Get Paid to Write Reviews

While doing my usual blog hopping, I found this website called ReviewStream.com. It is a website that buys product reviews; another interesting way to earn money online. The Paid to Write Review program is different from Paid to Post in the sense that you do not have to post your review on your blog. This is actually discouraged by ReviewStream.com. So you don’t need to have your own blog or website for you start making money.

What’s nice about them is that you can write reviews about anything. They encourage their “reviewers” to write only about products that they have actually used first hand. So “reviewers” are really paid to share their opinions and experiences as a consumer.

How and how much will you earn? They have their criteria for buying reviews. If you met all their requirements, they will pay you based on the going rate, which may vary every once in a while. Yesterday, when I submitted my reviews, it was $2 per review. If you did not meet some of their criteria, they have a bulk rate, which is about 20% of the going rate. When you submit your review/s, you can already specify if you’re willing to sell it on bulk rate. The minimum pay-out is $50, which is just easy to reach since you’re not limited to particular products or campaigns.

Oh and don’t be surprised when you visit their website to register. They actually don’t have a register or login page. You may immediately submit reviews using a pen name or your real name on your first visit! Just remember that the email address that you should specify is your Paypal email address because that’s where they will pay you.

I think this is going to be one of my favorite ways to earn. Why not try it? Visit them at ReviewStream.com.

More on LinkFromBlog.com

I immediately joined Link From Blog after reading rave reviews about it. For those not familiar yet, LinkFromBlog.com is a website where companies advertise on blogs.

One good thing about LinkfromBlog.com is that the activation of my account was almost instant. I received notification that my account has been activated a few minutes after I created my account. Getting your account activated immediately means you can bid on campaigns and earn straight away. The only down side is that they have a limited list of campaigns as of now. But they do have great customer service support. When I inquired about their campaigns, they emailed me back immediately, politely explaining that they are still building their list and that they are trying to get more advertisers; which is true because every time I login, I see new campaigns and offers. They now have a longer list of offers as compared to the first time I checked their website. More than working for a growing company, it is also nice to know that you deal with real,honest people.

So if you like reviewing websites or products, LinkfromBlog is worth a try. Don't you think?

WAHM in L.O.V.E.

“Find a job that you love and you will never have to work a day in your life at all.” I learned this from my very first boss in the bank where I used to work. This has been my guiding principle when it comes to career decisions ever since.

I find it very true and apt even for a freelancer or someone who works from home. It does not necessarily follow that you will enjoy working if you are working from home. You got to love what you do. Finding focus and motivation are just some of the things you deal with on a day-to-day basis when you work from home. If you do not even like what you do, it is going to be more difficult to motivate yourself, become productive, and consequently make money. Remember, you now work alone and you do not have a boss who will check on the progress of your work every once and a while. You are now responsible to the development of your freelance work or home business. Accordingly, the first thing you have to do is to find your passion.

Think, “What type of work do I want to have if not for money?” I also often hear that this is one of the foundations of a good business. Me? I love recruiting so I am still into it now. I also try to dabble on writing and research. These things kept me busy as a freelancer for the past months.

If you love what you do, other things just follow. It is easier to wake up in the morning, without dragging yourself to your work space. It is also less stressful and will not give you nightmares.

More on Associated Content

If you have a flair for writing, here’s a possible income stream for you. Associated Content is a website that will pay you for the articles you submit and gets published.

In Associated Content, you have the liberty to write about anything under the sun. If you are still looking for an idea, they have an assignment desk where topics are available for claiming.

So how do you get started?

Before you can submit your article, you have to be a member first. You may sign up by going to their site AssociatedContent.com.

When writing an article that you want to submit to AC, the content must be original with at least 400 words. The articles go through a screening process and not every article submitted gets to be published.

