32 Legitimate Ways to Make Money at Home

Listen – we all know the internet is full of “make money at home” scams, so we’ve scoured through thousands of different ideas to find you 32 legitimate ones.

These are all ideas that we’ve done before, so we know that they’re real and that you’ll get paid. Plus, I guarantee there are some in here that you’ve never heard of…

1. Give Your Opinion to Make $100+/Month

Most of you know surveys aren’t our favorite way to make extra money, but we make an exception when we’re just vegging out on the couch. We figure as long as we’re just watching TV, there’s no reason we can’t click a few buttons at the same time.

Most of you know surveys aren’t our favorite way to make extra money, but we make an exception when we’re just vegging out on the couch. We figure as long as we’re just watching TV, there’s no reason we can’t click a few buttons at the same time.

Vip Voice and Ipsos Panel are some of the only legitimate paid survey companies out there (they’re rated an A+ with the Better Business Bureau). You might recognize the name Ipsos from the news, because they conduct a lot of presidential polling.

I’ve heard some of the top-end surveys can pay up to $95, but those are rare and can take awhile to complete. Most surveys pay a buck or two and only take 10-15 minutes, making it pretty easy to earn $100 or more per month.

2. Stop Deleting Your Emails

It turns out that deleting your emails could be costing you serious money. Intrigued?

My new secret weapon is called Paribus — a tool that gets you money back for your online purchases. It’s free to sign up for Paribus. Once you do, they will scan your email archives for any receipts. If it discovers you’ve purchased something from Amazon, Target or one of the other 16 retailers listed on their website, it will track the item’s price and issue you a refund anytime there’s a price drop!

You don’t have to do anything!

3. Get $5 From Stash to Start an Investment Account

It’s no great secret that investing can be a smart way to make money. But it feels restricted to a few wealthy elite.

Stash is different. This app lets you start investing with as little as $5 and for just a $1 monthly fee (the first three months are free).

Stash curates investment themes and gives you access to choose funds from leading investment managers. But they leave the complicated investment terms out of it. You just choose from a set of simple portfolios reflecting your beliefs, interests and goals.

Bonus: Right now, The Penny Hoarder is teaming up with Stash to give you $5 so you can start investing today.

Here’s how to get your $5 bonus:

1. Enter your email here.
2. Download the Stash smartphone app and create your account with the same email address.
3. That’s it! Within two business days, they’ll put $5 into your account!

4. Become an Uber Partner Driver

If you find solace on the road and enjoy finding the best route across town, this is a great way to make money doing it!

As an Uber contractor, you’re responsible for setting your schedule and motivating yourself to work — no one is keeping tabs on you. You get 80% of everything you earn as a driver (Uber keeps 20%).

If you want to give it a try, there’s a few things to keep in mind. You must be at least 21 years old, have three years of driving experience, have an in-state driver’s license, a clean driving record and be able to pass a criminal background check.

Finally, your car must be a four-door, seat at least four passengers (excluding the driver), be registered in-state, and be covered by in-state insurance.

Here’s a link to apply with Uber.

5. Surf the Internet

I love this one, because you just set it and forget it.

Did you know that Swagbucks will pay you for making searches on your computer or phone? Swagbucks is powered by Yahoo search so it’s the same results you normally see, plus they give you a free $5 just to sign up! 

It’s not a lot of money, but I usually earn about $100-$200/ year in passive income doing this. Easy work though — can’t complain.

6. Help Doctors Find a Cure

Could medical testing be a fun way to make money?

Jillian Shea thinks it is: She made $12,000 from participating in sleep studies. She answered a few questions online from her home in Florida before heading to Boston for the lucrative study.

And she’s not alone. 

NASA’s sleep study at the Johnson Space Center in Houston paid participants $5,000 per month to stay in bed.

Want to give it a try? If you have one of these ailments, you might be able to earn a little extra cash… 

– Psoriasis (M3 Global Research) – Psoriasis psucks! But, if you’ve got it you can earn $5-$100 taking online surveys and contribute to advancements in medical treatment — without even leaving your couch!

– Back Pain – If you suffer from chronic back pain, you could qualify for a study that offers up to $900 compensation for sharing your thoughts and opinions!

– Arthritis – If you have rheumatoid arthritis in the knee and/or hip and are otherwise healthy, you could qualify for a study that offers up to $625 compensation for sharing your thoughts and opinions.

– Migraines – If you’ve never had a migraine, be glad you can just take my word for it: They really, really suck. Local research studies may offer payment/compensation up to $625 (learn more here). These studies help doctors discover better ways to treat — and hopefully eliminate — migraines.

7. Get a Free $10 Amazon Gift Card 

Have you heard of MyPoints? They are a cash-back site that lets you earn rewards by shopping online and printing coupons. We use them all the time at our house, because it’s instant way to save on everything you buy (for example, they give you up to 5% cash-back on every purchase you make at Amazon).

But, enough about that, here’s how to get a free $10 Amazon gift card that you can use to buy groceries (or anything for that matter):

1. Sign up for MyPoints here using your email or Facebook account (it’s free).
2. Use the Mypoints portal the next time you need to shop online (it’s connected to thousands of stores including Walmart, Amazon, and Target).
3. As long as you spend $10 at any of those stores, Mypoints will reward you with 1,750 bonus bonus which you can redeem for a free $10 Amazon gift card.

8. Get Paid to Go on Top-Secret Missions

Remember scavenger hunts when you were a kid? Ever pretend you were a private investigator on an important mission? Don’t let a few years get in the way of your fun.

QuickThoughts for Android turns your cell phone into private-eye technology, taking you on top-secret missions in your area.

Was that CVS you visited last month clean? How do the lines look at that McDonald’s you’ve stopped by for lunch? QuickThoughts Missions relies on your input — and sneakily-taken cellphone photography — to give businesses important feedback.

And like any respectable PI, you get paid for your investigative footwork. Pretending as an adult is looking better and better! Using your phone’s GPS technology, the app will prompt you for information from places you’ve visited in the past few weeks, as well as places it detects you’re visiting right now.

It even has missions you can accept and complete in the future. For instance, it might prompt you to go to your local Walgreens and snap a photo of the seasonal display.

Super fun, right? And you’ll earn valuable gift cards for Amazon and iTunes while you’re at it. Unfortunately for iOS users, this opportunity is just for Android right now.

Which is kind of fitting, when you think about it. What would make a better private eye than an actual android?

9. Earn $250 By Opening a Second Bank Account

hidesy/Shutterstock

We’ve put together a huge list of banks that will pay you just to open a bank account! Some of them will pay you up to $250 just for opening a savings account!

