Reviewing Apps for Cash 1. Introduction The pay for app reviews is per app review. Pay rates can vary from app to app review, and if the review was in depth. A simple app review can pay $2 and last ten minutes, while another may pay $10 and take an hour. An app reviewer won't be paid for a bad review or a review that's incomplete and doesn't meet the required quality. This is why writing skill is important for app reviewers in creating a well-done review. There are different methods to app reviewing. The most common method is working for a company. There are numerous software and/or app companies out there that will hire app reviewers. This includes Blizzard who often looks for game testers to test their games on iPod or Android devices. Working privately is also an option. Developers often hire app reviewers of their own to test their app. The job of an app reviewer, as previously said, is a simple and effective one. However, being simple doesn't take away from its importance. The task app reviewers do is crucial in enabling a high quality to be maintained in app development. The report of an app review can give the developer an exact idea of what went wrong and how it can be fixed. Without a detailed report, the developer may be clueless on why their app isn't functioning as it should be. This can cause frustration and disappointment for the customer when they find said app. An app review can also save developers a lot of time. If a developer tests their own app and finds an error, it may take them a long time to correct as they'll have to sift through code to find the exact problem. A report from an app review noting said error will generally tell the developer exactly what went wrong and how it can be fixed. App reviewing is becoming more and more popular across a number of different sources. Before apps hit the market, they need to be tested for any errors by a team of app reviewers. The job is a simple and easy one; app reviewers are required to test an app, make a note of any errors, and explain to the developer how they can fix said error. A good app reviewer should write up a clear and concise report on their findings. On most occasions, app reviewing is a paid job, and it's becoming popular among those wishing to earn some cash in an easy and efficient way. Not to mention that it can be done from the comfort of one's home. 1.1. Overview of App Reviewing App reviewing can be performed for a number of different industries. There are app review networks such as Apptaskit, which specialize in recruiting high-quality reviewers with technical expertise for the benefit of developers' clients in a wide variety of fields. These clients may or may not be building apps, but they are looking to improve the functionality of their company's web presence, and an internet-based application can be a part of this. Other app review networks, such as Myapptesting, have a more specific market. In this case, it is location-based app developers who require testing from customers who live in a particular area. In the most basic sense, app reviewing is quite straightforward. It simply involves downloading, installing, and testing an application on a mobile device connected to the internet. When the reviewing process has been executed, the app tester will then normally be required to go into the app's developer interface and fill out a form designed to collect data from the tester's experience with the application. This data is crucial to improving the application's performance and usability, and that is why app reviewing is an important and necessary process. 1.2. Benefits of Reviewing Apps For just a half hour playing one app or a game and writing a review, you could be making a couple of dollars per review. There is no limit to how many you can do, so these couple of dollars could add up to a tidy sum at the end of the week. This is great for people who enjoy app testing and have fun constantly switching onto different mobile games. Reviewing apps can be done pretty much anywhere if you have a smartphone or a tablet, meaning you aren't stuck for a location in which to do it. Since it is such a casual activity, as well as being internet-based, there is no need for a strict work schedule. This means app reviewing can be a brilliant way to pick up some extra money if you are a student or already work full time. Finally, the reloading of apps resets data cached in the memory, so a freshly loaded app is sure to test app functionality at its best. This is a great technique for testing app functionality, and it is great for review-based revenue. High quality software is not just about writing a good piece of code. It is also about making sure that it functions correctly and the user interface is intuitive and easy to use. As a result, professional developers and development companies spend a significant portion of their development budgets on User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design. This is where app reviewers come in. By providing an outside perspective of an app's functionality and design, software developers can identify what works best and what doesn't go so well. This is essential to app improvement, and many developers are willing to pay for this advice. 2. Getting Started The "Registering with App Review Platforms" section provides some good analysis and tips for what can be considered a non-paying side market for writing professional app reviews, however these detailed descriptions and specific site suggestions are things the casual app reviewer will likely not be interested in. The information at the end of the section regarding tips to get noticed and quickly purchased by these sites should be included earlier as it is the point where the advice becomes most relevant to even a beginning app reviewer, and the author should consider including more of this type of advice in place of the lengthy site comparisons. The section entitled "Finding App Reviewing Opportunities" does a good job of examining the overall market and atmosphere for app reviewing, but fails to really deliver the useful tips it promises in its opening sentence. Generally useful advice such as using specific keywords in app searches or creating a new email account for app reviewing purposes should be included, rather than just setting up an email subscription to the more general objective of keeping up with app related news. More specific strategies for locating apps to review could also be mentioned, such as paid app directories or iPhone app flipping. Although this essay contains a comprehensive overview of the app reviewing market, this insight is essentially irrelevant if the goal is to approach this endeavor as a method of earning cash. Despite the author stating that she will not solely focus on this aspect due to potential illegitimacy, the fact of the matter is that the overwhelming majority of individuals interested in such a guide are looking to do just that. The analysis should prove useful for this niche audience as well as the broader one the author intended, with an addition of detail regarding specific cash earning tactics at various points throughout the essay. 