Money Making on the Internet
By Shiva
@Shiva49 (26774)
Singapore
February 1, 2016 4:55am CST
As we spent hours on sites like these to make some cents a day, we are drawn to some ads that promise over hundred dollars per hour and five digit sums a month! Is it like a lottery and is there any truth behind such claims?
We know at least few here who write with panache articulating thoughts like professionals with experience to back their credentials. Are they drawn by such ads to try their mettle, or ignore them as tall claims with wheels within wheels attached to them? I tend to fall in the second category. When even well-established sites have fallen by the wayside, how then can one be paid hundreds of dollars per day? What is really expected of us to meet their criteria? Are they hiding some facts that they do not want to divulge? What do they gain by luring us with tall claims?
I love the journey of online sites and the interaction. The money I have made has been quite small over the years, even less than what they promise for an hour of our time!
Hope few among us can share your thoughts and the experiences you have had on this compelling issue for us to come to terms with the reality of such claims and what they really mean to us. For me, it is more like - if wishes were horses beggars would ride!
34 people like this
24 responses
@Shiva49 (26774)
• Singapore
1 Feb 16
I always wonder when I see "everywhere" how people make thousands of dollars every month on the internet. I asked one Forex trader, who was doing it for banks for years, why he still worked for others. He replied it was too risky to do the trading on own account - that says it all!
Why should anyone be paid hundred per hour and what they are expected to write about? siva
5 people like this
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
1 Feb 16
Nothing comes easy in this life and not even the money we make online. Anything that promises easy cash i don't buy it
4 people like this
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
1 Feb 16
@Shiva49 And those fruits at the end ends up being sour when one get scammed
4 people like this
@Shiva49 (26774)
• Singapore
2 Feb 16
@Missmwngi Agreed, we might find ourselves in shark infested waters when we take a plunge without thinking of the consequences - siva
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (472114)
• Switzerland
1 Feb 16
I think that nobody can say they became rich writing online. Some years ago anyway it was easier to make some money. I made about $ 300 a month writing on Bubblews, a little more when I wrote for Squidoo, if you made sales through Amazon, you received a compensation.
4 people like this
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
6 Feb 16
I miss Squidoo, that is where I started and I learn so much from the other writers there. That is one thing there are plenty of other writers who are willing to help out newbies.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26774)
• Singapore
6 Feb 16
@whiteream We should keep an open mind to learn all the time. There are those who are ready to help others and that I think is the beauty of online sites - we keep learning.
Is Squidoo still active? - siva
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
1 Feb 16
You can't get rich doing this and it's best to remember that it is supposed to be fun and the little money is icing n the cake.
4 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
1 Feb 16
@Shiva49 I don't even look at them any longer. I guess I pretend they aren't there.
4 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
1 Feb 16
I don't know anyone who can live on their earnings on line. It takes a real job to do that. We can have home based businesses but writing for pennies is not a home based business. It's a hobby that brings fun and friendships into our lives through the computer, but it will never buy the groceries.
4 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
2 Feb 16
@Shiva49 I've never heard anyone talking about making much on line.
2 people like this
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
6 Feb 16
@Shiva49 the people who started them may make that type of money by ripping off others. But, I have never meant anyone who has made a living writing online alone. that often do other things as well.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26774)
• Singapore
6 Feb 16
@whiteream If one has to pay in advance to start the ball rolling then better to back away - siva
@Bhaskarjhborah (735)
• India
2 Feb 16
I have been trying own blog for making money from 1 year. but the earning is too low thay not worth the internet connectionI purchased.
4 people like this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
5 Feb 16
It is very, very hard to earn serious money on the internet. It is very easy to lose money on the internet. I have made thousands of dollars and probably lost almost as much. I did not keep records of the gains and losses.
2 people like this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
6 Feb 16
@Shiva49 So true! Now, I no longer take chances with businesses offered me on the internet. I write here because I enjoy it. 
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26774)
• Singapore
5 Feb 16
It is like Forex trading. Even those with many years of experience know it is better to draw a salary from a financial institution than trade on own account. I have made very little from my online writing but I enjoy my time due to the interaction like I do here now - siva
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26774)
• Singapore
7 Feb 16
@1hopefulman When you are on sites like these we may not earn much, but also spend less while for other activities we might have to spend more! siva
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
5 Feb 16
most such sites are peddling snake-oil promises and they will take money off you rather than giving you more
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26774)
• Singapore
2 Feb 16
I started with Associated Content which was bought over by Yahoo. It was paying reasonably but Yahoo closed it eventually. I feel if one is ready to put their heart and soul in the efforts and meet the needed criteria, some worthwhile money can be made. But it doesn't come easy! siva
2 people like this
@LilyBeBack (1994)
• United Kingdom
2 Feb 16
Over the years, I've learned with online earnings that if it looks too good to be true, it almost definitely is 
As an aside, your writing is like poetry, it's lovely - I look forward to reading everything you post here, regardless of the topic!
