Google is built around data—and it probably knows a lot more about you than you think. The nice thing about all of this is that Google offers lots of incentives to people who volunteer data that Google deems useful. This information isn’t just used to advertise to you – instead, sometimes Google needs your data to build more detailed products to help all users.
But if you’re in college and want to make a little extra money to show off to your friends, your options are limited, and Google is definitely the biggest name in the space. So if you want to queue up some rewards, here are three different ways to get cash from Google.
1. Google Opinion Rewards
Google Opinion Rewards was launched in India just last week and pays users through Google Play points. This isn’t great if you’re looking for extra airtime to make calls, but if you’ve been eyeing a cool new Android game but don’t want to drop cash for it, the Opinion Rewards Program might be just what you need.
The Google Opinion Rewards Android app lets people answer some survey questions and rewards them with Google Play points. The feature has been available in other countries for a while, but now it’s officially launched in India as well. The surveys themselves are very short – sometimes just one or two questions – and there isn’t always a survey that’s right for you, but the questions themselves are simple enough that you can earn a little Google Play Points with almost zero effort.
Get Google Opinion Rewards on Google Play
2. Google Local Guides
Google Maps runs a program called Local Guides. This allows you to contribute information to Google Maps on your phone – by answering questions, marking places, adding photos and comments about things around you – all very cleverly gamified. But you don’t just earn virtual points for your efforts – as you level up, you also gain access to benefits like testing new products before others, early access to features, and invitations to events hosted by Google.
But that’s not all – on Friday, for example, Google sent an email to all its “top” local tour guides, offering them a free month’s access to Ola Select, Ola’s loyalty program that lets you book at no markup and gives you booking priority, lets you rent Prime at Mini fares, and access airport lounges – a perk that would otherwise cost you Rs 100. 539 per month.
The exact rewards keep changing and are fairly small, but Google Local Guides is a fun program that rewards points for small interactions that keep you leveling up, which is also fun.
Join Google Local Guides on the web
3. Screen media panel
We’ve discussed this before, but Google’s Screenwise Media Panel is a quick and easy way to earn some cash in the form of coupons from stores like Myntra, Shopper’s Stop, and Lifestyle. You don’t need to do anything either – just install the app on your phone.
This allows Google to track the websites you visit, the apps you use, and some other basic information about how you use them. You don’t need to do anything extra for this – think of it as a Nielsen dashboard tracking your TV usage.
Rewards vary, but you can earn up to Rs. 200 per month, just install the app. You get Rs. Registration fee is Rs 300, Rs 100 for the first month, plus Rs. Increase by Rs 10 per month up to Rs. $200 per month as long as you continue to install the app. And you get rewarded for doing nothing.
Register Screenwise Media Panel on the web.
Here are three easy ways to get cash from Google, although in each case, you’ll have to give up some information to the company.