2.1. Finding App Reviewing Opportunities Web Search Often the above mentioned methods may not result in many app review assignments. As a result, it may be best to keep trying to find app review opportunities using other methods. It never hurts to try to do a web search for app review assignments. You never know what may turn up. Oftentimes searching "app review" does not always work, it may be best to try a search a couple of different ways. Advertisement Within An App When using an app, there will be occasions that an advert comes up which may be about an app to download, which the ad may come with a monetary incentive. This may be a good opportunity as the app developers advertising the other app may use part of that money to hire app reviewers to review their own app. Job Boards First, job boards are an extraordinary resource for finding app review opportunities. The explanation for job boards offering expediency to locate app review jobs is that it is easy to keep track of these boards. Secondly, providing app review assignments to job boards still remains a method used by app developers. The majority of job boards are powered by job board plugins often with the WordPress platform. Many app review opportunities are posted in freelance writing circles. Writers who work for websites may receive the assignment of reviewing an app. Contact those websites to inquire about an app review assignment. App developers often post app review assignments on websites or forums. See for example the iPhone and iPad forums at Touch Arcade. Advertisements by app review websites to review their app. In order to create buzz around their app, developers will pay a webmaster to have their app included on the website. A few ways to look for app review opportunities are: Finding App Reviewing Opportunities 2.2. Registering with App Review Platforms Strategies for entering the review community vary among different app review platforms, but there are a few general concepts to keep in mind. First and foremost, once you have an idea which platform is the right one for you, it is important to create an account and become a registered member. Most platforms require this to access their forum sections. Becoming an active member of their forums is one of the best ways to get the attention of developers looking for reviews. By providing feedback and contributing to discussions in the forums, you will Begin earning passive income by reviewing apps - click here! to make a name for yourself and build a reputation as a credible reviewer. Many platforms have a section within their forums dedicated to app review requests posted by developers. Keep an eye on these sections for new review requests and be sure to respond promptly to secure spots for reviewing apps that interest you. This can be very competitive on higher traffic review platforms, and often developers will simply go with the first reviewer to respond. So it is important to frequent the forums daily and use the forums' private messaging system to contact developers so that you can present yourself ahead of other potential reviewers. 2.3. Understanding Review Guidelines Though individual guidelines may vary from app to app, some of the standard conventions within the mobile app industry include a requirement for a written review containing a minimum word count and a specific rating or analysis to be provided in exchange for the offer of app promotion on a review website. In an attempt to control the quality of reviews posted, some developers have gone as far as to provide the reviewer with a script to follow. This can negatively impact the authenticity of the review, and given that discovering unique and interesting apps is one of the main attractions to app reviewing, it is advised to avoid such reviewing tasks. Additionally, a developer will often request that the reviewer be in contact with him or her several times throughout the review process. This can be very time consuming and is usually not worth the effort unless the app is one which the reviewer would already be interested in without the reviewing incentive. An ideal reviewing opportunity would be one in which the freelancer has full control of app selection, is under no obligation to review an app he or she does not like, and may also adjust the frequency and number of reviews as time permits. These types of opportunities are most plentiful among web or blog review assignments rather than paid reviewing on mobile platforms. 3. Reviewing Process Once an app is tested and evaluated, we must write a formal review of the app. Always address the type/container of the app and give the overall opinion on how it was. It's beneficial to break a review into several sections that focus on 3-4 different aspects of the app, moving from beginning to end. An example of a tool app review can be: how useful was it? How easy and clean was the interface? Did it have any errors or malfunctions? Then compare these individual section ratings to an overall opinion in the conclusion of the review. Always complete a formal review with suggestions for improvement and possible contact information for the app owner. Once you receive an app to review, the first step is testing and evaluating the app. Understanding that an app is a tool, game, or information for someone who will use it is the key to testing and evaluating. For a game, it is easy to understand who the specific target audience is, so it's important to match the game to the audience. For tools or information apps, it may not be specific who the target audience is, but it is important to determine who will use this app. Is the app what they need? How will