1 Year eHow Anniversay!

November 8th marked my one year anniversary of joining eHow and the 14th marks the anniversary of my first published article. It's made a whole $1.51 since then but at least it's something! Luckily, I was able to fine tune my writing endeavors as time went on and I have several articles that are doing rather well. I just wish they were all doing well!

I have high hopes and goals for my eHow articles. I really want to continue writing and adding more articles on a consistent basis. I have been devoting most of my time to other sites and have left eHow in the dust over the last few months. I do plan, however, to try harder and return to this site which I know can pay off eventually. Here's to a more productive second year on eHow!

Thoughts on Demand Studios

I joined Demand Studios in July and am happy to report that I love writing for them. After spending years taking surveys and months attempting to write for myself on sites like eHow and Associated Content, Demand Studios has proven to be the most lucrative way for me to make fast cash.

With Demand Studios, I get to choose from an unending list of article titles with a set price attached to each one. Although I did write some $5 articles when I first started, I realized pretty quickly that it takes just as much time to write the $5 articles as it does to write the $15 articles so I just stick with those now.

My goal is to write at least one article per day (week days only). Unfortunately, this has been quite difficult for me since I have several young children at home and combined with all of my daily housework, it's just too much! But I know that I can always take a break from Demand Studios and come back to it whenever I have time. It really is a wonderful way to make extra income from home by writing articles online. I had no idea how great freelance writing could be until I joined Demand Studios!

Tis the Season for Surveys

Last year between the months of October and December, I took one survey after another and ended up with hundreds of dollars worth of money and gift cards. Based on my recent email notifications, it looks like it will be another great season for all of us survey takers. If you haven't been a faithful survey taker as of yet, you may want to reconsider. This is the best and most fruitful time to take free online paid surveys. Try some of these: MySurvey, Inboxdollars, Ipsos iSay, Synovate Global Opinion Panel, and MyPoints. Although I can't guarantee that you'll be as successful as I am, it's worth a try. Free online paid surveys are especially worthwhile during this time of year!

A Review of MySurvey

I have almost entirely stopped working with survey companies because I think that they are a waste of time compared to freelance writing, but MySurvey is one survey site that I'm sticking with. I have been able to make the minimum cash out of $10 for the past two months now with extremely little effort. I know that $20 isn't a lot of money, but for this mom, an extra $20 is like getting a month's worth of diapers for free. In fact, one of my recent MySurvey opportunities involved testing a whole box worth of free diapers in addition to being paid for the follow up survey. Now that's a good deal if you ask me! Give them a try and see if 5 minutes of work here and there is worth an extra $10 per month. I know it is for me! https://www.mysurvey.com/index.cfm

Record eHow Earnings in July

I'm happy to report that I had record eHow earnings in July. I have 57 articles and hope to keep writing more as time allows. I was unable to devote much time there over the past month since I started a freelance writing gig on another site and have been busy focusing my writing endeavors there instead. But it was nice to see the earnings come in from eHow even when I don't have time to add any additional articles there. I was also elated to see that I am finally receiving my $25 bonus from eHow from some articles I wrote back in May. Cheers to eHow!!!

How to Make Money on eHow

I am promoting a well known ebook on how to maximize your earnings on eHow. With this easy how to guide, you can potentially earn hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars per month writing quick how to articles on eHow. The book is written by one of eHow's top earners. She makes over $1,000 per month on eHow and her book clearly spells out exactly how she does it. I recently bought the book myself and have personally seen my eHow earnings increase as a result. Give it a try, it's definitely worth the $25 if you have any interest in getting paid to write. This is the perfect work at home job, especially for stay-at-home moms!

Click here to view more details

No Luck with Survey Savvy

Years ago now, Survey Savvy was the first survey site I signed up for. I had high hopes of making a lot of money taking surveys back then and didn't know which sites would be the best. Leary of giving out any personal information at that time, I started out only working with BBB approved sites, and Survey Savvy was one of them. (I have since branched out from those, however, with no problems.) Anyway, I have finally decided to give up on Survey Savvy entirely. Although I have received numerous survey screener invites from them over the years, I have NEVER qualified for even one! It's just not worth the time! I'm sure there must be some people out there who think Survey Savvy is great, but I'm just not one of them! I do not recommend this site. If you want to give it a try though, I wouldn't waste too much time there. Given that it's BBB approved, I would assume that you would get paid the promised money if you did qualify for a survey. But in my opinion, it's just not worth the wait.

Get Free Stuff at GoFreebies.com

I get free stuff in the mail nearly every day. People are always asking me where I get it. One of the best places to get free stuff is from GoFreebies.com. GoFreebies is a freebie site that daily features new free stuff available for you to claim. Sometimes you get free samples sent to you in the mail. Other times you get a coupon in the mail for a free product that you can easily pick up on your next trip to Walmart or the grocery store. It's well worth looking into if you haven't explored any freebie sites before. http://www.gofreebies.com/

The New MyPoints Frogpond

MyPoints has introduced a new point earning opportunity, the MyPoints Frogpond. So what is this new Frogpond? It's a fun and easy way to earn more points by surfing select web sites and then giving your review of those web sites for others to read. For each featured site that you review, you receive 25 points. Not bad for a few minutes of your time!

