Maybe you've seen sites promising something (expensive!) for nothing. Is this a scam, you ask? Well, no-- not if you stick with the legitimate, proven sites. Really, it works! I've made a few thousand dollars (which I selected in lieu of the prizes) in the past few months, and I know many people who have made vastly more!

Okay, let me explain how this works. The premise of these sites is based on affiliate marketing-- the "freebie" sites get paid by advertisers when you sign up for an offer via their site. They then pass along some of that money to you in the form of a prize!

Some basic things you will need are a computer (check out OnSale or LaptopsForLess for great computer deals) and internet access (preferrably high-speed connection, such as Verizon FiOS or Comcast). You will not be able to use AOL, or any other network that uses a proxy server.

Step-by-step, here is what you do:

1) First, you sign up on one of these freebie sites as someone's referral (sign-up is free).

NOTE: Before you begin, I suggest setting up a separate email account for this purpose. Yahoo! or Gmail are good choices for free accounts.

Here are some legitimate sites I have done myself- you can sign up using these links:

2) Next, you complete an offer from a sponsor (a few popular ones are Blockbuster Online, Video Professor, Stamps.com-- there are usually many free or cheap trials to choose from).


NOTE: Always clear your cookies before completing an offer, and make sure your browser is set to accept all cookies. Never do an offer or sign up for a site more than once. You will need to use your real information!

NOTE: Most offers do require you use a credit card. Even for free trials, you may be required to enter a credit card number as a form of proof of identity. Don't worry-- this is perfectly safe as long as you see "https://" before the website in the browser bar. If you do not have a credit card, or would like to open an account exclusively for completing Freebie sites, be sure to compare offers and pick the card that is right for you. Personally, I like cards that give me cash back, such as Blue Cash from American Express and Discover Cards. However, there are cards that give you points toward travel and/or some other benefits.


3) Then you refer a few people to do the same. There are also forums where you can trade for "greens" (referrals who complete offers for you).
Here is a good spot to get lots of referrals: ReferralSwapper
Another good site is: RefStop

There are also several forums dedicated to freebie trading, including:
Anything4Free
FreeiPodGuide
Free Lunch Room
Freebie Society
Freebie Scout
FreeBrawta


Other sites with forum threads for trading:
The Tech Guide
Mommy Jobs



4) Finally, order your prize and enjoy!


NOTE: If you would like more details of how this works, there is a great free (for now) tutorial available called Project Payday. It walks you through the process and gives you marketing tips so you can start getting your own referrals!