Hey everyone, thanks for checking out my review!
I'm sure we've all been on the hunt for some extra cash or a side hustle at some point. It's nice to have a bit of extra income, especially if you have the time and willingness to put in the effort from the comfort of your own home.
I'm guessing many of you here on Air have tried to make some money online. Then, of course, it becomes clear that it's not just about the money, but more about a 'hobby' and 'for the sake of it.' But still, every little bit counts, right?
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In this review, I want to talk about the website Youdo
Sites like Youdo promise to take care of all the hassle and solve any problems. I actually heard about Youdo from my husband, who was recently looking for a new job and wanted to make some extra money on the side. He thought about offering his legal services, so he registered and I joined him too. However, I didn't get very far with the tasks. I went back to Youdo a few days ago to give it another try.
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I won't go into the registration process, as it's all pretty standard and straightforward.
You can be either the customer or the freelancer on the site. There are remote and in-person tasks available, and they vary in complexity.
As someone from a small town, I only looked at remote tasks, as I don't think many locals would be posting jobs on here. It's easier and faster to just use local social media instead.
The site acts as a middleman between the customer and the freelancer. The customer posts a task and sets a price, and the freelancer responds. The customer then chooses the best fit from the responders, and the freelancer completes the task. The customer pays, and the site takes a percentage of the deal.
I didn't mention the fact that both customers and freelancers pay a big commission, but that's just how it works. It's up to you to decide whether or not to use the site.
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There are plenty of categories to choose from, so everyone should be able to find something that suits them.
I mainly looked at design and illustration tasks, like creating business cards, logos, and product images for marketplaces. I also considered some accounting tasks out of curiosity.
Tasks vary in complexity, with some being very detailed and others being more vague, like needing a 'beautiful logo' without any further information.
When it comes to freelance work, there's often a disconnect between what the client wants and what the freelancer thinks they can deliver.
On the platform's website, they actually advise freelancers not to overprice their work – otherwise, they might get undercut by someone else and lose the job.
But let's get back to my experience with the platform. Yesterday, I saw a bunch of job postings for transcription work – converting spoken words into written text or typing it up in Word. These tasks seemed relatively straightforward, but they could take up a lot of time.
Students might record lectures on their phones and want them transcribed, or someone might have paid for an online course but find it easier to learn from written notes.
I got excited and decided to apply, but there was a catch: the application fee.
The application fee varied, and I could've applied for free, but if the client contacted me, I'd have to pay even more. My first application cost 44 rubles, which I thought was reasonable, but it wasn't the end of the story.The minimum deposit was 500 rubles.
I reluctantly topped up my account and started applying.Of course, I wasn't the only one on the platform – there were plenty of other freelancers, some with excellent profiles, glowing reviews, and a wealth of experience.
They knew their worth and how to present themselves to clients.
And then there were newbies like me – with nearly empty profiles, no reviews, and a low rating.
Take my application, for example – it was ranked 12th, and that was just for the time being. Who do you think the client would choose?It's no secret that it's tough for newcomers like me to get hired.
But then I received a few messages from Youdo itself, with a similar tone and content.
Scammers galore!!! I'm glad the site worked quickly this time and I didn't even get a chance to chat with the scammers.Although I did get a message from other feedback to switch to WhatsApp and continue the conversation about the job. Later, this client was also blocked, and the task and message were deleted.
They might send a message to your phone in a messenger right away, since they can see your phone number after you respond to the application.
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It turned out that all my feedback were actually from scammer tasks. And the money for them was returned.
Scammers lure you into a private messenger and send you the terms of work, which are tempting and achievable. They offer a deal without risk (which, by the way, is also mentioned on Youdo) only if they send you a left screenshot about transferring you % of the money for the work, and from you they also ask to transfer %, which will then be returned to you. Of course, there's no work, no transfer from them, and your money is gone.
Don't switch to private messengers at least at the beginning of communication with the client. Start the conversation on Youdo.
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In general, I was disappointed and decided to withdraw my 500 rubles from the wallet and leave the site
Voice "Account" in the profile, where you can withdraw money
I got such a message
Nah, I think, let's set the conditions and terms, and take off the percentage for withdrawal But I was wrong to be afraid, it all went like canceling a purchase and my 500 rubles safely returned to my account
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This was my second encounter with the Youdo site. Will there be a third? Maybe. I need to build a portfolio, and that's like drawing in the air. Because real orders that I received money for, I'm uncomfortable posting.
In general, I might come back if I want to work on my portfolio.
I also know that some people recommend conducting fake deals to earn a rating. I.e., one profile creates a task, another responds. The deal and a positive review. I think the site won't block such a scheme since it's paid % from both sides.
But I'm all about honesty. So, I doubt I'll use such a suggestion. And I'm not fond of giving away money for nothing.
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From Youdo, I'm left with disappointment and a feeling of impossibility for a newbie to achieve anything. At least my money is safe
But what really gets me is the value for money here. I mean, you get a solid device with great build quality, and it's not going to break the bank.