Do you like trying new things? Would you like to contribute to making applications and websites better? Would you like to earn a bit of extra income doing just that?
As I get closer to retirement, I continue to look for alternative streams of income. One of the supplemental income streams I started in 2016 is User Testing. This is an active income stream, you must actively participate to earn income. And the more you do, the more you can earn. Doing this part time I earned as much as $60 USD in one week. Results do vary by the number of tests you complete.
User Testing
At User Testing you have the opportunity to earn a bit of extra income for 20-30 minutes of your time. Companies contract with User Testing to have a variety of users test their applications and websites.
Testers from Every Background
Have you ever book a flight or hotel online? Have you ordered a product online? Are you planning a cruise? Do you speak Swedish? These are just a few of the questions product designers use to screen testers for their projects.
Sometimes User Testing clients are looking for teachers, nurses, managers, or part-time workers just to name a few categories. You don't have to be a software developer or software tester to participate in a test.
User Testing Dashboard
Your User Testing Dashboard shows you the tests that are available.
And the test you have completed along with the rating you recieved and your payments.
Ratings
Just as it is important to have a good reputation on SteemIt, it is important to get good ratings from User Testing clients.
Ratings are given on a five star scale shortly after a test is completed, but some clients do not rate testers. To help testers attain high ratings User Testing has developed a tutorial "Be a Five Star Tester" available from their website.
The higher your rating the more tests you will be offered and the more potential you have to earn from User Testing.
Types of Tests
There are different types of tests. Examples of tests I have been offered and completed:
- Traditional user tests (application, mobile app, and website testing)
- Surveys
- Exercises to help designers design a website
- Short tests that typically pay $3 USD
- Long tests that pay a bonus
- Monitored tests that pay more than $20 USD
Screening
Most tests have a screen questionnaire associated with them. This is because User Testing clients are interested in a certain clientele for their websites and applications.
Sample screening questions from different tests (all gleaned from the User Testing website):
| Size of Your Company | Employment Status | Industry |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
There are all kinds of different screening questions like, occupation, language spoken, number of trips taken in the last year, items bought online in the last six months, and so forth.
What You Will Need
To participate in tests you will need a minimum of:
- Computer, tablet, or smart phone (I use my desktop computer)
- Microphone attached to your device (I use a simple microphone connected to my computer)
- PayPal account (Payments from User Testing are paid into your PayPal account)
Payments are paid to your PayPal account one week after the test is completed.
Are You Interested?
If you are interested in this active income stream, go to User Testing to learn more and sign-up.
To learn how User Testing benefits it clients, here is video they put together for their clients.
3 minute video from YouTube channel UserTesting
How I Learned About this Opportunity
There is currently no referral program offered by User Testing. I heard about this opportunity at work from a co-worker who was using the extra income for trips.