Why I Dont ChaCha. (Part 2)

-This is the second part of the post on Why I don't ChaCha-

After seeing that I would be paid anywhere from six to ten dollars per hour with ChaCha, I immediately filled out their online application. After waiting two months, they finally sent me an email asking me to take their entry test. This consisted of three separate tests: an IQ test, a typing speed and accuracy test, and a test to see how quickly I was able to search for information. Thankfully, I passed all of the tests, and became a guide. That's when all of my good feelings towards ChaCha ended.
What I didn't know was that you aren't paid 6-10 dollars per hour, you're paid 6-10 per hour worked. This drastically reduces the pay that you would receive. You could spend five hours online, but only be able to get paid for one hour! Now, if you want some pocket change, then fine, apply to ChaCha. But if you want to make a solid amount, avoid Chacha, there are many better options.
Additionally, Chacha is still in Beta form. They still have some problems to fix. This has caused a lot of guides to be unhappy. One even started her own blog against Chacha:
http://blog.myspace.com/chachasucks
I have even heard of one guide who after working his way up to a master (one of the highest levels at Chacha. You start out as an apprentice.), and taking more than 4,000 searches, he was then demoted back down to Apprentice. I have also heard of guides being deactivated just before they were about to receive their pay, for no reason at all.
Many guides have complained that ChaCha does not care or listen to them. Some guides have even tried to form a boycott, and have no guides work for a day, so that Chacha would take notice. I have to admit, unlike my job at Liveops, I couldn't even find a link to contact ChaCha for guide support. (If there is a link, it must be very hard to find.) After all of this, I decided to quit my Chacha job, and just stick to my current Work at Home jobs. Some of you might like Chacha, but they definitely need to improve before I am willing to recommend them to anyone.

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Why I don't ChaCha. (Part 1)

No, I'm not talking about the dance! Chacha.com is a new search engine that, unlike other search engines, has people who will perform your searches for you. These "helpers", called Guides, are all work at home people like you and me!

Here's how it works: First, a visitor types in a search, and decides to have a guide help them. Next, the guides see that someone needs help, and all try to be the first to help. Then, we guides find the sites that the visitors want, and give them the links.

According to the ChaCha website, you can be paid anywhere from 6 to 10 dollars per hour as a guide, which is great for working at home!

Now, I know you all are probably considering applying this very second, but wait!!!
(I'm dividing this post into two separate posts. Check back soon, or subscribe to see part two, before you apply!!)

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I Want a Website. No, wait! I want a Blog!

To have a website or to have a blog. This challenging question faces all creators. Hey, even we at EJobTips had to decide, and we chose a blog. There are tons of pros and cons for both of them, and we hope to tackle the biggest ones in this post.

The biggest difference between having a website or having a blog is how you interact with your visitors. With a website, it's a one way street. You are the speaker and your visitors are the audience. This is the exact opposite of a blog, in which you might start a discussion, but your visitors are going to finish it.

Another thing that you might want to look at is how much work you want to put in. With a website, you will have to find a company to host your website, design your pages, and even buy a domain name (if you want to be taken seriously.) This can increase your costs greatly. While, with a blog, you can just go over to Blogger or Wordpress and have a blog in minutes. Maybe this is why more than 28 million blogs have been started in just the past five years. Now, there are some free websites creators, like GooglePages, but it can be a lot harder to get started. (Also, since Googlepages was just recently created, it still has a lot of bugs that need to be fixed.)

How often will you update your site? If you are planning to only update every month or so, then definitely go with a website! Once you are done with all the work of creating a website, you can just sit back and relax! It is not the same for bloggers. Most blogs are updated at the very least once a week, or else their visitors will go somewhere else. While a website usually gets new visitors often, blogs rely on recurring visitors who subscribe to their feeds.

These seem to be the main pros and cons of websites and blogs, but hey, if you think we are absolutely wrong, then click the Comment link and tell us off! We'll be happy to hear from you. Merry Christmas!!

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Phone Order Processing, The Perfect Work at Home Job?

If you enjoy talking to people on the phone, have a good voice, and are friendly, then this is the work at home job for you. Out of all work from home jobs, these are my favorite.

