Freelance Jobs...Short Tasks & Surveys

Short-task freelance jobs are options to make a little bit of cash or rewards on the side. I guess if you are diligent and spend all day working at this, you might be able to make some real cash. But, mostly, these sites are nice "side-job" options.

I've tried Swagbucks and Inbox Dollars but became very frustrated because their opportunities usually involve the person to sign up for something. As an example, they will offer $5 but you have to sign up to receive a "free" sample with the responsibility of later rejecting further offers. Or, you have to give away your email or Facebook account information. I quickly decided that those opportunities were not worth it.

A few of the reputable sites are Amazon MTurk and Clickworker. I tried both and enjoy Clickworker. It is easy to use and gives you opportunities to do different types of work that pay more. I tried Amazon MTurk for awhile. They have a lot of opportunities but I eventually shied away from using them because their interface is not friendly. To compare them with Clickworker, when I'm done with a task, it disappears. Therefore, when I get back to their home page, I am presented with the tasks that I can complete. On Amazon MTurk, my completed task turns a different color but it remains on the list and I have to spend time scrolling to find another task.

Taking surveys is another way to make extra money or rewards. I use Harris Poll Online which gives out rewards. The rewards are VERY minor so be aware of how much time you spend on each survey. There are other survey sites, but again, the number of rewards you receive according to your time spent is very minor.

When I first started looking at all the different types of freelance jobs, I was initially excited about all of these short-task opportunities. After trying them all, I realize that they are what they claim to be: side jobs that pay very little.

If you have some spare time, these sites can bring in a little bit of needed cash.

Freelance Jobs...Transcription

There is a high demand for transcriptionists which means there are a lot of freelance opportunities. Even though the opportunities may seem endless, the application process is strict and, as a beginner, you won't start out making a lot of money. Most companies pay per audio minute; the quicker you can complete your task, the more money you make. Those with a lot of experience have very successful careers.

Let's break down the pay: rates can range from $.30 to $2.00 per recorded minute. If there are 15 minutes of transcription at $1.00 per recorded minute, then you will get paid $15.00 whenever you finish. But, it is not easy to type the speed of people talking, plus the recording may be hard to hear. My first attempts would take me at least 45 minutes to an hour to complete the first draft. Then it would take me another hour to edit my first draft to make sure that I typed every word correctly and had the correct punctuation. Also, every company has different rules so I had to keep those in mind when I edited. After about 1.5 to 2 hours of work, I still got paid $15 (which is about $7.50/hour). Each company has a different rate of pay and each varies widely.

I tried transcription for a while but just didn't enjoy the work. I was excited to get started and it took me quite a while to become approved by just one company. I probably applied to 20-25 different transcription companies. The hardest part for me was hearing what people say on the recordings. After 15 minutes of transcribing, I became very tense because I was straining so hard to hear. If I stuck with it, I would probably be more successful and get used to listening to people and would, thus, be more successful. There are a lot of transcribers who are very successful.

Except for Rev.com, all of the companies have strict application processes. You usually have to transcribe at least one recording, take a grammar/proofreading and/or spelling test, have certain backgrounds or education, have previous experience, type at least 65 wpm, and many other criteria. Rev.com only gives you a couple of chances to fail. When you do, you are banned for life, which happened to me.

I liked the idea of transcription as a steady income and something to keep me busy. I still think it's a great freelance job which gives you the freedom to work when you can or want. There are so many companies that need your help, that I can almost guarantee you'll find a good fit. And, through practice, your transcription speed will ensure that your pay matches your experience.

Here are some transcription companies: Rev.com, 1-888-Type-It-Up, 3PlayMedia, Accutran Global, Appenscribe, Babbletype, Casting Words, Crowdsurf, Daily Transcription, Focus Forward, GMR Transcription, Net Transcripts, Quicktate, Scribie, SpeakWrite, Tigerfish, Transcribe.com, TranscribeMe, Ubiqus, Verbal Ink, Verilogue, Way With Words, WeLocalize