Earn Money by Podcasting

With the traditional radio industry decreasing (excepted to drop from a $21 billion>$15billion / year industry), there's been a steady rise in online podcasting. According to Edison Media Research, podcasting has grown at a steady rate in the last three years. From 2007 to 2008, Americans who had downloaded and listened to a podcast grew from 13% to 18%. Up from 11% in 2006. I am looking forward to the stats released for 2009...with even larger growth expected. This also tells me...the industry has not arrived - and will only continue to grow. Count on it.

What does this mean for you?
Podcasting is another medium you can either, leverage your existing audiance to create income, or, create an original brand from scratch to make money.

If you have an existing podcast...Congratulations. I hope you are making some type of "dough" with it. If not, keep reading and you'll find out how. For the ones who have no idea what podcasting is, or you just don't have one...also keep reading, and visit a site like Voices.com to find out all the ends and outs of getting started.

Right now I want to talk about making money with your existing podcast.
First, I want to say creating your own online podcasts is an awesome hobby to have. You can be opinionated, express your own views, and capture an audience...WITHOUT anyone looking over your shoulder. Well, Mark Twain (i.e Samuel Clemens) once said, "the goal is to make your vocation your vacation." In other words: have fun and get paid doing it.

Let us explore how:
# 1 - Join a Network: Just like capitalizing on traffic from your traditional site or blog, there are companies specializing in monetizing your podcast audience. A company like PodTrac will, "match up your unique content with equally unique advertising from your audience." You can also check out networks like, Mevio or Wizard Media , which specialize in the same thing.

# 2 - Build Up Sponsors: Instead of relying on a network to match advertisers with your audience...just do it yourself. It really does not matter what the subject is...there are sponsors willing to shell out good money to get in front of the right listeners. Here is a successful podcast I found called Pregtastic (they use Wizard Media)...hosted by pregnant woman; for pregnant woman. Folks, it can be doing. This is probably an example of a larger niche market...just like e-books....as podcasting grows, there will be one for everything. If a company is willing to throw out an ad on radio to target a general audience, they would be more willing to do the same for a more targeted market.

# 3 - Everyone Loves Free Stuff: If you charge for podcasts...I guarantee, if visitors could get a free "sneek peek," just to wet their appetite...they would be more apt to join. Pick one week or unit a month and do not charge. Offer a test drive of the show. Give something away free...a book, ipod, vacation (if you can afford it.) Then, let the visitor know you do the same thing on regular shows. Anything to entice listeners - even though your great content should do this.

# 4 - Just Flat Out Charge: You have the best podcast...and the world knows it. If this is true...dang it, make em pay. $19.95 / month, episode, year...it really does not matter. You got the goods? Charge an entry fee. I would not use the DeBeers model of creating product scarcity...however, the key is to not undervalue and practically giving it away. Know your audience and find out how much they are willing to pay.

# 5 - When All Else Fails...Beg: Just like NPR and religious stations, ask for pledges and donations. You have to pay the bills right? Well, there is nothing better than making your users feel guilty. I would not recommend doing this all the time. However, set up a PayPal donate link and watch the money roll in. Give a compelling story about how your show alleviates world hunger or saves the whales and you will be surprised how generous people can be. Just make sure you show really does those things. (Might wanna throw in a FTC disclaimer too.)

As I said before, this is a growing industry...you can be sure there will be more articles. Maybe even a podcast or two. Stay tuned!
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Simple Money Making Idea

Are tierd to searching online money earning idea? This is not quite like David Letterman's Top 10 list, but hope it will be better and just as entertaining.

1 - Locate Jobs For Your Friends: Visit ReferEarns.com, Zyoin.com and WiseStepp.com. You are connecting employers with potential employees...commissions for hiring a successful job recruit can be from $75 to several thousand bucks. Not bad, I would say.

2 - Write and Get Paid For It: If you're an e-mail and Facebook junkie I'm sure you could find tune your writing skills. Sites such as Associated Content, Pay Per Post & Helium will pay you based on "impressions" your articles receives. This is calling PFP (pay for performance).

3 - Buy & Sell Websites: Just like the brick & mortar real estate market, flipping websites can create a significant income. There are only so many .com, .net .org...etc combinations available. Instead of registering a new name for $10 spend $100 on an established name...market it at the right place and make a quick buck. Buy Domains is a good place to start.

4 – Do you have Skills? Be a Freelancer: If you can write, design, code, edit, translate yiddish...anyone of these skills will get you a job on a variety of freelance sites. Check out Elance, Script Lance, Rent A Coder, Design Outpost. Or just search at Google, "online freelancing.