Their interface in article submission is really just easy to use. What you need to know is that when you submit an article, there are types of rights you grant AC. These are:

Exclusive
• Cannot be re-published elsewhere by you
• Cannot be removed from AC by you
• Eligible for higher Upfront Payment Review
Applicable to U.S. residents only

Non-Exclusive
• Can be re-published elsewhere by you
• Cannot be removed from AC by you
• Eligible for Upfront Payment Review
Applicable to U.S. residents only

Display
• Can be re-published elsewhere by you
• Can be edited or removed from AC by you
• Not eligible for Upfront Payment Review

For non-US residents like me, the earnings will come from the page views. You will definitely not get rich in AC but it’s a form of passive income. Submit an article that you already have and it will definitely earn as long as it is posted on the net. Since they don’t get exclusive right on the article you wrote, you can still publish it elsewhere. Plus, you can also make a name for yourself. In the author’s profile page, you can put a link to your site or blog so it’s a way of promotion too.

If you want to give it a try, here’s the link again:

Associated Content

My "Work-Life Balance for a Work From Home Mom" has just been published on Associated Content!

Please check it out: Associated Content

I will give more details about Associated Content on my next post. For today I shall rest and enjoy time with my son.



Do you want to join me in Associated Content?

Monetize Your Blog, Get Paid to Post

Another interesting way to earn money online is through Paid to Post sites. PTP is another marketing scheme that's probably not as easy as clicking through ads. Here, advertisers pay bloggers to write reviews about a product or a website.

Among several PTP sites, the first one I’m trying out is Linkfromblog. I've seen great reviews about this site. So if you see reviews on this blog in the following days, it's me working for LinkfromBlog.

You may come and join me if you like.

Get Paid-To-Click

Paid-To-Click is one of the many ways to earn money online. For those who are new to the term, Paid-To-Click or simply PTC sites are websites where advertisers go to promote their products by having people view their websites. There are no skills required to become a member of any of the PTC sites, all you need is a PayPal or Alert Pay account where they can pay you.

If you search the internet, you will find a lot of PTC sites as well as PTC sites listings. It is supposed to be the easiest way to earn money online, that is why everyone wants to try it. As a member, you are only supposed to click a link to an advertiser’s website and stay there for 30 seconds or so for you to earn a credit. Once you reach the minimum payout value, you may already request for payout. The number of sites you can visit in a day varies depending on the PTC site you joined. It is also dependent on the type of your membership. These sites offer membership upgrades so that you get to receive more links in a day and your clicks have more value.

PTC sites also have referral schemes, which is the reason why people bother to put up blogs dedicated to PTC sites listing. Like multi-level marketing, you will earn from the “clicks” and “referrals” of the people you refer or your “downline” as they call it.

However, as PTC proliferated, it became a target of scammers. As a result, there are more scam PTC sites out there than the legit ones. Good thing is, there are people who really put effort in reviewing PTC sites and sharing what they know about bad vs. good sites. One of the important advice I got that I want to share is to stay away from PTC sites that offer high earnings. They only lure people to join them but before you know it they’re already gone. These sites more often than not, do not have real advertisers to back them up. So they cannot last long in the industry.

Having done my research, I have recently joined a couple of these sites. Let’s wait and see. Whatever the result is, I will share here.

Work-Life Balance for a Work at Home Mom

As published on

Work-life balance is something that everyone wants to achieve, whether one works at home or in the office. But people who work at home probably find it more difficult to realize this balance as the distinction between the two is elusive. When you work in the office, it is much easier to leave work at work and home stuff at home because they do not happen in the same place.

For most freelancers, the drive to become workaholic comes from the desire to earn more. I’ll confess I was guilty of this when I was just starting out. I would normally work until 3:00 in the morning. Then the following day, I would have to wake up early because my son should be in school at 9:30 A.M. I like the fact that I’m able to help pay the bills. But I like it even more that I have money for shopping. Not just for me but for my hubby and kiddo too. Along the way, I realized, it is no longer healthy. No one can keep up with the Energizer bunny, that’s for sure.

Taking short breaks from your work and taking a day off or two are still important even if you work at home. During your break, leave your work space. On your “rest days”, try to do something else aside from work. As one blogger puts it, get off the roller coaster ride. This will help you with your creativity, productivity and will help you stay sane too.

Do not overbook. You must learn to say no if you no longer have the bandwidth for additional projects. More projects translate to more dollars. But at the end of the day ask yourself, are you willing to sacrifice your health and your family over more moolah?

Share the load on household chores. As a mom, you do not have to do everything. You are only stressing yourself too much by doing all the work. Talk to your significant other or your kid who can already help you do some chores. Better yet, hire a household help, someone who can help you with the chores on a regular basis. This way, you are able to do your work and you still have time to enjoy with the family.

