10 Tips and Tricks to Improve Your YouTube Content in 2019

Traditional marketing is slowly becoming obsolete. Brands need to prioritize digital marketing strategies to stay relevant and successful in 2019. To approach this properly, you’ll need to start producing more video content.

When it comes to video, YouTube is king. The platform has more than 1.9 billion monthly active users, and 180 million hours of video content is consumed there every day.

Furthermore, 48% of people named YouTube as their favorite online video provider.

It’s ranked first over Netflix, Facebook, and Hulu, which got 29%, 10%, and 7% of votes, respectively. YouTube isn’t just the favorite; it’s more popular than the other three networks combined.

If you think that’s impressive, wait until you hear this: YouTube is the number two ranked website in the world, second only to Google, according to Alexa rankings.

The reason why YouTube is great for marketers is because its content is easy to repurpose across multiple platforms. Once you add a video to your YouTube channel, it’s easy to share it on other social media sites, send it to your email subscribers, and add it to your website.

I’ve identified the top ten tips to enhance your YouTube videos in 2019. Use this list as a reference to help you produce better content.

1. Share links that start playback at a specific time

Once videos are uploaded to YouTube, you can share them on other platforms. But there are instances when you’ll want to share only a portion of your video.

For example, maybe you’re discussing a specific topic in a social media post. You realize that you’ve already covered this in a YouTube video. 

However, the video is five minutes long. The content that’s relevant to your post doesn’t get addressed until the three-minute mark.

No problem. Just click on the share link to get started. (This is how you would normally share any video on YouTube.) By default, the video will play from the beginning, as expected. You have the option to change this by using the options that pop up after you click on the share button. Here’s what it looks like:

At the bottom of this menu, check the “Start at” box, and type the time mark at which you want the video to start playing. (Alternatively, you can pause the video before you click on the share button. The timer will automatically be set at that point. You still need to check the box for it to work.)

Once this feature is enabled, the URL’s share link changes. As you can see, the link in the image above ends with “t=158.” This link will start playing the video 158 seconds in, which is the 2:38 mark.

2. Add a transcript

Adding a transcript will make it easier for users to find your videos and your channel through YouTube as well as Google searches.

By default, YouTube will automatically generate a transcript for all your videos once they are uploaded. You just need to make sure you haven’t hidden this option from your audience. (You have the ability to edit your transcripts as well, so review them to catch any errors.)

YouTube also provides a feature for you to manually type your own transcripts as you play the video. Here’s an example of what a final transcript looks like once a video is uploaded:

In some instances, you may want a video or audio file transcribed for other purposes. For example, maybe you have a recording of a seminar you recently spoke at or of an important conference call. Now, you want to refer to the video to help you write a blog post. It’s much easier to use a transcript instead of constantly having to pause, fast forward, and rewind a video to catch your speech.

Upload that content to YouTube, and get a free transcript of it. You don’t have to share or publish the video on your channel if you want to keep it private. You’ll still be able to get the content transcribed free.

3. Create a GIF with any YouTube URL

GIFs are one of the top visual elements you can use to improve your marketing strategy.

Rather than using GIFs from a library everyone has access to, you can create a GIF from a YouTube video. You have the option to use either your own videos or videos from other channels.

This is very easy to do.

First, find the YouTube video with the clip you want to use. Next, insert the word “gif” after the www. The URL will go from www.youtube.com/watch to http://www.gifyoutube.com/watch. After you change the URL, you’ll automatically get redirected to gifs.com.

The video will be ready to edit and turn into a GIF. Here’s what the screen will look like:

You’ve got lots of options here to make your GIF unique. Start by determining what portion of the video you want to turn into a GIF. Next, you can determine the length of your GIF. Add captions. Crop the video. Play around with effects.

Once you create your GIF, download it, and share it on your other marketing channels.

4. Organize your videos with playlists

If you have lots of videos uploaded to your YouTube channel, playlists are the best way to keep them organized. When a user navigates to your channel, they will have the option to watch different playlists that have similar videos grouped together.

Here’s an example from the Food Wishes page:

As you can see, the videos are organized by different types of recipes based on holidays and other events, e.g.:

• Super Bowl
• Christmas
• New Year
• July 4th
• Memorial Day

It will be much easier for viewers to find what they’re looking for here.

