We are all addicted to Facebook thanks to all sort of interesting and funny applications developers throw at us. If you spend more than 2 hours on Facebook everyday, here’s a good news. You actually can make a few dollars with a Facebook application – UrTurn, by performing everyday action on Facebook such as add friends, upload photos, and update status messages. Sounds great?

So What’s UrTurn

In short, UrTurn is a rewards program on Facebook. Every time you do something on Facebook, you earn points from urTurn and those points you earned are convert-able to cash.

urPoints have cash value and can be redeemed for prizes like iPhones (30000 points) or sold for cash on the urTurn marketplace.

How to collect points with UrTurn

Upon Facebook registration, add UrTurn application to your Facebook account.

Check out the list below for all the ways to earn points:

How to make money with UrTurn

In order to make real money from UrTurn points, you’re required to trade your points at UrTurn points marketplace.

Users are able to make real deal at UrTurn Points Marketplace like offers to sell and offers to buy. The current price per point is $0.005 – $0.015, depending on traders. For a reasonable price, an offer can be easily attracted by other traders in a very short period (1 – 2 days).

The trading process will be deal as soon as both parties are agreed with the price offered. Payment transaction will be done through PayPal.

Is it real?

Yes. I sold 300 points with USD0.01 price per point and make USD3.00 within 2 days. The money has been cashed into my PayPal account.

By the way, if you wish to know more about me, you are welcomed to add me as your friend in Facebook too.

As I was running through some old articles, I noticed my AdSense large rectangular unit showing something rather odd. There’s total of 4 ads in grid of 2×2 format. It looks weird at first, but if Google were to confirm this format, I think there’s a lot of potential of blending this style. Notice that the ‘Ads by Google’ on only appears on the bottom right; that makes the 1 column’s ad units look really like content. With good placement, this unit can certainly blend well.

ClickBank, one of the biggest retailer in Internet goods has now accept registration from Malaysian and a couple of countries they once did not allowed. Fraudulence was the reason that kept Malaysia and few other countries outside the ClickBank door, and results of that, some of us tried getting in by faking the registration information. It is not necessary now, as ‘Malaysia’ is part of the option under the registration form.

Hat tip from Adi Wong.

BuySellAds is yet another way bloggers and webmasters can pull some moolah into their pocket. It’s model (how it works) is similar to BlogAds, or if you are not familiar with BlogAds, think of BuySellAds as ReviewMe (or SponsoredReview) of banner ads instead of advertorials.

To get listed in BuySellAds‘s marketplace, publishers (bloggers and webmasters) fill up a simple form – together with description of the website, as well as banner format and prices and hit the submit button. Website will then be listed in marketplace of advertisers after verification.

BuySellAds’s currently still in private beta. However you can register and wait for invitation.

Blog2u, Singapore

A Singapore ad network startup by Paddy Tan, the founder of Bak2u. Blog2u made public on the 2nd of April, 2008. Here’s how Blog2u works. You install the script, and get paid when advertisers decides to place ads on your site. The more interesting part you should probably know is, Blog2u pays before (or the first day) ads are served, instead of paying when campaign is over. Read more on Blog2u.

KlikSaya, Indonesia

KlikSaya, or in English "Click Me" is ad network startup from Indonesia by David Ciang. KlikSaya’s model is simple, it’s contextual. Think of it as Google AdSense for the Indonesians. I don’t think it’s a ads network you will want to sign up with if you are not Indonesia, as it only pays out to Indon banks.

Yet another local advertising network, that’s right. Thanks to Paul Tan for the heads up, we now have not four but five advertising network in Malaysia. Netizens Media from Penang, has just jumped on the bandwagon being the fifth advertising network for Malaysian bloggers. This neighbor of Nuffnang is officially launched on the 24th January 2008 and is still on private beta stage.

How Netizens Media Work

Netizens don’t go by CPM and CPC but instead a practicer of flat rate ads, that means you are paid how much your blog is worth. And to determine the value of your blog, you can either set the price yourself, or get a determination from Netizen based on your market profitability and monthly unique visitors. Here’s a sample.

My thoughts

Here’s a quick recall on the networks launching date:

• Nuffnang – Febuary 2007
• Advertets – March 2007
• GrabMyAds – November 2007
• Gokita – December 2007, and now
• Netizen Media – January 2008.

