How to become a search engine evaluator and make money from home

A hot topic these days is the hustle or side job. Many people are looking to earn extra income and want a flexible job that fits into their lives. An interesting opportunity to earn money that not many people know about yet is as a search engine evaluator.

I have been working as a search engine tester for several months in my spare time. Since my daughter was born two years ago, I had a few different thoughts about income and work.

These two ideas caught my attention the most.

One: I wanted to increase my income. I wanted to be able to save more money for our retirement and make regular contributions to our daughter’s education fund.

Two: I didn’t want to take any more of my daughter’s time. I already work part time outside the home and didn’t want to add to that before she’s in school. Whatever side hustle you have, it should fit into our life as it is now.

So I started thinking of parallel ideas. There were many businesses that did not interest me; they just didn’t fit with my values. A job where I could set my own hours for the most part was appealing to me. It was important that it be an informal job, without rigid fixed hours for each week.

I ended up coming across a posting for a position as a search engine evaluator. I had never heard of this job, but was open to researching absolutely anything, to see if it fit my previous criteria. A search engine evaluator rates and improves search engine results for the top Internet search engine companies. The different tasks a search engine evaluator might engage in include web search, video evaluation, maps, venues, automation projects, and others.

The requirements were that you be an analytical person, excellent at web-based research, and internet savvy. The job listing also indicates that they are looking for someone with a wide range of interests who also has specific areas of expertise. Some companies require a college/university degree for this position, but not all do. High speed internet is a must and some businesses require a smartphone as well.

There are several companies that offer search engine evaluator or classifier jobs. These include:

• Appen (hires globally)
• Leapforce (which has recently been acquired by its competitor – Appen)
• Lionbridge (hires globally)
• ZeroChaos (employees in the United States only)
• iSoftStone (contracts globally)
• Google (one of the few work from home jobs they offer)

Some companies require that you take and pass a qualifying exam before they offer you a position.

Many of these companies also hire for the position of Social Media Evaluator. This is similar to a search engine tester position, but it works with all major social networks.

This sounded like the perfect opportunity for him to try. It fit in with my goal of making more money, while at the same time not taking me away from my daughter any more than I already am because of my part-time job.

I applied to a company and didn’t hear anything for a few weeks. In fact, I had forgotten about it when I heard the answer. Since it was extra money, it was never the plan to replace my regular income. I was invited to take the assessment exam. Regarding the qualifying exam, my best advice is to take it seriously. Some people don’t find it too difficult, but these people are in the minority. Most people who are offered to take the test fail on the first try. I spent a whole weekend reading the material provided and taking the exams (the exam consists of three parts). Although I passed, I wouldn’t say it was easy for me. If you are interested in this position, please study as you mean it.

After I was offered a position, I had to sign a confidentiality agreement. I mention it here because I am not allowed to divulge any confidential information, including specific tasks and pay rate. I can relate some general information about the position.

There are positives and negatives to most jobs, and a search engine evaluator position is no exception. For me personally, the pros absolutely outweigh the cons, but I’m including both lists so you can make up your own mind.

Search Engine Evaluator Job Professionals:

• Flexible hours – You can make your own hours. Some evaluators work five hours a week, others twenty-five. You do not need to log in at specific times. That’s why I can match this job with my little boy’s nap time.
• Work from home: There is no commute to this job. Most jobs have the additional time it takes to get to work, as well as transportation costs, which lowers the hourly wage you actually receive. With these positions, you can work in the comfort of your own home, trading rush hour traffic for working on your couch in your pajamas.
• Interesting job: you get paid to research/learn about different things.
• Pay: Wages for these positions vary, but are approximately $13 to $15 per hour (USD).

Cons of the search engine evaluator job:

• No benefits: You are hired as an independent contractor. This means that you do not receive any benefits or advantages from the company. You are expected to provide your own computer, high-speed Internet connection, and sometimes a smartphone.
• Payment frequency: Most companies pay by direct deposit once a month. You must bill them every month, so be sure to keep excellent records of time worked. If you need to get paid more often than once a month, this may not be the job for you.
• Responsible for your own taxes: Since you are an independent contractor, the company will not automatically deduct taxes from your pay. You are responsible for paying all of your own taxes, which again means you have to be very organized. One advantage of being an independent contractor working from home is that you should be able to pay off some of your office expenses at home.
• Irregular work: A common problem with testers is that the workload is inconsistent from week to week. I found this to be the case myself. Some weeks I could work as much as I wanted (within the self-imposed limits of nap time!), other weeks there were no assignments available. If you need steady and regular income, this is probably not for you.

Since I work as a search engine evaluator, I love being able to fit completely into my daughter’s schedule. My main problem with this job would be that there are some weeks where very little work is available. This is a minor concern for me because it is a side job and not my regular income.

A search engine evaluator job could also be a great side job for you if you want a flexible work-from-home job that doesn’t involve selling anything.