Fiverr Review: Buy and Sell Marketplace

I kind of have a love-hate relationship with Fiverr. That's why I wanted to provide a review. 

For those that aren’t familiar with the site, Fiverr is a marketplace that links buyers looking for specific services with those willing to provide those same services. Graphics and design, online marketing, video and animation, business services and so on are all part of the mix. And all of these services are provided for $5.

Strictly speaking, you are charged a bit more than $5 (something like $5.50, I think), but the very essence of it is that if you are a buyer you can get something very cheap.

From a money-making perspective, anyone can look to sell their services on the site. If you have a talent of some sort you might have found your marketplace. You could offer to write blog comments, create a logo, do a voice over and so on.

So what do I love?

Well, as someone that has their own business interests there are a lot of things I either don’t want to do or simply can’t do. So if I want to outsource something really basic (like the design of my business cards) it’s actually pretty cheap to use someone like Fiverr.

From an income-generating perspective, you can stick some “gigs” on the site and earn money when a client wants your services. It’s that simple. You can also offer supplementary services and increase your revenue. For example, you could offer to review someone’s resume and your supplementary service could be to review their cover letter as well. You get a rating from the buyer based on the quality of your offering and speed of response. A good rating can enhance your reputation and allow you to sell more products.  

So what do I not like so much?

As you can imagine, if you’ve got a great service to offer, you may end up really underpricing yourself. Some of the services on there really don’t make sense to me. Offering to write 500-word articles for $5, for example, really does seem cheap – and particularly as you actually get closer to $4 once Fiverr takes its cut.

Admittedly, some sellers use it as a way to attract clients to other higher-price services. A "bait and switch" approach, if you will. But a lot of people on there don’t. Some are willing to work really hard for not a lot of money.

You’ve got to remember that you’re only earning (less than) $5. So if you’re putting a lot of time and energy in to complete a job, you've got to justify it to yourself somehow. If you are in a low-cost economy maybe it makes sense. For a lot of people it doesn't. In many ways the pricing structure is a race to the bottom. 

Those that do best on this site either manage to get buyers to buy plenty of supplementary gigs or have gigs that don’t require much additional work at all (e.g. I have a “white paper” on there which I simply sell to people for five bucks without doing any extra work).

Another problem as a buyer of the services is that the quality isn’t always the best. The business cards that I mentioned earlier weren’t great. The seller took ages to respond and kept on delaying. I guess he was doing dozens of others at that low price so probably wasn’t that bothered.

How have I done?

It took me a few months to see any traction at all on my two gigs. One service is related to career guidance, the other to do with personal finance coaching. To date I've made about $30. It's not a great sum but this income generator sits in the background as far as I'm concerned, particularly if I can sell more of my white paper for no extra effort. 

Admittedly, I haven’t been as active as I should in marketing the services on social media either. Still, in recent months I have seen some take up on the offerings and I look forward to this idea being a sleeper for me.

Daily Two Cents Review: Earn from Writing

We’re all budding writers. Or at least we think we are. But not everyone realizes that there are good avenues in which to express ourselves. Avenues that pay, that is.

Content mills are one area worth considering, and once I’ve dipped my toe into this space I’ll be happy to report back. One site I have spent a lot of time on though is Daily Two Cents. In fact, it was my first proper dabble with trying to make some money online.

DTC, as it likes to term itself, is essentially all about giving you the opportunity to give your “two cents” to the world on an array of subject matters in as little as 100 words. It’s like an online magazine with you, the man or woman on the street, being the author of the articles. I’m also grouping its sister site, Writedge, into this explanation – essentially, it’s the same kind of site only the articles are intended to be longer and the subject matters are less tabloid.

How do you make money? Essentially, the more views that your articles receive the more you can earn. As long as you have a PayPal account you’ll be able to get paid.

So how does it stack up?

Good bits:

• You can earn money from writing. Maybe you’re not a budding Shakespeare but once you’ve had a few articles accepted you can start making money. Those with a decent niche (e.g. entertainment news) and a good social media following seem to do reasonably well out of the site. You can also make money by putting affiliate links into your articles and hoping people will buy products that way.
• Passive income opportunity. One of the things that appealed most to me was the fact that once my articles were on the site they could continue to earn money long after I’d posted them. Passive income is very important as a concept to me, and having written more than 200 articles on the site I hope to continue to make money from these “assets”, simply by promoting some of the more “evergreen” articles (e.g. "How to Boil an Egg") through my social media accounts.
• The administrators are helpful. You don’t always get site administrators that are transparent and happy to engage in conversation. Some can be openly hostile. But I’ve found the administrators here to be very keen on creating a community and are generally happy to engage in conversation.

