Niche Biz: Short Tasks
There are countless employment sites out there that help companies fill full- and part-time jobs. Not included in most, however, are all the extra little tasks businesses often need to get done, but that aren’t enough to justify hiring another regular employee.
Targeting those small—yet important—jobs comes ShortTask, which aims to connect qualified workers with companies in need of such short-term help.
Now in beta, ShortTask is essentially a community that focuses on connecting what it calls “seekers”—companies or individuals who need various tasks accomplished without hiring in-house staff—and “solvers,” or workers who can complete those tasks virtually from home.
Seekers begin by listing the tasks they need done, such as transcribing audio or video recordings, identifying objects in a photograph or creating written content. They also create an escrow account for payment and indicate for each task how much they’re willing to pay, along with its deadline. Solvers then visit the site and choose the tasks they’d like to complete.
Once the work is done and the seeker approves it, they get paid in US dollars via PayPal from the seeker’s account; ShortTask, meanwhile, takes a commission of 10 percent. There are currently more than 50,000 tasks listed on the site, including finding articles and commenting on Amazon.com (price: USD 1), for example, or asking questions on a forum (paying USD 0.15). Solvers from around the world are allowed to find jobs through the site.
Photo by ShortTask.
Jaclyn on May 1st, 2009 8:36 am
That is a pretty cool idea! It’s almost like the ebay version of a work site so to speak. Rather than having a set job for someone to work on, they can view them all and decide for themselves which one’s they want to complete adn when, that’s pretty cool.
Kay-Anne on May 2nd, 2009 10:01 pm
The idea of Short Tasks is great.
Although the site is very confusing.
I am not a computer wize by no means,
but I can read & follow directions.
Short Tasks makes it almost impossible to do some of the tasks.
The directions are very confusing.
I have emailed Short Tasks several times asking for some assistance.
I have as yet not received any reply at all.
Short Tasks is a dream come true for me.
Now if only some one could explain it to me.
Joan Rowns on May 25th, 2009 12:30 am
Yeah, I’d have to go with Anne on this one. A few more specific directions would help, from time to time. Nonetheless, the idea is great; check also http://www.hummingtasks.com, as well.
annika on May 25th, 2009 7:02 am
Most people work better when they are not focused on only one particular task. This is a wonderful plan.
http://www.business-opportunities.biz/
annika on May 25th, 2009 7:02 am
Sorry wrong site address
http://www.travelhqr.com
evanhabib on July 26th, 2009 4:51 am
I can’t enter at htt://www.hummingtasks.com
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