Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Make money while driving
Make Money by Simply Driving Your Car
by Bobbi Dempsey
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
You probably have heard stories about businesses that will pay you just to drive around with an advertisement on your car, but do these opportunities really exist? And, if so, how do you find them?
They're called "free car" programs or "get paid to drive" promotions. These programs do exist, although they aren't as plentiful as they once were. The key is knowing where to look and having what it takes to make you an ideal advertising driver.
More from Bankrate.com:
• New and Redesigned Cars, Trucks for 2010
• 10 Cheapest Cars to Own
• Find the Best 2010 Car for You
How it works
Here's the basic premise of the "paid to drive" concept: A company seeks people -- regular citizens, not professional drivers -- to go about their normal routine as they usually do, only with a big ad plastered on their car. The ads are typically vinyl decals, also known as "auto wraps," that almost seem to be painted on the vehicle, and which often cover a large portion of the car's exterior surface.
The car owner is then compensated, usually a few hundred dollars per month, which is essentially a "rental" payment for letting the company use that space. In the past, there's also been a "free car" version of this concept. The company provided the driver with a new, prewrapped car. In this situation, the drivers usually didn't get any cash; their payment amounted to the free use of a new car. However, companies quickly discovered that giving away a bunch of free cars didn't make economic sense, so few still take this approach, says Drew Livingston, president of Free Car Media in Los Angeles.
What does the company get out of this type of ad strategy? Lots of exposure. The auto wraps tend to be colorful and eye-catching and attract lots of attention. Plus, it's a form of advertising with a captive audience, meaning people who are stuck in traffic and can't avoid seeing the wrapped car alongside them, Livingston says.
The companies usually select drivers who live in desirable locations such as high-traffic, urban areas. A company's ideal driver can vary depending upon the target demographic they want to reach, according to Brandon Clarke of DrivenMedia, a Phoenix-based advertising company that specializes in creating branded vehicle campaigns for clients. For example, a tech or electronics company may seek drivers who live on or near college campuses, so as to gain exposure with the college crowd.
More from Yahoo! Finance:
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• Slash Your Technology Bill Without Trimming Services
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit the Family & Home Center
The vehicles in these programs are often equipped with GPS tracking devices, so the companies can make sure the drivers spend sufficient time in the desired areas.
'Paid to drive' primetime
Paid-to-drive programs were very popular five to 10 years ago. Gas was cheaper, and people were spending more time on the road. There were plenty of Web sites devoted to these programs, including many fee-charging sites that acted as a middleman and promised to connect willing drivers with companies seeking vehicles for their ads.
Then, fuel prices spiked and people weren't spending as much time in their cars, Clarke says. At the same time, online advertising became the rage.
Current opportunities
Still, there are opportunities out there, if you know where to look.
Livingston says his company's client companies still have plenty of campaigns running nationwide. Business slowed slightly right before the recession but returned when the economy started going south.
"Consumers are seeking ways to make money, while companies are cutting back on spending for television campaigns and looking for more affordable advertising strategies," Livingston says.
On average, Livingston's clients put about 800 to 1,000 wrapped cars on the road.
Like other similar companies, Free Car Media serves as a matchmaker. Interested consumers register at MyFreeCar.com and then are notified when they meet the criteria a client seeks in potential drivers.
Drivers are paid an average of $700 to $900 per month, with campaigns usually running a few months long. Drivers use their own cars which are fitted with the wrap. "They don't actually get a free car," Livingston says. "But the monthly payment is generally enough to cover their auto expenses like car payment, gas, etc., for the month, so that's where the name comes from."
It doesn't cost anything for drivers to sign up, and Livingston warns people to avoid any sites that do charge a fee.
"There are a lot of unscrupulous companies that want to charge you $20, $30 or more when you can get this information yourself for free. I get calls on a weekly basis from people who are upset because they were scammed," he says. Livingston says that anyone who is directed to his site after paying a fee to another service should demand a refund.
Adding to the confusion, many of the sites -- legitimate and questionable -- have very similar names, often some variation of the words "free" and "car." So it's important to check out the Web site carefully, watching for any mention of fees or membership costs.
Finding drivers
Clarke says his company puts a lot of effort into recruiting brand influencers, or drivers who are a perfect fit for the client's target audience.
"Recent engagements have focused on family-oriented and consumer driven advertisers who are generally trying to create awareness within a specific region among active moms with active families," Clarke says, adding that busy soccer moms would make perfect driver candidates for these campaigns. "With active families being such a coveted demographic, incorporating their vehicles is ideal since they're getting tremendous exposure parked in the pick-up line at school, at the Saturday morning soccer games, etc."