YouTube also allows you to collaborate on your playlists with a friend. From your playlist settings, navigate to the “Collaborate” tab. Here’s what it looks like:

Once you add a collaborator, this user will be able to add videos to the playlist. This can be a useful way to manage your relationships with social influencers—simply have an influencer upload content directly to your channel through a playlist.

5. Create a custom URL

You want to make sure your business has a custom URL on YouTube. You won’t get this by default.

If you have a new YouTube channel, you won’t be able to create a custom URL right away. These are the requirements:

• account is 30 days old
• photo set as channel icon
• channel art uploaded
• at least 100 subscribers

Once you hit these marks, you’ll be eligible to get a custom URL.

You can find this option within your account settings. Just navigate to the Advanced menu:

Before you claim your custom URL, make sure you think it through clearly: you won’t have the option to change it once it gets approved.

6. Add an actionable end screen

What do you want a viewer to do when they finish watching one of your videos? If you want the user to keep watching more videos or visit your website, you can add these CTAs to an end screen.

From your video manager page, click the “Edit” button for the video you want to change. Then find the “End screen & Annotations” link from the drop-down menu:

A pop up will appear. Depending on your marketing goals, you can add one or more of these elements to your end page:

7. Use enhancements to edit videos

You might already be using some third-party software to edit videos before you upload them to your channel. (Editing is a great way to create killer video promotions to increase engagement.) But if you don’t need to do anything elaborate, you can take advantage of the YouTube enhancements feature. This allows you to edit directly on the platform.

The enhancements feature lets you add or change music and audio, apply filters, trim sections out of your video, and blur portions of it.

You can even edit content after a video has already been uploaded to your channel. However, unless you are part of the YouTube partner program, you might not be able to make all the changes to videos with more than 100,000 views. 

You’ll always have the option to blur faces, even if your video has more than 100,000 views and you’re not part of the partner program. YouTube allows this to help protect the identity of people in your video.

8. Broadcast live streams

Has your business jumped on the live video bandwagon?

If not, it’s time for you to hop on board. That’s because 82% of people say they prefer live videos over social media posts from business profiles. Furthermore, 80% of people say they would rather watch live video content than read blog posts about a topic. 

Believe it or not, consumers actually prefer YouTube live streams over Facebook Live. 

YouTube allows you to go live from your desktop computer or mobile device. You can keep an archive of your live streams that were added to your YouTube channel so people can watch the content even after the stream is over. But you can disable this feature if you want.

Want to grow your audience even more? Consider this: 87% of people said they would watch more live videos if they contained behind the scenes content.

8. Upload 360-degree videos

We now know that 360-degree videos increase engagement rates. These videos have a 14% higher ROI than regular videos. They also have a 46% higher completion rate than traditional videos.

This is the type of content people want to see with 360-degree videos.

When it comes to a 360-degree video, 98% of consumers living in the United States say they think it is more exciting than any other type of video.

And 90% of people believe content will be improved if it can be viewed as a 360-degree video instead of a traditional format.

Having a 360-degree video increases the chances that viewers will interact with it by 66%.

What’s even more impressive is that 70% of marketers believe that adding 360-degree video content has helped improve their businesses.

9. Use Google Trends to find popular search terms

How do you know what type of content you should upload to YouTube? Try searching for keywords related to your company on Google Trends. This will show you the popularity of a search term over time and tell you whether you should be creating content on that subject.

Here’s what “content marketing” looks like on Google Trends:

As you can see, this is the interest in the term over time in web searches. You can’t assume it’s the same on YouTube. Click on the menu, and select “YouTube Search.”

As you can see, the trends are different. 

This free Google tool will enhance your marketing strategy. You can also use it to help you create titles and descriptions that are search-friendly on YouTube.

10. Run ads on YouTube

YouTube is owned by Google. This means you can set up YouTube ads through your Google Ads account.

You’ll have the option to do the following:

• select your audience
• choose locations you want to target
• set your budget

This is very easy to do, especially if you’re already using Google Ads for other purposes.