5 - Sell Stock Photography: We have even covered this on Meta Fever before. Selling your stock photographyonline can pay huge dividends for you. Get paid from 50 cents to 25 dollars a download. The more pictures you take and upload...your chances increase of being paid. I have suggested this to a bunch of people...it is worth it. Check out: Big Stock Photo, i Stock Photo or Foto Search.

6 - Trade Foreign Currency: Places like Forex Affiliate allow you to earn commissions based on trading a variety of foreign currencies. Since the value of currency is constantly changing...if you know what you're doing than this might work for you. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, than you should probably stay away.

7 - Create and Upload Unique Videos: A site like Meta Cafe allows you to upload your videos and get paid based on views you receive. With the You Tube partner program you can also earn money based on a similar platform as Ad Sense.

8 - Become a Life Coach: If you're used to doing this offline, and want to extend your reach to people who need it...think about setting up your own subscription based website. Are you an existing counselor, business coach or physiologist? Try using online conferencing tools to reach a larger clientele.

9 - Joint a Virtual World - Places like World of Warcraft and Second Life use their own currencies that can be trad for real currency. With World of Warcraft, you can become a virtual farmer, and Second Life allows you to create a virtual life and make money earning Linden dollars.

10 - Write and Sell E-books: This is another topic we've covered here on Meta Fever. Writing an selling e-books can produce a great income. Check out affiliate sites like Click Bank to view their huge and growing online marketplace.

11 - Become a Middleman For Freelance Sites: Having a huge list of skills is not necessary to make money with freelance sites. Bid on jobs, find providers...and the key is to bid more than what you paid for the work. Just make sure the numbers make sense in the end and get it done.

12 - Social Media Management: Again if you spend 80% of your day on social networking sites, you might as well get paid for it. Contact companies to see if they need help managing theirFacebook, MySpace or Twitter accounts. Heck, start walking down the street and ask to create one for them.

13 - Get Paid For Being a Know-It-All: Sites like Just Answer pay you for answering questions and responding on a timely basis. If you think you know it all..Prove it by signing up and being paid.

14 - Get Paid for Judging Software: Check out some of the hottest new programs on the market and get paid for your reviews. Visit Software Judge to see how this works. They pay up to $50 for honest and original reviews.

15 - Resell Hosting Packages: There are a number of sites to do this at, but if you understand the hosting biz at all, you can make good money by purchasing hosting packages and reselling them.

16 - Come Up With Cool Domain Names: Sites like Picky Domains allow you to suggest names to them...and if it's registered you get 50% of the fee paid to you via Pay Pal. Pretty cool gig, I think.

17 - Get Paid to Read E-mails: This isn't the most conventional way to make money online...but sites such as Send Earnings will you for taking surveys, playing games...and among other things; reading e-mails. Good Luck!

18 - Google Research: Google is willing to pay qualified applicants to test products and conduct different field studies. You'll be paid up to $75 for each hour you spend with a Google engineer.

19 - Do Customer Service & Sales Support From Home: Companies like Arise will connect you with the right companies who need customer service, sales & tech support agents. The great thing is, all of this can be done from your home. Check out their FAQ for more details.

20 - Buy & Sell Squidoo Lenses: Once you buy a squidoo lens you have the option of sharing in the revenue the page creates or resale it for profit (or loss depending on how smart you are.)

21 - Write Content for Help Sites: Sites like eHow will pay you for content based on the page reviews your articles receive. Have you searched for something an seen eHow in the search results? This is why.

22 - Create Wordpress Plugins: Since Wordpress was just voted as the 1 open source CMS...I don't see it's popularity decreasing any time soon. If you're a programmer, develop cool plugins for bloggers to trick out their site. Develop it, start a site and market.

23 - Enter a Design Contest: Places like 99 Designs allow you to submit your design work to an existing project...and you get paid if selected as the winning designer. This isn't a guaranteed way to make money (well none of them are right), but just another way for your to leverage your skills.

24 - Get Paid to Surf: Companies such as AGLOCO will pay you to surf the web and built up online referrals. Just download their toolbar and start surfing. This may require the giving up some private information...however, if you're a surf-a-holic it may be worth it.

25 - Online Transcription Services: Are you a fast typist? Well, a number of companies are hiring people just like you for audio and medical dictation. Places like Elance have a variety of these jobs available.

26 - Make Money From Your Mobile Site: Do you have site dedicated to cell phone users? Monetize it by placing ads and utilizing networks such as Ad Mob will help connect you with advertisers.

