By Patti Hale
Micro jobs, small tasks performed for pennies, is the latest on-line phenom. Crowd sourced Human Intelligence Tasks ( HITS) as Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, calls it. Small tasks that only humans can do, some of which are so mindless it’s possible to carry out watching TV.
“Short-term gigs can help you meet specific goals like paying down debt or creating an emergency fund,” according to the article, Can’t Get a Job? Get a Microjob in Forbes.
I don’t think it’s likely anyone could make a living using the crowdsourcing sites but making extra money or (in the case of Survey Sites) gift cards to use as presents is a definite possibility.
Crowd sourcing tasks include taking surveys, testing useability of websites, bookmarking articles in social websites, translating, transcribing, writing small posts and the like.
Before signing up with any of these sites, however, I suggest checking the payment policies and user requirements carefully. I have seen some with a very high, unattainable minimum payout which smacks of being a ripoff, imho.
You might also want to sign up with a throw away email account since many of these tasks require you to sign-up for different websites that I suspect collects leads for advertisers and may result in additional unwanted emails.
Quick Tip: in order to verify these jobs are accomplished, many sites require you to paste in a code revealed at the end of the task into the window on the beginning page. For this reason, it is important to open the website where your task is to be performed in a new window (right-click on address) to make sure the original page is available for pasting the verification code into when finished.
Another type of micro job site that does have more potential for making money are the sites like Fiverr, where you post a price for a task you will perform as in: “For $5 I will be your friend”–an actual posting on one of the sites! (Even if you’re not interested in working or buying from these sites, it’s a hoot just to read the different kinds of tasks offered.)
Since the success of Fiverr there has been a huge number of new sites springing up in this niche. There’s even a WordPress Theme for microjob sites to buy if you’re interested in starting your own of micro freelancing site. The micro job site usually takes 20% of the sales (except a few like Zeerk) so there is money to be made–if you can get enough workers and buyers to your site. I also saw a quite a few who had tried and failed so it is a very competitive field.
In addition, I found a Microjobforum.com where “microworkers” exchange ideas and discuss the various micro sites—many that I have included in this site.
So, if you’re ready to give it go, here’s a list of Micro Jobs sites:
Micro Job Sites
App Rewards Club
Get free apps, share your thoughts, get rewards
Centworkers.com
Employers, ask people to vote for a facebook photo, become a fan – “Like” their page, Add you as Friend to Facebook,Rate your Video,Follow you on Twitter,USA or International workers
Cha Cha
Answer questions for small amounts of money-.02-.20 cents
Users have to apply and agree to a minimum 1 year contract
Payout set at $100
ClowdCrowd
This is a Facebook app with small jobs available. Answer questions, create resumes, edit documents, post product descriptions, write business guides, grade translations in different languages. Pay for tasks range from $.02 to $14.00. Users must pass a skills test to qualify to accept assignments in certain categories and assigned a credibility code from 1-100. The higher the credibility, the higher the pay. Daily Payment made through PayPal for all tasks completed in a day. Here is a review from a wahm who has used Cloud Crowd: A Very Honest and Balanced Review of Cloud Crowd
Clickworker
Requires qualification test to do some jobs. Example: writing 220-250 word texts in English about coupon for $1.90. Other job listed paid .25 to analyze and categorize football video clips with several plays. Basic assessments help test spelling, grammar and foreign-language knowledge while projects assessments teach you specific requirements you need to fulfill when working.
ClickChores
Sign up is fast, free and easy. Find a job you can complete. Some jobs are limited by country, but most jobs are available internationally. Do the job to the employer’s specifications. In most cases, job offers will take you less than two minutes to complete, and you will earn on average between $.15 and $1.00 for each successful completion. Provide proof that you completed the job to the employer’s specifications. Employers usually request proof as anything from a screenshot to a URL or username. Assuming you successfully completed the micro job, the employer will approve your submission, and your account will be credited. You can request to withdraw the funds available to your account at any time. Withdrawal requests are processed twice a month. You can choose to be paid through PayPal or Payza. Don’t Stop There – There’s no limit to how much you can make. Keep checking back. New jobs are posted every day.