How it Works
Have you ever seen an ad on television advertising a product, and decided to call the phone number on the screen to order it? If you have, then chances are you were talking to someone working from their home. Many companies know that their customers dislike talking to people from overseas on the phone, so they decided to instead hire native English speakers.
With this job, you take the orders for the products, and enter the information on your computer. Here's how it works:

1. A person sees an ad on t.v. and decides to call the number to order the product.
2. The company receiving the call then routes it to the next available work at home agent.
3. The call is routed to your phone, and by using the company's software on your computer, you are able to take the order.

Though these jobs can be really fun, there are some things that you need to consider before applying.

1. Customers- Some of the customers who you talk to can be quite irritable at times, and sometimes even rude. You have to always try to be friendly and helpful, even when they are not.
Note: This is NOT telemarketing. The people who call in already want to order the product. Because of this, it is rare to receive obnoxious calls.

2.Prank Calls- Though extremely rare, you may get some prank calls during this job, some which can be very obscene. You have to have a tough skin and just ignore it. (I have only gotten about 2 of these calls during my entire time at this job.)

3. Schedule- Though you set your own schedule with these jobs, you have to make sure that you work at the time you signed up for, or you could be penalized.
The companies that hire for these jobs are selective on who they pick, and it could be a few months before your application is even viewed, due to the high volume of applications to these jobs.

With most of these companies, you will need a separate phone line, since they do not want non customers calling you while you work. You can not use a cell phone or cordless phone with these companies. I also recommend that you buy a phone that you can plug a headset into, so that you can use both hands for typing.

Many of you might be worried about long distance calling charges. This is not a problem because the companies will send the calls to you, so you normally won't be charged.
If you are planning to work full time with these jobs, then I recommend that you apply to at least two.

Here are the names of some of the companies that I recommend for this job:
1. Liveops-(BBB Check) This is personally my favorite company, since it's software is very easy to navigate, the schedule is flexible, and the training is great. (Liveops requires $30 for a background check, but their training is provided for free.) Out of all work at home opportunities, this is the company I use the most.

2. ACD Direct-(BBB Check) ACD Direct is another call company which mainly deals in fund raising. It is a great company to work for, however the call volume is seasonal due to fund raising drives, so you may experience downtime. Their order processing forms are a little more confusing that Liveop's, as well as their scheduling process. Still, they are a good company to work for, and will treat you like family, while with Liveops you are treated more like an number. This company is slightly more forgiving as well. They would be my second pick.

3. BabyToBee-(BBB Not Available) This is a website that gives offers,samples, and coupons to parents who are about to have a baby. Your job would be to call the parents and go over the different offers that they can get. The pay is about 10/h, and you are paid by direct deposit. If you are interested in applying, send an email to: seth@babytobee.com

4. West-(BBB Not Available) West, or West at Home, is another call center company. West sends pay ever two weeks. Some people absolutely love this company while others hate it. Its training process can be challenging, especially if your computer is older, since you might have to install a service pack. West can be considered similar to Liveops in the type of calls it takes.
Here are a few other call center companies that have been highly recommended to me:

5. Arise (BBB Check)

6. Alpine Access (BBB Check) - This company is currently hiring agents only in Colorado, Utah, Texas, Arizona and Florida.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most common questions I have been asked about working from home. If you have a question that you don't see listed, please Email Me!

1. Can you really make money working from home?
Absolutely! There are a ton of legitimate companies on the web who are looking to hire people who work at home. If you think about it, work at home jobs can provide benefits to both you and the company.

2. Why are these companies asking for my Social Security Number?
The IRS requires that all companies submit tax info, which includes their employees information. Be very careful when giving this information out, and thoroughly research any company asking for this. When I started applying for work at home jobs, I was extremely uncomfortable about giving out my SSN, so I decided to instead apply for an EIN (Employee Identification Number.) That way, when a company asks for my SSN I can instead give them the EIN.
For more information on EIN's as well as how to apply to get one, click here.
Note: Still be careful when giving your EIN. Even though it can be more safe that giving out your SSN, it still is sensitive information.