I'm back, finally!

Shortly after my last post, I gave birth to another little peanut. Life has been somewhat crazy around here ever since. We've had two birthdays (with numerous b-day parties), a baptism, visits from out of town relatives, and lots of sickness. Unfortunately, this hasn't given me much time to devote to my work at home endeavors, but things are finally winding down and I'm hopeful that I will soon be able to return to my money making pursuits with renewed enthusiasm. In some ways it was good to take a break from writing and survey taking. But it was sad not to see the money rolling in! So I'm beginning once again. Yesterday I submitted an article to Associated Content which is now pending approval, and I wrote another eHow article this morning. My goal is to write at least one article every day, while simultaneously keeping up with all paid emails and survey requests. We'll just have to see how well I can keep up. Luckily getting regular paychecks in the mail helps keep me motivated!

Lightspeed Panel is Worthwhile

I just recently cashed out $30 from Lightspeed Panel and would recommend trying them if you are interested in taking free online paid surveys. They offer many survey opportunities, and also many different rewards. You can chose between a number of different products or take the cash which is paid through PayPal. The payments are timely and the effort required to earn the money is well worth your time. Check it out at: http://us.lightspeedpanel.com/US/public/index.us

Busy Building My Article Library

I've taken a little break from blogging over the past couple of weeks to spend time with some out of town relatives and to work on building up my article library. I hope to begin adding more info soon regarding my success with various income generating online avenues. I have been focused on eHow recently and am happy to report that my income steadily increases each month. I do plan to buy an ebook about increaing my eHow earnings in the near future, so that I can truly get the most out of the site. I have found limited success with my own venture into finding proper keywords to use in my articles. I would like to know more about search engine optimization. I am new at all this, and although there is plenty of free information available, it's scattered here, there and everywhere making it difficult to piece together. Thus the need to read a concise book about the matter. I'll let you know if it helps.

American Consumer Opinion Panel

A legitimate, reliable free survey company is American Consumer Opinion Panel. It is BBB approved and worth signing up for if you aren't already a member. You won't get a ton surveys from here, but when you do, they are generally high paying and don't take too long. They often send free products in the mail for you to sample for a certain length of time, and then you are required to take a brief survey of your experience. To sign up, click on the link on the side of the blog. You won't be disappointed!

Join Bukisa and Earn Money for Your Articles

Bukisa is another revenue sharing site where you are able to publish your own content and make money for doing so. Unlike eHow, you earn money in several ways not just from ad clicks. Your articles make money simply from page views regardless of whether or not anyone clicks on the ads. You can also refer other writers to the site, and you earn a percentage of their profits as well. I've only written one article here so far, but I hope to add more in the coming months. Feel free to check out the site. Join here: http://www.bukisa.com/join/4297

Beware of AW Surveys

If you are exploring the survey scene, you will want to stay clear of AW Surveys. They claim to give you lots of high paying surveys and offer a referral bonus for getting your friends to sign up. They have a $75 minimum payout (which in my opinion is just way too high) and it takes FOREVER to reach it, since they only offer you one $1 survey per month. Even if you do reach the $75 mark, they do not pay as promised. I have read this a number of different places now and recently had it confirmed from a very reliable source. Bottom line: Don't waste your time with AW Surveys!!!

Online Work is the Best At Home Work for Moms

Are you a stay at home mom looking for legitimate work to do at home? You've probably considered things like selling Avon or Mary Kay but don't want to be saddled down with investing in products and then trying to sell them to your friends and family who most likely don't want your products but feel obliged to help you out. Although there is a place for such work, it's not for everyone. It involves at least an initial investment of money and also time. You have to constantly beg your friends to buy whatever you're selling and provide more leads for you. You also have to leave your home regularly in order to do your selling. This can be very difficult if you have young children or nursing babies who can't survive without you. That's why finding work online is the best option.

By working online, you can truly work your own hours, don't need any initial investment, and can even nurse your baby as you type in your pajamas! You fit in work whenever YOU have the time. If that's at 5 am before the kids get up or at 9 pm after the kids have gone to bed, it's your choice. You can also take vacations whenever you want to. The internet has provided moms with some excellent opportunities to supplement the family income without sacrificing money, friendships, or time away from the home. If you're a stay at home mom with a growing family in need of extra income, you need to start your online career. Don't expect to make hundreds of dollars overnight. But you can expect to make that much after 6 months to a year. Begin by trying some of the sites I've recommended already, such as Inboxdollars, MyPoints, BzzAgent, and eHow. Take as many surveys and write as many articles as your time allows. You'll be making money in no time, and you'll be thrilled when the checks start arriving in your mailbox. At least I was! And keep checking my blog for more in depth discussions of legitimate online money making opportunities.

Inboxdollars: Another Great Reward Site

In addition to MyPoints, I also love Inboxdollars. But as opposed to getting points that convert to gift cards, Inboxdollars rewards you in cash. And who doesn't love being rewarded with actual money??! There is one condition though: You must reach a $30 minimum in order to cash out your accumulated earnings. But believe it or not, it isn't that hard to do.

