Cashing Out Swagbucks

I am in process of cashing out two more $5 payments to my PayPal account. I like getting cash better than other things. Once I figured out the verification process, all further cashouts have gone smoothly.

Swagbucks awards you points simply for using their search engine. The drawback is that several of the top results presented will be filtered through their own advertising, but you don't ever have to click on them.

When you have enough points to cashout, simply go to swagbucks.com and look through the rewards until you find the one you want. Be sure you have enough points to cover it, then click it and follow any additional directions. Note that there is usually a time limit to claim the award, in addition to the verification process. Click "Snag it."



You will be shown a shipping address confirmation screen, and then the notice that you must verify this order. What this means is that you will receive an email from swagbucks, which contains a link that must be clicked. If you don't receive this email, check your junk folder, because you will not be able to claim your reward unless this step is followed.



Once you click the verification link in the email, you will see that your order is verified.

It still takes several weeks to get it. Sometimes up to 2 months. Still... money for doing almost nothing is pretty darn good! This will make $40 I have received from Swagbucks since I signed up.

Swagbucks (if you sign up under me it helps me, and will never hurt you in any way.)

Update: I was paid on May 13.

Google AdSense for Search

Today I added the Google Adsearch box to this site. I think that its biggest advantage is that it allows me to link all of the web sites and blogs that are under the umbrella of my "enterprises" through an engine that searches all those sites, and only those sites. I think this is the obvious and primary benefit.

For example: Most of my sites have to do with hiking and the outdoors, let's say that you recalled an article I wrote about hiking at Bowman Lake, Michigan, but couldn't remember which blog you saw it on. You can use the Google AdSense for Search box that I have added in the right column, enter Bowman Lake, and you will be given a list of all the places on my sites where Bowman Lake is found. You would learn by doing this that not only have I written about hikes there, that another of my sites provides a free map and guide to the trails there.

You earn money only if someone actually clicks on one of the ads served with the search results.

Set-up is easy, although you have to do some guessing as to the size of various elements that you want. My search box is working properly, but I will do some tweaking over the next few days to make it look better. One particular note- you can supply a custom logo, but it doesn't tell you what size. Anything entered will be resized to 189x50, so I'll need to redo that.

If you already have an AdSense account simply click on AdSense for Search on your Reports Overview page. It will walk you thorough about 4 pages of setup. You can include entire domains, or limit the search to sub-domains, or even particular pages.

Since I have about 7 web sites with related information, I am very glad to have found this option. I'll be adding the code to all of these sites. At the very least it should increase the cross traffic.

Google AdSense

web ad income Nov 29 (4 blogs, 2 web sites, writing): Adsense $.05 Adgitize $.85 Project Wonderful $.04 Chitika $.07 Clixsense $.05 Neobux $.06 ______________________ Total: $1.12

Swagbucks Cash Award Claimed Successfully!

On October 28, 16 days ago, I put in a claim for a Swagbucks prize. There was a disclaimer that it could take 12-15 days for the claim to actually be awarded.

The good news is that I have actually received this prize. It was cash paid to my PayPal account. If the award was a gift card that had to be physically mailed, I wonder if it would take even longer?

Nevertheless, I'm very happy to report that I have actually received something of value for using Swagbucks.

Sign up and get started earning with Swagbucks!

See Shopping for Swagbucks Rewards
Swagbucks Award Claim Going Smoothly

web ad income Nov 11 (4 blogs, 2 web sites, writing): Adsense $.13 Adgitize $.59 Project Wonderful $.06 My Survey $.10 Clixsense $.11 Chitika $.11 Neobux $.04 Associated Content $3.95 ______________________ Total: $4.99

Swagbuck Award Claim Going Smoothly

Just a quick report that I began the cash-out process for two more $5 PayPal payments from Swagbucks. I learned yesterday that only two awards can be claimed per day. According to their estimate, I can expect to actually receive payment around Nov 10-13.