As an aside, your writing is like poetry, it's lovely - I look forward to reading everything you post here, regardless of the topic!2 people like this
@LilyBeBack (1994)
• United Kingdom
2 Feb 16
@Shiva49 Yeah, I would suggest ignoring those claims - I think that if a person can't make that kind of money in real life then they can't make that amount on the internet either 
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26774)
• Singapore
3 Feb 16
@LilyBeBack Yeah, it can well end up like - curiosity killed the cat! So better beware as there is no free lunch especially on the internet! siva
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
2 Feb 16
I have been writing on the Internet for 15 years. In that time I would have that I have made over $40,000 and maybe even more however, most of that was on special projects where I earned per article a guaranteed amount.
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
2 Feb 16
@Shiva49 Yes I know her too and yes that is true. I still could make decent money if I want to do project work but I hate deadlines and don't really need the money.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26774)
• Singapore
2 Feb 16
@BelleStarr I recall when she (CR) went by another's response to my comment. That guy made something like - why should someone has to be so negative? I was aghast and told her to please read my comments again. She was magnanimous in apologizing profusely and set my mind at rest!
I like to write my way so I am comfortable with what I do now. While working I had enough of watching others mood swings, so let me breathe some fresh sir! siva
3 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (37379)
• Toccoa, Georgia
4 Feb 16
I wish I could make enough money online so I wouldn't be forced to get a job outside the home.
3 people like this
@innertalks (22088)
• Australia
2 Feb 16
When I was writing for Helium.com they paid reasonably well, and they also had contests where you could enter and win cash too.
Since then no other writing site has compared with them for me.
On the other hand, I have tried doing online surveys. A lot of these are also scams, especially if you pick ones based in a different country than where you live yourself.
The competition in getting to the survey before the quota is full is also annoying. You get half way through a survey, and they tell you no money, we have reached our quota required for this survey.
They are often so repetitive and mind numbing to do too.
On the other hand, if you do happen to find a good one, like for example, pureprofile.com, they will even pay you a small amount for attempting their survey, even if you are not suited for it according to their wants profile for that survey.
They pay in cash too. You can easily make $20 to $25 a month here, but only on a good month.
2 people like this
@innertalks (22088)
• Australia
3 Feb 16
@Shiva49 I also have tried Associated content.
Initially they also paid well, then they stopped paying to non US based writers, then as you said Yahoo took them over. I tried Bukisa, and Triond too, as well as Wikinut.
I am like you, I prefer only writing for the one site, that's why I feel a bit split at the moment. I am writing here, as well as at wikinut.
Yes, you will be well rewarded here. The site seems to suit you well.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26774)
• Singapore
3 Feb 16
@innertalks The link in my above comment to the article did not work.
AC/Yahoo did not pay me as I too was non US based but I gamely continued though I ran out of steam after some time.
I will try to spend most of my time here for now and hope to make it worthwhile for others and the site too - siva
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26774)
• Singapore
3 Feb 16
Thanks Steve, I had looked at Helium and they looked to have a professional team with exacting standards too. Good that you had a long innings there and proved your mettle. I always wanted to be at one site at a time and so it was AC/Yahoo and Wikinut with a brief stint with Bukisa.
I was sad at the closing of YCN (see the link to my post - you have also commented on it - I felt Yahoo should not have purchased it only to close it down after tampering with the site for a while.
I have not tried online surveys as I want to do something creative - frankly, I do not even know what they want. As you know, I loved interacting all along and spend more time at it than posting my own.
I feel a monthly payout is possible here and we can even aim for higher but of course, one should just do it as a hobby, and enjoy it too, than try to earn a living - siva
Write about any topic or interest. Easy to use editor, feedback from readers.
1 person likes this
@karjatwala (1120)
• Pune, India
6 Apr 16
And what they ask for is a mere $10 or so. So its tempting to take the risk. But even if a 100 or so join them, they make a $1,000 and you get nothing.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
2 Feb 16
Some we have met have made a good bit of money over the years. Being in the right place at the right time seems to be key!
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (26774)
• Singapore
3 Feb 16
Yes, some made good money for a while but now it looks like those sites have closed shop. Those that try to catch our attention now seem to be up to no good. It is more like when the salesman says "very good price" but it is meant for him only! siva
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
3 Feb 16
I think there is probably a catch...., 
2 people like this
@brokenbee (11090)
• Philippines
15 Feb 16
We could earn good money from the internet but we have to be very careful to choose where we invest our time and efforts.
1 person likes this
@brokenbee (11090)
• Philippines
17 Feb 16
@Shiva49 MyLot is also a good one because it is paying its members. But keep on looking for other ventures for additional income.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26774)
• Singapore
17 Feb 16
@brokenbee I like to earn but also enjoy my time. MyLot looks good to my lifestyle - siva
1 person likes this
