Make Money with Mahalo Answers
Mahalo Answers is the new extension (service) for the “Human powered Search Engine” - Mahalo. The idea is the same like Yahoo! Answers, people post and answer questions. But with Mahalo Answers, you can actually get paid for your answers, that is when your answer is chosen as the best answer.
The amount paid per question is set by the person who asks the question. He can either make it “free” (i.e best answer is not paid) or provide some money for the best answer. It’s up to the questioner to determine the price, minimum amount is $1 and there is no maximum price.
How do I earn money?
If your answer to a question offering a tip is selected as the best answer, we will deposit the tip into your Mahalo account. All tips are in Mahalo Dollars. Each Mahalo Dollar is currently worth $0.75 when paid out via PayPal. If you answer a direct question offering a tip and the asker doesn’t request a refund, we will deposit the tip into your Mahalo account.
How will I get paid?
Once you earn more than 40 Mahalo Dollars, you can request to be paid via PayPal on your tips settings page. Each Mahalo Dollar is currently worth $0.75 when paid out via PayPal. When you submit your request, we’ll transfer the full balance, or the portion of the balance you choose, to your PayPal account on the 15th of the following month. (source)
There are plenty of categories of topics available on the site. So, if you are good in any one of the topics, you have a pretty good chance of making some money while helping others.
One Advantage
Paid systems such as this, is a good platform for getting speedy and professional answers for your questions. Obviously, the more money you pay, the faster and the more informative answers you will get.
Otherwise, often times in similar free platforms or discussion forums when you post difficult questions which needs some research (and maybe some testing) on the respondent’s part, usually you get only partial answers.
Challenges
One of the challenges for Jason Calacanis (founder) now is to get people on board, and get them to use the system. And perhaps the real challenge will be to persuade them to use the system regularly.
He also needs to make some targeted buzz to attract certain group of professionals who can answer the questions in their own field best. Because, while he sent out email saying that the buzz generation was successful, I don’t think it’s there yet.
It hardly generated any buzz in the blogosphere, at the moment there are exactly 141 results in the Technorati for the keyword “Mahalo Answers“. And currently, the “Blog” section at Mahalo Answers itself (www.mahalo.com/answers/blogs) has no questions about blogging; neither free nor paid.
Given the fact that it is relatively easy to generate buzz with these kind of service in the blogosphere, I don’t know why Jason has chosen to concentrate on media tours instead. He could easily capitalize on “make money online” theme with bloggers and internet users in general. Since the system already has its own currency, they could have come up with effective affiliate program to let members refer other people and earn money too.
Summary
Well, let’s hope that it’s just the beginning for Mahalo Anwsers. After all, it’s still in Beta. Good luck to Mahalo team on the project!
P.S Here is what I asked on Mahalo Answers to drive some traffic and awareness to my blog. Got over 100 views on the question and some traffic to the blog, and paid the best answerer $1. Pay attention to Jason Calacanis’ comment on my question ;)
![[Post to Twitter]](http://www.adesblog.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-twitter-micro3.png){kind=icon}
![[Post to Delicious]](http://www.adesblog.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-delicious-micro3.png){kind=icon}
![[Post to Digg]](http://www.adesblog.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-digg-micro3.png){kind=icon}
![[Post to StumbleUpon]](http://www.adesblog.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-su-micro3.png){kind=icon}
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By shawal on Dec 27, 2008
HI,
I know Mahalo about 2 week before, still not register to it… Its seem the newest tool to make money online and make visitors to come to your site same as Yahoo Answer!
Both site i think is the best site to make money online if you’re targeting in affiliate sales…
Its because people come there to seek an answer and ready to buy something….
Give your best answer and link to the article of your blog that have the affiliate link…
That is targeted… Why i’m saying this, i’ve sold 3 product from Yahoo Answer!….
Will try Mahalo!!!..
Just My Opinion….
By indocontest on Dec 27, 2008
I’m gonna try this.
It’s still in BETA. :)
By Agolf Cartson on Dec 27, 2008
I really like the idea behind Mahalo and I hope that it’ll do well. Paying $1 for a great answer that you’re having trouble figuring out is a real bargain.
But I can see how it might be difficult to get people to go there to answer questions. Personally I like answering questions but I never do it for the money. I do it in forums where I participate and in return I get answers to my questions in the same forums.
But I wish Jason all the best with his project.
By Rice Blogger on Dec 28, 2008
I have an account…but don’t think it is a good source of income..for those who are already participating in yahoo answer..then there is no lost there..but only gain
By Agolf Cartson on Dec 28, 2008
@Rice Blogger, is it not a good income because it is too much work for too little income or why do you think so?
By titan on Dec 28, 2008
i believe its really hard. BUt if you want to earn some money. Just go and try.
By Tom L on Dec 29, 2008
Nice read.Thanks for the info.I have been using Yahoo answers and the traffic that I get is always quite targeted.It´s quite easy to get banned from Yahoo answers, there seems to be a very thin line between self promotion and giving information.
By Cheap Mobile Calls on Dec 29, 2008
Nice way to pick up some money AND get some targeted traffic. If used in the correct way, this could be a huge money maker!
By Agolf Cartson on Dec 29, 2008
A huge money maker? How is that. If people are paying $1 per answer you’ll be working your a** off for peanuts. But if people are paying +$50 per answer that would be a different situation.
By SEO Services on Dec 29, 2008
Wow, its lovely and why not use it, BTW its for free.
By Jason on Jan 1, 2009
Right now folks are working for peanuts, sure. That’s how all these systems start. With Weblogs, Inc. (engadget, tauw.com, autoblog, joystiq, etc) we paid $1.50 to $2 a blog post at the start and $15 to $20 by the time we sold to AOL.
So, little things can get big quick.
Our big challenge is to over-service the folks asking $1 to $5 questions so that they feel more comfortable giving $10 to $50 questions in the future.
It will take some time, but after 15 days we’ve had folks make $20 to $150 in tips… that’s a great start.
give it shot!
By eyeman on Jan 4, 2009
will try. Its free anyway.
By Dewaji SEO Test on Jan 4, 2009
I already register in Mahalo, but my lame brain stuck, I think it’s to complicated for me :D, And I never earn money until now since at least six month ago :D
By Arizona Culinary Schools on Feb 7, 2009
I came across this not too long ago but didn’t really explore further. I’m gonna catch the train now…. thanks for the heads up.
By Hisham on Mar 16, 2009
Mahalo.com is a website of my dreams, I love it even if I don’t make money from it, it contain a very high quality answers, so let’s say when money involved you get better results!
I like the way gained traffic to your blog, actually I reached your blog because I was searching about this topic to promote it this idea.
Your post made me think about the different use of mahalo.com, it could be the next generation of social networking platforms, who know?!
by the way
By Best Teeth Whitening on Apr 17, 2009
I never heard of Mahalo, but I will definitely be checking it out. I’m not sure how much money there is to be made there, but it’s an interesting idea anyway.
By free iphone on Aug 3, 2009
I came accross this a while ago and signed up but never did anything with it. Think im going to spend a few hours today trying it out. Thanks
By Jeff@ Idol White Pen on Oct 1, 2009
Interesting concept. I have often found myself needing answers and had no where to go to find them. But a dollar an answer seems as if it would generate a butt load of work for little pay.