The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 4 (of 5) - Want to earn $13.50 in 5 mins?

Want to earn $13.50 in 5 mins?

Hi,

May be this is old news but I found that Google Answers [ http://answers.google.com/answers/ ] is a nice way to make money.

Check this link - http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=305718 - where user is asking how to upload files in binary mode. The *researcher* explains how to do it step by step and voilla! I don't think it would have taken more than 5 mins to type the answer!

Now this is amazing! $13.5 in 5 mins?? Also, there are people who pays in range of 100-200 USD to get the answers. I checked quite a few answers and found that almost all answer was basically searched on the web! [Though I must add that the answers have been presented nicely.] I think I can just do this answering all the day and make a living for myself! Unfortunately,
I found that Google is not accepting researcher nominations any more. :(

JD
http://www.phpkid.org

[I am going to post my Informatica question and try the service.]

JD
Thursday, February 12, 2004

I tried out for this when it was in Beta and they asked 3 impossible questions. I won a Google Bag from Timbuk2, but never got in to the program, it was highly competitive.

I have used the service from time to time though.

www.MarkTAW.com
Thursday, February 12, 2004

"found that almost all answer was basically searched on the web!"

That's the standard format. You're supposed to include searches used to obtain your answers, it is GOOGLE answers after all.

www.MarkTAW.com
Thursday, February 12, 2004

JD - Your title to this tread has propably put off a number of people who might have otherwise taken a look. I only checked it out to find out why the moderator had not yet axed it--It sure sounded like another of those scam threads from hucksters.

Now that I've read it, I'm glad I did. Google answers is not old news to me. It sounds like a great service, and a fantastic business idea from Google! Google must have great management to develop ideas such as these. I've never bothered to look at Google's Services & Tools link before (except to get the google tool bar). I'll have to spend some time looking through that stuff.

Google has placed themselves in a very strong position. They have the simplest and best search engine. They have managed to keep the presentation clean despite pressure to grab every dollar possible. I remember when I used yahoo. I know that yahoo is loved by many, but when I want to do a web search I do not want distractions of today's news or what to buy my sweetie for valentines day.

I hope google will continue to be smart, and keep the focus on just the search engine. I would not be surprised if they blow it. Isn't the tendency for businesses to change the business model and try to grab everything they thing they can get? Or worse, they get a new CEO who thinks he needs to change things to leave his mark.

Glade Warner
Friday, February 13, 2004

Agree with you Glade. I had put different title for topic but then I changed in to this thinking that it will be more catchy! ;) Human nature! :)

Mark, yeah you are correct. I did studied Google Answers a bit more and found that basically their 'researcher's' job is to find things on web which you are finding difficult to locate.

But, I think it's a neat idea and I really appreciate it!

JD

JD
Friday, February 13, 2004