Ok so you have decided to take a stab at trying the world of GPT. Where do you start? The best thing you can do is prepare before jumping in head first.
- Sign up for some new email addresses that will only be used for gpts. You will need a separate email address for signing up with sites in order to get special emails and to get emails notifying you when an offer was approved or declined. Email addresses will need to be rotated to get offers to approve. You don't want to sign up 7 offers from the same advertiser with the same email. They are paying to get leads and will not be happy to get the same lead over and over. I suggest at least 3 emails to start. To be honest I have a ton though! When you start doing these sites you will get a lot of junk mail and you do not want to have your personal email flooded with junk! You can get these at Yahoo, hotmail, netzero, gmail, etc. I primarily use gmail because there is no limit to how many you can have. Also, gmail has a little trick to it: one e-mail address can turn into many. For instance: mygptemail@gmail.com can turn into: m.ygptemail@gmail.com, my.gptemail@gmail.com, myg.ptemail@gmail.com, mygp.temail@gmail.com, etc. They all go to the same inbox, but are recognized as multiple e-mail addresses by GPT companies. Gmail also has a filter system that I hear can make multiple email addresses easier. Some advertisers have caught on to the dot trick so if you are noticing that a certain advertiser is no longer crediting, try a regular "no dot" email address.
- Sign up for a private phone number. Unless you like getting all sorts of telemarketer calls then you will want to do this next step. I won't lie to you, it is getting harder to find a free service to protect you from unwanted phone spam. I just signed up for GrandCentral.com. GrandCentral is a new web app that lets you consolidate all of your phone numbers into one number, meaning someone can call you on your GrandCentral phone number and all of your phones (cell phone, work phone, home phone) or whichever phone(s) you choose will ring. If you do not pick up it will be forwarded to voicemail that you would retrieve from the site. So you are not giving out your actual home phone number. There is also a feature called "Quick Rule" which allows you to put your number on do not disturb which sends all calls that were placed with your GrandCentral number directly to your voicemail! Be sure to set up a personal voicemail message so it sounds like a regular phoneline. Otherwise it stats that you are a GrandCentral member. There are other phone services you can try but they will probably have a fee attached to them. Keep in mind that when getting an alternative phone number, advertisers will look at the area the phone number is associated. So it is important for you to have a local number. Not all services allow you to choose your area code.
- Create a Spreadsheet to track offers. Ok it doesn't have to be a spreadsheet but you will need something whether it be a notebook or Word document. If you have Microsoft Office, you can use Excel for your spreadsheets. If you have a Google account you can go to http://docs.google.com/ and create one online. You can also go to http://www.openoffice.org/ and download their office software. Why? Well when you are starting out your intent may not be to do more than one gpt site but once you get in, it can be addicting! Before you know it, you will have 5 and will not be sure what offers you have completed! And in the gpt world, that is a big no-no. You can be banned and considered fraudulent for completing offers more than once if you have been credited for them. If you are not sure if you have done the offer already, then don't! Better to be safe then sorry! Here is an example of a spreadsheet:
- Download CCleaner This little tool is very helpful! Cookies are how the advertising companies track if you completed an offer. When you click on the link from whatever GPT you are using, it has your account number embedded into the link. When the offer completes the advertiser's website places a "Cookie" on your computer, then notifies the GPT site that you completed the offer. Clearing your cookies in between completing offers is a must to get them to approve. This tool saves you a lot of time instead of having to do it manually. Keep in mind that when you clear your cookies it will usually clear your log-in cookie as well, which will log you out of the GPT website that you are working. To prevent this from happening open ccleaner, click “Options” then “Cookies.” The box on the right is your “Safe Box.” Click on the GPT site url in the box on the left and add it to your safe box on the right. This will prevent you from being logged out every time you clear your cookies. * NEVER delete cookies while you are in the middle of filling out an offer because it will cease to track your progress.
- Download Roboform. Roboform is a Password Manager and Web Form Filler that completely automates password entering and form filling. There is a free version and a Pro version. I use this to store my gpt passwords and my standard info that I need to fill out surveys. I never put in my social security number as I do not do any offers that require that. The free version only allows you to store so many passwords but it is good to start with. I have already hit my max and have been contemplating buying the Pro version. Here is an added bonus to using Roboform- when filling out surveys where you have to click “no” a thousand times, just click no on the first option and then press the left hand alt button and = at the same time. It will fill in the rest of the fields with the same answer (”no”) that you put in the first button. *Please note that surveys may be on a timer and if you complete too fast you might not get credit. I will fill out a page and watch tv or walk away or something.
- Get a PayPal account! This free service allows anyone to pay in any way they prefer, including through credit cards, bank accounts, buyer credit or account balances, without sharing financial information. Again you don't HAVE to do this but many gpt sites offer payment through them and it is quicker than waiting for a check. Some sites ONLY pay through PayPal. Your PayPal account must be verified. In order to do that you will need to link your PayPal account to your checking account.
- Read the terms of service (TOS)for the site you are considering joining! This will tell you the site requirements and what actions they consider to be fraudulent. I have tried to give a brief description of the sites I belong to, but they can change the TOS at any time. Protect yourself! You don't want to be labeled a fraudulent member and get banned!
