Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Well, I'm done with my boring summer internship now, so I won't have quite as much time to kill (don't worry, the real shift will be when I start back to school in a month or so). I'll probably feel like doing slightly more productive things, like writing my senior thesis, or cracking down on that summer reading list.

Luckily, Helium has just updated their site to include a "Marketplace" where writers can add articles according to the usual rigmarole, but the article titles you're writing under have been supplied by publishers who are willing to pay for quality articles on that subject which meet or exceed their standards. Helium makes no promises, as well they shouldn't, since publishers have complete discretion, but the same ranking and payment system through Helium kicks in, so why not give it a shot? You're just writing the articles you'd probably write anyway, except this time with a built-in audition for (relatively) high-paying publishers.

Did I mention the publishers list the payment they're offering beside each article? As well as how much of that you would actually get. It looks like Helium takes a 20% cut, which isn't bad compared to the 35-50% net standard.

The Lazy Way to Earn

So I've blogged before about AGloCo and their toolbar, but as of yet, due to AGloCo's completely reasonable business model, they're not paying out until they have a sustainable revenue.

Now, however, I've found out about Cash Fiesta. They have a slightly more obtrusive toolbar, but that's because you earn money from it by viewing banner ads. You technically don't have to view them, they just appear in the toolbar as you surf the net.

They also have a counter which keep track of your points in real time, as well as your referrals. They have a special offers section too, and while increasing special offers can increase the amount you earn, they're the usual survey sign-up and online poker sites.

Because Cash Fiesta makes its money by advertising to you, the toolbar has no viruses, spyware, or other harmful code in it. I've tested it out and my computer is running normally. In addition, the site has been around for awhile, so if there were viruses attached, people would have begun shunning it long ago. (Like WeatherBug. Don't ever download WeatherBug.)

In the time it's taken me to write this post I've earned 141 points. What that equates to is undetermined since I will complete special offers. Basically your earnings aren't meaningful unless you do a couple offers to increase your pay rate. There are a few which don't cost anything. Every 1,000 points of special offers completed is equivalent to $1, and for the month of July every user to sign up gets an extra 1,000 points.

Their payout is at $50, which is a little bit high, but they pay by check, which I think is nice and convenient, but costs them a little bit more, so I can't knock the minimum here. This may be the best opportunity I've found so far, because it pays reasonably well, and you can see your earnings add up before your eyes.

Cold Hard Cash

It's official. I just got my first actual payment from this gig. $5.01 from Associated Content for one article. Hurrah! Success!

I've just started to figure out a system for doing this, and while your time constraints and interest may vary, it should be pretty easily adaptable to anyone's earning money online demands.