this app benefit them? What are their top priorities for this app? By determining the answers to these questions, you can better evaluate an app based on how well it functioned, looked, and fit the targeted audience. Another method of evaluating apps is to compare it to something. This allows for feedback to be more clear and simple. "I liked it" is good feedback, but a better review would be "I liked it, compared to other apps of its type, it had more features and was easier to use." 3.1. Testing and Evaluating Apps Testing apps involves actually using the app and assessing its various aspects (design, playability, entertainment, functionality, etc.). It sounds simple because essentially it is, but testing apps effectively requires discipline and method. One effective method is to play the app freely for 5 minutes, determining first impressions on playability and entertainment. Then the app can be tested more meticulously, with judgment on its different features and specifics taking place. It is best to judge each app on a number of fixed criteria, taking notes as you go. A table of some description is a good idea. This will help to compare different apps and recall forgotten details when writing the review. It is essential to back up opinions when evaluating apps, and our supporting evidence must be accurate. Writing stuff that isn't true is unfair on the developer (or the app) and it is easily done...we have all been guilty of writing stuff only to later realize we were wrong. Finally, it is important to evaluate the app as a whole and make general comments. A brief summary is a good way to round off the evaluation. High-quality reviews are an invaluable resource for developers, allowing them to identify what they did well, where mistakes were made, what needs improving, and scope for future developments. The process may sound methodical and dull, but it is worth doing properly and soon, new methodology will become second nature. With experience, you will develop an eye for good and bad apps. You won't realize it, but you will naturally be using static criteria to judge apps, which can be efficiently articulated into set writing criteria. This will make the evaluation process very easy, and the most hardworking students may wish to pre-prepare criteria for different app genres...but I digress. 3.2. Writing Effective Reviews Assigning a star rating which applies to the specific segment is a good way to add additional information as to whether it is a positive or negative review. Finally, including a direct recommendation to the developer as to what the positives and negatives were can help influence improvements or show that the review has been well-analytical. This is essential if the review is negative. It will display that the reviewer was not simply pulling the app to pieces, rather aiming to help improve it. Following on from this, it is essential that the main body of the review is broken down into segments, making it easier to read and follow. Each segment should apply to different features of the app. For example, if a review was being carried out on a puzzle app, the segments could be something like: graphics, variety of puzzles, user interface, any additional features, and an overall summation. In order to create an effective review, a well-written introduction is the key. It should be clear and concise and include the essential information regarding the app. Information such as the app's function and purpose, from which company it was developed, its cost, whether it has been promoted by Apple, and how it compares with other apps of the same type. 3.3. Providing Constructive Feedback At the heart of any review is the feedback. Feedback provides direction, sets priorities, and helps the developer better understand the reviewer's likes and dislikes. This part of the reviewing process is all about providing unbiased feedback that is helpful to the developer. When highlighting what went wrong, always focus on the issue and not the outcome. For example, when reviewing a game that force closed, don't just say "this game force closes all the time." Instead, say "this game force closes all the time which makes it unplayable." The latter gives a clear indication of the severity of the issue. Another key point is to be respectful to the developer. Keep in mind that the majority of developers are not seasoned professionals, most are just hobbyists, or people with a passion for creating. Do not ridicule them with sarcastic remarks, or call their work "pathetic". Always keep a professional, respectful tone in all feedback, because at the end of the day, your aim is still to help them improve their product. A good mindset to have when providing feedback is to imagine that the developer is right beside you. You want to give them the same feedback that you would if they were watching you write it. This will help prevent unprofessional feedback, and keep you from being too harsh. 3.4. Rating and Ranking Apps You may come across different rating/feedback systems used by beta app test sites. Some may ask you to rate out of 5, 10, or provide some other form of grading system. Generally, it's best if you can rate an app out of 5, as this provides a good benchmark for an app's performance. Often a 5-point scale is used for iPod/iTunes applications: - Awful - Mediocre - Good - Very Good - Excellent This is a pretty simple assessment tool but provides little distinction between rating an app as 'good' or 'very good'. Some sites may ask you to provide grades across different elements of an app. An example of this would be mobile app developer MTX giving their testers the following ratings criteria: - N/A - Poor - Fair - Good - Great Review my app uses a more detailed 10-point scale assessment, which would be familiar to anyone well-versed in the UCAS Tariff: - 1-2: Fail - 3-4: Pass - 5-6: Merit - 7-8: Distinction - 9-10: Excellent 4. Earning Potential Freelance work or smaller blogs are easier to get into, but the pay is often much lower. Don't be put off by this though; you can still earn a reasonable amount of money that works out to be worth the time spent, and less experienced review writers will find it much easier to get this type of work to begin with. Combining multiple jobs can be beneficial; taking on a few small paying jobs to keep a consistent flow of income while working on a large paying job over time to earn more for a targeted task. Payment in the world of app review can vary greatly depending on what type of app or site you are working for. Generally, the more you are paid, the harder it is to get the job. Larger review websites will often pay more than one-off freelance work or small blogs, but the competition for these positions is higher, so you will need to have a good base of experience before you can expect to be accepted. Some larger sites may also offer the opportunity for profit share or a full-time position after you have proven yourself with a few reviews. 