3. Am I going to have to pay taxes on my work at home income?
Usually, you will not have to pay any taxes on your work at home income unless you make more than $600 during a year. If you do make more than $600, then the work at home company will send you a 1099 form.
Note: You probably won't be asked to fill out a 1099 or give your SSN/EIN to a survey company, because they expect that you won't be making more than $600 a year. You will likely receive this form with call order processing/customer service jobs, as many people make a lot more than $600/year at those jobs.


4. What is a 1099 form?
A 1099 form is a form given to independent contractors who make more than $600 in a given year.
For more information on 1099 forms click here.
If you still have questions about it, you will probably have to talk with an accountant.


5. What is an independent contractor, and what does it have to do with me?
An independent contractor, or freelancer, is a person who is paid on a pay-per-job basis, and is not salaried. 99% of work at home companies will hire you as this. Basically, this means that a company can fire you without warning, is not required to give you any benefits, and does not have to pay you on a salary. Don't worry, it's not as bad as it sounds.


6. A company is asking for me to pay to work at their job. Should I?
No! Companies are supposed to be paying you to work for them, not the other way around. These are almost always scams.
Note: Many legitimate companies, including Liveops, ACD Direct, and others likely will require you to pay around $30 dollars for a background check. This is normal, as you will be handling sensitive information, such as customers credit card numbers, and they want to make sure that you don't have a bad record.

Putting Your Office Together

Working from home can be just like working at a real office; there are supplies that you will need to succeed. :)
While paid survey companies will only require your computer and your information, the better paying phone order and customer service companies require additional items. The following are some of the items that I found essential to my work at home job:

1. Quiet work space
This is by FAR the most important requirement. Most phone order processing and customer service companies list this as a priority, since you will be talking to their customers (who think you are actually working from a physical call center, not your home.) Any background noise (ex. baby crying, dog barking) could get you suspended or even fired.


2. Separate Phone Line
All of the companies that I have worked with require that you get a separate phone line for working at home. The reason for this is that they do not want you to get calls from friends or family while you are working. One company I work for will even try to call the phone number you have listed at times that you aren't working, to make sure that you don't pick up.


3. Get A Basic Phone and Headset
Surprisingly, this was actually the hardest step for me when I began to work from home. Most work at home companies require that you get a phone without any of the new features (ex. no voicemail, caller id, call waiting, abiltiy to receive more than one line, etc,) but at the same time, it has to be headset compatible. Additionally, the phones cannot be wireless nor a cell phone. I went to Walmart, Staples, Circuit City and none of them had a phone like this, except one that was over $150 dollars! I finally found a few that I thought were reasonable and meet the requirements. To see the list of phones: Click Here


Additional Office Tips and Requirements will be added soon. To make sure that you don't miss them, sign up for my mailing list in the sidebar. I DO NOT spam, I never will, and I will never sell or give your info to anyone else.

Phones and Headsets

Since it can be hard to find the type of phones required by most work at home companies, I have included a list here. I have only listed phones that have been recommended by either me or others who work at call companies, and are a reasonable price.
Additionally, these companies require a headset so that you can type while talking. Some of the phones below already come with a headset, so that you do not have to buy one.
_______________________________________________
Name of Phone Avg. Price
Panasonic KX-TS105B Corded Speakerphone (Black) $27
Plantronics ( S11) (Headset Included) $55
Plantronics T10 Corded Headset Phone (Headset Included) $71
Plantronics S12 Corded Telephone (Headset Included) $78
________________________________________________

Paid Surveys!

Doing paid surveys has become a popular way to make money online. Many companies value your opinion, and are willing to pay for it. The pay per survey varies greatly, from less than 5 cents, to more than 100 dollars! (Though the most I have ever been paid for a survey is $25.) If you are careful at which ones you pick, then this is an o.k. way to get a small amount extra cash.
Note: Many people have tried to make a living off of paid surveys, and while I have heard of a few who make a modest income, the majority do not. If you are looking for a real job, then I recommend trying Phone Orders and Customer Service.

