Monday, August 17, 2015

Make Money Online

Make Money Online

Most 'earn cash from home' ads are cons. Yet if you've a computer or smartphone, there's a host of small ways to boost your coffers. Dedicated MoneySavers can earn £1,000s a year from their sofa, often with no special skill required.
This guide lists 30 (legit) ways to make money online. You can get paid just to watch videos, write, search on Google, make your own YouTube clips and much more.

Making money online - quick tips

Before you become an online earner, there are a few things worth knowing. The key is while some of these sites pay small amounts, add them all together and it can turn into an annual bonanza of £1,000s.
Don't store cash in online-earning accounts
Set up a dedicated email address
Don't expect to be instantly rolling in it
Don't forget the taxman'll want his share
Spend gift vouchers ASAP

Get paid to click

Watch videos, play games and earnSwagbucks

Swagbucks* is a fun survey site that pays you for completing short online tasks in virtual cash - you can then exchange this for real money, Paypal credits or gift cards to spend at Amazon, M&S and more. The site's huge in America, and here in the UK many MSE forumites are dedicated users.
Tasks include filling in polls, watching videos and searching using its page instead of Google. Advertisers pay Swagbucks to publicise their wares or do market research, and the site passes a cut to you. The more dedicated you are, the more you earn, though every task pays a different amount.
MSE Blagged - £15 Amazon/M&S gift card when you earn £5 in points
We've blagged a deal for newbies who sign up via this specific Swagbucks* link.
Then if you earn £5 in bucks by Fri 21 Aug, Swagbucks will give you a £10 bonus, so you can get £15 of gift cards for Amazon, M&S, New Look, Starbucks, PizzaExpress and more.
How it works: Once you hit 849 Swagbucks, 1,698 bonus points will be added to the 'My gift cards' section of your account within 10 days. You'll then have enough to redeem a total of £15 in gift cards for Amazon, M&S and more - just go to the 'Rewards' section to cash your points in.
Gift cards arrive within 10 working days. Most can be redeemed in store or online within a year, though check as it varies by retailer. You can opt for PayPal credit instead, but you'll get less bang for your (Swag)buck - a tenner costs 2,000 points.
For motivation, join other points-chasers in the forum's popular Swagbucks Challenge 2015 thread. One committed 'swagger' from the forum, cally6008, says:
Swagbucks is one of several online earning sites I use, but it's one of my favourites. I know for a fact that you can earn £25 a month using the site, because I do so nearly every month. 
- cally6008
See a full list of ways to earn Swagbucks

Quick summary

  • Who's it good for? People who want to grab quick cash for fun tasks
  • Typical earnings: £25/month
  • Payment method: Cash or Amazon voucher
  • Amount you need to earn before it pays: 1 point (depends on reward)
  • Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Swagbucks forum thread

Online survey sitesEarn up to £800/year to give your opinion

Willing to give views on Justin Bieber, washing-up liquid or whether we should quit the EU? If so, it's possible to earn £100s a year, without any special skill or talent.
It's all about stashing cash by filling in online surveys. All you have to do is sign up, wait for survey alerts to land in your inbox, then zip through the questions.
Polls are often fun. You get to vent about everything from video games to your sex life. For a full rundown of the top 20 free sites, plus tips to max your income, see theOnline Survey Sites guide.
Committed survey-doers can get £200ish a year, but if you max it like MoneySaverfunnyguy:
It takes a few years to build up enough to cash out, but I earned £800 last year in cash and vouchers. Comes in very useful.
- funnyguy

Get paid to GoogleQmee

It's possible to get paid hard cash just for searching the web with Qmee*. It just involves downloading an add-on that sits on your internet browser. You then search online as you normally would on Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo, Bing and now Tesco.
Qmee will show extra results or adverts alongside normal search results (see picture). Some firms pay Qmee to appear in these ads, and Qmee gives you a cut of the cash. If the Qmee result interests you, click it and you'll earn a few pence, usually 7-15p.
Forumite The_Jakal says:
I've been using Qmee for three weeks and I'm on £14 now.
- The_Jakal

Quick summary

  • Who's it good for? Folks with the patience to click ads for a few pence a go
  • Typical earnings: £5/month
  • Payment method: Cash via PayPal
  • How much you need to earn before it pays: No minimum
  • Have you tried it? Share your experience in the Qmee forum thread
Quick questions
What exactly do I have to do?
Can I boost earnings by repeating searches?
What does Qmee do with my data?
Why does Qmee sometimes pay for clicks to MoneySavingExpert.com?

