Twelve Sites That Will Put You to Work Now
10EQS
This virtual consulting firm started by a former McKinsey executive uses crowdsourced experts to create research reports for clients in banking, media, telecom, and other industries. For example, one project looked at the price elasticity of a key raw material in petrochemical products. The client paid $10,000 for a report that took two weeks. The team that delivered that report was an engagement manager with 25 years of experience in the chemical industry, along with 11 other experts.99designs
www.99designs.comNeed a design for a logo or Web page or something else? The site 99designs is a community of more than 91,000 designers. Small businesses start a contest on 99designs, giving designers a clear outline of what they need. Designers submit work, and clients choose and pay for their favorite design. In December, 99designs paid designers $596,829. A single logo sells for $300 to $500.
Amazon Mechanical Turk
www.mturk.com
This service from Amazon (AMZN) helps businesses complete tasks online that once would have required hiring many temporary workers. Companies can hire hundreds or even thousands of workers at once on Mechanical Turk, meaning projects can often be completed in days rather than weeks. Tasks might involve identifying objects in a photo or video, transcribing audio recordings, or even translation work. Many tasks pay less than 10¢ and can be completed fairly quickly.
This service from Amazon (AMZN) helps businesses complete tasks online that once would have required hiring many temporary workers. Companies can hire hundreds or even thousands of workers at once on Mechanical Turk, meaning projects can often be completed in days rather than weeks. Tasks might involve identifying objects in a photo or video, transcribing audio recordings, or even translation work. Many tasks pay less than 10¢ and can be completed fairly quickly.
CloudCrowd
www.cloudcrowd.com
Workers can find a wide variety of tasks at this site, including translation, online researching, data, and writing and editing. Pay rates vary from 1¢ to $14.95 per task. Workers at this site are given Credibility scores, which CloudCrowd uses to rate the likelihood that a particular person will do quality work in the future.
Workers can find a wide variety of tasks at this site, including translation, online researching, data, and writing and editing. Pay rates vary from 1¢ to $14.95 per task. Workers at this site are given Credibility scores, which CloudCrowd uses to rate the likelihood that a particular person will do quality work in the future.
Elance
www.elance.com
In 2010, no fewer than 377,184 jobs were posted on this site. More than half the money made by workers on Elance in the third quarter of 2010 was in technology. Skills that are in high demand on the site include search-engine marketing, iPhone development, Google App Engine, HTML5, and affiliate marketing.
In 2010, no fewer than 377,184 jobs were posted on this site. More than half the money made by workers on Elance in the third quarter of 2010 was in technology. Skills that are in high demand on the site include search-engine marketing, iPhone development, Google App Engine, HTML5, and affiliate marketing.
Freelancer.com
www.freelancer.com
This site mainly connects small business clients with labor in developing countries. Jobs include everything from creating websites to writing articles. The average job is about $200. About 2.1 million professionals are registered on this site.
This site mainly connects small business clients with labor in developing countries. Jobs include everything from creating websites to writing articles. The average job is about $200. About 2.1 million professionals are registered on this site.
LiveOps
www.liveops.com
More than 20,000 independent agents work from home to staff LiveOps’ virtual call center. These workers can log on to take calls whenever they’d like, in blocks of 30 minutes. Rates for services can vary from 25¢ per minute of talk time to a base rate pay with a bonus for commission.
More than 20,000 independent agents work from home to staff LiveOps’ virtual call center. These workers can log on to take calls whenever they’d like, in blocks of 30 minutes. Rates for services can vary from 25¢ per minute of talk time to a base rate pay with a bonus for commission.
Maven
www.mavenresearch.com
This microconsulting business is a large online network of professionals from all walks of life, such as physicians, electricians, and race car drivers. These folks set their own rates, usually $250 to $500 per hour. Investors, lawyers, and others arrange short telephone calls with a specific expert when they need a question answered.
This microconsulting business is a large online network of professionals from all walks of life, such as physicians, electricians, and race car drivers. These folks set their own rates, usually $250 to $500 per hour. Investors, lawyers, and others arrange short telephone calls with a specific expert when they need a question answered.
oDesk
www.odesk.com
Hundreds of thousands of professionals, including Web developers, software programmers, graphic designers, writers, customer service reps, and virtual assistants, offer services on oDesk. Each month, companies post about $65 million worth of jobs on the site, and the average job size is about $4,000, with an hourly rate of $8.64.
Hundreds of thousands of professionals, including Web developers, software programmers, graphic designers, writers, customer service reps, and virtual assistants, offer services on oDesk. Each month, companies post about $65 million worth of jobs on the site, and the average job size is about $4,000, with an hourly rate of $8.64.
Tongal
www.tongal.com
Ever dreamed of working for an ad agency? At Tongal, anyone can come up with ideas, shoot commercials, or create graphic designs. Such companies as Mattel (MAT), Allstate (ALL) insurance, and Benjamin Moore paints hire Tongal to create online videos. Typical projects range from $15,000 to $20,000. The process works much like a contest, except the money is divided among the top-ranking contributors to each project.
Ever dreamed of working for an ad agency? At Tongal, anyone can come up with ideas, shoot commercials, or create graphic designs. Such companies as Mattel (MAT), Allstate (ALL) insurance, and Benjamin Moore paints hire Tongal to create online videos. Typical projects range from $15,000 to $20,000. The process works much like a contest, except the money is divided among the top-ranking contributors to each project.
Trada
www.trada.com
Companies that need to create more effective paid-search campaigns on Google, Yahoo!, and Bing turn to this site. In the pay-per-click model, advertisers set a fixed price they’re willing to pay for all clicks in a campaign. If the advertiser is willing to pay 80¢ for a click, and an expert can generate a click for 60¢, the expert gets to keep the 20¢ for each click generated on that keyword. To become an expert, workers need to pass an entrance exam that tests their knowledge of paid search.
Companies that need to create more effective paid-search campaigns on Google, Yahoo!, and Bing turn to this site. In the pay-per-click model, advertisers set a fixed price they’re willing to pay for all clicks in a campaign. If the advertiser is willing to pay 80¢ for a click, and an expert can generate a click for 60¢, the expert gets to keep the 20¢ for each click generated on that keyword. To become an expert, workers need to pass an entrance exam that tests their knowledge of paid search.
uTest
www.utest.com
Microsoft (MSFT), Google (GOOG), Intuit (INTU), and Groupon are just a few of the companies that have turned to this software testing service for help finding bugs. More than 20,000 testers in 160 countries sign on to work whenever they want, day or night. The company says top testers can make thousands of dollars per month.
Microsoft (MSFT), Google (GOOG), Intuit (INTU), and Groupon are just a few of the companies that have turned to this software testing service for help finding bugs. More than 20,000 testers in 160 countries sign on to work whenever they want, day or night. The company says top testers can make thousands of dollars per month.
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