the BBB, nor are there any complaints on the Ripoff Report.

Find Out How Fast You Type

2011-10-24T23:07:00.000-07:00

Do you know how fast you type? If not, test yourself before you test with a potential employer. Go to TypingTest.com for a free one minute test.