There’s no harm in having multiple bank accounts. In fact, I often find it’s helpful to have multiple places to save (I’m less likely to touch the money), so I have savings accounts for my Christmas fund and my vacation fund.

The top bank bonus is $250 right now — head over to this list to see all of the banks in your area that are offering free cash.

10. Download These Apps

There are a number of companies, including Google, that will pay you to install their app on your cell phone. And they’ll pay you for every month you keep them installed.

The apps collect data from your cell phone and help companies better understand web and mobile usage better — such as what times of day people browse, how long they stay on websites and use apps, and what types of sites and apps are popular (or not).

Here are my favorites (install all of them and earn $400/year or more):

– Smart Panel – This panel is open to everyone and once you’ve downloaded the app, they will give you $5. If you keep it installed for at least two weeks, you’ll earn another $10. And then for every month that you keep the Smart App installed, you’ll get another $5. All total, you can earn up to $75 for the 1st year!

– MobileExpressions – After you’ve installed this app for one week, you get to play an instant rewards game for a prize (everyone wins something). I won a $25 Amazon gift card, but some of the other prizes include iPads and Samsung TVs. (Android signup link here, iPhone signup link here)

– Media Insiders Panel – If you’re male or 44 years of age or older and enjoy watching television programs, this company will pay you $5 a month to keep their app on your Android smartphone or tablet. Plus, you will be invited to participate in simple surveys about those shows you stream, DVR or watch live for additional rewards.

– Nielsen Mobile Panel for Ages 45+ – if you have a smartphone and you are 45 years of age or older, this Nielsen panel will pay you $50/year to keep this app on your cell phone.

11. Earn Up to $60/Hour as a Part-Time Bookkeeper

Does earning $60 an hour sound appealing? How about the freedom to work remotely while helping others succeed?

Those are the perks of working as a bookkeeper, says Ben Robinson, a certified public accountant and business owner who teaches others to become virtual bookkeepers.

And no, you don’t have to have a CPA to be successful in this business. In fact, all you really need are decent computer skills and a passion for helping business owners tackle real-world problems.

It’s a great opportunity for moms who want to work part time, millennials who are just out of college and anyone who wants to bring in real money while working from home.

We talked to Robinson about what it takes to become a virtual bookkeeper, as well as tips and advice for making this career track work for you. You can read the full interview here, or check out his website for more information.

12. Rate Your Local Pizza Place

Awww…yeah! Who wouldn’t want $5 and a free large pizza?

As many of you know I was a professional mystery shopper for many years (I got my start conducting liquor audits all over the Southeast).

One of the most popular types of mystery shops is for pizza companies — both Papa Johns and Pizza Hut regularly conduct mystery shops at all of their locations. As part of the assignment you’re required to time their delivery service, quality of pizza, etc.

It’s pretty easy to do and you can do it several times a year. If you’re interested in giving it a try, here’s a list of my favorite mystery shopping companies.

13. Watch More Television

Alright, just hear me out on this one. It’s definitely possible to get paid to watch TV. There’s a new company called “RewardTV” that pays you to answer trivia questions about last night’s TV shows.

Do you know who they killed off on Game of Thrones last week? Tell them about it and they’ll pay you.

Did you know which contestant got kicked off “The Voice” this week? They’ll pay you.

You’re not going to get rich doing this, but it’s a fun way to make an extra $15-$20/month. Pretty cool, right?

14. Earn up to $700/Month Fixing Search Results

I’ll make about $700 this month for evaluating search engine results this month.

And the best part? Most of it is done while sitting at home in my pajamas. What am I doing? Let me explain…

Search engines use complicated algorithms to determine the results you see. For example, if you type the name of one of our writers Steve Gillman into a Google search box, a half-million possibly-relevant web pages will be narrowed down using various criteria until a second later you see his smiling face. You’ll also see links to my personal website, my blog on the Huffington Post, and LinkedIn profiles for a bunch of guys who share his name.

But the search engines don’t always get it right.

They are full of errors, so they need real humans to look at the results and judge them for quality, relevancy, and usefulness. If you’re interested in this type of work, head over to this article to get more info on how to apply.

15. Join an Online Focus Group

Ever wonder how the products you see on grocery-store shelves wound up there? Or who thought those TV commercials were a good idea? Somewhere between the concept and the final edits, it’s likely that a focus group was involved.

Focus groups vary in size and type, but most of them provide some sort of compensation — a check in the mail, a PayPal deposit or even a gift card.

“The more formal the focus group, the more I expect to be paid,” says Sarah K., who’s participated in focus groups about bridal registries and sports nutrition products in the Los Angeles area.

For a longer session, she expects to make $100 to $200. “I’ll happily participate in a longer focus group if it pays well, is nearby and doesn’t conflict with any of my appointments,” she says.

One of my favorites is ProOpinion which is a focus group for professionals. Click here to visit their site and fill out the short sign-up form to get started.

Here’s another great list of legitimate focus group companies.

16. Turn Your Grocery Receipts in For Rebate

You don’t have to cut back at the grocery store if you know the right tricks. Have you heard of rebate apps?

My favorite is the Ibotta app which works by giving you a cash rebate on your grocery store purchases if you take a picture of your receipt with your smartphone.

Many of the rebates are for things like steak, ground beef, bread and eggs. Plus, you can shop at your normal grocery store. There’s no need to run clear across town to save money.

Some other good ones are SavingStar and Checkout51. Download them all and sometimes you can get three rebates on the same item.

17. Earn Up to $30/Hour Delivering Groceries

Are you 21 years older with reliable transportation? Sign up to be a delivery driver with Instacart!

This app and website lets people who don’t have the time or motivation to battle the crowds for a box of cereal skip the grocery store. As their personal shopper, you are in charge of picking up their groceries and delivering them within two hours.

If you’re interested in giving it a try, you can fill out the Instacart application here. They ask potential shoppers to take a short online quiz about common grocery store items. The quiz asks you to identify grocery items, like a lemon or an 18-pack of eggs, but you only have two minutes to answer the 21 questions.

After that, your city’s manager will call you to set up a time for a 15-minute phone interview to learn about your background and experience. They tend to look for people with past customer service experience and candidates who have experience doing plenty of shopping for either their roommates, families or themselves.

18. Sell Your Old Books

We’ve all got way too much extra junk just sitting around. Get rid of some of it and use the extra money for your Christmas shopping.

You could, of course, have a garage sale or sell some stuff on Craigslist, but one of my favorite ways to get rid of stuff is to use the Bookscouter app.

You scan your book’s barcode with your smartphone and Bookscouter will let you compare the payout of 20+ different buyback companies. Cool, right?

