This review is based on a researchers view only
~Introduction~
JustAnswer.com is an online forum with a view of Google Answers. Members answer other member's questions for money. The twist is anyone can answer anyone's question. This means you don't have to apply for a job at Google Answers ... Read review
Advantages: Cheap, community Disadvantages: Many non-paying members
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~Introduction~
JustAnswer.com is an online forum with a view of Google Answers. Members answer other member's questions for money. The twist is anyone can answer anyone's question. This means you don't have to apply for a job at Google Answers to answer questions.
~Answering questions~
When answering questions you type your answer in a text box. A recent answer of mine was:
Question: ... .../>
Okay, a bad thing, JustAnswer.com charges the answerer 50% of any money made per question. You can earn $0.50 to $100 for answering a question (depending on the person asking the question price, these prices are after the 50%).
The money is retrievable via PayPal after you reach $20 (easier said than done).
Another bad point is only a very small amount of members actually bother to 'Accept' your answer. The person ... more
This review is based on a researchers view only
~Introduction~
JustAnswer.com is an online forum with a view of Google Answers. Members answer other member's questions for money. The twist is anyone can answer anyone's question. This means you don't have to apply for a job at Google Answers to answer questions.
~Answering questions~
When answering questions you type your answer in a text box. A recent answer of mine was:
Question:
Expain the relationship between China's geography and its belief that it was the sole source of civilization.
Answer must be in details and contain a minimum of three sentences. No website accepted
(often answerers just give a link to a website with the answer)
Answer:
Because of China's area, 5.9million square miles, it was isolated them from other civilizations until the discovery of modern transportation. Also the distance between the east and west China is 5200km and north to south 5,500km, the long distances was another hurdle between meeting other civilzations. There were also many physical barriers between them and other civilizations.
(I just copied and pasted, naughty me). Still he paid $7 and I got $3.50 .
It took me about 30 minutes to get this answer, and that is a faster rate of pay than Ciao.
~The money and site ~
Okay, a bad thing, JustAnswer.com charges the answerer 50% of any money made per question. You can earn $0.50 to $100 for answering a question (depending on the person asking the question price, these prices are after the 50%).
The money is retrievable via PayPal after you reach $20 (easier said than done).
Another bad point is only a very small amount of members actually bother to 'Accept' your answer. The person asking the question needs to pay a $5 deposit, and then click a button saying they want to pay you for your answer. Only around a 1/10th of users make a deposit, and only 1/20 accept your answers. Before answering a question it tells you if they have paid a deposit and if they generally accept, so you are stupid if you spend 3hrs researching without checking this!
You can also spend the money you've earned on asking questions.
You can also feedback, hardly any members do though.
~Questions on what?~
Everything! Law, entertainment, computers, homework help, weddings, health, DIY, relationships, cars, finance, pets, parenting and career questions.
~Extra Facilities~
The site allows various other things. Private messaging, file upload, picture upload and smileys. This a little novelty but is useful if you need to show a diagram or put a help file PDF up etc.
~Speed~
Ooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.................... the agony. It takes hours, a bit like Ciao at certain times.
When I say slow, I mean it. It took about 30secs just to open 1 page!
~Community~
The community isn't as close, as there is a slight feel of competition. You see you have to try to answer questions before other members and as most members are American I have a disadvantage, the time difference.
Nevertheless, in the support area all respected members contribute; and due to the nature of the site all members help each other, so a community sort of exists.
~Layout, design and navigation~
The design is a simple message board design, white background, black text etc. but the navigation is a right pain. There is no 'log-in’ or 'join' link on the homepage, but you have to go into the site to join or log-in. Once you are a member you can view answers to other peoples questions (and yours, if you pay a deposit). They experiment with a slightly different layout every week or so.
When navigating around catergory you have to use a drop down list, very annoying!
A search tool ceases to exist.
~Answer Quality~
The quality to answers is high, as the site asks all answers be professional. The site also states you may not develop relations with the client (example become their lawyer or be the only answerer they will respond to). ---UPDATE---
Just today they've increased the minimum account to withdraw to $50, due to this I'm lowering the rating to 2* and not recommending it, I'll still be using it anyway.
Oh yeh.... and I had another accept wahoo!
---UPDATE 2---
Thanks to Ciao, a large topic started on the forum, and as most of the members complained they had to re-do the changes!!!!!!!!!!! Yes!!!! A company FINALLY PAYS ATTENTION TO US! And Bridget (the other reviewer) also protested!