Earn hard cash for fun tasksGift Hunter Club

Online earning site Gift Hunter Club doles out points for watching videos, doing polls, entering competitions and completing other easy tasks.
You can convert these into cash through PayPal, Amazon vouchers and more. Just sign up and check the 'earn points' section. It shows the tasks available and what they pay.
MoneySavers reckon the site's fun, payment is quick and they earn a decent amount each week. Forumite mizzame says:
I made £10 in PayPal cash very easily last week, £8 the week before. Mainly from videos and easy tasks. My best earning site at the moment!
- mizzame

Aim to redeem your points on rewards giving better value

A £10 Amazon gift card costs 1,690 points. But 10 US dollars in cash (£6ish) via PayPal is 1,000 points, which can be better value, depending on the exchange rate. While Gift Hunter Club lists cash payments in US dollars, PayPal converts the cash into pounds.

Quick summary

  • Who's it good for? Those already using Swagbucks who want to join a similar site
  • Typical earnings: £7/week
  • Payment method: PayPal, Amazon vouchers and more
  • How much you need to earn before it pays: £1.20ish
  • Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Gift Hunter Club forum thread

Get paid to watch videosMaximiles

It's possible to earn high street vouchers just for watching videos though Maximiles. Clips are short adverts, for example, Andrex promos or Cheryl Cole videos.
New vids come up every day, so visit often, plus forumites post the latest ones in the Maximiles thread. One thing to watch out for: make sure you're logged in when you rate the videos, or you won't get points.
You can cash in points for gift vouchers. For example, 6,300 Maximiles can get you a £25 Argos voucher.
Stick to free points offers

Quick summary

  • Who's it good for? Folks who like watching quick ads on their PC
  • Typical earnings: £10 every two months
  • Payment method: Vouchers, incl Waitrose and Debenhams
  • How much you need to earn before it pays: Varies by reward
  • Have you tried it? Share your experiencex on the Maximiles forum thread

Get paid to watch videos, search & moreGift Hulk

Similar to Swagbucks above, Gift Hulk pays for a host of web activities, including watching videos, answering polls and searching via its site instead of Google.
While the site looks a little basic, many MoneySavers are fans. You get paid in Hulk Coins, which you then convert into rewards including Amazon vouchers (make sure you select vouchers in GBP, rather than US dollars).
Special codes give extra points - forumites post them in the Gift Hulk thread.

Quick summary

  • Who's it good for? Fans of fun web tasks who don't mind a cheap 'n' cheerful site
  • Typical earnings: £5/month
  • Payment method: PayPal cash, Amazon vouchers and more
  • How much you need to earn before it pays: Varies by reward
  • Have you tried it? Share you experiences on the Gift Hulk forum thread

Enter contests as a cash-boosting hobbyUse our 40+ insider comping tips

From cars to £20,000 cash, five-star USA holidays to £10,000 of Tesco gift cards, MoneySavers have won it all. It's all about 'comping', a potentially profitable online hobby for the lucky.
Comping's about systematically sourcing and entering hundreds of the right contests. Committed forumites use web gadgets to fill in forms at speed, answer questions and come up with tie-breakers. There are also tricks to enter TV premium phone comps free via the web. For full help, see our 40+ Insider Comping Tipsguide.
Check out the forum's Competitions Time board, a reciprocal community of devoted compers. The idea is you post contests and cheer others when they win.

'I won a Vegas trip & £26,000 of gadgets'

While big success isn't certain, it does happen. MoneySaver mrsrobertson is one of the lucky ones. She says:
I started comping in May 2011 and I've won a £3,000 Las Vegas trip and gadgets worth over £26,000. I'm hooked.
- mrsrobertson

Grab FREE cashbackGet cash for clicks - no need to buy

Cashback sites work by giving you a cut of the cash they earn for channelling web traffic. Yet you don't have to buy anything to earn cash via these sites - they often pay you just for clicking links on the internet.
For example, TopCashback pays £5.25 when you click through for a free Credit Score and Report from CreditExpert, or £2.10 for a Gocompare home insurance quote. Its free cashback section lists the top offers. For a full explanation, see Top Cashback Sites.

Get paid to read adverts on your mobileQustodian

Free smartphone app Qustodian pays you to read adverts. Simply download the app, and plug your likes and dislikes into your profile. It then sends adverts matching your interests to your Qustodian inbox. You get paid cash when you view messages, respond to questions or watch videos.
It pays cash via PayPal or via BACS into your bank account when you earn £10. Forumites report the slow trickle of messages means it takes a while to hit this, so this app's just one for committed online earners.