Once you’ve found the buyback company offering the most cash, you just fill out a little information about where you want your payment sent and prepare the books to be shipped. Most of the buyback companies offer prepaid shipping labels too, so there aren’t any costs associated with this.

19. Make an Extra $50/Week Working for Amazon

Have you heard of Amazon Mechanical Turk? Unlike other online sites that look for contract help, the Amazon Mechanical Turk service offers easy to accomplish tasks that can be completed by almost anyone with a computer.

From the articles and advice I’ve read from others completing tasks, the key seems to be just to jump in and quickly accept the next task you are qualified for. Don’t spend time hunting for the perfect task, just do them next, next, next, etc.

While basic tasks may only pay $0.10 they are easy and quick to complete. It does not take long to complete a task in less than a minute, so in an hour, with little experience, you can make $6 to $10, depending on how fast you are.

Amazon Mechanical Turk is not a get-rich-quick scam or one of those “make massive income in your spare time” ripoffs. But, realistically you can make an extra $50 or so each month.

20. Sell Your Crafts on Etsy

Just because you don’t have a dedicated crafts room like Martha Stewart or Rosie O’Donnell doesn’t mean you can’t become a successful entrepreneur by selling your crafts online.

In the past crafters have had to slug it out at craft fairs and farmer’s markets, often meaning long hours and little profit. All of that has changed in the last few years as a number of online marketplaces like Etsy have opened that allow amateur crafters a forum to sell their goods.

In fact, we recently found a mom who’s earning $70,000/month on Etsy! Click here to read her story.

21. Get Paid $50+ to Write an Article for These Sites

If you like to write, we found a few blogs that will pay you to share your thoughts. And there’s no limit to the number of articles you can submit, so this really is a nice side gig.

• TheKrazyCouponLady.com – $50
  This site accepts articles on a broad range of topics including style/fashion, couponing, family/parenting, and personal finance. The ladies guarantee that you’ll hear back from them within 7 days and will receive $50 via Paypal if they choose to publish your article. You can read all the details here.Editor’s Note: We recently found out TheKrazyCouponLady is no longer paying for submissions. Please be advised.
• Listverse.com – $100
  Listverse publishes nothing but lists. Their posts are all long lists (usually beyond 1,500 words long) containing at least 10 items, with an explanation of why each item deserves its place on the list. Read more details here.
• ThePennyHoarder.com – $75
  Got a crazy way to make/save extra money? We also pay our readers to submit articles and would love to have you contribute. Read all of our guidelines here.

22. Sell Your Smartphone Photos

If you have a smartphone and a photographic eye, making money may have just gotten a lot easier. Oh yeah – you’ll also need access to marketable scenery.

There’s a new app called Foap that allows you to turn your smartphone photos into cash.

Here’s how it works. You download the free app. You sign up for an account. You take a quality photo. You upload photo to Foap’s marketplace. Someone buys the license to your photo for $10. You make $5.

If your photo sells 20 times, you make $5 each time and end up with $100 in your pocket — all for about 5 minutes of work. Pretty cool, right?

23. Sign Up for Free Gift Card Promotions

Believe it or not, there are sites that will give you free gift cards just for signing up with them.

One of my favorites is Ebates, the cash-back shopping site. They’re giving away $10 gift cards if you sign up as a new member and earn your first cashback rebate. You can choose a $10 gift card from Target, Walmart, Macy’s or Kohl’s.

You do have to wait 30 days, but it’s free money so can you really complain?

24. Earn a $100 Bonus by Opening a New Credit Card

As long as you pay down your credit balance in full each month, rewards cards are a great way to make some extra money.

This one’s for my sports fans! Right now you can get a $100 cash-back bonus when you open an NFL Extra Points Visa Signature card. 

Qualifying transactions will get you a 10,000-point bonus, which is enough to redeem for $100 in cold, hard cash. Then, you’ll continue to earn points to redeem for cash back and other prizes as you use your card for everyday purchases.

Plus, you’ll get discounts and special access to tickets and NFL swag — and the card is customizable to represent your favorite team!

25. Live in California? Get Paid Up to $300 to Turn Off the Lights

California residents can earn up to $300/year by syncing their utility accounts to a program called OhmConnect and agreeing to help reduce energy usage by one hour per week. Here’s how it works:

1. Sign up for a free OhmConnect account and sync it with your online utility account. OhmConnect will give you $20 just for signing up! 

2. You must have an online account with one of these three utility companies to participate: Pacific Gas & Electric Company, San Diego Gas & Electric or Southern California Edison.

2. OhmConnect will send you weekly payments for reducing your electricity for one hour per week. They do this because you’re helping to not contribute to the high demand that prompts unclean power sources to turn on. They’ll send you up to $300/year per year, plus you’re helping  save the planet!

26. Sell Your Trash

Americans throw away approximately 266 million tons of trash every year, and it turns out we might as well be throwing away cash!  There’s a reason dumpster diving has become so popular in recent years and that’s because things that you think are worth nothing often have value.

Anything from your empty wine bottles to old magazines can be sold online. Here’s a full list of the things in your trash that might be worth cash.

27. Sell Your Skills for $5 on Fiverr

Earning $5 at a time may not sound like much, but those little sales can add up to thousands of dollars.

That’s the idea behind Fiverr.com, an online platform where users sell their products and services for $5 each. Fiverr says users create 4,000 new listings, or “gigs,” every day.

Gigs range from the standard data entry and research tasks to the truly out-there. For example, as I write this, sellers in the “Fun and Bizarre” section are offering:

• A piece of rare metal that will melt in your hand
• A prank phone call to anyone you choose
• Three balloons released into the sky with your message in them
• Your name written on two grains of rice
• A photo of you on the cover of “Rolling Stone”
• A video of a woman pretending to be “crazy in love with you” — which has 253 buyers and a 98% positive rating so far

You can seriously sell almost anything on Fiverr. Here are some more ideas.

28. Earn $100 By Helping a Company Name Itself

Professional branders aren’t going anywhere, but for small businesses that can’t afford the million dollar price tag, crowdsourcing allows businesses to outsource the creative process to people like you and I through “naming contests.”

There are hundreds of naming contests on websites like NamingForce.com and SquadHelp.com. The way it works is that nameless businesses list a little information about their company and a prize amount for the person who can come up with the best name. The rewards are anywhere from $50-$500, with the average amount around $100.

For example, one company on SquadHelp says they are a company that buys used video games and they will pay $80 to the person who can come up with the best name. A few of the submissions so far are “Cash 2 Gamers” and “Game Epix.” Think you can do better? Give it a try here.

29. Let Someone Borrow Your House/Apartment for the Night

I’ve used Airbnb to both rent out my apartment and stay in many others while traveling, and it’s a fantastic way to put your home to work for you. However, taking a few simple steps can make the difference between a great experience and a less-than-satisfactory one.