There are important criteria for driving candidates. "Background, driving record, employment verification, personal interview, as well as having mandatory minimum auto insurance coverage are part of the vetting process," Clarke says. "We're also looking to incorporate an online personality assessment tool and a short online defensive driving course."
Interested drivers can sign up for opportunities at Drivenmediaonline.com. "We compensate drivers within a range of $300 to $500 per month, with incentives and other engagements that allow them to earn more," Clarke says. "Our typical campaign lasts three to six months, with the time frame and vehicle type being the primary factors for determining their monthly compensation."
Copyrighted, Bankrate.com. All rights reserved.
by Bobbi Dempsey
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
You probably have heard stories about businesses that will pay you just to drive around with an advertisement on your car, but do these opportunities really exist? And, if so, how do you find them?
They're called "free car" programs or "get paid to drive" promotions. These programs do exist, although they aren't as plentiful as they once were. The key is knowing where to look and having what it takes to make you an ideal advertising driver.
More from Bankrate.com:
• New and Redesigned Cars, Trucks for 2010
• 10 Cheapest Cars to Own
• Find the Best 2010 Car for You
How it works
Here's the basic premise of the "paid to drive" concept: A company seeks people -- regular citizens, not professional drivers -- to go about their normal routine as they usually do, only with a big ad plastered on their car. The ads are typically vinyl decals, also known as "auto wraps," that almost seem to be painted on the vehicle, and which often cover a large portion of the car's exterior surface.
The car owner is then compensated, usually a few hundred dollars per month, which is essentially a "rental" payment for letting the company use that space. In the past, there's also been a "free car" version of this concept. The company provided the driver with a new, prewrapped car. In this situation, the drivers usually didn't get any cash; their payment amounted to the free use of a new car. However, companies quickly discovered that giving away a bunch of free cars didn't make economic sense, so few still take this approach, says Drew Livingston, president of Free Car Media in Los Angeles.
What does the company get out of this type of ad strategy? Lots of exposure. The auto wraps tend to be colorful and eye-catching and attract lots of attention. Plus, it's a form of advertising with a captive audience, meaning people who are stuck in traffic and can't avoid seeing the wrapped car alongside them, Livingston says.
The companies usually select drivers who live in desirable locations such as high-traffic, urban areas. A company's ideal driver can vary depending upon the target demographic they want to reach, according to Brandon Clarke of DrivenMedia, a Phoenix-based advertising company that specializes in creating branded vehicle campaigns for clients. For example, a tech or electronics company may seek drivers who live on or near college campuses, so as to gain exposure with the college crowd.
More from Yahoo! Finance:
• What That Dollar Value Meal Really Costs the Restaurant
• Brand Names Live On After Stores Close
• Slash Your Technology Bill Without Trimming Services
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit the Family & Home Center
The vehicles in these programs are often equipped with GPS tracking devices, so the companies can make sure the drivers spend sufficient time in the desired areas.
'Paid to drive' primetime
Paid-to-drive programs were very popular five to 10 years ago. Gas was cheaper, and people were spending more time on the road. There were plenty of Web sites devoted to these programs, including many fee-charging sites that acted as a middleman and promised to connect willing drivers with companies seeking vehicles for their ads.
Then, fuel prices spiked and people weren't spending as much time in their cars, Clarke says. At the same time, online advertising became the rage.
Current opportunities
Still, there are opportunities out there, if you know where to look.
Livingston says his company's client companies still have plenty of campaigns running nationwide. Business slowed slightly right before the recession but returned when the economy started going south.
"Consumers are seeking ways to make money, while companies are cutting back on spending for television campaigns and looking for more affordable advertising strategies," Livingston says.
On average, Livingston's clients put about 800 to 1,000 wrapped cars on the road.
Like other similar companies, Free Car Media serves as a matchmaker. Interested consumers register at MyFreeCar.com and then are notified when they meet the criteria a client seeks in potential drivers.
Drivers are paid an average of $700 to $900 per month, with campaigns usually running a few months long. Drivers use their own cars which are fitted with the wrap. "They don't actually get a free car," Livingston says. "But the monthly payment is generally enough to cover their auto expenses like car payment, gas, etc., for the month, so that's where the name comes from."
It doesn't cost anything for drivers to sign up, and Livingston warns people to avoid any sites that do charge a fee.
"There are a lot of unscrupulous companies that want to charge you $20, $30 or more when you can get this information yourself for free. I get calls on a weekly basis from people who are upset because they were scammed," he says. Livingston says that anyone who is directed to his site after paying a fee to another service should demand a refund.