27 - Play Online Poker: Even though in some countries this is illegal, you can make money online playing poker. Just download their application, deposit funds and start playing.

28 - Domain Drop Catching: Pick up domain names about to expire and monetize the existing traffic. Place Ad Sense or becoming a member of the Yahoo Publisher network...or go to a site like AdBrite and place ads on the site. Some say this idea is too expense...but sites expire every day and companies like Go Daddy have ways you can opt into these programs.

29 - Get Paid to Post on Forums: New and up coming forums will pay you to make posts. This will spur new users as well as create credibility. Some of the post their projects on places like Script Lance & Get A Freelancer.

30 - Start an Article Directory: Instead of being the writer, you should pay them. Start a site for writers to upload their articles and either pays them per post or article impressions. Might as well be the guy on top when you can.

31 - Create Twitter Themes: Start a website advertising your crazy Twitter page creating skills. When I search on Google for this, I don't see any "official" sites offering this. With the rise of this social networking site, it may be a viable opportunity.

32 - Start an Online Newsletter: I'm not talking about another blog. Starting a newsletter and building up an e-mail list will allow you to not only provide useful information, but promote other products. Since you have their ear with a newsletter, send out occasional affiliate offers and receive commissions.

33 - Create & Sell Facebook Apps: If you're proficient in PHP and understand the Internet, there are several ways to make money by creating Facebook applications. 1.) Be a consultant to someone creating an app, or, 2.) Create your own app and sell it on Facebook.

Stay tuned...there are more to come!
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Money Making Idea Part 3

# 65 - Become an Online Assistant: As the standard practices of the nation's workforce change, there is a growing demand for online assistants and secretaries. Try out your skills of answering the phone and forwarding calls in your PJ's.

# 66 - Sell Animal Tags: Start an online service such as Pet ID Tags and help others keep track of their furry friends.

# 67 - Build a Local Wedding Service Guide: There will always be a need for quality wedding planners, and directories of where to find them.

# 68 - Start a Real Estate Site: You might not be able to take on the MLS, however, scripts for uploading real estate listings are plentiful and fairly easy to start. Do a search on Hot Scripts and see what you can find. Either get a commission for each sale you send, or place ads on the site.

# 69 - Make Money With HubPages: Just like Squidoo, Hub Pages allows you to create unique pages for just about anything. Either earn a commission for recommending others...or market your own affiliate offers.

# 70 - Build Custom Wordpress Themes: As I mentioned earlier, with Wordpress being voted as the # 1 open source CMS, there is a growing need for quality designs and templates. It's a good idea to have some experience with CSS and PHP before taking on this task. Once you gain a reputation in the market, you'll start to develop a following of lifetime customers.

# 71 - Start Your Own Fantasy Sports League - Platforms like Rot Hog allow you to create your own Fantasy Sports league. I'm not talking about your "own" league in Yahoo sports. This is "BobsSportsLeague.com." Charge the players and make some nice profits.

# 72 - Start a Link Building Service: If you know how to post comments on blogs, forums and submit articles...than you might have a business on your hands. Should you perfect the art of building back links for yourself, there's no reason why you can't charge a fee and do it for someone else.

# 73 - Rebuild Expired Domains: What should you do with an expired domain name that has a couple years behind it? Rebuild. Instead of placing ads and hoping visitors come...go out and make it work for you.

# 74 - Build a Local Business Directory: There is a growing need for local based sites. Google's local business results can't be the answer to everything. If you live in a small to medium sized area, I'm sure companies would pay royally to pay for a listing in your directory. Especially if your marketing is geared towards the surrounding area.

# 75 - Start a Retail Website: Overstock.com and Amazon seem to control the market these days...don't let that scare you. As more shoppers look to the internet, why not get in on some of that market share.

# 76 - Create Automated Content Blogs: This is slightly different then the blog network idea I mentioned earlier, but new plugins like WP Article Fetch make this task a lot easier. Try it out and see where it takes you.

# 77 - Start a Niche Video Site: Even though YouTube can be used as a glorified search engine, try starting a site geared toward videos in a specific niche. The person looking for that special video will thank you.

# 78 - Write Original Book Reviews: If you happen to be a big reader, dedicate a site to your own reviews. Every time you finish a "page turner," write your own thoughts about it. Install a review plugin and let others get in on the action.

# 79 - Start a Grocery Delivery Service: One day this will be more common than you think. Get in while the industry is young. All of your work won't take place online, but a website letting others know you will deliver groceries, for a fee, isn't a bad idea.