Whether you’re renting out a single room or your entire home, make the most of your Airbnb rental by following these tips. If you do it well, you could add hundreds or even thousands of dollars to your savings account.

30. Become an Online Tutor

Education is one of the world’s leading industries, and by the year 2017 the private tutoring market alone is expected to top $100 billion.

Have you ever considered becoming an online tutor to make extra money?  Well, if you haven’t, you most certainly should.  You can make some serious coin by answering student’s questions, explaining your notes and uploading tutorials.

That’s right, by sharing your knowledge, you can be rewarded handsomely.

Try marketing your services on a site like Tutor.com, where instructors earn $9-$13/hour, plus $5.50/hour just for being logged in waiting for students.

31. Become a Dog Masseuse 

We’ve talked before about ways to get paid to spend time with cats and dogs, but this is a new one: pet massage.

That’s right — some people earn money for massaging animals. It might sound a little strange, but apparently many cats and dogs enjoy a good massage as much as humans do.

If you like petting your furry friends, why not explore this option? With a bit of training you can make $50 per hour as a pet massage therapist. Here’s how to get started.

32. Write Slogans for Major Companies 

Can you sum up a product in a sentence? Think of something funny — and not another joke about too many candles — to put on a birthday card? Make a point in few concise words?

If so, you might be able to make money writing slogans.

Companies sometimes need new corporate taglines, advertising slogans and jingles. Bumper sticker and greeting card makers want cute, endearing or funny thoughts to put on their products.

When these businesses need help, they sometimes collect submissions from freelance writers or run contests that anyone can enter — including you!

Try one or more of these platforms to get started:

• Slogan Slingers helps companies create slogan contests in which their registered writers compete. It’s free to sign up as a writer, and the company claims you can “make up to $999 per contest (minus our small admin fee).”

• Get a Slogan is a “crowd-sourcing platform that brings in custom, creative and catchy slogans from a variety of sloganeers.” Companies come to them for help, and writers submit their ideas. It’s free to sign up, but you initially have only “qualifying” status. Once you obtain “qualified” status, you’ll receive $50 for each of your winning slogans.

• Freelancer.com has a section devoted to slogan-writing projects, which are sometimes run as contests. For example, at the moment a personal injury law firm is offering $150 for the best “unique and memorable tagline/slogan.”

Your Turn: Would you try any of these methods to make extra money at home?

Advertiser Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. We’re letting you know because it’s what Honest Abe would do. After all, he is on our favorite coin.

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which ThePennyHoarder.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). We do not feature all available credit card offers or all credit card issuers.

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This Startup is Hiring an Art Lover to Work From Home for $12-$16 per Hour

Say goodbye to being a starving artist…

Because we just found a way you can work for a creative and artsy company — from the comfort of your own home.

Museum Hack, a startup that runs quirky private museum tours, is hiring a sales support representative.

How to Get an Artsy Job With Museum Hack

As you can read in our interview with the founder, Museum Hack is turning the traditional museum tour on its head. It offers “highly interactive, subversive, fun, non-traditional” tours of museums in New York, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco.

Right now, it’s hiring a remote customer service representative whose duties will include answering questions and closing sales via phone and email. (No cold calling required, though!)

You must be a highly flexible perfectionist with excellent phone skills, “nearly perfect written English” and the ability to type 75 words per minute.

Previous experience with a CRM (Customer Relationship Manager) tool is also desired; if you’re familiar with one, be sure to mention it in your cover letter.

You’ll work two to six hours per day, for a total of 10-30 hours per week. You must be based in the U.S. or Canada and able to work flexible hours between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. EST, plus a few hours on weekends.

Not only does this sound like a fun gig with a cool and growing company, but it pays $12-$16 per hour, with occasional “performance-based rewards and incentives.”

It also sounds like you’ll have opportunities to advance your career.

“Most of our VAs stay with our company for years, and move up to do really exciting things with us,” states the job description.

Want in on the action? The company’s only hiring one remote rep — so click here to apply.

Your Turn: Which museum is your favorite?

Susan Shain, senior writer for The Penny Hoarder, is always seeking adventure on a budget. Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.

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18 Creative Ways to Make Extra Money in Philadelphia

Maybe you’re a stay-at-home parent who wants to make a little extra cash.

Or you’re saving up for a dream vacation — and your regular paycheck just isn’t going to get you there.

Whatever it is, you’re looking for ways to make extra money in Philadelphia.

Don’t worry, from working at an aquarium to eating cheesecake, we’ve got 18 zany ideas to make extra money in the city of Brotherly Love.

1. Host People From All Over the World With Airbnb

Is your spare room earning you money? Probably not, but it could be if you sign up as a host with Airbnb.

This crazy-popular site lets you rent out rooms — or your entire house — to travelers. And right now, it’s recruiting new hosts in Philadelphia.

You’ll get to meet people from all over the world, and only accept guests when it’s convenient for you. Plus, you can either rent out your spare room or your entire apartment — a great option if you can crash with a significant other or a family member.

Even better, if you accept and complete a booking before summer’s out, Airbnb will give you a $150 bonus!

To qualify for the $150 bonus, the listing must be:

• New and not duplicated from another Airbnb listing, as well as associated with a first-time host

• Priced at $65 per night or more, excluding cleaning fees and taxes

• Located within 25 miles of the intersection of Market St. and 15th St. in Philadelphia

2. Train Pups for Petco

Woof woof!

If you’re a dog lover, we couldn’t think of a better gig for you than working as a dog trainer or training apprentice for Petco.

You’ll need a “strong ability to inspire and motivate self and others” — both furry and non-furry. The ideal candidate will also have CPDT-KA or Karen Pryor Academy certification, as well as experience “teaching positive reinforcement dog training techniques in group or class settings.”

It’s a part-time position that requires you to work “during peak traffic periods” on weekdays and weekends.

3. Take Medical Surveys for M3

Want to get paid for medical research — without getting poked by a needle? M3 Global Research needs Philadelphians to participate in medical surveys.

Simply sign up and describe your health, and the company will send you survey invitations based on your personal information. You won’t be spammed with a bunch of surveys that don’t apply to you.

If you qualify, you can complete them online, over the phone or in M3’s downtown Philly office. Each one takes 20-30 minutes and pays $5-$100.

The company’s needs are always changing — so it’s worth signing up regardless. But right now, it’s recruiting for participants with several conditions, including psoriasis, cancer, migraines and cardiovascular diseases.

4. Perfect Your Poker Face at Harrah’s

Ever wondered what it’s like to work at a casino? Here’s your chance to find out!

Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack is hiring a poker dealer — among many other things.

To snag this part-time position, you have to be upbeat and positive, and able to create “an atmosphere of luck.” You must understand the game and possess a certificate of completion from an accredited PA Dealers School (or equivalent).

You can bet it’s a good place to work: Harrah’s was voted as the number one place to work by Philly.com. There’s a FREE 24/7 employee cafeteria, tuition reimbursement and options for life and health insurance.

Plus, with “100,000 square feet of non-stop gaming action,” more than 2,700 slot machines, seven restaurants and “live racing overlooking the Delaware River,” you’re unlikely to ever get bored.

5. Drive Your Car with Uber

Need a fun, flexible way to earn money while also meeting lots of new people?

Try driving with Uber!

Demand for Uber drivers has been growing like crazy, and it shows no signs of slowing down. To be eligible, you’ll need to pass a background check, be at least 21 and have your own car (a year 2000 or later).

You could earn hundreds of dollars each month just by shuttling people around. Best of all, you’ll do it all on your own time. Work days, nights or weekends; it’s entirely up to you!

6. Swim With the Fishes at the Adventure Aquarium

In a good way, that is — by working in guest services at the Adventure Aquarium.

The facility has “more than 8,500 aquatic species throughout two million gallons of water” and is home “to the largest collection of sharks on the East Coast.” Oh, and did we mention there are also hippos and penguins?

Your duties will include selling tickets, conducting guests surveys and helping operate rides. You must be able to pass a pre-employment background check and drug test, work in all weather conditions, stand for long periods of time and lift 50 pounds.

The pay is only $9 per hour, but perks include food and retail discounts, complimentary tickets to other local attractions, staff outings, 24 aquarium tickets for family and friends each year — and profit sharing and 401(k) with match after your first year of employment.

7. Share Your Thoughts with VIP Voice

Sure, taking online surveys isn’t the most exciting way to earn extra money — but it is easy. Especially since you can do it from your couch while watching TV.

VIP Voice gives you points after every single survey, which you can then redeem for gift cards, travel and electronics. After you take a few, you might even see a special survey offering a $25 reward. Be patient, though — you might have to take a few before you see this one.

Swagbucks is another one of our favorite sites, because it offers a wide variety of ways to make extra money.

In addition to surveys, you can earn points (called SB) for watching videos, playing games or shopping online. You can redeem SB for cash via Paypal, or for gift cards to retailers like Walmart and Amazon.

Even better, Swagbucks will give you $5 just for signing up!

8. Run Urban Outfitters’ Instagram Account

Urban Outfitters was founded near the University of Pennsylvania’s campus in the ‘70s, and is still headquartered in downtown Philly.

It’s on the hunt for a social media manager to oversee its Instagram account. You’ll focus on  “creating original photographic and video content,” “building a true community” and engaging with customers, employees and other influencers.

You’ll need at least two years of marketing and/or merchandising experience, a “highly-developed interest in fashion, art, music, and photography,” the ability to build relationships and work on multiple projects and a passion for “culture, branding, and the space in which they intersect.”

For someone who’s into fashion and photography, this sounds like a pretty sweet opportunity!

9. Open a Checking Account With TD Bank

How’s your phone looking? If you’re anything like me, it’s in sore need of an upgrade.

But why spend an arm and leg on a new device when you can get one for free? You don’t even have to do anything crazy.

Just sign up for a new Convenience Checking account with TD Bank. In return, you’ll receive a brand-new Samsung Galaxy phone — a value of nearly $600!

How cool is that?

And unlike many checking accounts these days, TD Bank won’t charge you any fees as long as you keep a $100 minimum balance in the account.

10. Eat Lots of Dessert at The Cheesecake Factory

The Cheesecake Factory is hiring for a bunch of positions, including host, server and busser, but this dessert finisher and espresso maker gig caught our eye. Because, YUM.

You’ll assist guests with their dessert and coffee selections… and probably get to sample lots of cheesecake while you’re at it.

Not to mention, getting in with this well-respected company would probably be good for your career. For the third year in a row, it was named one of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” — the only restaurant on the list!

Perks include paid time off, health insurance, discounts and promotion opportunities — the company claims 40% of managers are promoted from within.

11. Get Free Flights on American Airlines

Ever wanted to work for an airline — but don’t want to be away from home all the time?

Then this job is for you. You’ll work as a customer service representative at PHL’s American Airlines club. You’ll need “extraordinary” customer service skills, the ability to work well under pressure and prior travel industry experience.

Let’s be real, though: The biggest benefit of working for an airline is the free travel.

AA doesn’t disappoint: “Our employees, their families, and friends enjoy the ability to travel almost anywhere in the world on American and American Eagle. Plus they can take advantage of discounted travel on other airlines.”

12. Give Beauty Makeovers for Bobbi Brown

If you’re a makeup fanatic, this job might be a dream come true.

As a beauty advisor for Macy’s, you’ll specialize in the Bobbi Brown line — sharing it with others to help them look their best.

You’ll connect with customers and learn about their sense of style, then “develop your artistic side through customer consultation and make-up and product application.”

Sounds fun, doesn’t it?

Though prior cosmetics experience is a plus, it’s not required. You must have communications, math, organizational and time-management skills, as well as the ability to multi-task. Weekend, evening and holiday availability is a must.  

13. Generate Buzz for Zipcar

Are you outgoing and energetic? Mosaic Sales Solutions is looking for brand ambassadors to work at demonstrations and events.

This particular listing is for Zipcar, but the company has clients in all sorts of industries. Several years ago, Mosaic was even listed as one of the “Best Places to Work in Marketing and Media” by Advertising Age.

In this part-time position, you’ll work at trade shows, community events and college campuses. You’ll “generate buzz” about Zipcar by talking with — and educating — consumers. You must possess “strong speaking skills” and a “natural ability to create networks.”

14. Party at Dave & Buster’s

Calling all party animals!

The grownup version of Chuck E. Cheese’s is looking for a captain who can make sure visitors are ready to have a good time.

You’ll greet guests, help them understand all of D&B’s offerings and assist them with shuffleboard and billiards. In addition to the fun-making, you’ll be responsible for diffusing difficult situations and enforcing company policies — so timid people need not apply.

The perfect candidate must thrive in loud and fast environments, have night and weekend availability and be known for their “positive, enjoyable and radiant disposition.”

15. Join the Wegmans Family

If you’re from the Northeast, chances are you’re obsessed with Weggies. Not only is it a fantastic place to buy groceries, but it’s been on Fortune’s list of “100 Best Companies to Work For” every year since 1998.