Quick summary

  • Who's it good for? Patient people with a smartphone
  • Typical earnings: £10 every six months
  • Payment method: Cash via PayPal or BACS
  • How much you need to earn before it pays: £10
  • Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Qustodian forum thread
Quick questions
What's the best way to access the web on my mobile?
What does Qustodian do with my personal data?

Get paid to write and create content

Get paid to writeTextbroker

Always wanted to have a crack at the old writing game? Now's your chance. Textbroker pays for content for adverts, websites and newsletters. The company acts as a middleman between clients and writers, taking a cut from each piece sold.
Typical payments are £5 to £30 per article, and forumites have written about everything from sport and wildlife to finance and casinos. Some MoneySavers have suggested that article acceptions can be patchy and it's often slow to accept new writers - a couple of things to watch out for.
We're not talking Stephenie Meyer's Twilight sums. But some forumites, such asSinkorswim, are turning over a grand a year:
I've been with Textbroker for nine months, and have made over £1,000. It's a godsend, as I had to give up my part-time job due to a back problem. I got another job, but am reluctant to stop writing, as I really enjoy it.
- Sinkorswim
Forumite Farmers-wife says:
I have recently started with Textbroker as a writer. Six articles down and I'm hooked. As a stay-at-home mum and farmer's wife it's lovely to be doing something for myself. Getting praise for writing is doing wonders for my confidence.
- Farmers-wife

Quick summary

  • Who's it good for? People who enjoy writing and have high grammatical standards
  • Typical earnings: £50/month (if you're committed)
  • Payment method: Cash via PayPal
  • How much you need to earn before it pays out: £7ish (pays in euros)
  • Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Textbroker forum thread
Quick questions
How do I get accepted as an author?
How can I earn maximum cash?
Is it worth pitching to papers and mags too?

Get paid to write, enter data & moreClickworker

As well as paying for written content, Clickworkeroffers other jobs, including data entry, web research, product reviews and data tagging.
MoneySavers report there's heaps of work on offer. They've penned Groupon adverts, travel destination descriptions, flight adverts and fashion articles, to name a few.
You must complete a test before you can work, and most jobs require a score of at least 90%. You can earn between £2 for shorter jobs and £5 for longer ones.
See more tips to earn maximum cash

Quick summary

  • Who's this good for? People who can write winning adverts
  • Typical earnings: £20/month (note, it pays in euros)
  • Payment method: PayPal
  • How much you need to earn before it pays: €5 (£3.50ish)
  • Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Clickworker forum thread

Get paid to write product reviewsDooYoo

Consumer opinions site Dooyoo pays up to 60p for each product review you write. The amount you get depends on the product's category. For popular products it's 60p and many electronic items 30p, but for others, such as books, it's only 10p.
Reviews need to be at least 150 words long, though try to stick to your personal experiences rather than padding with lists of technical specs.
Once you rack up £20, you can convert it into a £20 Amazon voucher. Beware: Dooyoo points ("miles") expire after one year, and a few MoneySavers have been caught out.
Committed reviewers, such as MoneySaver jenniewb, have made bundles of cash.
In two months, I have reviewed literally everything I have used bar one or two uninteresting items, and have earned myself £70.
- jenniewb

Quick summary

  • Who's this good for? Speedy writers with lots of products to review
  • Typical earnings: £20 every two months
  • Payment method: Amazon vouchers
  • How much you need to earn before it pays: £20 Amazon vch
  • Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Dooyoo forum thread

Earn cash from homemade videosYouTube

We can't promise you'll earn £100,000 like the dad who uploaded “Charlie bit my finger – again!”, the clip of two cheeky brothers that racked up 825m views. Yet even if yourYouTube videos don't become global phenomena, it's possible to earn a little extra each month through the clip-sharing site.
Before we get started, here's forumite sophie.christie's story for inspiration:
About two years ago I started a YouTube account. One of my videos started to do quite well and the site asked me to become a partner.
I started to receive a very low income from this. However, over the last year I've been posting new videos on birthday party tips. I have now have 80, and a daily income of more than £20. It's rising by about 10% each month.
- sophie.christie

How YouTube's partner programme works

YouTube's Partner Programme lets users take a cut of the cash from the adverts that run alongside their videos. You must apply to become a partner, but YouTube says anyone who regularly uploads original clips which get a fair amount of views should be eligible.
Earnings vary dramatically, depending on how many views you rack up and how much revenue the ads generate.