Most of these networks were borned and founded by bloggers themselves; bloggers who sees flaws in making money online in blogosphere, bloggers who are frustrated with how things are currently being operated, bloggers who thinks they can do better job in helping fellow bloggers make money online.

5 advertising network startups in one year. That certainly looks a bit congested to me. What’s your thought?

Folks at Nufflets have decided to re-brand their identity, no more Nufflets for sure; Gokita is the new name for our 4th local advertising network. I had a talk with the co-founder and apparently the reason of change is to give the ad network a original an unique identity, avoiding being related directly or indirectly with their rivals.

Still I’m confused why it was launched in the first place with Nufflets being aware that it sounds so much like both the current strongest advertisement network in Malaysia. Anyway, Nufflets will be history, and Gokita’s promise to Asian blogosphere:

When Nufflets relaunches as Gokita.com, it will offer superior customer support, more value, more earnings, unprecedented reliability as we will be hosted on HostforWeb.com – a world renowned webhosting company with great support and service.

So yea, we’ll be watching and see what Gokita will have in store for us. I’ll definitely try them out, but as advertiser instead of publisher.

Just got another heads up from folks at Nufflets, the local ad network will undergo a server migration and in the midst there will be some downtime. The migration should be happening as I’m writing this – Sunday 8am – 12pm. Nufflets publishers and those who stumble upon the website could encounter some temporarily inconsistency.

Nufflets going for Re-branding

Nufflets with no doubt sounds like a combination of NuffNang and Advertlets. I believe the goal behind this name is to deliver what both Nuffnang and Advertlets can, but the name itself can potentially invite a lawsuit. Nufflet’s name will be changed, it will be named Gokita. Nothing is changed on the publishers’ side, just an identity change of the company.

Well, I’d say with another two new local ads network jumping on the bandwagon before the year ends at 2007, and how Advertlets’s downtime affects them, NuffNang’s launched of their new exclusive program’s timing is about right.

NuffNang officially announced their exclusive program, named the Nuffnang Gliterrati today. This is a auto-join club that means you are automatically a Gliterrati club member as long as your blog are cleaned from other South East Asia Oriented ad networks, except Nuffnang. Yes, you still can published Nuffnang Ads together with AdSense, Chitika, or others.

Benefits of Gliterrati members are clearly explained over at the announcement page together with a comparison in terms of earnings between exclusives and non-exclusives. Folks at Nuffnang as made a good step to strenghten their community early this year, but we are yet to see the rest move. Anyway, it’s still early.

Ok, let’s faced it. It’s pretty careless to have your domain expired but I personally don’t see much point in blaming anymore. When Advertlets goes down when their domain got expired, it affected all parties and that includes NuffNang. NuffNangers who uses Advertlets ads during the Advertlets downtime also got their site redirected to somewhere else, that indirectly affected the efficiency of ads displays of NuffNang clients. It’s a all-lose situation. Advertlets are back online now and apologized, so I guess angry bloggers should calm down, NuffNang fans should chill too.

Josh Lim, founder of Advertlets posted an apology entry over at Adverlets blog, pretty much sums up all the Why, How, What about the domain expiry and downtime.

So now, are you ready to go back with Advertlets or are you dropping them for good? Why?

Just few days before year 2007 leaves the blogosphere, another local ad networks managed to fit in the slots, that’s 4 advertising network startups created in the Malaysian Blogosphere for the year 2007. Here’s a recap their official date of birth:

• NuffNang – 27th of February
• Advertlets – 9th of March
• GrabMyAds – 21th of November
• Nufflets – End of December

A little background

Nufflets is the new, also the 4th advertising network startup from Malaysia. Here’s 2 interesting things about Nufflets. First, you probably might have notice, the name sound very much like the combination of NuffNang and Advertlets. Second thing, Nufflet’s co-founder was once a Advertlets employee. I’ve managed to get in contact with their co-founder, here’s some exclusive insights of Nufflets, only in hongkiat.com

How Nufflets Works?

According to Nabil (co-founder), Nufflets will be launched as a Asian ad network. That means publishers and advertisers from all around Asia are welcomed. Transactions will be in USD.