Right now, the beloved chain is hiring for a variety of positions throughout its Southeastern Pennsylvania locations. Even if you miss the job fair on July 19, check the website — you could find jobs as a cashier, baker or overnight food stocker, to name a few.

Both full- and part-time positions are available, and certain positions come with benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, adoption assistance, life insurance and paid vacation.

16. Reveal Your Inner Bookworm at Books-A-Million

I don’t know about you, but I always wanted to work at a bookstore when I was younger. And despite what you might think, it’s still achievable.

Books-A-Million is the second largest book retailer in the nation. It’s looking for a bookseller with a love of books (obvi!), good communications and customer service skills, a professional appearance and the willingness to be a team player.

In this role, you’ll be responsible for greeting and helping customers, running a register and providing “a clean workplace.”

17. Stay in Shape at Lifetime Fitness

Sure, chasing after kids is a good workout, but it generally doesn’t come with a paycheck… Unless it’s this kids activities team member job at Lifetime Fitness.

You’ll basically be an officer of fun, “organizing kids programming, activities, and games for children between the ages of three months and 11 years.” Your duties could include hosting birthday parties, arranging kickball games or instructing kids how to use of the rock wall.

Because you’ll be working with kids, the pre-employment background and health checks are pretty strict. To be eligible, you must be working toward a high-school diploma or GED, and preferably have some experience with kids.

And if the job itself weren’t enough of a workout, you’ll also get a complimentary membership to Lifetime Fitness, plus discounts on certain products and services.

18. Help Gentlemen Look Their Best at MySuit

If you dream of working in fashion in an “elegant” Center city location, this is the job for you.

MySuit is a “pioneer” in the made-to-measure men’s suit industry. It uses software to create, measure, fabricate and deliver custom suits to its customers.

The options include hundreds of “different patterns, weights and colors” — and the company is looking for fashion consultants to help customers sort through them all.  

In this full- or part-time position, you’ll guide clients toward looking their best by measuring, fitting and styling custom shirts and suits. You must be “confident,” “well-spoken,” “familiar with contemporary mens’ fashion” and willing to work weekends.

How’s that for some fun ways to earn extra money in Philadelphia? Good luck!

Your Turn: Will you try any of these ways to earn extra money?

Disclosure: We appreciate you letting us include affiliate links in this post. It helps keep the beer fridge stocked in the Penny Hoarder break room.

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Meal Planning for Real People: A Simple Way to Make it Work for YOU

I bet some of you are reading this post right now while eating a delicious homemade sandwich you brought to work.

Maybe a little sliced ham, Swiss cheese, the nice Dijon mustard with the little seeds in it?

Good on you. You don’t need me to tell you how much money you can save by preparing meals at home and packing lunches for work or school.

But here’s my question:

How many more sandwiches can you make with the bread you currently have?

If you don’t know the answer, you’re going to wake up one day and realize you only have enough bread for one more sandwich — and you aren’t going to be able to make it to the grocery store until Friday.

So you’ll spend the next few days paying $12 to spend your lunch break standing in line waiting for someone else to make you a sandwich — or you’ll have to put together a few sad desk lunches.

The average American spends $2,625 per year on restaurants, according to The Motley Fool. Meal planning can save you from spending extra cash on emergency lunches or late-night takeout. It’ll also save you from pretending two frozen blueberry waffles counts as a “lunch.”

You’ll eat healthier, save money and enjoy your meals a lot more when they’re planned!

How to Make a Meal Plan That Works

The first thing you’re going to need to do is figure out how many meals you’re responsible for making every week.

If it’s just you, your answer might be 21: seven breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Or it might be 20: seven breakfasts, seven dinners and six lunches because your manager always buys pizza for everyone on Fridays.

If you have a family, count meals per person — a dinner for three people counts as three dinners, even if you all eat the same thing.

Now start thinking about the meals you make most often: the sandwiches, canned soups, salads and taco nights that make up an average week.

How many meals can you get out of a single loaf of bread? Does a bagged salad usually last for several meals? Or, does your family eat the entire bag in one night?

Once you start getting an idea of how long your food lasts, you can start planning ahead. You can look at a packet of sliced ham and think, “That’s four lunches.”

Once you start translating food into “number of meals,” you’re on your way to meal planning.

At this point, there are two ways to go.

Some people like to plan out every meal in advance: You’ll eat a ham sandwich on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Then you’ll run out of ham and have a peanut butter sandwich on Thursday — and then your boss will bring in pizza on Friday.

Other people like to think, “Well, I’ve got ham and I’ve got peanut butter, and I know I can make it to the end of the week.”

That’s the point of meal planning, after all: Figuring out how much food you need to buy to make it until your next grocery trip. Once you can do that, you’ll find yourself ordering emergency takeout much less often!

Try a Meal Planning App or Calendar

How can you keep track of your meal plan?

I can generally remember mine in my head, but some people use a meal planning app or tool.

Here are a few apps to consider:

• $5 Meal Plan sends you a weekly menu of meals meal that cost about $2 a person (they even have a gluten-free version).
• Plan To Eat features recipes and a drag-and-drop meal planning interface that auto-generates a grocery list.
• Pepperplate includes recipes and meal planning, as well as a “cook now” function to set up multiple cooking timers for a complex meal.
• Emeals lets you input your family size, number of meals needed and comes up with the meals for you. All you have to do is go shopping!

Or, go old school with pen and paper or a simple wall calendar.

Taking Your Meal Plan to the Grocery Store

Once you get to the grocery store, it’s time to put your meal plan in action.

Make a list through a meal plan app or with pen and paper — and buy only what’s on the list.

I find meal planning makes my grocery shopping a lot easier because I know exactly what I’m going to buy and where to find it.

Since I buy the same items repeatedly, I also know which ones to stock up on when they go on sale. I just bought five packets of deli meat at a super discount. It’s going to make 20 lunches!

Stocking up on sale items also helps you plan ahead and freeze meals for the future. If there’s a way to buy in bulk and prep the foods you eat the most often, do it!

What about coupons? If you see a great deal on something you buy repeatedly, go for it. If you see a great deal on something you consider a treat, like a slightly more expensive brand of cereal, why not?

But when you see coupons for items that don’t fit in your meal plan at all — like for frozen egg rolls, which you probably aren’t going to include in taco night — you should move on and not waste your money or your food.

Which brings us to:

Eating What You Buy

Americans throw away a lot of food.

Over $165 billion of food is wasted each year, around $529 per person, USA Today reports.

You don’t want to waste $529 — or more — tossing your groceries into the trash. This means the last step in meal planning is making sure you eat what you buy.

How do you do this? It comes down to knowing what your food plan is and sticking to it.