You can earn money a number of ways. You are paid a specified amount to try any of their 100% free offers, which truly are free, or you can pay to try other offers and will be rewarded in cash for doing so. You also have the opportunity to take a survey every day. And each and every survey that you qualify for earns you money. You can also shop for things online through Inboxdollars and earn money for each dollar you spend. This is a great way to make money on things that you would be buying anyway. But my favorite way (because it's the easiest and takes only a few moments of your time each day) is by reading the paid emails that Inboxdollars sends you nearly every day. You earn a few cents for each email you open and it takes only seconds each day to accomplish. My last check from Inboxdollars was earned completely from just opening my daily emails. The money adds up fast, because they send so many emails. And yet, not so many that you can't keep up with them. I would also like to add that the emails offer you discounts on a number of different products and services that are actually really good deals, so if you go ahead and order flowers through them or buy an Entertainment book, you earn even more money. It's a no lose situation for you and well worth the time it takes to open a few emails every day. If you're not an Inboxdollars member, you should be. Check out the link on the side of the blog to join.

Earn Free Gift Cards with MyPoints

After my post about earning MyPoints through BzzAgent yesterday, I realized I should probably explain what MyPoints is for those of you who don't already know. MyPoints is one of my favorite reward sites on the web. It's easy to sign up and begin gathering points. You get points for reading emails, taking short surveys, purchasing products online through the site, etc. Once you accumulate enough points, you can cash in those points for gift cards to major retailers such as Amazon, Pizza Hut, and Target among MANY more. I have already received several $25 gift cards with very minimal effort. Check out my eHow article (http://www.ehow.com/how_4680766_free-gift-cards-through-mypoints.html) for more detailed information about earning free gift cards through MyPoints or go straight to the MyPoints site and sign up now http://www.mypoints.com/emp/u/index.vm.

Try free products with BzzAgent

I have been a BzzAgent for about a year now and can honestly say that it is a fun and interesting site to be a part of. It's not a survey site, but rather it is a site where you sign up to become a word of mouth promoter of new products. After you sign up, you must go through a very quick tutorial on how to be a good BzzAgent and then you wait to be asked to join what they call "campaigns". Each campaign is sponsored by a different company looking for people to try out a new product that they are about to release to the public or one that they recently added to the market. Once you accept the campaign (most are free for things like food or cleaning products but some you have to pay a small fee for, such as for trying out more expensive products like gaming systems, but you never HAVE TO pay for anything and saying no to a particular campaign does not hurt your chances of being asked to participate in future campaigns), you are sent a full size sample of the product for yourself and a number of coupons to give out to your friends and family. Oftentimes, you are also given small samples to give out to others in addition to coupons.

After you review the product yourself and share your thoughts of the product with others, you simply fill out a short form reviewing the product and you earn MyPoints for each review you submit. The points add up quickly and in addition to your other MyPoints earnings, you are able to cash in points for free gift cards that much faster. BzzAgent also offers a number of VERY short surveys for you to take on a somewhat regular basis that also qualify you to earn more MyPoints. All around, the site is fun and rewarding. Not only do you get test and keep free products, but you have the opportunity to earn MyPoints as well. If you like getting free stuff in the mail, you'll want to sign up: http://www.bzzagent.com/index.jsp

First eHow payment

Although I had no doubt that eHow would in fact pay as promised, I received my first payment yesterday through my Paypal account. For anyone looking for steady residual income, ehow is the place! In almost two months on the site, I have published 15 articles, accumulated 40 some friends who regularly comment on my articles, and my earnings are slowly starting to increase. I know that there are many people making a fair amount of money on the site every month, and hopefully I will be one of them over time. Right now, I'm pleased with the progress I've made.

If you're new to writing articles, eHow is a great place to start. Writing how to articles is quite easy since you can write about almost anything you want to. Picking things you are interested in and have significant knowledge about is not hard. I have also found that submitting articles is extremely easy. And the articles are published immediately. This means that readers can begin viewing your article and potentially making you money as soon as you submit it. Such a great system! I'm highly impressed. If you haven't started yet, do so now! http://www.ehow.com/

Home Testing Institute

I have been working with the Home Testing Institute for over a year now and have found it to be an easy and quick way to make money. Every month they send me a survey in the mail with cash inside before you even send the surveys back. The surveys are short and the postage is already paid on the return envelope so it's quite easy to finish them as soon as they come and send them back in time. It's definitely worth looking into if you like taking paper surveys in your home. If you'd like to join the Home Testing Institute yourself, go for it: http://www.htionline.com/

New Year, New Goals

Well, the new year is here, and I have set many goals for myself. I want to devote a couple of hours per day to writing so that I can hopefully have at least 100 articles published by the end of the year. I also want to diversify my income streams. Right now I am focusing on eHow and Associated Content but hope start a hub page and create a resume so that I can try to get some steady writing gigs going but mid year. I have also been researching different web hosting services, because I also hope to start a niche website in the coming months. I hope to be able to keep with these plans but life is very busy on the homefront this year. I will try to persevere!