Sell Advice and Digital Content with Ether

Making money online by selling what others need is a tried and tested way of earning an web-based income. While websites like Ebay allow you to sell physical products, there are ways to earn money selling digital content and in cases, personal knowledge.

Ether is a company that’s rather similar to Bitwine: both allow you to sell your time and advice through online phone conversations.

There are however, notable differences: Ether isn’t limited to computer-based telephony and includes the selling of digital content such as images or documents.

How does Ether work? Like Bitwine, Ether allows you to set your own rates for each phone conversation. However your phone number will only ring after the client has prepaid the rate you’ve set.

Here’s an example. Say a client wants to learn how to wipe her computer’s hard drive clean. She notices that you’re listed as a PC expert. She wants to contact you for advice and clicks on your number.

Ether will arrange for her to pay them your rate. After this is completed, she’ll be able to initiate the call and your phone will ring.

Ether takes 15% commission and sends you the rest of the money via direct deposit or check. It is also interesting to note that you don’t have to take calls behind the computer through free internet telephone services like Skype.

When you sign up, Ether gives you a free unique Ether Phone Number. You can then set it to forward to your cellphone or number at work or home. When the client calls the Ether number, your phone will ring and you’ll be connected to the client.

This is a much better option than BitWine, which limits the user to the use of Skype for consultation sessions. The fact that your number will only ring after a session is paid for ensures that you won’t get random spammers or unsolicited calls.

This Ether number can be given through email to specific people or it could advertised through websites or blogs in the form of a button.

An example of how the button looks on a blog’s sidebar:

A screenshot of what the client sees when she clicks on the Ether button shown on your website.

With Ether, you also have the option of selling specific digital content through your blog or email. Simply put up a Ether button and set the price you will be charging for your services. Interested buyers will only be able to access the contents by paying first.

This is pretty much an automated process and the only drawback is that you’ll have to give 15% of your earnings to Ether. Great if you are terribly busy and expect lots of orders. Otherwise, direct negotiation between you and your reader/client will earn you more money per sale.

What’s Cool

• Phone conversations not limited to the computer. Clients can contact you on your cellphone or at work.
• Ability to schedule specific hours for phone calls
• Option of selling digital content through Ether Buttons
• Prepayment prerequisite reduces possibility of payment disputes for you, the seller.
• No monthly, setup and connection fees.

What’s Not

• Ether is only offered to specific countries. See here for a list of countries accepted.