Here are some tips:

• Pack your planned lunches the night before, so you won’t be “too tired” in the mornings.
• Make sure you always eat something different for lunch and dinner. If you make a lasagna, don’t eat it for dinner, then lunch, then dinner again. Break up the lasagna dinners and add variety with sandwiches or soup lunches.
• Give yourself options. When you prepare your meal plan, tell yourself, “This week, I will eat either a sandwich or a homemade frozen burrito for lunch.” Then, you won’t feel locked down to any specific entree.
• Prepare the same favorite entrees over and over to help you stick to your plan. You know everyone likes them, how to make them quickly and how long they last.
• Have dedicated snack food, like almonds and string cheese, so you don’t get hungry and eat one of the entrees you’re saving for later in the week.

Also: commit to eating foods before they go bad.

This means if you’ve said, “I will eat either a lettuce salad or a sliced orange with dinner,” and the lettuce is starting to look a little wilted, commit to eating it first. The oranges will still be there when you’re done.

Figuring out a meal plan that works for you will probably take a bit of trial and error. So don’t get discouraged if you thought a casserole that would last all week gets eaten in two days and you’re stuck ordering takeout again!

The more you learn about your household’s eating habits, the better you’ll be able to shape your meal plans and prepare for a full refrigerator stocked with all the food you need.

Your Turn: Have you tried meal planning? Do you have advice for other meal planners?

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. We would have shared them with you anyway, but a true “penny hoarder” would be a fool not to take the company’s money.
Nicole Dieker is a freelance writer focusing on personal finance and personal stories. Her work has appeared in The Billfold, The Toast, Yearbook Office, The Write Life and Boing Boing.

The post Meal Planning for Real People: A Simple Way to Make it Work for YOU appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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Township tested, LERTA approved

Route 209 in Middle Smithfield Township is the gateway into the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and supervisors are trying to make it easier for business owners and others who might be thinking of developing property there by offering them a chance to save taxes via the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Abatement Act — or LERTA.“We’re very fortunate to be the gateway into the national park and, Route 209 is the busiest entrance to the park seeing [...]

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How to Generate at Least 50 Comments on Your Next Blog Post

Blogging is an important part of digital marketing.

And if you know me, you know I’m passionate about blogging.

This isn’t just a personal quirk of mine. Research shows websites with blogs have 434% more indexed pages.

Blogs have tons of important benefits, which is why I’m a major advocate of a solid content marketing and blogging strategy.

Take into consideration a few blogging stats you may not have read before:

Blogs are super important.

But blogs with comments? Even better. Comments’ section is where the conversation takes place.

When people comment on your article, they bring additional information and content to the table, brainstorm ideas for new topics to write about, and strengthen your website.

Comments even add to the words, keywords, and SEO value as seen by search algorithms. Higher word count—something that blog commenting builds—is one of the 13 most important SEO trends in 2016 as Digital Reflow points out in this infographic:

Driving and encouraging comments on your posts isn’t difficult. I’ve previously covered the technical reasons why nobody is commenting on your blog and how to reformat your site to encourage commenting.

That post itself drove a lot of comments, so I decided to supplement it with this article, describing how to generate 50 comments or more on your next blog post.

Here’s a step-by-step guide.

1. Create insightful content

The only way to get comments is to get traffic.

And to build sustainable traffic, you need to provide insightful, deep, researched, and well-thought-out content.

This is where everything starts. If your content sucks, you won’t get comments. Period.

Only the cream of the crop content sticks out in today’s crowded environment, so you need to write with your A-game.

Focus on creating compelling stories that draw people in and make them want to share an opinion. The best content gets shared, goes viral, attracts audiences, and connects.

Like I said, the content marketing world is crowded. Just take a look:

More and more companies find they need more and more content to sustain revenues and growth. But more and more of everything means that your job as a content creator is more challenging.

How do you stand out?

It’s all about building trust. To build trust, you have to write in a way that communicates authenticity and transparency.

Edelman recently published a report showing the behaviors of consumers based on trust. This data helps to illuminate the importance of being viewed as a trusted resource.

The key to any successful effort is trust, and this is especially true online and in business. Nearly half the population refuses to do business with companies they don’t trust, and over half choose companies based on trust and recommend trusted companies to friends.

BlogHer found that 81% of online consumers trust content from blogs. It’s the new newspaper or magazine.

So, let’s get back to the question: how do you build content that stands out?

You do so by building trust.

And you build trust by providing insight, detail, and facts.

2. Encourage idea sharing

Brainstorming is one of the most difficult parts of blogging. Constantly filling a rotating schedule with content is a full-time job typically involving large teams.

I like to encourage readers to share their ideas and thoughts throughout my articles because I sincerely want to know what my readers think. I want to involve the community to create a crowdsourced brainstorming session.

Have you ever been part of a really good brainstorming session?

I have. There’s something almost inspired that happens when the ideas start pouring in, and you know you’re onto something.

I try to recreate that experience in my articles. These five rules of brainstorming help guide my thought process as I create content.

You can think of your article as a guided brainstorming session.

When people are inspired by your content in an idea-sharing way, they will provide their feedback.

TED Talks are an inspiration to me. TED’s tagline is “ideas worth spreading.”

The TED speakers are inspiring others with their thoughts and ideas.

And look what happens. Notice those comment counts:

Thousands of comments!

Yeah, I’d have to agree that the “worth spreading” part is definitely happening.

We can all learn from TED Talks—not just the content of the talks themselves, but the whole idea of creating a rich learning experience that people want to participate in.

I’d like to think that because I encourage a positive, transparent, and open community, my readers love to share their ideas. And this commonly created space provides community even for me to hang out and be myself.

The creative industry is difficult, and mutual encouragement is universally appreciated.

Even a thought leader like myself needs a network of trusted people working together toward a common goal. No one succeeds alone.

If you’re looking for more tips on how to write more content, I recently wrote a guide on how to push yourself to continue writing. Also, if you have any brainstorming tips or ideas, feel free to share them in the comments below.

3. Respond to comments

You should respond to commenters, but with the “ABC” caveat.

ABC stands for Amy’s Baking Company, an infamous business from Kitchen Nightmares. Celebrity chef and business consultant Gordon Ramsay walked away from ABC because it was so bad.

Throughout two episodes (and a summer media storm), Amy was bombarded with negative reviews and comments throughout Yelp and social media.

Did they respond to comments?

Yes. Yes, they did.

As you can see, instead of being cool about it and learning from the feedback, the owners responded with angry rants.

My my.

Although Amy later hired reputation management and PR consultants to delete the negative comments, the brand’s reputation was effectively ruined. The company eventually closed permanently.

That is not how you respond to negative comments.

And you can’t cover up your tracks by deleting comments.