Here are the different formats you can choose from to advertise on YouTube:

The type of ad you select will impact the price you pay.

It’s worth noting that 51% of marketers in the United States advertise on YouTube and 52% of brands plan to increase their advertising budgets on the platform. (There is a good chance that at least half of your competitors are already advertising on YouTube. Get on it!)

Conclusion

By the year 2020, 80% of Internet traffic will come from videos. That means you need to keep up with the times and produce video content in 2019.

YouTube is the best place to upload your videos. From there, you’ll be able to distribute the content on other channels as well. 

But you have to be doing more than simply uploading videos and leaving them there with no further action. You need your videos to have an edge to be successful. 

These tips and tricks will definitely bring your content to the next level. 

What type of video content is your brand adding to your YouTube channel?

Source Quick Sprout http://bit.ly/2LEQ2Sl

Questions About Autographs, 401(k) Contributions, Trusted Financial Advice, and More!

What’s inside? Here are the questions answered in today’s reader mailbag, boiled down to summaries of five or fewer words. Click on the number to jump straight down to the question.
1. Pulled out in a panic
2. Collection of old autographs
3. Saving enough for retirement?
4. Trusting bloggers for financial advice
5. The cost of high expenses
6. Inexpensive way to learn chess
7. Overcontribution to 401(k)
8. Worried about stock market
9. Questionable stock market advice
10. Inherited piano
11. Lesson from grandparents
12. Myers-Briggs personality type

I’m writing this while sitting on the couch at my in-laws. Everyone is asleep except for the dog, who is curled up next to me. I can smell some kind of baked good that was left out overnight to rise.

It feels warm. It feels like family. It feels like home.

On with the questions.

Q1: Pulled out in a panic

So I know you encourage people to invest for the long term and avoid trying to time the market. But let’s just say hypothetically that back in October 2018 that I pulled my 401k out of the market into a fixed account. Are there any things you would use to decide when to put the money back into the market. Right now it is looking like it was a smart/lucky move and I have easily avoided a 10% loss if not more. I realize I ignored your original rule to invest for the long term and don’t time the market. But in my situation are there any market indicators you would look to before moving from a guaranteed fixed account back into the market?
– James

Yes, you were lucky to have pulled out in October because the stock market happened to drop about 15% since. The thing is, as with most stock market corrections, it’s a normal correction that’s basically impossible to predict. You just happened to pull out right at the exact moment to benefit.

Will it go down more? Maybe. Are we at the bottom and the rebound is about to commence? Maybe. The thing is, it doesn’t really matter one way or another – stocks are a long term investment for everyone who isn’t a professional investor and thus if you’re relying on stocks for long term growth for retirement, that’s where your money should be regardless of ups and downs and normal bumps and corrections. Timing doesn’t work.

In your shoes, I put that money right back into stocks assuming that you’re more than ten years from retirement. Then I just sit on it and forget it. You’re basically now able to buy 10% more stocks with that money than you sold, but that’s largely due to a lucky call. It could have easily gone the other way. Stocks (ideally in the form of index funds) are a “buy and hold” for pretty much everyone who isn’t a full time professional investor.

Q2: Collection of old autographs

In a recent estate sale I bought a big box of books for just a few dollars. I brought them home and went through them and found a couple of journals from the estate in there which I returned. I also found what seems to be an autograph book that was used in the 50s and 60s and has a bunch of autographs from people like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. It’s pretty cool and seems like it would have value but I’m not sure what to do with it.
– Jerry

The first thing I would do is get the autograph book authenticated through a service like JSA. You want to be sure that the autographs are authentic and legitimate and not just someone imitating signatures or something.

Assuming they’re authentic, those are some pretty heavy hitting autographs and probably have some significant value. You’d probably want to move on to talking to the memorabilia representative of a reputable auction house. Explain that you have an autograph book that’s authenticated and list the signatures included and ask whether that would be something they’d be interested in handling.

This may be worth a significant amount, or it may not be worth much at all, but those are the steps I’d follow to figure out which side of the coin it’s on.

Q3: Saving enough for retirement?

