All surveys that use the Digital River platforms are down. Not only effecting the surveys from Cashcrate but also other sites like Treasure Troopers as reported to me by a member there. Below is an explaination of what is going on with the particular surveys and a link to the forum thread discussing the progress and updates of this issue.

Service Disruption Update: 2/24/2012 8:15 EDT

Unfortunately, the efforts to restore operability of the storage area network (SAN) have stalled. This is impacting all Digital River platforms, including DirectTrack.

Senior engineers and technicians from Hitachi and Sun Microsystems, the SAN vendors, are on site in the Digital River data center. All possible measures to restore operability of the SAN are being taken.

While all teams and resources are working to correct this problem as quickly as possible, we do not anticipate an immediate resolution.

Should the current status change in the immediate term, we will provide an update. Otherwise we will update you on the progress of the corrective action as such progress is made.

FORUM THREAD

Surveys that are working are Surveyhead and SSI.

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Cashcrate may be an online business but you don’t have to limit yourself to online only tactics when getting referrals. In fact, the best referrals are usually the ones you contact offline first. The ones you keep an open line of communication with will work for you, as the no face no name referrals is a lot less likely to stick it out. There are many free or low cost ways to advertise your referral links offline.

Business cards, Fliers and Door hangs
The most popular options are the traditional ones, and for good reason. They work and work well. The trick is how you implement them. Placing biz cards and fliers on car windshields in a parking lot may be a way to distribute a lot of paper but has too many drawbacks to be effective. You want people to see your face and hear your voice, people will trust the business more when you deal with them in person; and you are more likely to make a good referral. Keep your biz cards with you at all times, offer them to people whenever the chance strikes. The worst that can happen is they say no thank you, and who wants a referral that doesn’t want to do anything? It is good to place these paper representations of yourself in frequented but appropriate places. Does your church have a bulletin board? College? Laundry Mat? Leave traces everywhere. The laundry mat may not have a bulletin board but you can leave a few biz cards laying around. See the free apartment directories in the grocery stores? Put a biz card between the pages. Tape your fliers around playgrounds. The distribution options are limitless, just make sure you are not breaking any laws or rules. Also when putting fliers out there make sure you do NOT put your actual referral link on the flier. People will not type the whole url out, they will not type out your referral number and you will not get credited for the referral. Actually never promote your referral link that way, period, instead promote your website or blog that has your affiliate link and ads.

Advertising in newspapers/newsletters

Probably the most expensive option but also the most successful. Don’t limit yourself to the local paper. Call the penny ads and see what their fees are. Chances are you will pay about as much as you would for an order of biz cards.

Your own billboards
T-shirts, schoolbag patches even hats can display your blog/website url for promotion. I have seen a lot of car advertisements around, car magnets, bumper stickers and window stickers displaying your dot com can gain local attention to your site or blog. You can also have your family or friends rent out their car space to you for advertisement purposes.

However you decide to advertise your site or blog remember to have fun. Make it a positive experience and you will more likely stick to it. Remember to keep in contact with your referrals, and follow up when they sign up under you. If it doesn’t go well step back and assess the situation, change your technique or maybe try something new. Success is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.

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My twitter account, CashCrate_Mom, is currently tweeting with the sole purpose to update everyone on what offers/surveys have paid out recently. There is a sidebar app to the right of this page named Recent Pay Outs which shows my most recent posts. I update every 24-48 hours so you don’t have to look through the threads in the Cashcrate forums; though I don’t discourage anyone from posting or reading the forums. Just a little extra for people who view my blog. Happy earning!

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If you find your self low on time this week and don’t even have a moment to spare to fill out a survey or free offer, it pays to just check in. Making something everyday, even if its just 3¢ can add up and be the difference between not getting a check or cashing out. So, make sure you at least check in your CashCrate account everyday.

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With the holidays over its time to return to the daily grind. If you are like me and find yourself a little short on time this month, make sure you check out the Cash Crate Forums to save time when you are picking out surveys and offers to complete. there you will find a lot of helpful information including what offers have posted for other members today, chances are they will post for you too.

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Sometimes life throws you curves or maybe you get really busy around the holiday season. There will be times that you will need a break from many things including Cashcrate. Whatever your earnings are will never go away or expire as long as you do not cancel your account. So, if you ever run into a road block or even a detour in life, what’s important is to make each and every day the best you can. I learned this recently as I was too focused on making money online that I was starting to neglect my friends and family, my sister fell ill and is now in intensive care. She is only 32 and it was very unexpected, she fell ill the day right after I missed her call. I was busy with the kids and my online career that I forgot to call her back right away. We live six hours apart so I can’t be by her side till the kids are off of school. The whole point is to not take life for granted, and when taking breaks, Cashcrate will hold onto your earnings for a long time. I recently came back form a year hiatus and my earnings were still in my account waiting for me to hit $20. Cashcrate will do the same for you.

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When I began doing offers and surveys with Cashcrate I was in the honeymoon phase. All my offers were going through, and quickly. My completed offer box was full of approved offers, it felt soo good to see each one go from pending to approved status in a matter of minutes.

All was good in Surveyland, then I hit a wall. It was after the 3rd day or so when I had completed a lot of offers and surveys; but they all of a sudden stopped posting to my account. My completed survey box was full of pending offers refusing to change status, I remember logging in several times that week almost glaring at them hoping maybe glaring would change their stubborn ways. Well, it was to no avail, and sent me running to google for a solution.

Then came the articles, and the youtube videos and the blogs about what to do to get offers to approve. I was like a hungry wolf consuming the information set before me and put the advice to the test. I tried everything, but only the things that were repeated among the sources rang true.

1.Clean cookies after every offer.

2.Use different emails, change emails every few offers.

3.Use other data.*

The first two are pretty straight forward. A pain, but straightforward. But the third thing to do may have you scratching your head about now. What I mean by use other data is stop entering your own name, birth date etc. You may be thinking now, but Cashcrate tells you to enter true information. Yes, definitely; its never good to lie about your current address, phone number, birth date etc., but are you the only one in your household? You see, your Cashcrate account is for your household not just you, that means anyone who is in your house can fill out surveys, or you can fill them out for them if they are not able to (in the case with children or people who are computer illiterate) and actually if you have any friends or family that visit you, you can have them fill out surveys and offers too.

When offers stop posting to your account its very likely because that company has paid you that month for the information you gave them. What the companies want is unique visitors, they want to hear from you, but they also want to hear from your mom and maybe your 14 year old son and most likely your neighbor. They will pay to your account for each individual that fills out offers. So this is why it’s important to keep fresh data.

It took me quite a while to figure this all out. There are a lot of YouTube videos and articles out there that will tell you to enter made up information. This threw me for quite a while because I wanted to follow the rules and what these people were saying in the articles and videos was NOT what Cashcrate wanted its members to do, actually its a bannable offense. So when I figured out another way that both allows my offers and surveys to go through and follows the membership rules I was quite happy to implement it.

I’m proud to say my offer approval rate has gone up from 30% to a whopping 75%-80%. It really is something every Cashcrate member should give a try.

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Wow, I finally got this blog up! I’m quite excited about getting started and still have many more ideas to implement, but first things are first! With the holiday season in full swing everyone is going to be very busy getting things together and shopping, shopping, shopping! It catches up to us in a month or two though and then we are looking forward to tax time to pay off the debt.

Cashcrate is a nice little part time gig anyone can use to alleviate this stressor. I complete surveys and offers there several times a week and have been paid out many times. Got a nice little check here to prove it:

This is my October check and I’m looking forward to my November check soon.

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