The Internet Stimulus Package

*Originally published on 8/21/09



At the end of Bush's presidency, the economy went down the toilet. The housing bubble burst because people took on more than they could afford. This caused a chain reaction that has left us in a recession for months. Bush signed a bill to allocate $700 billion dollars to give a jump start to the ailing system. To my knowledge, the entirety of that has not been spent yet, but at least half of it is gone with nothing to show for it.

During his inauguration speech, now President Obama said that getting the economy back on track would require every one to do their part. Still, Obama decided to do what he could and signed an $800 billion dollar bill to succeed where Bush's had failed. He said that he was going to spend the money wisely. Again, not all the money has been spent, but our economy has not drastically improved. The white house says that it will take awhile for the effects to be felt. That's all well and good, but something to help us now would be better.

Enter the internet. How, you ask, can the internet save the economy? It's quite simple. There are several sites that pay for work. Why, people make money off this very site! Whether you're out of a job, or just need a little extra money to pay the bills. You can find websites that put some cash in your pocket.

Associated Content is not the only one. There is a whole schmorgasboard of paying websites that are looking for contributors. A lot of people are signing up to become an Examiner, Reviewstream is ok, and there are others like Constantcontent, and Demand Studios that some writers have used to good effect.

Obviously, if you're looking to support yourselves on these websites it will take a lot more work than if you are just looking for supplementary income. Either way, these websites can help you make money to pay your bills and clear up credit card debt.

If writing isn't your thing, you can use a site like expotv.com. They post short 2-5 minute product reviews and, from what I've read, pay quite well. I myself plan on using that site myself. All you need is a webcam, and the product itself. If you're reviewing a game or movie, I think you have to show parts of it, but those seem to be the only restrictions.

There is also blip.tv. This is more for full "web shows". If you're interested in film making, this is a site to check out for exposure and some extra money. It's the same video server that such internet celebrities as the Angry Video Game Nerd, Nostalgia Critic, and Spoony use.

What of those people who have good jobs? Who have no debt to speak of and who go out and use their expendable income to buy things? Surely, they're doing everything they can aren't they? On their own, yes, but the beauty of most of these websites is that either some or all of the contributor's pay is based on views. So, while you yourself are set, you can help other people by just roaming these sites and either reading people's articles or watching people's videos. Each individual view doesn't garner much, but in these tough times, every bit helps. If you watch or read a lot, it will add up over time.

It's a tough job market out there. Some places have started to hire people, but it's still pretty slim pickings. Sites like this are open to everybody, and if people put in the effort, it can put money in their pocket and we can do our part to get our economy back on track.