How to Get Paid $200 a Month Testing Websites
I know first hand how annoying it is to spend hundreds of hours designing a website only to realize months later that a link isn’t working or that a newsletter’s formatting looks like crap. 🙂
And as annoying as it for the website owner, it’s even more frustrating from a user’s perspective.
For that reason, there are a number of firms popping up online that offer website owners “usability tests.” These tests are performed by regular internet users who videotape themselves trying to navigate a client’s website for the first time.
Their reactions on the appearance and ease of navigation are recorded and sent back to the website owner so that they can make the necessary improvements.
One of the big testing companies is UserFeel.com and they happen to be hiring right now. If you’re interested in participating, here’s how to do it…
How to Get Hired
Once you’ve signed up for an account (name, email, etc.), you’re asked to perform a “sample test.”
The sample test requires that you download their software and create a video of yourself reviewing the website that they specify. The software will record your voice and take a video of your web browser as you navigate the site. The reviews are usually less than 10 minutes long, so you can knock them out pretty quickly.
One of the crappy things about User Feel is that it can take a few weeks before they review your sample test and you can’t begin performing tests for cash until it’s been graded. Lame, I know.
You can apply here.
What You’re Required to Do
Every time you accept a new job, you’ll be given a scenario to perform on the client’s website. For example, if you’re reviewing an electronics website, you might be asked to pose as a shopper who needs to pick out a new set of speakers.
That might sound simple enough, but think about all the steps a customer has to go through before buying something online. You need to first navigate to the speaker section of the website and then you need to determine which sets of speakers will work for your needs.
Once you’ve narrowed it down to a few different sets, you then need to look up reviews and compare the specs to find the best set. After picking out a set that you like, you need to add them to a shopping cart and register as a customer. (Note: You don’t ever have to buy anything to complete a usability test – you are just completing the steps up until you actually purchase something.)
It’s a lot of steps, which is why website owners need feedback on which parts of their website need improvement.
How Much Can You Earn?
Testers are paid $10 via Paypal for every website that they review. User Feel reports that the top testers earn $100-$200 a month.
Clearly you aren’t going to get rich doing this, but based off of the amount of time it takes to complete a review, it seems like an easy way to make some side money.
Good luck Penny Hoarders!
