Recently I signed up for this awesome looking service called TaskRabbit, but I haven’t had much luck picking up any tasks yet. My pal Michelle over at Fit is the New Poor, however, is the TaskRabbit master, and she’s agreed to tell you what’s up. 

Five months ago, when I started my personal finance journey, I quickly noticed a trend in other debt blogs- side hustling. The extra money couldn’t be more appealing, especially since my husband was out of work for four months. And who doesn’t want a bit of extra spending money while the rest of my income went to paying off debt?!

But to be honest, I wasn’t sold initially. Working full time, managing my blog, and volunteering over 20 hours a week didn’t give me much energy at the end of the day to do a hustle. I poked around on a couple sites that other bloggers would mention and would be instantly overwhelmed by the application process or the amount of competition (especially from international workers who charged way under what I was looking for).

I expressed frustration about this on my Twitter page, and I was instantly referred to TaskRabbit. 20 minutes on the site and I was hooked- and also employed!

What is TaskRabbit?

It’s simple: TaskRabbit is a site where people post actual tasks they need to get done and the “rabbits” either pick up the task or bid on the project. There are three kinds of tasks:

1. Quick Assign– Tasks that are set at certain amount of money that anyone can just pick up. For example, there is a task listed to pick up groceries that will pay $20 + reimbursement. If I was able, I could just select this task and instantly be assigned to it without bidding.

2. Quick Bids– Tasks that are open to bids. These are the most common. Posters describe the task, how long it should take, and if there are any reimbursements. Rabbits then bid based on their estimates.

3. Jobs/Hourly Bids– Yes! There are actually reoccurring jobs on TaskRabbit! These are just like Quick Bids where the poster describes the task. However, instead of bidding on getting the full task done, Rabbits post on getting the task done over and over again.

How Does It Work?

TaskRabbit requires you to first go through a background check especially since many tasks are done in other’s homes or using other’s cash. Once your profile is set up and the site confirms that you are felony-less, you’re ready to go! Your profile can link to your social media sites, and your profile will also show your reviews and ratings!

As you perform and are assigned tasks, you move up in the ranks. Your ranking puts your bids up higher and gets you more attention. Once you hit level 10, you are given a nifty green TaskRabbit t-shirt. At level 7, I’m so excited to get to 10 and get a bit of a perk!

Once your task is finished, you mark your task as complete. Your assigner has 3 days to pay before it is automatically closed (yay for reassurance!). Your assigner does have the ability to rate you, which, as I mentioned earlier, shows up in your profile. It’s extra motivation to do your best on your task at all times as many assigners do read a person’s reviews to determine who they want to work with- especially the bigger projects.

TaskRabbit then pays you via direct deposit, which I feel is so much more secure compared to PayPal or money transfer.

Tips on Getting Assigned

Just like many side hustle websites, TaskRabbit is a numbers game. There are tasks out there that I think I am absolutely perfect for but never get assigned to. And then there are others in which I feel like I have no shot at that I get instant money for. It’s all a crap shoot.

But if you’re looking to make significant money from the site, I suggest doing the following:

1. Stay local– The little tasks is where the money is at! I make the majority of my TaskRabbit money doing local errands. Sure, it’s not glamorous, but it pays!

2. Bid lower– Do not forget that you are bidding. Chances are that there is someone out there who will be bidding under you so it helps to lower your bids by a couple bucks to cover the task posting cost (it’s shown as you bid). Never go over the budget if the person posts it. And do not be afraid to ask if they do not mention it! There is a comment section just for that.

3. Build a great profile– Making a friendly, outgoing, and easy to read profile that lists all of your expertise will get you more attention than skipping this step. And always link your LinkedIn page if you plan on doing professional tasks.

4. Write an awesome pitch– Most people forget to do this, but when you bid you are required to write a message to the poster. Many people write something like “I’d love to do your task.” Do not be tempted to take the lazy route! Write why you want to do this task, why you are the best, and how you will get it done. Share your blogs, social media pages, or craft samples. Treat it like a mini-cover letter.

My Favorite Tasks

Believe it or not, I’ve had an amazing time doing tasks! My first task was delivering toys to a children’s hospital while wearing a Santa hat! Another was running through a “treasure hunt” at the Chicago Field Museum! Others, I’ve helped moms write high school entrance essays and college students polish their resumes. I’ve managed email accounts and consulted on social media. I’ve ran errands, picked up lunches, and brought donations to the Salvation Army. All of this while making money and keeping my own schedule.

Fit is the New Poor is the true tale of a blogger’s attempts to conquer her debt, find her purpose, and buy all the shoes her small budget can afford. Follow her on Twitter or Facebook.