Proceeds from the sale of my home will partially be used to remodel my new home from a 1970s replica to modern day. I’d like to take half of the proceeds and save it in a 3% CD. My question is—at what point does quality of life (ex. Dream trip to Italy) outweigh growing retirement? How will I know when I have enough retirement savings to say ciao while I am still young?
– Cleve

The honest truth is that you don’t know, at least not for sure, because no one knows what the future holds.

The best estimate I can make is that if people start saving 10% of their income for retirement as soon as they start working at a full time job, they should be in good shape to retire at age 67 (when Social Security will likely kick in for them).

If you haven’t started yet and you’re older than that, the percentage should be higher. My really rough estimate is that you should start saving about 12% a year if you’re 30 and haven’t started yet, 15% a year if you’re 35 and haven’t started yet, and 20% a year if you’re 40 and haven’t started yet. Beyond that, you should probably assume that you’re either going to have some big spending cuts when you retire or you’re going to be saving a much larger percentage of your income.

You can always choose to save less, of course, but that likely means either a leaner retirement or working until you’re older. Saving more means you can retire earlier or have a fatter retirement (I know a fellow who retired around age 72 or so who actually made more when he retired).

Q4: Trusting bloggers for financial advice

How can you say that someone should trust a financial blogger such as yourself? The internet is loaded with fake news and salespeople selling snake oil.
– Tim

For one, I’m not selling anything. Everything I write is done without a sales pitch or anything else; it’s just supported by advertisements around the edges, like a newspaper or magazine.

For another, I wouldn’t expect you to wholeheartedly accept any advice I write without verification. You shouldn’t take action on anything you read online (or offline) without getting the info from several sources. The Simple Dollar should be a starting point, not the final destination; it should be one source among many.

I do not have all the answers, nor do I claim to. I’m just sharing my experiences and what I know so that people can use that to make better financial decisions and make a better life for themselves. You absolutely shouldn’t take my word for anything I write and you should look at lots of sources before making big decisions.

Q5: The cost of high expenses

My company just changed the 401K administrator. We went from 0.01-0.05% in expense ratio on the funds to 0.5-0.6%. The worst part is that this was sold to the employees as something worthy due to active management. We have one of the better 401K plans in the industry where if the employee contributes enough to get maximum match we will end up with about 14%. However the latest development with the expense ratio is throwing the equation off. My estimate is that we will lose about $250-400K over 30 years in fees & opportunity. My HR has shown interest in listening to me and asked to provide details. Can you suggest the best way to show the effects of high expense ratio with some credible research sites, calculators, industry trend, etc.
– Alex

I think the easiest way to explain it is with numbers.

Let’s say you have two investments that are identical. One has an expense ratio of 0.01% and the other has an expense ratio of 0.5%. You invest $10,000 in each and they both return 7% per year before expenses.

After the first year, the first investment is worth $10,698.93 and the other one is worth $10,646.50. Not a huge difference, right?

Well, let’s look at the 10 year mark. The first investment (the one with a 0.01% expense ratio) is worth $19,651.85 and the second investment (the one with a 0.5% expense ratio) is worth $18,709.78. The bad expense ratio has cost you $942.08. That’s almost 10% of your original investment down the tubes! It only gets worse from there.

A bad investment ratio is only fixed by an investment that’s earning far better returns, and the likelihood of that is extremely small. Take a look at the long term numbers of the high expense ratio investment. Does it frequently beat the market? If not, it’s really not worth it.

Q6: Inexpensive way to learn chess

I noticed that one of your readers asked about cheap ways to learn chess. I highly recommend the website: https://www.chesskid.com/. It has great video tutorials that teaches you how to play chess. You can also practice playing on the website. If you try to make an “illegal” move with a chess piece, the website won’t let you do it, which teaches you what you can do with each piece. You can also select a level for the computer to play with you (beginner, intermediate, advanced). There is also a section where you can practice your tactics or play set positions. I’ve used it myself to learn chess and found it quite enjoyable and entertaining.
– Chloe

This looks like a really solid chess resource for beginning players.

Chess is a great frugal hobby. It really only requires a chessboard and some time and, ideally, an opponent. As you get better, you might want to add a few small things like a few chess books (which you can get from the library at first), a clock, and some books.