Founder’s vision of Nufflets

We want to give a significantly higher return-on-investment to Asian based or Asian targeted advertisers. Meaning that we wish to create a more cost effective solution to Google Adsense, where prices for advertising have incredibly increased and will continue to increase as the years go by.

CPC Ads

Nufflets will be contextual based, and you will be expecting text based CPC ads if you sign up with them. Here’s 2 screens, respectively the Publisher’s Panel and the Advertiser’s Panel (click image for hig res). Also take note that none of the details are real, they are just demos.

Publisher Panel

Advertiser Panel

My first concern after over-viewing the ads format is, will Google AdSense treat it as a competitive ads? Can both co-exist on the same blog? Google mentioned this on their Program Policy:

Competitive Ads and Services
In order to prevent user confusion, we do not permit Google ads or search boxes to be published on websites that also contain other ads or services formatted to use the same layout and colors as the Google ads or search boxes on that site. Although you may sell ads directly on your site, it is your responsibility to ensure these ads cannot be confused with Google ads.

To ensure the ads does not confuse with Google ads, its an effort from both publishers and ad network. I guess ad network will put in their best to make sure their ad formats doesn’t confuses with Google’s. Because in the end, if it is to choose from either one, we will most users will go for the big G.

As for the questions and ponders about who gets the bigger pie and stuff, I’m not too worried thought. I believed these startup founders have already identified their current and potential competitors before getting themselves into the industry. And whether these new ad networks will stay for the long run, I’ll rather stay as an observer. With 4 new ads network added in 2007, blogosphere in year 2008 will be interesting.

Your thoughts?

Withdraw AdSense with Western Union

If you are staying geographically far from United States, you are probably waiting weeks for your AdSense check to arrive, and another few week for local bank to clear the check before you can withdraw these cold hard cash.

Google AdSense now provides an option,you can withdraw your money through Western Union. Western Union service is available in CIMB Bank as well as some Pos Bank branches. Click here to see a step by step guidance on how you can withdraw AdSense money through Western Union

Verdict

My AdSense check is sent to my Malaysia home address. It took 3 weeks for the check to arrive and another 4 weeks for CIMB bank to clear the check. Withdrawing through Western Union is definetely a turbo approach to convert your AdSense check into cash. However the troublesome part is that you have to get these following information prepared before you can receive your money:

• Western Union MTCN (Money Transfer Control Number)
• IC/Passport
• Amount to received
• Sender’s Address (Google)

Withdraw Paypal with credit/debit card

I’ve written how you can withdraw with VMI but I guess that not really required now if you have a credit card or debit card with Visa, Visa Electron or Mastercard. There is an option in Paypal that allows you to transfer your money from Paypal to credit/debit card. Daily withdrawal limit is $500, each transaction will be charge a fee of $5. Read here for more information.

Verdict

Malaysian local banks have yet to be recognized or added into Paypal for direct withdrawal. My guess is probably due to the fraudlence caese years back. Now that if you have a credit/debit card, you should not have a problem transfering your money from Paypal. I’m personally not having problem withdrawing from Paypal as I have a Singpore bank account directly attached to my Paypal account.

Updated: 28 Sites now.

If you firmly believe that writing pay post is one good way to revenue from your blog, here’s a list of web services that pays you to write for them. This list will be updated periodically, so if you have a paid post service I’ve missed out I’d like to add them to the list. Necessary credits will be given.

Recommended reading: Top Paying CPM Advertisement Network

1. Sponsored Reviews

   

   Earn cash by writing honest reviews about our advertiser’s products and services. Write reviews in your own tone and style, and gear them to your audience’s interest.

   [FAQ] [Sign Up]

2. Link Post

   

   Unlike some other services, we pay our Partners up to 70% for each LinkPost written. Access to thousands of advertisers hungry for reviews. A variety of payment options. Receive payouts monthly by check, PayPal, direct deposit, or Wire. Automated advertising management. An easy way to sell paid blog posts.

   [FAQ] [Sign Up]

3. Review Me

   

   Get paid $20 – $200 to review products and services on your site. You control what you review.

   [FAQ] [Sign Up]

4. Shvoong

   

   The more abstracts you post at Shvoong, the more chances to attract readers. Create link to your abstract elsewhere(on blogs, forums, your personal homepage, or other sites). Spread the word by joining our “Invite a friend” and/or “Affiliates” programs, and earn bonuses equivalent to the invite members’ royalties, upto $100 for every new writer.

