Let’s face it: most of us are way too glued to our phones than we care to admit. From checking WhatsApp messages as soon as we wake up in the morning and going to bed after an hour of watching Instagram reels, our smartphones are more a part of our lives than we could have ever imagined.
Let’s flip the switch. What if our smartphones could be used for more than entertainment or their actual intended purposes? What if they could be used for something much more productive and worthwhile, like making money?
According to research from Statista, between 20 to 22 million people in South Africa use smartphones as of 2022. These numbers serve as a reminder of the incredible potential at our fingertips!
Your smartphone could very well be helping you bring in a little more cash at the end of the month. Keep reading to find out how!
6 Ways Your Smartphone Could Make You Money
Have you ever noticed just how much time we tend to spend waiting? Outside school to fetch the kids, in the taxi on the way home, at the doctor and even in line at the traffic office. There are just so many opportunities that we can take advantage of to make some cash. Here are some of the fastest and easiest ways!
1. Paid surveys
Did you know that companies actually pay consumers for filling out surveys online? All you need to do is answer questions as part of companies’ market research efforts. This information will be used to see whether these companies are doing a good job or if there’s anything they need to change to make disgruntled customers happy again.
Some of the companies to look into if you’re interested include SwagBucks, SurveyFiesta and Branded Surveys.
2. Watch videos
We all do it – mindlessly scroll through YouTube for hours on end, with nothing but sleepy eyes and a low battery to show for it. But what if we could turn that mindless scrolling into some extra moola? Who knew that simply watching videos could boost your bucks at the end of the month?
There are quite a few platforms that allow you to get paid for watching videos online, but the most popular ones are MyPoints and Quickrewards.
3. Become a content creator
Social media stardom is all the rage nowadays - and it’s easy to see why when you realise just how much money you can make as an influencer. The main thing you need to be successful on social media is to build a loyal following. This will help you attract companies that can offer you brand deals and partnerships. As part of these deals, you’d need to showcase their products or services on your social media platforms so that your followers can see what’s on offer and, in turn, support these brands.
4. Sell photos and videos
Do you have a knack for the art of photography and find yourself snapping sunsets and pretty blooms every chance you get? Well, you could get paid for every photo and video you capture!
Apps like Foap basically play matchmaker and help companies find suitable visuals for their marketing material. By signing up, your work could be chosen and you’d get paid in exchange for ownership of your work (#kaching!)
Keen to find new ways to make money? How about selling electricity from your smartphone? Here's what you need to know!
5. Play games
Imagine a world where you could get paid for playing games! Some platforms offer an in-app rewards programme that gifts you vouchers. They’re often based on how long you play for or how high your score is in a specific game. One such platform is Mistplay, which has tons of Amazon, PayPal and Google Play vouchers up for grabs!
Looking for smarter ways to use your smartphone? Turn it into a card machine! Read all about it here.
6. Scanning receipts
This one’s a little out of the box, but oh so rewarding! Did you know that some online platforms offer you cashback just for uploading your receipt after a shopping trip? South Africa’s very own SnapnSave gives consumers the chance to earn big bucks in no time! All users need to do is book the items they want to buy on the SnapnSave site, purchase them from the seller, and then upload the receipt onto the site.
Did you know that you could also make money by selling airtime from your smartphone? Read all about it here!
2 Ways to Get Paid On Your Smartphone
Making money is good, but there’s nothing worse than not having access to the fruits of your labor because of third-party rules and waiting times.
Cut through the red tape with iK Pay Link and iK Tap on Phone on the free iKhokha app, and get access to your money in no time!
What is iK Pay Link?
Payment links are unique URLs that can be sent to customers via any messenger platform as a payment request. Simply create a link on the iKhokha app, send it to your customer and get paid!
iK Pay Link makes it possible to get paid anytime and from anywhere.
Find out more about iK Pay Link here.
What is iK Tap on Phone?
Imagine if your smartphone could be used as a card machine. Well, no need to imagine any longer because iK Tap on Phone gives you just that! Simply download the free iKhokha app and create a profile to get started.
iK Tap on Phone makes getting paid as easy as a simple tap of a bank card on your smartphone.
Get the lowdown on iK Tap on Phone here.
Time to Make Some Money!
When times are tough, being creative with how you earn money comes in handy. If you’re looking for a side hustle to supplement your income at the end of the month (or when that sky high fuel bill gives you grief), make sure you consider these 6 ideas to make money using your smartphone. Ready to get earning?