My youngest son is currently rather enamored with chess. He’s usually coaxing someone into a game several times a day.

Q7: Overcontributions to 401(k)

My new employer just made a mistake with my 401(k). From my bonus it took $4200 and applied it to my 401(k). By the end of the year that amount will have put me about $3000 over the $18500 employee contribution limit. I intend to ask my employer to cancel my last contribution so that I will only be about $2700. But what happens after that is what concerns me the most.
– Kevin

Contact your plan administrator and tell them you made an “excess deferral.” They will send the excess money to you as a “corrective disbursement.” You’ll pay taxes on that money and then pocket the rest.

If you don’t have a Roth IRA, you can use that disbursement to start one if you want to keep that money in retirement savings.

Be sure, whatever you do, that your income taxes on that disbursement are taken care of. Otherwise, you may have a surprise coming in April.

Q8: Worried about stock market

67 years old bad health 28k in 401k lost 4000 in the last week all in a S&P Index Fund. Should I cash out? It is the only money I have due to job loss and starting over in my 50s.
– Jim

Without knowing the full picture of your situation, I can’t exactly suggest what you should do.

It sounds like your situation is that you’re retired and on Social Security with a small amount in your 401(k). In that situation, you need to decide what you intend to use that money for. Is it an emergency fund for you? Are you going to use it for a significant purchase at some point?

Whatever you intend to use it for, estimate how far down the line that expense is. If it’s more than ten years, leave it in the S&P index fund. If it’s less than ten years, leave it in the 401(k) and move it into a bond fund or a money market fund. Don’t pull it out of the account until you actually need the money.

Q9: Questionable stock market advice

Just got your weekly email and was really dissapointed with “Worried about stock market….” article. There is no real message in your article, it’s just “simple words”, just “noise”. If people have their retirement funds in stock market because (I don’t), it’s because they read sites like yours…and when they’re seeing their money disappear – you say “oh, don’t pay attention…it doesn’t matter if you loose you retirement…keep saving and you’ll be fine”. They will not be fine and you know it. “Don’t lose money…” – it’s basic.
– Eric

My stock market advice is very simple and straightforward.

If you are more than ten years from using money, it should be invested aggressively – a stock market index fund is a good choice. If you are less than ten years from using money, it should be in something less aggressive, like a bond index fund or a money market index fund.

It doesn’t really matter what the individual markets are doing at the moment. They’re going to go up and down over time, particularly more aggressive investments like stocks. The thing is, in general, over a longer time scale, more aggressive investments (like stocks) going to go up at a faster rate than less aggressive ones (like bonds).

That’s it. When you’re more than ten years from your goal, put your money into something aggressive, like stocks. When you’re less than ten years from using that money, move it to something less aggressive, like bonds.

I’ve been giving that advice when the stock market was skyrocketing and I’m giving it now and I’ll give it again when things rebound. That’s because it’s principle-based and has nothing to do with the momentary rises and drops of markets.

Q10: Inherited piano

I enjoy playing piano as a hobby and occasionally play at church as a backup. I live in an apartment and have a small keyboard. My grandmother died and heft her Steinway to me. I have no room for it in my apartment and couldn’t get it in here if I tried. I am supposed to take possession of it by February. I am not sure what to do with it. If I had a big house I’d love to own it but for now it would just go in storage and I can’t afford the storage. Should I just sell it on Craigslist?
– Jenny

If I were you, I’d tell your extended family about it and see if any of them want the piano. Simply state that you do not have room for the piano in your apartment and you want to know if any of them want it.

If no one wants it, then sell it. I don’t think anyone will think badly of you for doing so. You really don’t have a place to put it, after all.

Craigslist would be a good way to start unless it’s a truly mint condition piano or it’s a high end model.

Q11: Lesson from grandparents

Spent the weekend at our grandparents for what will probably be the last family Christmas there. They’e getting quite old and simply don’t get around as well. They managed to pull off a big Christmas dinner and beautiful decorations but they just looked exhausted all weekend. I learned that they had spent literally weeks preparing for this and they struggle to do things like mow the yard and have started paying for people to do it. My brother and I decided to just start mowing their yard during the summer – I live about 20 minutes away and can do it every other week.