Challenges:

• Became tougher to monetize in the last six months. I must admit  that when I first tried it out a year ago I was putting in a lot of time, writing a few articles each day and making a few dollars hear and there. My very best month came to about $30. Unfortunately, those were the good old days. My passive income is currently down to a trickle (apologies, no payment proof screen available at the moment but it is quite small), though admittedly I haven’t written on there in a long while and don’t promote my articles that often. The site works on a revenue sharing model, whereby their ability to pay you is fundamentally driven by advertising fees brought in. It seems that they were paying out too much last year and had to revise their payout ratios.  You can still make money on the sites, but it’s not going to be as easy as last year. Still, there are writers on there that are doing reasonably well out of the site, making more than my $30 high watermark on a monthly basis.

Take a look at the site. If nothing else, it will add something to your portfolio of earning options. And this may well be exactly what you’re looking for to start that writing career. 

Postloop Review: Online Income Idea

One of my first endeavors in the “trying to make money online” world was the world of Postloop. I mentioned it in a previous post so I won’t go into all the details again. Here’s the previous post: Postloop Forum Writing. To be perfectly candid, It’s not the most taxing of options, which is a big plus. You write comments on forums and blogs. Simple.

It’s also open to people around the world. So as long as you pass the test you’re not limited by your geography.

I’ve probably made about $150-$250 since I signed up for it last year (apologies the screenshot below only has the details of recent months). It’s also the sort of thing I default back to once in a while. As you can see I’ve been fairly sporadic recently

Latest Withdrawals

Date	Status	Points	Amount
Jul 18th, 03:35	Approved	618	$30.91
Apr 19th, 09:06	Approved	114	$5.72
Apr 12th, 06:08	Approved	122	$6.12
Apr 5th, 21:11	Approved	143	$7.15
Mar 22nd, 10:21	Approved	151	$7.55

Now that I've dabbled with it for a while, I thought it would be great to discuss it once again in the context of the good bits and the challenges.

Good bits

·         It’s really a very simple way to earn money. You write a few sentences on a forum or blog, you collect points and you get paid. In cash. In your Paypal account. It really is that simple. They pay quickly and haven’t missed a payment with me.

·         There’s a bit of a community. You see a lot of the same writing monikers and avatars popping up on a variety of forums you might regularly post on. It’s not like you actually know these people but you are often familiar with their narrative and it sometimes feels easier to “converse” with them. So it’s kind of like a community…

·         There’s always work – within reason. As long as there are blogs and forums to sign up for, there is work that can be done. You have just got to have something to say and simply put that to paper.

Challenges

·         It doesn’t pay great amounts. Ignore any of those YouTubes that tell you how easy it is to make $100 a day. It’s not. Yes, you can make more if you have referrals signed up (and again for transparency, if you do sign up via this blog it will be as a referral, so thanks!), but even that isn’t going to make you big money any time soon. At best, you’ll be making $5 a day, and that’s only if you put the time in to write comments on lots of forums and blogs. I’ve never had the time or energy to do that, but don’t let that stop you.

·         You're limited to how many comments you can make on a forum/blog. Occasionally, you’ll get a blog that allows for an unlimited amount of comments to be written in any given day. But more likely you’ll be only allowed five comments in a “Postloop day”, though if you time your writing right you can get another five in once they reset the clock. So unless you are subscribed to a large number of sites you can clearly see your number of entries (and earnings) capped for the day.

·         Some sites go offline. Some of your favorite sites may go offline, meaning that you won’t be able to make comments on them (and get paid) until they go back online. If they come back at all. Again, this also limits your earning power. There used to be two soccer forums on there that I found very easy to write on, and hence was making a few easy pennies that way. Unfortunately, both forums disappeared and bang went the easy cash.

·         Don’t expect all your favorite hobbies to be there all the time. You may well have a real interest in Italy or the NBA or disasters around the world. But it’s very hard to consistently find lots of forums to write on that you’ll genuinely have an interest in. Some don’t interest me in the slightest, while some are completely random at best. If you start forcing yourself to write stuff you’ve no interest in it can just become a bit of a chore. You may also find yourself penalized by the forum owners if they think what you’re writing is just plain nonsense.

One thing is clear: you most certainly won’t be retiring on your Postloop earnings alone. But there’s nothing wrong with having it as part of your portfolio, and I would recommend using it as a supplement to earnings you make elsewhere. 

If you are looking for a few easy dollars and your ability to write forum posts is passable, give it a shot. Click: Postloop - What's It All About. 

Making the Most of This Blog

I've been writing this blog for a while now, sometimes consistently, very often sporadically. It initially started out as a way for me to air my musing. Some were good, some were just plain fluffy nonsense. But that was the whole idea - write some comments that may provide a bit of entertainment for readers, while massaging my ego at the same time.

Over the last year, I've started to touch more on the world of personal finance, sometimes overlapping with the world of personal development. That kind of made sense given that my background is in banking and all things finance, while I've also trained to be a life coach. The problem with providing a few vague insights here and there is that it's never clear as to how much value the reader gets from it, while there's also no real accountability for my intent behind the writing.