Having work-life balance is not an easy task especially for a work at home mom. But with planning, time management, and help from your family, everything is manageable.

Fools Rush In

People who work from home are an easy prey to scams and frauds. When looking for opportunities, always be careful. Here are few notes to help you decipher whether the opportunity is legitimate or not:

- If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Earn so much for so little effort? That’s not possible, even in cyber space.
- If there is a promise of instant cash, be especially wary.
- If the word “legitimate” is being used in the ad, it’s probably not.
- If it’s asking for initial cash-out, especially if it’s a huge amount, beware. Don’t just shell out money just because you have it.
- If you cannot make sense of the product being offered for an online or home-based business after reading an entire article or website, it’s most probably just bogus.

Better be extra careful when dealing online. Read up and investigate. Don’t rush through your venture. Any endeavor requires time and effort to be successful.

Is Working From Home For You?

Working from home is not at all just a bed of roses. Before I delved into the work-from-home set-up, my fear was that I will no longer have fixed income. I won’t have monthly pay checks and HMO benefits. In reality, this is one of the things you need to consider. Your work from home job or business should be enough for you to leave your day job or you should at least be prepared for it. Although there are opportunities, when you’re just starting out, it could be a challenge. You should really be up to it to make it work.

There are distractions you need to overcome. Kids, if you have any, could even be one. Fortunately, I can talk to my 3-year old and he allows me to work peacefully while he watches Playhouse Disney or any of his favorite movies when he returns from school. Your family or the people you live with should understand the work set-up you chose. They might think that you are always available for errands because you are staying home.

If you’re someone who can’t work alone and you really need social interactions, it will be difficult for you to work from home. Here, you deal with clients you don’t actually see face-to-face. Interactions are either through phone, IM or email. Definitely, there are ways to battle this out by having a support system. It’s not a reason to be hermit. Then again, it’s up to you.

So think about it. Is working from home for you?

The Essentials of Working from Home

Aside from having a home office and other technology that you need for your home-based job to be up and running, below are other essentials that will help you with productivity and success.

Self-Discipline. When you are living and earning under the same roof, there are more temptations and distractions that may counter your productivity as compared to when you work in the office. You’ll be tempted to sleep a bit more, watch more t.v. or do your errands. Keep in mind that working from home just like any other work is still… well, work! So it is important that you keep yourself focused.

Time Management. Set a clear schedule and follow it. You should have defined work and home hours. If you don’t, it’s much more difficult to accomplish anything for either of the two.

Dedication. Managing yourself is sometimes more difficult. With no boss looming around, you have to have that dedication to what you do now to ensure that you’re able to deliver what’s expected by your client. In order to have a steady stream of projects, your clients should be happy with your work.

Freelancing Tips

I’m fortunate enough to never have had bad experiences with my freelance job site of choice. So without further a do, I’d like to introduce you to






Here are some easy steps to get your freelancer job through Odesk:

1. Sign-up and register as a provider. A provider is an independent contractor providing a service.

Tips:
- When you create your account, make sure to register your full name so as not to have trouble with payment in the future.
- Keep in mind that you will be competing with hundreds of candidates so make sure to write an impressive profile without having to misrepresent of course. Fill out the Employment History part, list down your certifications if you have and complete other information that will set you apart from all the other applicants.

2. After signing up, before you can even apply for jobs, you will be required to take a basic functionality and usability type of test. This is a required test that all providers should pass. It’s really easy so no need to panic.

Tip:
- There are other qualification tests you may opt to take to show your proficiency in the area you’d like to pursue i.e. Java Test, Adobe Photoshop, CSS Test, etc.

3. As soon as you pass the test, you may already start looking for your first project.




Tip:
- Be patient. They say getting your first client is not that easy. I know some people who had a hard time landing on their first project. My experience wasn’t exactly the same. Well, it’s not always the same for everyone. That’s where an impressive profile comes in.

4. If a buyer is interested in considering you for the position, just like in any other jobs, you will be invited for an interview. Interviews can happen through skype, yahoo messenger, or other messaging tool.