   [FAQ] [Sign Up]

5. Smorty

   

   Get paid for blogging. Write your opinion about peoples products, services and websites on your blog. Get paid weekly.

   [FAQ] [Sign Up]

6. PayPerPost

   

   PayPerPost is an incredible new self-service marketplace that allows you to get paid to blog about the products, services and websites you love. You can easily earn $500 per month or more with your current blog!

   [FAQ] [Sign Up]

7. 451 Press

   

   451 Press is always looking for bright, talented writers who want to have their voices heard. We are looking for writers with unique voices to contribute to our growing network of blogs. Our blogs cover a wide range of topics. If you have a passion for a subject then we just might have a place for you.

   [FAQ] [Sign Up]

8. Be A Guide (About.com)

   

   All About.com Guides are freelancers who work online and set their own schedules, giving them the flexibility to log on from anywhere in the world whenever they have the time. With no timesheets to fill out and no timecards to punch, working for About.com gives you the flexibility to write when you want, even if you have a full-time day job.

   [FAQ] [Sign Up]

9. BlogBurner

   

   So here’s how it works:

   • You create an account with us.
   • You create an account with Google Adsense.
   • You login and write content to your "blog" on our site.
   • You try to write as often as you can.
   • We publish your content to our site.
   • We serve ads on the pages that have your content.
   • Half the time you make money on the ads. Half the time we do.

   [FAQ] [Sign Up]

10. Blog Feast (Service Discontinued)

    

    We are a blog community that:

    1. Host your blog for free
    2. Provide you with readers and traffic
    3. Serve your Adsense ads 90% of the time
    4. Helps you to make money blogging
    5. Leading you step by step to earn $1,000 a month!

11. Bloggerwave

    

    We’ve got advertisers that would like you to write about their products or services. So you do. In your blog. And get paid!

    [FAQ] [Sign Up]

12. Blogitive

    

    Once you are approved to the Blogitive system, you are given access to opportunities from companies to post about their news releases. You are paid per posting.

    [FAQ] [Sign Up]

13. Blogsvertise

    

    Once approved, your blog goes into the assignment queue. The blogsvertise administrator then assigns writing tasks for what our advertisers want you to mention in your blog.

    [FAQ] [Sign Up]

14. Blog To Profit

    

    We connect you with advertisers that are interested in sponsoring your blog, you post to your blog and get paid!

    [FAQ] [Sign Up]

15. BOTW Media

    

    If you are an experienced writer and/or an avid blogger, can write passionately about a topic, and enjoys working as part of a group, you may be a good candidate for a BOTW Media author.

    [FAQ] [Sign Up]

16. CreamAid (Service Discontinued)

    

    Anyone can start using CREAMaid by inserting a CREAMaid Conversation widget inside her post. (more info) Your post will most likely be selected as long as you abide by these rules. Once selected, your post will be syndicated to all the participating posts through their embedded Conversation widgets. When your post is selected, you will be able to instantly collect a royalty
    for your contribution.

17. Creative Weblogging

    

    Get paid to blog with us at Creative Weblogging! We are one of the largest blog networks, with over 135 blogs in five languages.

    [FAQ] [Sign Up]

18. DayTipper

    

    If you have a tip that is insightful, helpful, and original, we will publish it and pay you $3 (US). You write the content. We share it with the world.

    [FAQ] [Sign Up]

19. Digital Journal

    

    Unlike most websites where bloggers post for free (and the company takes in all the ad revenue), DigitalJournal.com shares a portion of its advertising revenue with all Citizen Journalists. With an always-growing cash pool, every single Citizen Journalist gets a chance to compete for a share of the cash pot. The more you contribute, the more you earn.

    [FAQ] [Sign Up]

20. Helium

    

    Earn a share of the advertising money earned here at Helium. If you write well, and write often, you earn even more recognition and reward.

    [FAQ] [Sign Up]

21. In Blog Ads

    

    You’ve been writing about web sites, products, services and companies for years, now you you can also get paid for it. With our system, you get paid for each post request you fulfill.

