How to make $2,000 on Epinions (like me)!
Sep 03 '00 (Updated Sep 08 '00)
This review supplies many useful tips to help you maximize your profit from Epinions.com. I've been an active member for just less than a year and I've learned quite a bit. I hope some of these tips help you earn more.
I get asked all the time how much money I've made on the site and, "Is it still possible to make money on Epinions?" To better inform users (and so I'll have a place to send these frequent emails) I'll tell you all I know right here. You must realize though, that while I have made well in excess of $2,000 here at Epinions, I've calculated my approximate hourly rate at somewhere between $1.00 - $2.00 (not even min. wage). If you haven't yet read my review titled "How to make $1,000 on Epinions (like me)!" you may want to check it out as well.
AS OF SEPTEMBER 3, 2000 MY EARNINGS TOTAL INCLUDES:
OPINION ROYALTIES = $1,148.72
Granted about $400 of this was earned back when Epinions was paying out $.30/read (ahh, the good old days). But since I've learned the relationship between reading and rating. Sure if you post a review you'll always get 5-10 reads, but making money by cranking out tons of reviews is much harder than working to increase your reads per review. I'm averaging well over 100 reads per review. Here's how to do the same:
TIP: Reading and rating other people's reviews makes them more likely to come and read and rate yours.
TIP: Writing comments on other user's reviews will get you and your reviews noticed.
TIP: Adding people to your Web of Trust makes them much more likely to come and read your reviews.
TIP: Encouraging others to join your notify list will help your reads stay consistently high on each review you write.
TIP: CONTROVERSY PAYS! If there's one thing I've learned in the last few months its that reviews that arouse emotional responses from people will pay much more than bland "this product was great" type reviews. I recently completed two reviews titled "Epinions 10 Hottest Women" and "Epinions 10 Ugliest Women". Both people who loved and hated the reviews were flocking to read them. Remember, you get paid for the read regardless of whether the user rates it or not! In the few weeks that have followed these two reviews have amassed an amazing 1,700 member reads! Jerry Springer must be a very wealthy man!
INCOME SHARE = $488.36
I admit this is still a mystery to me. I do know that Income Share amounts are higher for consumer product reviews (these are where Epinions can really show value to members and non-members alike) than they are for reviews on Epinions.com, or other $.01/read topics. If anyone knows how this is actually calculated (I know Epinions doesn't want the formula known), I'd love for you to post it as a comment.
TIP: Electronics, Travel, Personal Finance, Education, Automobile, Kids & Family reviews (plus many more) all pay $.03/read. Reviews on Music, Movies, Restaurants, Video and Computer Games, and Epinions.com (and plenty more) only pay $.01/read. To maximize your earnings try to write exclusively on the "high dollar" topics. While some of the cheap reviews will get you more reads, you typically won't get three times as many reads.
REFERRAL EROYALTIES = $48.48
This money comes from 86 referral members who've written 106 reviews so far. I learned some time ago to refer all friends and family to my partner site instead of the main http://www.epinions.com site. The people who joined though the main site only net me $1.00 and 10% off their earnings.
TIP: Only refer people to you partner site. This way in addition to the $1.00 (soon to be $2.00) and 10% you'll also get paid for each page view generated by their traffic at your partner site.
PARTNER EROYALTIES = $468.68
Much of this money was derived from my own use of Epinions.com. Every time I read or rated anyone's review, I did so using my own affiliate site (Starting in Oct, 2000 you won't get paid for using your own site). About 50,000 of the some 70,000 page views (totaling $365.14) I've accumulated thus far are a result of my own use. The remaining $108.82 is a result of the hundreds of users (and their reviews) who have signed up through my partner site.
TIP: Since you'll no longer get paid for using your own Partner Site, starting Oct, 2000 you'll need to find a friend(s) on Epinions and agree to use each other's partner sites. Be sure to refer anyone you know. You never know who will join and become an addict (like me)!
Some more tips that may help you earn more here on Epinions.com:
TIP:Write well. Users whose reviews are full of punctuation, spelling, and other grammatical errors rarely attract repeat visitors.
TIP:Don't be afraid to communicate with other users. Making friends on Epinions can be very profitable!
TIP:This is not a story telling site, it's an opinion site. Don't start your review "I bought this product because...". You see, I and other users DO NOT care WHY you bought the latest Britney Spears album, we do however want to know what you think about it. While you shouldn't simply list your experience with the product/service, you should include some of your personal experiences in you Opinion (be sure to actually express one in your review).
While I'm certainly not Epinions top earner, I hope these few pointer help you make more cash while you're reading writing and rating! Don't hesitate to email me with any questions or comments.
Your pal, Almighty
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Epinions.com ID:
Almighty
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 - Top 1000 |
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Location: Nashville, TN
Reviews written: 198
Trusted by: 592 members
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