People know how to screen-capture these days.

Content moderation is important, and automated tools such as Akismet do a great job of filtering out most spam comments. However, the Internet still has its share of trolls and paid shills, filling comment sections with randomness and negativity.

The way you handle comments says a lot about you personally and your site in general. Simply deleting or refusing any negative comment is a form of censorship and is often viewed negatively by online communities.

As long as people aren’t directly attacking each other but debating with some level of courtesy, all comments are good comments.

These basic community guidelines can help guide your behavior in pretty much any public forum, whether online or off to encourage open dialogue.

Regardless of the type of comments you get initially—negative or positive—respond to them to get the ball rolling.

Your position as the content’s author allows you to set the tone for the comments.

• If you are defensive, the naysayers will become more hostile.
• If you are rude, others will become ruder.
• If you start name-calling, others will name-call you.
• If you express gratitude, people will be thankful.
• If you exemplify kindness, others will be well-mannered.
• If you respect others, others will be courteous.

For some people, the comments make the article. They may not read the entire article, but they’ll scroll down to the comments to see the buzz.

If you are creating a positive, affirming, and engaging discussion with your replies, it will make the overall experience of the article that much better.

Replying to comments also shows the next person who comes along what to expect if they leave a comment.

Your comment replies lay the foundation for open dialogue among the entire community.

4. Write conversationally

When I guest-post on other authoritative websites, such as Entrepreneur, Forbes, CrazyEgg, and HubSpot, I follow their publishing and editorial guidelines.

On my own site, I can be more myself.

Conversational is my jam.

I’m able to write about my personal experiences, successes or failures, and personalize the content with a bit of my own personal flair. It’s meant to be less of a lecture and more of a dialogue.

I encourage you to join that dialogue.

How do you write conversationally?

• Direct comments and questions at the reader. Use the word “you.”
• Refer to yourself with personal pronouns —  “I,” “me,” “my,” “mine.”
• Ask questions. And then answer them.
• Use easy words.
• Use figures of speech, slang, and conversational expressions.
• Use short paragraphs. I aim for 1-4 sentences. Anything greater than six sentences in a paragraph is probably too long.
• Tell a story. Who doesn’t like a story?

According to Nielsen, nearly 7 million people host their own blogs. Another 12 million bloggers keep up a stream of content on social media sites such as Tumblr, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

The only thing I can add to such a crowded conversation is my own perspective, so that’s what I aim to do. Brands with a purpose—even personal brands—always outperform those without.

I encourage you to do so as well.

5. Take a stand

You have to take a stand to write a decent blog article.

What do I mean by this? There are usually two sides to any story, and informational content should always be included. Taking a firm stance for or against something forces commenters from both sides of the issue to take notice.

Basically, you have to pick a side.

Of course, you don’t have to get political. Just take firm stances on industry issues.

I personally think blogging is among the most important pieces of a solid content marketing strategy. I’m going to pick this point of view and argue for it.

Others may argue that graphics, videography, SEO, CPC, CRO, and other tactics are more efficient. Great! I welcome that debate.

Your blog will generate comments when you pick a position, hold a viewpoint, and maintain a stance.

Why is this important?

People learn from these discussions. There are people reading your article who also want to shore up their viewpoints, pick a side, or maintain a position. Your article helps them do that.

A simple example of this is in the influencer marketing space. Major players speak to their audience, make recommendations, share opinions, and hold considerable sway!

From the perspective of influencer marketing, nearly half of literate people will read blogs to learn about products.

If you can take a stance, bring data, and prove a point, you’ll be well on your way to generating 50 comments.

6.  Be approachable

I welcome you to disagree with me. That’s not a challenge. That’s not a dare. That’s not a come-at-me-huh kind of attitude.

That’s just me being real, asking you to have a conversation.

I’m an approachable and down-to-earth guy in real life, so I like to portray the real me when I write online.

Even my color choices are an attempt to be me.

Did you know there’s an emotional color wheel utilized by advertisers to invoke certain emotions?

Psychology plays a big role in marketing – you want customers and clients to feel certain emotions when doing business. With QuickSprout’s color scheme, I’m suggesting that I’m a peaceful guy with a brand focused on growing healthy businesses.

I tried a different color scheme on my other blog, NeilPatel.com. That one uses orange.

The idea with that color is to convey that I’m friendly, cheerful, and confident.

So, even colors play a role in fostering approachability.

Having a picture of yourself makes you appear more approachable too. That’s why I use sidebar ads with images of myself.

That approachability needs to be clear in the way you write too.

If I were to spend this entire time lecturing you, I’d risk insulting you as a reader. It would also make me seem less approachable.

I want you to approach me not just for business but so I can learn from you and improve myself.

Life is all about opening up to new perspectives and experiences.

7. Comment on other blogs

Bloggers love networking with each other. If you want people to participate in your community, you have to be willing to participate in theirs.

Take a look at this infographic, particularly the section “are people who comment also bloggers?”

You’ll notice that while bloggers make up a smaller percentage of overall commenters, they comment nearly twice as often.

This means that by commenting on other blogs, you’ll encourage lengthier conversations with other bloggers. Sure, many of these conversations will occur on their blogs, but traffic will spill over to yours too.

8. Share your posts on social media

Where are the biggest conversations taking place today?

Social media, baby.

It would be foolish to write a killer comment-ready article and then not share it on social media.

What’s going to happen on social media when you do post your article?

People will comment on the social media thread, not the article itself.

Is this a bad thing? Aren’t you going for blog comments rather than social media feedback?

No, it’s not a bad thing. Although social media comments won’t count toward your post’s overall comment count (unless you use a Facebook login WordPress plugin), they still promote the overall conversation. That’s a good thing.

It’s important to always keep an omnichannel focus and not get so entrenched in one tactic that you forget the overall goal.

Here are some serious social media statistics to consider:

Regulations and money are involved in social media to this extent because there are a lot of users.

Here are demographics for the most popular social media platforms in 2016:

Huge audiences use social media as a primary method of interacting with content.

You simply can’t ignore them and the conversations they are having there.

Conclusion

Blogging is an integral part of any online strategy.

Encouraging blog commenting engages readers and builds a loyal community of readers more likely to continue the conversation with friends, coworkers, and other social circles.

It boils down to this: care for your readers. They’re your friends. They’re your fans. Give them value.

Be honest, open, and transparent, and provide valuable content that encourages readers to leave comments.

And if you’re as bold as I was when I claimed (in this post’s title) that I knew how to generate at least 50 comments, you’d better reach that count as quickly as possible. Otherwise, you’ll be as sweaty as I am right now.

What do you think? Will these tips help you reach 50 comments on a post?

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