Quick summary

  • Who's this good for? People who enjoy making funny or specialist clips, and are a whizz with video cameras
  • Typical earnings: £60 every two months (though it varies dramatically)
  • Payment method: Cheque from Google Adsense
  • How much you need to earn before it pays: £60
  • Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the YouTube forum thread
Quick questions
How can I max my YouTube earnings?
How can I become a partner and earn money?
How much can I earn?
Finally, ITV still pays £250 for funny videos selected to appear on You've Been Framed. No need to post a VHS tape – you can upload clips to its site.

Earn cash from your blog or websiteAmazon Associates

If you've a blog or website, set up a free account withAmazon Associates, a scheme where you earn Amazon vouchers for linking to the site.
Just follow the steps to add links and banners to your website. When someone clicks on Amazon from your site and makes a transaction, it's recorded and you're paid 1%-10% commission, which you get in the form of cash or an Amazon discount.
What you earn depends on how much you sell and what category it's in - for example, you get 1% commission from TVs and smartphones and 10% from shoes and jewellery. (See a full list of payments.)
Though don't just fill your site to the brim with Amazon links. What works best is ensuring you've quality editorial content, then adding the links after.
Products bought by you personally won't count towards your commission, nor will anything ordered for delivery to your home address or paid for on your credit card.

Quick summary

  • Who's this good for? Those with a blog or site that they'd like to earn cash from.
  • Typical earnings: £25/month (depending on your site's popularity).
  • Payment method: Amazon credit and cash.
  • Amount you need to earn before it pays out: £25 for Amazon credit, £50 for cash payouts.
  • Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Amazon Associates forum thread

Write a Kindle e-bookEarn up to 70% of the LIST price when you self-publish

EL James's Fifty Shades of Grey started as a self-published e-book – now's your chance to emulate her success. Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing tool lets you upload your own e-books instantly, for free. Every time the book sells, Amazon gives you up to 70% of the list price (excludes VAT).
While not a guaranteed money-spinner, e-books don't have to be Booker Prize contenders. If you're a specialist in a niche subject, from worm composting to rollercoaster riding, you could pocket a little extra each month.
If you need inspiration, why not try the NaNoWriMo campaign to write a novel in a month, which runs every November.

Quick summary

  • Who's this good for? Folks who want a bash at a bestseller, though money's not guaranteed
  • Payment method: Electronic bank transfer (see full payment details)
  • How much you need to earn before it pays: No min
  • Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Kindle Direct forum thread
Quick questions
What's my cut?
How do you publish a Kindle e-book?
Is it worth paying for a professional editing service?

Get paid to write music reviewsSlicethepie

Unsigned music review site Slicethepie pays you for each song you rate. As you build up a reputation, you can earn more. Read the site's tutorials before you start.
Typically, a dedicated fan willing to put in a couple of hours each night could expect to earn around £30/month, though forumites report this can vary. The amount you earn from each review differs depending on the track, length and detail of the review.
You can also earn more by encouraging friends to sign up - you'll receive a bonus of 10% of their earnings so, if they earn $0.20 for a review, you'll get $0.02.

Quick summary

  • Who's it good for? You'll need a pretty open mind, as you can't choose specific music genres. MoneySavers have reported earnings slowing recently
  • Typical earnings: You earn in dollars and get between $0.10 and $0.20 per review - forumites report monthly earnings of up to £30/month.
  • Payment method: Cash via PayPal
  • How much you need to earn before it pays: $10 (so, just over £6.40).
  • Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Slicethepie forum thread

Get paid for easy tasks

Earn by checking prices & snapping photosField Agent iPhone app

Ever fancied being a secret agent? If you’ve got an iPhone, a free app called Field Agent could be your chance. When companies need a small market research task done, it's sent out via the app.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to check prices in stores, take photos of products and pen reviews. It typically pays £4.50 per task, but can be between £2 and £10.

Quick summary

  • Who's it good for? If you've got an iPhone, and can nip out to do quick tasks
  • Typical earnings: £10/month
  • Payment method: Cash via PayPal
  • How much you need to earn before it pays: No minimum
  • Have you tried it? Share your experiences on the Field Agent forum thread
Quick questions
How do I get started?
How can I earn maximum cash?

Get paid to snap photos, count stock & moreRoamler smartphone app

Fancy getting paid to buy beer? Free app Roamler pays for tasks such as counting stock in shops, snapping menu cards in restaurants and even buying a beer to photograph how it's served.
As with Field Agent, when firms need an easy market research job done, it's sent out via the app. Roamler typically pays £4 per task, but it can vary between £2 and £10.
The catch is the app is invite only. Roamler's press office says it's pretty easy to get one if you monitor its Facebook page for hints on how (or you might get lucky if you request one).