Online Work.... The Mixed-Bag Reality

With all the fierce competition for online revenue, you may find yourself running in circles trying to determine what is real and what is the figment of someone else's imagination. Ever been on a message board and heard someone rave about something that turned out to be a complete joke? Or even worse, a scam? Usually these women really believe what they're telling you to be true, so it's not a matter of them trying to lure you into a dead end or costly mistake, but other times, they're motivated by affiliate programs or just the plain greed of scamming you out of the little money you've managed to stash away. There's nothing wrong with affiliate programs, but I have to say that some of them annoy the heck out of me! Can I say heck? I really don't like all the paid to click programs that are being promoted all over the web. If you're promoting a service that you know and use, one that you truly find beneficial, well that's a bit different. I'm all for affiliate revenue!

Even MLM's are a bit too much for me to stomach. Even though this isn't traditionally thought of as online work, so many of the representatives recruit through online message boards, I just couldn't not mention it here. Those who promote MLM's are not necessarily doing so because they've found their dream job, more likely because if they get you to sign up, they'll receive a percentage of everything you sell, buy, or rack up with your own sign-ons. Is that really the way to make a living? It works for some. I know women who seem happy in this business, but I have to tell you, it's not for me. I don't like the pressure of selling a business. I can handle selling a product, but selling a business is just too much. Especially when you're just starting out and you are pushing something you really haven't had the experience of success with. I never felt good about trying to convince someone to join a business that I'd not yet made one red cent from.

Ok, let's go on to somewhat greener pastures.... On the one hand it's incredibly cool to live in the 21st century where one can sit at home and find someone willing to pay them $10 or $15 to write a couple hundred words about this or that, but on the other hand, it's such a hit or miss way to make a few dollars. I'm talking of course about paid to blog opportunities. It's about waiting, about being on the site at the right time, about having the right kind of blog to fit the opportunity, and about knowing whether or not the opportunity is really something you want to post about at all. It can't just be about the money after all... not if you want to have a quality site that keeps visitors coming.

A few years ago, when I first got started looking for anything I could do from home I landed on surveys. I actually discovered them while I was still employed full-time and expecting my first child. At the time I stumbled onto one site that actually sent me samples of products to test and review. At the very least I had a free product, but usually a cash incentive was added. It was wonderful. All the excitement for a couple dollars! lol Looking back it seems silly, but it was enough to show me that there were opportunities on the internet just waiting to be uncovered. I'd proved to myself and others that there were legitimate sources for revenue online!

After I found myself at home full-time I managed to register with 200 survey sites, most of which have never sent me even one survey, but there are a couple dozen that I strongly recommend. With that handful of sites I was soon averaging $40- $50 a month. Ok, not a lot, but it was everything to me at the time. My only mad money came from taking surveys. Everyone needs mad money, don't they? I always had a few dollars when I was out to get a Coke or mail a package. It felt good!

It also wet my thirst for more! Isn't that always the way? Next thing you know I started looking for ways to generate money from my blog. At the time I only had one... today I have more than I care to mention. lol, but they each serve a purpose! I found I could make money with affiliate programs through Linkshare, paid to click programs like Adsense, and paid to blog programs like PayPerPost! Since that discovery, I've pretty much made blogging my work at home job. It's not where I want it to be just yet. I've discovered that in order to be a successful blogger, you need to treat it like a career rather than a hobby. So, ok... mine has been more like a part-time job. Until I'm really ready to commit myself to working it like a business I'll probably not see the big money... but just knowing that potential is there is more than a little exciting.

If I were to get a part time job outside of the home it would most likely pay between $8-$15 an hour... considering my limited availability, the $8 is more likely. Just a few moments ago I made $15 for a paid blogging assignment that took me 10 minutes to perform. So that's nearly 2 hours outside the home. I may or may not get another assignment today or tomorrow, but the more blogs I have, the better their quality, the higher my page rank, the better my chances for finding work will be. Very motivating!

I'm sharing this to give hope to those women who don't think there's anything out there for them. I used to feel that way. The sad truth is that there are far more scams online than there are legitimate opportunities for work. Most companies will simply not hire someone they don't know to work from home. The majority of telecommuting jobs are arranged with established employees wishing to leave the office to raise a family, those leaving for medical reasons, or to save the employer the cost of office space. Always consider this when you're reading a too good to be true offer on Craigslist or your local newspaper. Nothing against Craigslist mind you, there are legitimate job offers there, but you can't assume they're legit based on its presence there.

Ok, I've talked your ear off enough for now. I'll start on the other one soon... whenever the mood hits me!