EasyShift
Download app and earn money while eating and shopping and exploring their city.
Embee Mobile
Rewards users with free mobile service and content to engage with leading brands. We support over 320 mobile operators in more than 100 countries. Perform online tasks, play games and videos, do surveys, etc,
Field Agent
If you have an iPhone and you’d like to get paid to do simple tasks like filling out a survey, and complete simple tasks like taking a photo directly from your iPhone and get paid.
FixedPriceGigs
A marketplace where you can buy or sell just about anything from $4 to $20
Fiverbid
The massive variety of quality services offered at low prices ranging from £5 to £250 per gig is one of the major reasons of Fiverbid’s growth and success.
Fiverr
Post any job you are willing to do for $5 (you get $4 after Fiverr takes its share). Examples of job offers for $5.00: voice overs, videos, Photoshop your picture, draw your picture, and all sorts of useful and some not so useful but amusing offers.
Fixiya
FixYa offers many opportunities for you to earn cash by sharing your knowledge and helping others with product issues and tech support.
$2-$6 per solution
Answer posted questions
$6-10 per solution
Answer through real-time chat
$10-15 per solution
Answer over the phone
Fourerr
What are you willing to do for $4?
Gigblasters
Blast your job for money.
Gigbucks
Come share things you would do or need done for $5 to $50 bucks
Gigme5
The town where people love to do things for $5.
Gigs20
Buy or sell for $20 or less
Gigstir
Micro Jobs | Micro Payments | Freelancers – Gigstir.com is a micro job micro payment site where users can hire freelancers for freelance micro jobs and services …Post services for $5 and more. Sites takes a 20% cut.
Gigtask
World Marketplace to buy/sell services for $5 to $100
Gigver
Micro Job Site for Internet Marketers – Get your internet marketing jobs for less money, charges a 20% fee. Gigs are $5 or more.
Gigwalk
Gigwalk is a mobile work marketplace connecting businesses to their own smartphone army so they can get work done anywhere. Get paid $3-$5 for doing price checks with your Smart Phone, taking photos, mystery shopping, taking surveys, etc.
Humantic
Pay is pennies for reviewing phone calls. Read this discussion on WAHM forum
HustlerGigs
Share what you will do for money
InboxDollars
Get paid to read emails, surveys, web searches, shopping online, redeeming coupons, receiving emails and playing games.
JobsforReal
Shout what you do best from $5 to $100
Little Job Shop
Create a job offer for between $5 and $50 then share the job using the Social Media tools provided
Mahalo
Mahalo Answers $1 Mahalo Dollar=$.75
Mahalo Tasks M$5 to M$15 Mahalo dollars
Mechanical Turk (MTurk)
Owned and operated by Amazon, this site has jobs that require signing up for accounts, writing short articles, surveys, translations, transcriptions, etc. and range from a few dollars down to $.01. Payout is through an Amazon debit card or Amazon credit on purchases.
Microworkers
Select jobs you like, finish tasks, submit proof, earn money. New users get $1.00 credit automatically added to their account. Types of jobs: Liking a Facebook page, creating back links, tweet a link, post a link to Social bookmarking sites.
MobileWorks
This site was not on my radar until a reader reported on the problems she was having with the site and I am adding it as a point of reference. See Trish’s comments below! Thanks, Trish!
My Lot Tasks
Besides the share of revenue My Lot members get for doing social networking, MyLot.Tasks pays for completing small tasks like writing a couple of paragraphs about a topic or finding an image online that meets various qualifications. You are paid for your efforts after you reach the $10 payout, once a month through Pay Pal.
Naming Force
Crowd sourced naming contest. Come up with ideas for names for projects and businesses and get paid $100 to $250 if your name is selected.
Picky Domains
Crowd sourced naming contest of domains or slogans. Get paid $25-$35 if your name or slogan wins. Check out this review on Write and Get paid.com
Pungra
What can you do to earn a few. Relatively new site that, according to its owner, is “more awesome” than the other sites.
RapidWorkers
Crowd Sourcing. Our team helps individuals, small businesses and professionals to create low cost publicity and marketing campaigns to increase sales, ranking, beter ranking, backlinks and much more..