Because I now work for myself, I've had some time to think about where I should be directing my time and energies, and what goals I want to pursue. Fundamentally, I'm keen on building enterprises and income streams that make me less reliant on an employer, the government, a fairy godmother. I've always had an interest in passive income ideas plus, more recently, the world of online earning opportunities. And it's time for me to start taking responsibility.

So with this in mind I've decided to make a shift in this blog. In base terms, I'm going to be looking at different money-making opportunities out there, whether that is purely online concepts or interesting insights I've picked up elsewhere. It could be products, it could be services, it could even be the simple psychology behind money. I'll also be chronicling my (incredibly gradual) journey into the world of building passive income streams and creating financial freedom.

I'm not the first to try this and I'm not foolish enough to think that it will be easy or smooth. But hopefully outlining things in the blog can add some focus and accountability to my efforts. Hopefully, it can also inspire you and give you a reason for returning to the blog. It may even show you what NOT to do.

Upfront, some of the online opportunities I feature may have affiliate or referral programs attached to them, and to be transparent there may be times I get commission if you sign up. You won't be obliged to sign up, though obviously any sign up through this route will be gratefully appreciated.

Importantly, I have no intention of directing you towards any old dog of an opportunity. Hopefully I can put in place a bit of quality control. And definitely nothing illegal. The world's too full of people looking to make a quick buck or looking to shaft someone, and that's just not me. There's a karma to all of this and sharing ideas while taking a "slow and steady wins the race" approach works for me.

So this is my starting point. I'm looking forward to this little journey that we're now on!

The Risk of Doing Nothing

I like to see the world as being full of opportunities. Maybe I’m a bit of an idealist. Maybe I’m not representing the world that we all live in. But there are a lot of us that can feel fortunate.

But when these opportunities do come along you’ve got to be ready to act upon what you’ve discovered. We could be talking about your money, or your life in general. The risk of not doing is very often bigger than the risk of doing. Not every opportunity is right for you, but if you simply run away from every single thing put in front of you then it's far harder to get ahead.

Money, money, money

It’s like leaving your car in the garage to protect it from the rain. Only you haven’t checked on it for months and when you do get to look at it the car doesn’t work, it’s rusted away and there’s a pigeon living in the glove compartment.

That’s the point. You need to be fully engaged either way. So even if you choose to run away from a problem or a situation, sticking your head in the sand shouldn’t be an option. Empowering yourself to make decisions should be. Think about your money in your context. 

It’s about taking control of whatever life throws at you. You don’t always have to create from scratch. You simply just have to take responsibility and control.

Does Extreme Couponing Make Sense?

Extreme couponing is a relatively new shopping phenomena.

Effectively, it’s all about trying to save as much money as possible when shopping, but doing so by accumulating as much groceries as possible. What's not to like?

The post-global financial crisis world has certainly brought the concept into the spotlight, and has been brought to our consciousness even more so by the reality TV show, Extreme Couponing.

It's great viewing but does it actually make sense?

The Good about Extreme Couponing:

• http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451416600/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=0451416600&link_code=as3&tag=spiritworthco-20&linkId=IHU73KDFUHGQRGPX is a good way to take advantage of inefficient pricing and discounting by retailers, allowing you to get good value for money.
• The whole process focuses the mind – through analysis and investigation couponing can make you more targeted in your purchasing approach and more aware of basic budgeting principles.

The Bad about Extreme Couponing:

• Extreme couponing can certainly save you money, but it also encourages you to spend on things that you really don’t want or need - purely for the purpose of saving. It can, in other words, create a false economy.
• In the most extreme cases, you may need to take out extra storage simply to find a home for what you’ve been buying to hoard. If that involves additional cost it creates another false economy.
• It can be addictive. It’s one thing for extreme couponing to be a harmless, occasional hobby. It’s another thing if it takes over your life. The TV program has shown many examples of individuals that have become obsessive. 

The Conclusion:
Let's just say, extreme couponing isn’t for everyone. You would be in your rights to question what it says about a culture of excessive consumption and hoarding. And you could also ask whether it’s the most efficient way of spending your time.

The reality is if people put as much effort into making additional money or better managing their finances, instead of using extreme couponing to save money, they could actually get ahead. Regardless, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451416600/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=0451416600&link_code=as3&tag=spiritworthco-20&linkId=IHU73KDFUHGQRGPX is here to stay, even if ‘moderate couponing’ is probably a more sensible approach people.

14 Pointers For Success in Life and Finance

We can choose to wallow in the negatives in life, or we can seek to get ahead through applying some positive approaches and strategies. Check out how John Paul Dejoria did it in the video below. 