Adding to the confusion, many of the sites -- legitimate and questionable -- have very similar names, often some variation of the words "free" and "car." So it's important to check out the Web site carefully, watching for any mention of fees or membership costs.
Finding drivers
Clarke says his company puts a lot of effort into recruiting brand influencers, or drivers who are a perfect fit for the client's target audience.
"Recent engagements have focused on family-oriented and consumer driven advertisers who are generally trying to create awareness within a specific region among active moms with active families," Clarke says, adding that busy soccer moms would make perfect driver candidates for these campaigns. "With active families being such a coveted demographic, incorporating their vehicles is ideal since they're getting tremendous exposure parked in the pick-up line at school, at the Saturday morning soccer games, etc."
There are important criteria for driving candidates. "Background, driving record, employment verification, personal interview, as well as having mandatory minimum auto insurance coverage are part of the vetting process," Clarke says. "We're also looking to incorporate an online personality assessment tool and a short online defensive driving course."
Interested drivers can sign up for opportunities at Drivenmediaonline.com. "We compensate drivers within a range of $300 to $500 per month, with incentives and other engagements that allow them to earn more," Clarke says. "Our typical campaign lasts three to six months, with the time frame and vehicle type being the primary factors for determining their monthly compensation."
Copyrighted, Bankrate.com. All rights reserved.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Exposed At The Golden Arches
Pastor Marvin Williams
A little while go I went to the "golden arches" for lunch. I know, I know it's not the healthiest food, but I had a "pregnant woman's craving" for a hamburger and some of those golden, greasy fries. I placed my order, gave the cashier a twenty and he gave me all my food and my change. (You know some are notorious for shorting you on everything, and then you have to go back in the cold, dark night and snow and sleet and demand justice! All they can offer you for your trek in the elements is a medium drink. I digress).
Later that evening, when I was getting ready for our leaders' retreat, I noticed that I had twenty-three dollars in my pocket, three dollars more than when I paid for my lunch earlier in the afternoon. Wow! I knew God could multiply loaves and fish, but to multiply my dollars while I slept was incredible.
Well, God did not miraculously multiply my loaves. The cashier was irresponsible (in my favor, I might add). Instead of giving me thirteen dollars back for my change, he gave me twenty-three dollars. When I recognized what happened, my first thoughts were Praisallujah!!!! (I know it's not a word, but it should be).
God is good all the time and all the time, God is good; I have ten extra dollars, and it's not my fault that math wasn't the cashier's strongest subject in school. My next thought was: I need to return the money because it's not mine. But between my first thought and second thought, I felt a jab, stick and twist.
The Holy Spirit, in a matter of seconds, had checked me, busted me, exposed me, stripped me, convicted me, and told me to return the money, immediately, right now, instantly, promptly, forthwith, right away, pronto! I finished dressing and took the money back to the store.
The cashier's drawer was, in fact, short exactly ten dollars, and the manager suspected him of stealing it and was going to fire him. The manager and workers were shocked that I brought the money back and they offered me two apple pies and a large drink. They're getting better.
When I thought about the incident later, I realized that it wasn't about the money, although money was involved. It was about something more expensive than ten dollars. This incident was about the rare and priceless commodity of integrity, of wholeness of character, of Jesus, through the convicting and forming power of the Holy Spirit, being fully integrated into all of my life.
In the end, the Holy Spirit saved a man's job and a pastor's character. Take some time to read through Psalm 15 and Ephesians 4:29-32, and let the Holy Spirit apply the following questions to your life, so that Jesus is fully integrated into every aspect of your life:
1. How free is my life from ethical and moral spots, corruption and inconsistencies?
2. Have I compartmentalized my life, letting Holy Spirit in some rooms, while keeping him at bay from other rooms of my life?
3. Is there an important area of my life that I am leaving uncultivated?
4. Is there a gap between what I want to be known for and who I really am?
Holy Spirit, may you join together, in holy matrimony, our private and public lives, and what you have joined together through the Son, let not inconsistencies, moral corruption, poor stewardship, gossip, popularity without power, clandestine relationships put it asunder. Amen!
Pastor Marvin Williams serves as a teaching pastor and one of the lead architects constructing the new fellowship of believers at Tabernacle Community Church, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Committed to reaching people beyond the four walls of the church, Pastor Williams and his wife, Tonia, have three children: Marvin Jr., Micah, and Mikayla. For more information about Pastor Williams, log onto www.marvinlwilliams.org © Pastor Marvin Williams all
Thursday, August 6, 2009
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