SEOClerk.com
SEOClerks offers Affordable SEO Services, White Hat SEO, Link Building, Social Media Optimization Services and SEO Micro Jobs. You can also buy data entry entry, virtual assistance and content. 20% commission.
Short Task
Get paid to complete individual tasks from home, including data entry.
Slice the Pie
Fans get paid to review new music and support emerging talent for $.04-22 cents per review. Length of reviews should be at least
100 characters.
Squadhelp
Crowd sourcing contests for business name suggestions, usability advice, conversion optimization and more.Winners of contests receive $50 to $200.
Start up lift
Helps startups get exposure and receive feedback. “Awardee” of the assignment gets paid $5 for giving their opinion. Not all submissions are selected for payment.
Swag Bucks
Earn Swagbucks by doing surveys, shopping and playing games redeemable for gift cards and coupons
3to30
A lot like Fiver, 3 to 30 refers to how much you will charge to do a particular job that you offer for $3 to $30 per job.
TaskRabbit
College students, recent retirees, stay-at-home moms, unemployed help busy people get their To-Do list done. Running errands, dog sitting, helping with events, etc. Available in a limited number of major cities.
TenBux
The place for people to share the things they will do for $5 and $10.
TryMyUI
Apply to test websites for usability by signing up on-line and doing sample video. The usability test lasts 15-20 minutes and you can expect to have 1 or 2 tests per week.They pay $10 per test.
Viggle
Receive points redeemable for coupons for watching TV, voting in polls, answering trivia questions and referring new customers.
Whatusersdo
Get paid $8 per test for giving feedback on websites. To apply, must do a sample recording of giving feedback on a site.
Worldofmicrojobs
Crowdsourcing. Pays .50 to $15 depending on the task to perform quick tasks mostly performed in a few minutes.
YouFiverr
Buy sell services,clothing, gifts, & electronics for $5, $15, $25 or $50
Zeerk
Buy and sell services from $2 to $100. NO commisions, no fees.
Do you know of other, legitimate micro job sites or have experience with any on of the ones I have listed that you will share? If so, please let me know in the comments below.
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Thanks, I appreciate you stopping by!
Yes, it is also helpful selling services through social networking sites but sometimes I think joining site like Fiverr are one of the best ways to be noticed and sell my services. The problem right now is that these sites are now extremely popular and there are now many contractors that I need to compete with. Can you suggest Fiverr clone
or Fiverr-like sites where I can sell professional services online?
3 to 30 says it is a lot like Fiverr. Have you tried that site?
I just finished reading your report and wanted to send you a note on a couple of the sites.
When I checked out Worldofmicrojobs, they were requiring a one-time $10 sign up fee. I didn’t sign up because I’m not crazy about paying to earn money. It seems a little counter productive. Mechanical Turk now pays by direct deposit to your checking account as well as with Amazon gift cards. They state it can take 5-7 days for payment to reach your bank. But, when I requested payment I had it within 24 hours. I really love Mechanical Turk but I was upset when I had two “broken” jobs in one day. I reported it as broken but my options were only to continue with the HIT or return it. I had to return it because it wouldn’t work, so that made my return percentage go up.
My sister and I have both tried to work on the Microworkers site. She found the length of the tasks as compared to the amount she was being paid really ridiculous. Her rate was something in the range of 50 cents an hour. My own experience has not been much better. I did a slew of their tasks and now am unable to do anything. They said I cannot continue until I review a couple of the tasks. However, there seems to be no way to do this as when I try I am led in a circle back to the same page with the notice of review. I attempted to email them three times on different days using the contact information on their site. Each time I recieved a message back that the email had been unable to go through and to try again.
Oops! In my previous post I complained about issues with the site Microworkers – it was actually Mobileworks. Sorry for the mix-up.
I don’t see Mobile works on my list but I will add it along with a reference to your comment.
I SO appreciate the feed back, Trish, and I’m sure others do too. I’m taking the World of Micro jobs site off since I don’t approve of paying to work either. I’ll post a warning on the Mobile Works entry to see your comments below for now,. Let me know if anything changes, please.