It got me thinking about how expenses go up when you’re retired not down which seems to go against financial advice. Thoughts?
– Andy

Some expenses definitely go down when you retire. Almost all retirees eat out less and have far lower transportation costs, for example. Their entertainment costs often go down as well.

You are correct in noting that other expenses tend to appear in retirement, but whether those expenses overtake all of the savings depends greatly on the individual. Some individuals do just fine with household tasks for many years and then decline rapidly, while others go through many years where they’re not quite able to handle household tasks without paid help. Some individuals have a great deal of family and neighbor support, while others have none.

It really depends on the situation. I think the general trend is that expenses decline immediately after retiring, but often rise slowly in subsequent years as the kinds of expenses you mention start to come online.

Q12: Myers-Briggs personality type

What is your MBTI personality type? I am an INFJ. Have a feeling that your personality is quite similar: introvert, insightful, and liking to help others. Let us know please!
– Carrie

MBTI refers to Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, a personality profile that splits people into sixteen different types, each represented by a four letter acronym. The test differentiates people based on four principal psychological functions – sensation, intuition, feeling, and thinking.

I’ve taken the test several times and always came up as an INTJ (introversion, intuition, thinking, judgment) or INTP (introversion, intuition, thinking, perception). I’ve been told that the I and N are both really obvious when interacting with me, but the T and the J (or P) aren’t as obvious.

I don’t put a whole lot of weight into the test, but it is an interesting summary of an individual’s personality.

Got any questions? The best way to ask is to follow me on Facebook and ask questions directly there. I’ll attempt to answer them in a future mailbag (which, by way of full disclosure, may also get re-posted on other websites that pick up my blog). However, I do receive many, many questions per week, so I may not necessarily be able to answer yours.

The post Questions About Autographs, 401(k) Contributions, Trusted Financial Advice, and More! appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Source The Simple Dollar http://bit.ly/2Q17twH

These Women Each Made a Ton of Money — Just for Losing Weight

“I knew I could be at 300 pounds within months,” recalls Teresa Suarez, describing her steady weight gain before she took control and drastically changed her life.  

“The fact that my clothes aren’t plus size anymore is huge.” And, according to her BMI, she’s “no longer morbidly obese — that’s a great boost!”

Last December, Teresa weighed 266 pounds. She knew she had to make a change.

“It was traumatic to see the scale say 266 … I was depressed and constantly getting hurt.”

Teresa had tried to start working out by joining a gym, but it didn’t work. “I basically paid to not go to the gym for two years.” This time around, Teresa needed an extra push to boost her motivation.

While browsing Facebook, she came across an article about how she could get paid for losing weight. That’s how she discovered HealthyWage.

Six months later, on October 22, 2016, Teresa had lost 68 pounds — 8 pounds more than her goal!

The secret that finally pushed her to meet her goal? Through HealthyWage, Teresa placed a bet she’d meet her weight loss goal — and she won big.

She bet $125 per month she would lose 60 pounds in six months. When that final weigh-in confirmed her success, Teresa won $2,415.28.

Get Paid to Lose Weight — Seriously

It sounds too good to be true, we know. We thought for sure there’d be a catch, but after talking with several people who lost weight using HealthyWage, we haven’t found one.

If you stick to your goal and lose the weight you say you’re going to, the company pays you. It’s as simple as that, everyone assures us.

In fact, we’ve been following the company for a while now. We know of at least a few Penny Hoarders who would give a positive review of HealthyWage having won huge prizes for losing weight.

Caitlin McKenna bet herself she would lose 61 pounds in nine months. She nailed it — lost 63 pounds and won $3,180.

Kimie Pruessner found out about HealthyWage through her employer and lost over 50 pounds in 10 months. She won $2,500.

For Angela Harkins, it was about doing something positive for herself and saving money to build a home.

Angela learned about how to get paid to lose weight through HealthyWage. She bet $50 per month for 18 months that she could lose 50 pounds.

She reached her goal and won $2,400 to put toward a down payment on a new home.

“I’m healthier and I have a lot more money now!” she says.

What Motivates You?