4.1. Payment Models for App Reviews Revenue sharing or profit sharing can be a good idea if you are confident in the success of the app or game. This involves taking a percentage of the sales or ad revenue from the app, usually for a set period of time. Payment varies, and it is a good idea to write a short review before agreeing to revenue share because some apps never make money. By far the most popular form of payment is a flat rate per review. This can go for anything from $5 to over $100, depending on the employer or the reviewer's experience. Ensure payment is arranged before writing the review and posting it publicly to avoid being scammed. If the app or game is extremely buggy or you find you are wasting a lot of time writing a review, you may want to negotiate a higher rate. When reviewing apps for pay, there are several different payment models you can follow. All of these involve you being given a copy of the app or game and being paid to test play it, usually for several hours. Your first step should be to make a portfolio of tested reviews, showing proof of your app being tested using photographs. Some employers may not pay you if they feel you did not test it enough. Payment can differ greatly according to the employer and the amount of time you choose to spend writing a review. It's important to have a PayPal account when working online. Most online employers pay by PayPal due to ease of access. It's a good idea to get verified with PayPal to lift your withdrawal limits. This is crucial if you consider doing this as a long-term form of income. 4.2. Tips for Maximizing Earnings Spend ample time on private job offers directly from developers. Completing app reviews on public job boards or forums for established app review sites is the easiest way to get paid to review apps. However, these jobs are often posted by SEO companies and not the app developers themselves. The SEO company is a middleman that has a portion of the pay for the app review. Because of this, the pay can be less compared to a private job, and these app reviews are also more subject to being thrown into the mix of less important offers from the job board and becoming overlooked. Contact with the app developer leads to the highest paying offers. These are the app developers that often search for reviewers, yet lack a presence on any app review sites or within the app store itself. An email can simply be sent asking if app review services are needed. Any developer that already has something for the reviewer to look at will be far more likely to say yes to this compared to the public job offers. An app that is less known or still in the development stage can still have review offers, but the developer will not post it publicly due to fear of negative ROI with too much publicity on an incomplete or unpolished app. By only accepting offers from private jobs, it's possible to do far less work for the same amount of money. High-paying offers are generally around $1 per minute of work. This is a good way to compare the pay rate of different offers. A 15-minute app review is easier to track than a review based on pay per word and also keeps things simple with payment always being after the review is done. Set earning goals prior to reviewing. This ensures the highest paying offers can be evaluated, and the overall benefit can be compared with the time needed to complete the review. For those using GPT programs, such as Offerpal or Gambit, it will be easier to pick and choose the highest paying app offers because the earnings per hour can be calculated more effectively. Aim for a specific weekly or monthly goal. This could range from spending money for a student, to full-time job replacement income for stay-at-home moms. Some app review sites, such as Apperang, require the review to be written within the app store's new app criteria. Typically, newer apps have higher incentive payouts. If the reviewer is asked to review an app that is soon to be released, he may want to mark the app's release date and be sure to review it around that time. 4.3. Potential Challenges and How to Overcome Them Here are a number of potential challenges that you may encounter during the process of using these methods to earn money. Transporting yourself into positions where you can review unreleased apps and contracted app write-ups will not be easy. Gaining the initial credibility to score these methods of app review will take time. You may have to start by doing some freelance work or advertising your own website. You should take freelance jobs at a minimal wage in order to scrape together some material for reference when negotiating a pay rate for future jobs. This could be undesirable, but it is essential prep work for getting yourself into a higher-paying app review job. You may also encounter the fact that you do not meet the requirements for doing a paid app review. If a company requires that you have an established print/online magazine, you may not meet this requirement with any type of blog or website. Finally, the app review market is highly competitive, and you may find that time spent searching for app review jobs takes away from the time you spend doing the actual reviews. These challenges will need to be handled with patience and an understanding that they are stepping stones to your future as a cash-earning app reviewer. On the bright side, with challenge comes great reward. It is not impossible to make $100 US dollars for a single app review, and $1000 is not an impossible monthly salary in this line of work. App review jobs offer great pay rates, but you need to be savvy to reach the higher planes of money potential. There are several types of app review jobs and differing methods of executing reviews, each one offering varying levels of pay. This is something to be explored in the next section.