Swagbucks

web ad income Oct 27 (4 blogs, 2 web sites, writing): Adsense $.26 Adgitize $.52 Project Wonderful $.04 My Survey $1.80 Clixsense $.06 ______________________ Total: $2.68

Shopping for Swagbucks Rewards

I've been a member of Swagbucks for about a year, and have accumulated 462 points, all without having anyone sign up under me or winning any big point awards. So I decided to cash some of them out about a month ago.

Difficulties arose immediately. There was a Visa Debit card offer that was "on sale." I don't remember the points-to-cash ratio for it now, but it was a good deal, so I tried to "Snag It." That's their button that means that you want that item. Nothing doing. I got a message saying that my account was not verified. Now, I'm pretty sure that I had done this long ago when I joined. I try to take care of all those things when I sign up at sites right away, because it's too easy to forget later.

So I clicked the link to resend the verification email. The tricky part was that it also said that it could take up to 48 hours for the verification to arrive. No email. I checked my filter, I watched for the verification. Nothing. Meanwhile, the debit card that I wanted was removed from the list of prizes.

So, today I again looked for an award to cash out. There is currently a sale on PayPal cash- $5 for 70. But, it still said that I hadn't verified my account. Nuts! I clicked the re-send button again, and then it wouldn't even let me click it again. I was beginning to wonder if it was all a scam, except that I know someone who had successfully cashed out an award.

So I hunted for their "Contact Me" page and fired off a message. Again I was warned that it could take up to 48 hours to process. I am pleased to report that about 6 hours later I received a message saying that my account had been manually verified. Horray!

So I ordered one PayPal payment. In order to complete a transaction it must also be verified. I am relieved to report that this email came through immediately, and I completed the order. The next time lag is that it can take 12-15 days for the payment to appear in my account. So, don't expect to cash in Swagbucks for any immediate need.

Finally, I thought I would see if I could "buy" additional $5 PayPal payments. The answer is, yes. However, you can only check out two awards a day. I don't know if that's a calendar day or a 24-hour period. I hope I can cash out some more of my points for cash! I'll report back when I know how long it actually takes to credit my PayPal account.

Swagbucks
See Get Swagbucks - Lotsa Swag

web ad income Oct 26 (4 blogs, 2 web sites, writing): Adsense $.03 Adgitize $.58 Project Wonderful $.03 _____________________ Total: $.64

Get Swagbucks - Lotsa Swag

Swagbucks is a complied search engine interface that delivers extra ads on the first page of entries, and rewards you for this with points called swagbucks. The swagbucks can be exchanged for a large range of prizes.

The search engine compiles results from Google and Ask.com. The top several results will be from the search engines, then there are several entries that are ads related to the search term, and at the bottom several visually presented commercials.

To use Swagbucks you can install their search bar in your browser or simply search from their home page. If you use it for regular search activities you can earn generally from 2 to 10 swagbucks a day. There is no tracking of search patterns or gathering personal info.

There are awards from the trivial to the impressive. Entries into various sweepstakes may go for only 1 swagbuck. Lots of sports trading cards are 10- 20, various songs are 20 and up. At the upper end are $500 gift cards for Saks Fifth Avenue or QVC. Airline miles, iPhones, drum sets, and GPS units are also at the high end, requiring several thousand swagbucks. There really are lots of award choices, over 600 of them.

For the more practical there are gift cards which can be used at places like Target, REI or Lowes. I'm saving for one of those. About 850 swagbucks will get me a $50 card at Lowes. I've been a member for about 6 months and I have almost 300 swagbucks.

If you can put up with just a few more ads, you won't get rich, but you can earn a nice treat every so often for no effort at all.

Swagbucks

web ad income today (4 blogs, 2 web sites): Adsense $.36 Adgitize $.91 Project Wonderful $.10 ______________________ Total: $1.37 Total to date in April $-0.55 Total in March $4.88