    [FAQ] [Sign Up]

22. LoudLaunch

    

    If your blog and interests are aligned with an advertiser’s campaign then you can do your own research and write about them in exchange for pay—not in exchange for a pre-determined outcome but for a fair assessment.

    [FAQ] [Sign Up]

23. Pay Me To Blog About You (Service Discontinued)

    

    Our messaging system allows bloggers and advertisers to negotiate directly with each other instead of working through advertising agencies or middlemen and we provide a secure way of transacting advertising compensation via Paypal.

24. Squidoo

    

    Every lens carries Google AdSense ads. Those are used to generate royalties for the whole co-op (ie, everyone gets a cut). If you want to increase your direct royalties, though, you should consider adding commercial modules that the visitors to your lenses will appreciate.

    [FAQ] [Sign Up]

25. Weblogs Inc

    

    Looking to get paid to blog about subjects you love? Tell us what you’re passionate about and let’s find out if there’s a fit!

    [FAQ] [Sign Up]

26. Wise Bread

    

    WiseBread.com is one of the top 5 personal finance blogs. We give our bloggers 100% of the advertising revenue they earn on their blog posts.

    [FAQ] [Sign Up]

27. b5media

    

    We’ll pay you to write about what you love. We’re the one of the largest blog networks in the world. We want to be the biggest. Want to help? It’s easy to apply.

    [FAQ] [Sign Up]

What’s PayPal Limited Access Account

PayPal monitor closely on our daily activities, and when they find your transaction suspicious they will hit the button. And when PayPal suspend your account and slap you with Limited Access Account, you pretty much can’t perform any transactions until problem is solved. Here’s generally your restriction when account is limited by PayPal:

• No accepting of incoming funds
• No sending funds
• Unable to close and terminate account
• Limited view to reports

You account is basically freeze until problem is solved.

Solving Limited Access Account

I’d say Limited Access Account is like chicken pox for online money makers for Malaysians; you’ll get it, it’s just a matter of time unless you do not withdraw funds from PayPal directly. It’s really nothing to much to be worry about (unless you are dealing with dirty business that makes your funds unexplainable), its just a normal PayPal protocol to reverified one’s account. Reason why I think most Malaysians freaked out on Limited Access Account is because that’s your first direct withdrawal and you think you’ve done something terribly wrong that will lead to account terminations or there goes all your money. Like I said, PayPal monitors closely, especially on withdrawals to personal bank account. If they find your account risky, you need to prove where/how you got this funds and location you are transferring them to. Firstly PayPal will require you to prove that you are the authorized user of the account, you will need to send them:

1. Copy of your utility bill
2. Copy of driver’s license, IC or passport

Make sure these that you send matches the information in your PayPal account.

Here’s come the most important part. PayPal also wants you to prove your few previous transactions you’ve made and that involves information on your funds, your PayPal account and your bank account.

Your Funds

PayPal wants to know the relationship between you and the person who send you these funds; whether they purchase goods from you, you’ve provide them service, you do paid post for them, you sell links, etc PayPal wants to know.

Your PayPal account

Print screen your recent transactions in PayPal. Make sure you include the transaction details between you and the person who send you these funds.

Your Bank account

Prove to PayPal you are the legit owner of the particular bank account, provide print screen of recent months bank statement would be good.

FYI: VMI does have banking statement, you might want to include that too.

Compile all your documents together, make sure you filled up the Fax Cover explaining in brief the attached documents you are sending. Fax them over and wait for PayPal to further contact you. If documents are relevant, your PayPal account will be restore in about 5 business days.

Information Insufficiency

Sometimes information you faxed over just ain’t enough. PayPal will then send you an e-mail, giving you guides on what they want to see more. These documents varies, depending on individual cases so I can only guide you this far. If you are having hard time understanding what PayPal want from you, talk to those who have recovered from PayPal Limited Access Account.

If you are are publisher of Nuffnang Ads, here’s a nice WordPress Plugin created by Zeo for your Nuffnang ad unit.

How Nuffnang plugin works?

This plugin basically helps you to insert the Nuffnang ads on the fly without the need to login into Nuffnang.com.my. It is drag-drop ready for widget sidebars, also helps to conveniently configure your Nuffnang rectangular ads after a content post.

Download Nuffnang WordPress Plugin