5. Payment – There are different payment methods laid out in Odesk: Payoneer, Moneybookers, PayPal, Direct Deposit, and wire transfer. Read more about them and then decide which one works for you. Odesk has a weekly billing cycle so you get your pay every week!

When you’re already hired, all you have to do is deliver. Make sure that at the end of the project, you will get a positive feedback from your buyer. This will help you get more projects in the future.

Freelancing Fundamentals

Working as a freelancer gives you the freedom to work at the comforts of your own home. As a freelancer, you can leverage on your existing skills to find great freelancer jobs. Writers, web designers, typists, and even recruiters can work as freelancers.

So where can you find your gigs? Nowadays, there are several job market sites that can help you find freelance jobs. There’s Odesk.com, Elance.com, and Getafreelancer.com just to name a few. This is where you will begin your journey. To be on the safe side, I suggest that you try to read reviews and feedback before you even sign up.

Next thing you have to think about is how will your client pay you? My suggestion is for you to create your Paypal account. There are other modes by which you can receive payment but with regards to costs and fees, PayPal is the cheapest.

In my next posts, I’ll share about the job market site I personally use and tips on how to land your first freelance job.

How To Start Working From Home

I've listed down the benefits of working from home in my previous post. Now, what are the things that you need to be able to start accepting home-based jobs?

Reliable Technology

First thing’s first, do you have a home PC or laptop and an internet connection? If you don’t, you better invest on these. It is not advisable just to rent in a computer shop if you want to work from home. Your computer doesn’t necessarily have to be top of the line. “Reliable” is the keyword. Aside from yourself, this is one of your resources so it has to be really dependable. As for the internet connection, it is better to research what works best in your area. It won’t hurt to ask around.

Work station/ Home Office

It is advisable to set up a work station or a home office that will be dedicated for your work. This will help you delineate work and home tasks and help you become more efficient. When you work at home, you’re usually tempted to bounce from work and home chores, which just hampers your productivity.

Work from Home Mindset

When you’re working from home, remember that you are no longer an employee. You no longer live from paycheck to paycheck. You are your own boss! So you set the direction of your venture. Read up to learn how to generate multiple income streams online. I’m no expert in this matter yet, but I will share what I’ve learned in my next posts.

Why Working from Home Rocks

My family just moved to our new house June of this year. Just about the same time when I started working from home. We moved to the same neighborhood where I grew up so naturally some of our neighbors are already familiar to me. One day, someone approached me and asked what I do for a living as they don’t see me leaving the house in office attire. I told her that I work from home. She seemed really confused and asked what I meant.

Working from home is no longer uncommon. In fact, it’s starting to become a trend. But there are still a lot of people who are unaware of it, especially here in the Philippines I guess and the oldies still prefer the traditional “office” work. For me, working from home is a better set-up for the following reasons:

1. You are in charge of your own time

If you are working from home, you have total control of your time. It is up to you how much time you’ll spend working or how much free-time you’ll get. Your working hours are flexible. You may opt to work during the day or at night. It’s really up to you so long as you keep your client/s informed. You’ll never be late and get reprimanded for it.

2. You can avoid the commute and the traffic jam

It’s fun waking up in the morning knowing that you don’t have to rush. You don’t have to wake up too early to avoid the heavy traffic. You can have a leisurely breakfast and enjoy your coffee.

3. You save time and money

Whether you commute or you have your own car, you still have to allot money for gas and commuting expenses if you work elsewhere. If you work from home, you can definitely save a few bucks. You can also avoid extra expenses on food for lunching out or having dinner out with office mates. Also, you can work in your pajamas so there's no need to splurge on office wardrobe.

4. You have unlimited income potential

You don’t have a basic salary but your income has no limit as well. How much you earn will all depend on the value that you can offer. There are a lot of ways of making money online, you just have to be smart in telling which ones are legit.

5. You get to spend more time with your family

This is probably the best thing that I like about working from home. I used to be a very busy working mom and I almost never have time for my son. Now, I really enjoy spending more time with him and seeing him grow up.

How about being able to avoid office politics or working with people you don’t like? And the list just goes on and on. We’ve always had issues with our job, our bosses, the people we work with, or the company we work for. When you’re working from home, you are your own boss. You decide on pretty much everything.

So I’d say working from home is indeed rewarding especially for a mom like me.