---Update 3---
Contrary to anything else I've said in this op, they have now added a log-in and sign-up link to the homepage, it makes the site easier to navigate.
They have also added a price chooser below the question ask box on the homepage.
andersonfamily 01.02.2005 (05.02.2005)
Ciao members have rated this review on average:
very helpful
Review of justanswer.com
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Navigation
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Ease of Installation
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Quick review of justanswer.com
I used JustAnswer and instantly realised that the "Expert" did not know the subject and palmed me off with some nonsence then hit me with a plea to accept his answer (meaning payment) when I replied to say he had not answered the question he responded with a second similarly vague response. As I understand most of the experts are US based and as my question concerned a UK domestic appliance product of a specific type and model the expert was lost. On that basis it is clear to see why no one pays. ...
Bob712 23.09.2008
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of justanswer.com
Advantages: Open forum to post questions and answers on any topic. Disadvantages: OH, where to begin. Nonpaying customers, no expert comradery, very cut-throat, low payout, waste of time and energy
This site is set up as a live advice site similiar to Keen or Kasamba, etc. They recruit "experts" to answer questions and clients post questions, receive multiple responses, and decide whether or not they want to pay for them. Expert credentials are not verified. Clients can read all answers as long as deposit is paid.
Lots of kids cheating on their homework, which is sickening. Purported "nurses" and "veterinarians" answering health and pet questions, ... ...they are not truly professionals (unless they are just that inept at their professions). It scares me when their are unverified "medical professionals" answering questions for people with real concerns.
Clients believe they are drawing from a base of experts to have questions addressed and are easily mislead to believing this is valid advise. I have seen MULTIPLE incorrect answers accepted as correct, some of them health issues, but after a client ...
BrigidBishop 03.02.2005 (04.02.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of justanswer.com
Advantages: Will take your money Disadvantages: Lots of incorrect information
The truth about Just Answer and it's experts. Just Answer's experts evaluate each other. Since the experts that have been there for a long time can make a pretty good income, they do not like to see new experts come to the site. This cuts their income. They will report them to management. After so many reports, the new expert gets a email saying ,they can no longer be an expert on the site. The new expert has no appeal rights. No way they can even ... ...and paste information. They copy information and use it as their personal answer. Most of the answers are found on Goggle. Most experts are only experts at searching goggle. Once you are banned from the site you can never return as a expert. New experts make only a small percentage of what the established experts do. Hard work and a lot of time spent, will get you up to 50% of what the customer pays for the answer. I find most of the experts to be ...
JakeBishop 06.08.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of justanswer.com
Advantages: An way to make some extra cash Disadvantages: Not all but a lot of the experts are bitter, backstabbing and cliquey. Lots of disadvantages...
Jake is absolutely right! Just Answser’s experts DO evaluate each other. “They do not like to see new experts come to the site. This cuts their income. They will report them to management. After so many reports, the new expert gets a email saying, they can no longer be an expert on the site. The new expert has no appeal rights.” - This is exactly what happened to me. I was on the site for just under a year and it that time became the top expert in ... ...except to help them out if they emailed me, (there are ways other experts can check this to keep the competition going.) I was frowned upon and was reported by a “clique” of experts and was given the email saying I could no longer be an expert on the site. When I asked for a reason, all I was told was that I was reported (not by customers but by other experts – who wanted me out and they succeeded. I would never want to work for them again!) Totally ...
BZ123 08.06.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of justanswer.com
Advantages: Helpful, fun, interesting, meaningfu Disadvantages: Experts rarely get to find out what happens down the road.
The last two reviews were by people who share a last name, and a grudge, against the site. I read the reviews and knew that the second reviewer had been an expert who was embittered before I realized he admitted to being a former expert. I have been an expert on the site since the summer. I am a lawyer who used to practice law in Ontario, Canada and I can tell you that our credentials are verified. I am not a lawyer who cannot find work. I am a retired ... ...time. I believe this site is allowing me to do this as I have helped thousands of people since the summer. I enjoy working on the site for another reason as well. There is a wonderful feeling of community amongst the experts. It is true that experts get banned from the site but that's when they are overly aggressive and seem to care about making money but not about helping the people who need help. Debra Thal ...
debrathal 08.03.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of justanswer.com