Forms of Payment
Survey companies vary in how they pay. Some will give cold, hard, cash, while others might give free items, airplane miles, gift cards, etc. It all depends on the company.
Be careful when filling out surveys. Some scam companies have been sending out "surveys" that pretend to want your info on a product, but then just spam you with ads or free trials. Just Exit these websites, since they will usually never give you what they offer, no matter how many trials you sign up for.
________________________________________
Before signing up to take surveys, here are some things you NEED to do first:

1. Sign up for a free email account. This is a must! Survey companies can send hundreds of e-mails, and you don't want your personal e-mail to get muddied by all of it. I would sign up for a free yahoo or google mail account:
Yahoo! Mail
Gmail (Google Mail)

2. Paid surveys usually will be paid in either check or via Paypal. If you haven't signed up for a Paypal account yet, do it now! Paypal is a quick and easy way to receive your money.
Paypal

3. Start Signing Up for Surveys!!

Here are some survey companies I recommend:
1. Greenfield Online (BBB Check)
This company has a large variety of surveys to choose from, and I have had absolutely no problems with them. Their website is easy to navigate, and this company will tell you up front how much you will get paid on each survey. Many of their surveys can be worth a good sum, and I recommend them highly.

2. Pinecone Research (BBB Check)
This site is a great survey website, since they offer $3 per every survey you complete, plus sweepstakes entry. Their surveys are actually pretty easy , and they often will send you products to try as well. Usually, you only will receive one survey per month though, so it is best to use many other websites in addition to this one.
Sadly, the hardest part of Pinecone Research is being able to sign up. They do not post a signup link on their homepage, but instead put banners in different web forums on the internet. If you are lucky enough to see one, click it. Also, if you google "pinecone research signup link" you might be able to get a link.
Addition: Here's a link for their sign up page, though I can't guarantee it will still be working: https://www1.pineconeresearch.com/Signup/Signup_Form_LI3.asp

3. SurveySavvy (BBB Check)
Yet another great survey website. This company pays on average $3 per survey, and $2 per person you refer to them. Though some companies pay a lot more, this can quickly add up! I have used this company for 2 years now, and I enjoy their surveys.

4. SurveySpot (BBB Check)
This is a survey company that I really enjoyed. Most of the surveys they e-mail are for sweepstakes entries, but when they do send out paid surveys, they usually pay very well. I once received $25 from them for only 15-25 minutes of my time. I highly recommend them.
Additional Survey Sites:
I have not tested all of the companies below, so please check out the company before signing up. Companies below that I have had a positive experience with will have a (*) next to their name.
Here are some additional paid survey sites

Mysurvey* (BBB Check)
Global Opinions Panel* (BBB Check)
NPD Online Research (BBB Check Unavailable)
American Consumer Opinion* (BBB Check Unavailable)
Test Spin (BBB Check)
E-Poll (BBB Check)
E-Miles (Pays in airline miles) (BBB Check Unavailable)
Lightspeed Panel* (BBB Check)
Harris Poll Online (BBB Check)

This is as many as I have for now, but don't worry! Plenty more will be added in the near future.
Know a great survey company? E-mail Me!

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Is This Company Reliable?

When applying for an internet job, a few things might come into your mind, including "Is this a scam?" or "Will this company actually pay me?" Thankfully, there is an organization to help us check the reliability of most companies.

The BBB or Better Business Bureau is a great organization that you will probably use multiple times when looking for an online job. This organization keeps records of claims against companies, so you can easily tell if the company you are considering in in good standing. To use the BBB, go to:

For U.S. based companies:
http://www.us.bbb.org
For Canadian based companies:
http://www.ccbbb.ca/

Next, type in the name of the company you are interested in, and click search.

Once you have found the correct business, click the link on their name.

If the company is in the database, the site will tell you the companies rating, in addition to the number of complaints filed against the company and how many of those complaints have been resolved.
This could save you a lot of time and effort in the long run, so please check before applying.


Another possibility is to do a Google search on the name of your company and the word complaints next to it.

Example:
(Company name) complaints

If you find an overwhelming amount of bad feedback, stay away from the company.

Let's face it. Who wants to spend hours working and not even get paid?