# 80 - Print and Mail 3rd Party Snail Mail: Here's a clever one for you. Offer to print and mail letters for 3rd party business. Should they trust you on handling their important documents, you might have a business. This won't work so well for packages, but offering ways to upload Docs and other files could turn into a lucrative investment.

# 90 - Start Your Own Logo Design Service: Even if you don't design the graphics yourself, become the middle man between the designer and customer. Find a good design service you like, start a website selling logos, and make sure your price is higher than it costs for design. Watch the profits roll in.

# 91 - Build a Local Job Board: Career Builder and Monster Jobs would love to have you competing in the market. Start a local site geared towards jobs in your area. Now that Craig's List is charging for job postings, you won't be ran out by their free service. In fact, not everyone uses CL anyway.

# 92 - Start a Private Forum: Instead of having to deal with spammers and link baiters on an open forum...charge a small fee of $1.95 / month. This will keep the serious people in, and the pranksters out.

# 93 - Sell Pages of Your Site to a Sponsor: If you're willing to give up an entire page to companies like Napa Auto Parts, than you quite possibibly have a revenue earning opportunity here. Instead of placing one ad on your page, allow the advertiser to "sponsor" an entire page. This means more exposure for them and more profit for you.

# 94 - Write Your Own Hardcover Book: Leverage your existing site traffic by writing a book. No, I don't mean spending 6 years to pick up a contract with Crown Publishing. Companies like LuLu and Self Publishing make this easy for the "normal people." It really is easier than you think.
# 95 - Develop Websites For Others: Since I've already listed 94 ways to make money online...this leaves an open market for the web master and site developer. If you're already design and internet savvy, become the go to guy for aspiring online entrepreneurs.

# 96 - Enter Info For Google Maps:  - Google is currently paying people like you to help them build their local business directly. This may expire, so hurry.
# 97 - Design Online Scrap Booking Templates: Yes, your mother still likes to do it the old fashion way. But online scrapping booking sites allow users to enter HTML and develop custom templates. Design your own and make this job easier on the scrap bookers.
# 98 - Sell Artwork Online: Are you the next Picasso? Then let the world know. Either sell your art work on eBay or start a dedicated site.

# 99 - Make Social Networking Submissions: Kind of like a link builder and social media manager, spend your day submitting links to Web 2.0 based websites, again, for a fee of course.

# 100 - Resell SSL Certificates: Companies like Rapid SSL, have reseller programs for you to opt into. If you don't know what this is, I would highly advise against doing it.

# 101 - Become an Author on About.com: About.com will share revenues with the author they pick to become the "official" voice of a subject. Any income they receive from a specific page is shared with the Guides.
Remember, these emails are automated but I am a real human.
Let me know how your doing with making money online.
Cheers,

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Money Making Idea Part 2

Now that you've seen a perfect example of what brainstorming is like, let's continue to explore the many ways one can go about making money online. Remember, these are CREATIVE ideas. Some you may have to put a little extra thought into.


# 34 - Start a Shopping Network: Sites like Shop.com,Buy.com and Shopzilla.com make great fortunes aggregating different products and charging the advertiser a cost-per-click.

# 35 - Trade Stocks With Online Investment Sites: Create accounts at E-Trade or Scottrade and hit the exchange! The Internet has made trading stocks easy without being a stockbroker. You may lose your clothes, but it's still worth a shot. 
# 36 - Join a Community Challenge: Thirty Day Challenge encourages you to make your first dollar online...this is a community project spurring online entrepreneurship.
# 37 - Get Free Stuff and Auction It: Believe it or not Craigs List has a free section. In most metropolitan areas, people just leave stuff beside the curb. Grab it and start an eBay auction. There are other auction sites out there too... check out UBid.
# 38 - Start a Forum: You ever find yourself asking Google tough tech questions? In most cases someone else has ran into the same problem...and you found the answer on a forum. Start your own, build a following and sell ad space.

# 39 - Become a Dropshipper: Act as the middle man between buyer and seller for sites like eBay.Dropping shipping is used my some of the worlds largest retailers.

# 40 - Travel The World: If you really want to get creative, take off for the high seas, start a blog and watch lurkers flock to your site. Everyone likes a good travel story. One good site to get some ideas from is, Where The Hell Is Matt. Not saying you should copy him...but people like this kind of stuff.

# 41 - Help Others Make Money: If you think this list is dumb and you already know the art of making money online...earn an income helping other people. Start your own consulting service and charge out the wazoo.

# 42 - Start a Blog Network: Start one blog, wait 6 months, and start another one. Once you build up traffic to your site, start one in a similar niche and watch your own little web of blogs form.