And whether you’re thinking about your finances or life in general, consider the following:

1. Look at what you’ve got. We spend so much time trying to ‘fix’ things and add new things, we sometimes don’t fully appreciate what we have. If you have a skill or talent, acknowledge it. In fact, sing it from the mountain tops. You’ve spent a lot of money on some good stuff in the past, so enjoy it. Remember, there are things about you that others could only dream about having.
2. Dress the part. The old adage, “Don’t dress where you are, dress where you want to be”, goes a long way. But that also includes all forms of grooming. Is your hair more surfer than CEO? Is your make up more vamp than VP? Do you want to represent a certain way of life? It’s up to you.
3. Read. We all know that many successful people had to come through unspeakable hardships to get to where they are now. So why not read about them? Their biographies can be part inspiration, part model of how to apply yourself in life. If they can conquer financial problems, why can’t you?
4. Listen. We all learn differently, and reading may not be everyone’s bag. So how about watching or listening instead? If you can’t stretch your hard-earned cash to watch personal development gurus Tony Robbins or Wayne Dyer in person, then why not buy one of their programs? Or cheaper still, simply go onto YouTube for inspiration. And there are so many tips on finance there as well. If it works, it works.
5. Be nice. A smile and a compliment don’t cost anything and can go a long, long way.
6. Be helpful. Remember, ‘getting ahead’ isn’t just about you. There are 7 billion of us sharing this rock and every act of kindness helps in our interconnectedness. It’s the butterfly effect. It’s good for the soul.
7. Choose who you hang around with. It’s been said that we are the average of the five people we spend most of our time with. Think about that. Are the people you surround yourself with lifting you up, keeping things stable or dragging you down? Are they going to inspire you to a greater financial existence? It’s your call as to what these people mean to your past, present and future.
8. Be positive. It’s obvious, really, yet we forget that thinking and acting positively is far better for us than thinking and acting negatively. If you need a reminder to be positive once in a while, set an alarm in your phone to pop up, “I’m just amazing”, or whatever takes your fancy.
9. Note down the good bits. It’s good to record your successes. Big ones, little ones, money ones, personal ones, communal ones, national ones. Any that move the dial inside of you. One strategy is to find an empty jar, write any success that you may have on a piece of paper and then place it in the jar. At the end of the year, open it and see how amazingly successful your year actually has been.
10. Filter out the bad bits. We all know that consuming unhealthy stuff isn’t good for us. And ‘consuming’ relates to eating, drinking, watching, listening and so on. We are bombarded with negative images and influences, and we are all in a position to decide what to absorb. There’s no need to wallow in debt conversations. The less of the bad stuff that encases us, the more the good stuff can get through.
11. At least you tried. Not everything you turn your hand to will succeed. That’s the way life works. We try, we fail, we learn, we adapt. But as long as we take on board the lesson from it not working, well, we haven’t really failed. You’ve lived and learned.
12. Get out there. No man is an island. You need to stay connected. You need to interact with people that can move you forward.  You need to realise that you alone won’t get you to the Promised Land. So network, join clubs, make new friends. From a finance perspective, consider a coach or a mentor. Move on from where you already are, basically.
13. Little by little. Rome wasn’t built in a day and all that. Not all change has to come via big sweeping actions. In fact, little habits, actions and behaviors can go a long way. If you implement small changes every single day, you’ll be surprised what advancements you can achieve.
14. Be authentic. It’s a phrase we’ve all heard but don’t always know how to apply. Basically, it’s about being real. Being real in your interactions with others, being real with how you choose to live your life, being real about walking the walk, being real about what you want to represent. Being real to yourself. Trying to keep up with the Jones is not being authentic. Saying you want to retire at 55 while spending like you’ll only be able to retire at 85 is not being authentic.

Postloop: Share Your Views and Make Money

We all need to take control of our financial future in a way that doesn't rely on your employer, the government or Lady Luck.

So I've been looking around at various ways to make money online, many of which I'll share over time on this blog.

One site that I've recently joined is Postloop. Essentially, it calls itself a "content marketplace" and it allows you to earn money by posting comments on forums and blogs. It's as simple as that. I didn't even realise this kind of industry existed. Clearly it does.

From my initial outings, it seems to be one of the more straightforward ways to make money in the online space. You write a bit, you get paid. You write a lot, you get paid more.

Yes, you've got to qualify before you can start to build up points to convert into dollars. But that's pretty easy. Once that's out of the way, I reckon it’s actually quite easy to make a few dollars here and there. As with everything, you get out what you put in.

It's not a get rich quick scheme. I don't even think it's a get rich slow scheme either. It's simply a useful supplement to other income generators you may have. And if you're going to be online anyway it seems to make sense to pop into the site. 

Does it pay out? Yes. At least it has for me a few times. Make sure you have a PayPal account to take your payments.

That's it.

If it intrigues you enough, take a look at Postloop - what's it about?.