Beware of Scams

Before you go on the search for a work at home job, please read what to watch out for, or you could lose money instead of make it.
Here are a few of the biggest scams:

1. Data Entry- If a website says that it is paying big bucks for data entry, think before signing up. Currently, there isn't a big business for people entering data, so most legitimate websites do not pay for this. I put this one at the top of the list, not only because it is hardly known about, but also because I have been scammed by many of these companies.

2. Envelope Stuffing- You probably have heard these scams before, but for those who haven't, it basically says that a website will pay you a lot of money for stuffing their envelopes. These are almost always scams.

3. Up Front Cash- 99% of all legitimate websites DO NOT ask you to pay money up front. They should be paying you, not the other way around!
Note: Some legitimate companies will ask you to pay money for a background check, which is perfectly reasonable, since you could be handling their customers personal information.
You might also be required to pay for training. I tend to avoid these companies though.

Know another scam??
Email Me!

What the Heck is an EIN???

So you are applying to a work at home company, when suddenly you see that you will have to give out your Social Security Number. I had the exact same problem when I was applying for work at home jobs, as I didn't want to have my identity stolen. Luckily, I found a way around it. Most companies will allow you to enter an EIN as a substitute for your Social.
So what is an EIN, and how can I apply for one?
An Employee Identification Number (also known as an EIN, TIN, Tax Identification Number, FEIN or Federal Employee Identification Number) is:
"The corporate equivalent to a Social Security Number, although it is issued to anyone, including individuals, who have to pay withholding taxes on employees."-Wikipedia
The IRS will use your EIN to identify you as a tax payer, and to see how much you owe them. You will not usually be taxed if your Work at Home income is less than $600.
To get an EIN, visit the IRS's webpage here:
https://sa2.www4.irs.gov/modiein/individual/index.jsp

Popular Myths About Working at Home

In this post, I will discuss some of the popular myths and misconceptions about working online:

1. All work at home jobs are scams. False
It would be nice to say that about 1 in every 10 work at home websites are actually legitimate, but its more like 1 in every 50. The trick is to find that one that actually pays. (I'll list some that I personally use on another page.)

2. You can get rich quickly from the comfort of your home. False!!!
Whenever you see sites saying something similar to this, alarm bells should start ringing in your head, since these are 100% scams that are only out to get your money. Avoid these like the plague!! (If there is an exception, I haven't heard it, and I doubt I ever will.)

3. Working from home gives you plenty of time to relax and requires hardly any work. False
Like any job, working from your home can be difficult and challenging at times, sometimes even more than a real job. Working from home requires discipline, since you will not have a boss who who oversees you. It is extremely important to not get sidetracked and start browsing the internet. I recommend setting up a schedule on what times you will work, and stick to it. Some people love home jobs since they can wake up and work in their pajamas, without even spending gas money, while other people absolutely hate working from home jobs. This is something you will have to decide for yourself.
With most online jobs, the companies aren't forced to pay you minimum wage, so don't expect to immediately have a solid income. There are some companies I use that will actually pay you about the same as a real job, and I will get to them in a while.

EJobTips.com- Work at Home!

Hey Everybody! To everyone who doesn't know, EJobTips.com is a content based site that is dedicated to people who would like to work from home, but just don't know where to get started. All of our writers have worked at home for at least 2 years, and are happy to share their tips and tricks.
Finally, we have made the transition from a website to a blog. We hope that this will make it easier for you to use and navigate, as well as more fun (for both of us!) In this post, we just want to say welcome, and give some info on our new look. Before that though, we understand that some people probably preferred our site in website form, so for all of you, we have decided to keep up our site, just at a different location. You can reach it at: http://web.ejobtips.com/ Don't forget to bookmark!

Firstly, I just want to direct your attention to the toolbar on the right. From there, you will be able to subscribe to our rss feed, as well as our e-mail list.

Secondly, we are currently writing many posts for this blog, but as we have just made the transition, at first we will be posting our web pages, in blog form.

Lastly, we just want to say thanks for your support, and we hope that you can help our blog grow. We WILL be making posts a lot more frequently than our site, so please subscribe so that you don't miss out.