# 43 - Start an Online Directory: Everyone wants to get listed in DMOZ. Buy a directory creation software such as eSyndicat, start adding links and watch your directory grow. They even have a function to accept payments via Pay Pal.

# 44 - Start a Care Press Store: Care Press allows you to create custom t-shirts with your own logo. Get photos of Flickr, which can be used under Create Common Licensing. Pick some far out creatives and start selling!
# 45 - Build a Niche Focused Store: Think you have an idea no one has ever thought of? Chances are they haven't. Pick a domain name you like (trust me, there are some crazy ones out there). Yahoo Merchant Solutions will get you started for less than 40 bucks.

# 46 - Sell Your Contacts: Think you have a Rolodex worth millions? See if Jigsaw things so...this directory of business contacts will buy them from you.
# 46 - Get Paid to Blog: Weblogs, arguably one of the largest blog networks, will pay you to blog on of their hundreds of blogs. Also, check out b5Media. They have job postings updated regularly.
# 47 - Become a Paid Shopper - Yes, there are plenty of scams in this industry...but you can make money "mystery shopping." Intellishop is a good place to start.
# 48 - Join a Focus Group: Think your opinion matters? Well, there are people willing to listen...and pay you for it! I've done this, it's fun. Companies like Focus Pointe Global hold regular focus groups around the country. For instance, movie and TV product companies hold focus groups combined of "regular" people to get an idea of how their latest shows and movies will do. Just another example of polling.
# 49 - Get Paid to Tutor: As long as colleges are up an running...tutors will always have a job. Do it the Web 2.0 way and earn extra income through  a cool site called Tutor.
# 50 - Try Your Hand (or throat) at Voice Overs: Do you have a voice made for radio? Well, find out and get paid for voice overs through Opuzz Voice. You might be surprised how fun this can be. Voice personalities are paid starting at $75 / session.
# 51 - Get Paid to Search...not Surf: Don't just get paid for surfing the net...get paid to perform searches on Web 2.0 search engines such as Slash My Search.
# 52 - Create a Free Report: Think you know what makes the world spin...start a free column or report and build a loyal following. Make it an e-mail newsletter and send out affiliate offers.

# 53 - Develop Online Games: Games for kids, teens or adults...it really doesn't matter. There will always be a market for developers in the online gaming industry. If you're a programmer and still have the inner kid - this may be "right up your alley." Develop your own site to market the game.

# 54 - Record Music and Sell It: You might not be the next Lennon or McCartney, but everyone carries a tune. There are cheap ways to record quality original music. Check out online stores such as Musicians Friend to get your gear. Once you have it fine tuned, go to a site like TAXI and get it in front of the right people. Better yet, just do it yourself.

# 55 - Sell Your Unused CPU Cycles: Want to help create the worlds first super computer...and make money doing it? Sell your unused CPU shares on....CPU Shares.
# 56 - Start an Online Ratings Website: Purchase the Word Press Review Site plugin and rate products on your blog. Watch the world join right in. Add links to affiliate products an earn commissions.

# 57 - Place Ads In Your RSS Feeds: Sites like Pheedo offer a number of RSS feed advertising solutions. They offer robust ways to monitor traffic and measure your results. Many top Fortune 500 companies use their service. It's worth taking a look at.
# 58 - Start Your Own Podcast: We've covered this topic before in previous posts. Starting your own podcast can result in great income. Just start talking about what interests you. It really doesn't matter. Either pull in affiliate offers or direct ads...there is huge earning potential in both avenues.

# 69 - Build an Amazon Store: Place Amazon products on top of your existing web site, especially during the holiday season is a great way to make money online. Amazon offers competitive commissions which has placed them as one of the original and top affiliate programs on the net.

# 60 - Become a Google Adwords Professional: Study for your Adwords professional exam, past the test and manage Google Adwords account for other people. Charge a straight up management fee or charge a percent of ad spend. It's up to you.

# 61 - Park Misspelled Domains: Using the Alexa Global Top 500 see if misspellings of top websites are available. This can result in good traffic for Google Adsense or Yahoo Publisher ads.

# 62 - Sell SEO Services: If you have experience getting your own site to the top of Google, offer to do it for someone else. For a fee of course.

# 63 - Someone Copy Your Idea? Sue Them: If you really get hard up for making money, find someone who you think has stolen your "intellectual" property and just flat out sue em'. Why do you think Googleget's sued all the time? If done right, there can be good money in this. Talk about creative.

# 64 - Domain Brokering: Don't buy or sell the name...just find someone who wants to sell, and another who is willing to buy. Find a buyer for the seller and charge a brokerage fee.

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