At first, Angela wanted to make extra money to buy a house. But as her energy and self-esteem increased, she began discovering new sources of motivation and excitement that pushed her along.

With an increase in self-confidence, she finally signed up for a martial arts class, something she had always wanted to do but was afraid to take on until she started losing the weight.

Angela just needed the catalyst to get her moving.

Betting money she didn’t want to lose was the kick-start she needed.

Teresa agrees. Knowing she stood to lose money if she didn’t reach her goal weight was the encouragement she needed to finally make the lifestyle changes she’d tried to accomplish in the past.

And not only did she beat her goal weight, she’s still losing!

Participating in the HealthyWage challenge “totally changed the way I think about eating and exercise,” she explains.

That’s an important key to this challenge.

HealthyWage isn’t a diet program or weight-loss regimen. While you’ll benefit from joining the community, reading tips and exchanging recipes, the company’s main purpose is facilitating your bet.

You put up the collateral. You conduct your weigh-ins. You choose your weight-loss goal and time frame.

Really, HealthyWage doesn’t make you lose weight — it just handsomely rewards you when you do.

Because she controlled her own diet changes and exercise plan, Teresa says it’s now a part of her daily routine.

“When I was on vacation in Cancun, I was doing lunges, crunches and burpees in my hotel room,” she states. “I can’t stand burpees, but now I do them.”  

Here’s How Healthy Wage Works

If you want to get paid to lose weight, here’s how to get started:

1. Start at the HealthyWage Prize Calculator. You’ll enter how much weight you want to lose (10-150 pounds, minimum 10% of your starting weight), how long you’ll take (six to 18 months) and how much you want to bet ($20-$150/month). The calculator then determines your prize amount, up to $10,000. You can play with the calculator until you get the prize and goal just right, and you’ll know your prize amount before officially placing your bet.

2. Sign up and lay down your bet. You agree to pay the monthly amount for the duration of the challenge.

3. Achieve your weight-loss goal, and win your prize! You’ll start and end your challenge with a video-recorded weigh-in to demonstrate your weight loss. Throughout the challenge, you’ll also log weekly weigh-ins, but not on video. These help ensure you’re losing the weight in a healthy way, not through extreme measures.

4. If you don’t hit your goal, your money goes to support HealthyWage, including prizes for others who achieve their goals.

Ready to get started? Enter your information in the HealthyWage Prize Calculator to find out how much you can win!

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

The Penny Hoarder Promise: We provide accurate, reliable information. Here’s why you can trust us and how we make money.

source The Penny Hoarder http://bit.ly/2CxkZ7N

Amazon Might Owe You a Free Month of Prime. Here’s How to Find out

Ah, the perks of Amazon Prime.

We love free two-day shipping, free same-day shipping, free movies, free music and even free photo storage (for when your phone won’t stop letting you know your storage is full).

Yes, those are some solid benefits, but it will cost ya — about $119 a year.

Wanna know our secret, though?

You can get compensation, in some cases a free month of Amazon Prime, if one of your guaranteed shipments arrives late.

Find out If Amazon Owes You

You might’ve heard of Paribus.

The free tool tracks your online purchases from more than 25 merchants. When it detects a price drop, it’ll work with the retailer’s price-match policy to help get you the difference. When it detects an Amazon guaranteed shipment is late? It’ll work with Amazon to compensate you.

But what if you got free shipping as a Prime member? We’ve spoken with several shoppers who’ve gotten a free month of Prime as compensation.

Here’s how to make sure you get compensated for late shipments:

• Sign up with Paribus. All you need is your email address.
• Let Paribus do its thing, passively tracking your orders.
• If it detects a late guaranteed shipment, it’ll work with Amazon to get you compensated.

Happy free shipping, Amazon Prime members!

Disclosure: Paribus compensates us when you sign up using the links we provide.

Carson Kohler (carson@thepennyhoarder.com) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She’s managed to ease back on her Prime orders… it was a little out of hand there for a while.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

The Penny Hoarder Promise: We provide accurate, reliable information. Here’s why you can trust us and how we make money.

source The Penny Hoarder http://bit.ly/2BBwnOo

This Company Pays People up to $10,000 to Shed Some Pounds