We all have data.
Data that is worth money.
And there are many ways to make money from your data, like monetizing it or selling it outright.
But with so many options out there, how can you know which one is best for you?
That’s where I come in!
Table of Contents
- The difference between data and information.
- Data as a commodity.
- How to make money from your data.
- What are the risks of sharing your personal data with companies or government agencies.
- Steps you can take to protect yourself, including encryption, anonymizing, and using VPNs.
- Why should I care about my privacy online if I have nothing to hide?
- Conclusion
The difference between data and information.
Information is data that has been put into context.
Let’s take the example of a DNA test.
A DNA test will tell you something about who your ancestors were.
But that information is only useful if you know where to go to learn more about your ancestry.
If you’re from Ireland, a DNA test can tell you more about the historical events that have influenced your genealogy.
To make money from your data, you must know where to find the information that becomes context for your data.
The first thing you can do is try a DNA test (my wife and I took one a few years back). They’re fun, but they don’t pay very well ($10-$20 per month).
So to make this option a profitable one, you’ll have to take lots of them.
I know people who have taken several DNA tests over the course of a year.
That can add up!
The next step in making money from your data is research.
Your family history and DNA aren’t the only two things that can be researched.
You could also research your name, which is called a heritage report or historical background check.
I wouldn’t recommend doing this for $20 or more because you might not find anything of interest (or it may take weeks).
Instead, look for free resources and information.
These sites can generally be used to look up name meanings, origins, historical data and more.
Data as a commodity.
Your data has value.
If you’re working to make money from your data, you’ll want to figure out how it can be monetized.
Data that is available for free (such as the information discussed above) can be sold on a site like Etsy.
You may also be able to sell it to a museum, local library or historical society.
If you’re interested in selling your personal data to companies for use in their research and marketing campaigns, there are several options available to you.
You’ll want to sign up for all of them so that you can make the most money possible from your data.
One of the ways you can do this is via a service called Vindale Research.
This website will allow you to sign up with several different providers.
Each provider will have questions designed for paid surveys, so make sure that you fill out all of your profiles accurately and provide them with everything they ask for.
You’ll be able to make $2-$5 by taking a few surveys, depending on the length and payout.
For example, a survey that takes 15 minutes might pay you $1 (that’s 50 cents per minute), and one that takes an hour may pay $3 (or 50 cents per minute).
I’ve personally tested out a few of the paid survey providers on this website and have been happy with the pay outs.
I’ve earned $5-$10 each month from these surveys.
Another option, in addition to Vindale Research, is Survey Voices.
This site will allow you to make money by taking product tests or participating in focus groups.
A third option is to sell your personal data directly, which you can do on sites like DataForSale.
This site will allow you to set the price for each of your pieces of data and what information they are tied to.
How to make money from your data.
There are many ways to make money from your data.
But the key to doing so is researching each of these options and deciding which one is best for you.
Once you have decided how to make money from your data, you can begin looking at the opportunities available to make this happen today!
What are the risks of sharing your personal data with companies or government agencies.
How can you prevent companies from selling your information to third parties.
If you’re going to sell your personal data, there are some risks involved that you need to be aware of.
One risk is that your data will get lost or stolen (or the company or government agency holding it might go out of business).
This happens more than you might think with government agencies and companies.
If this happens to your data, you could lose out on a lot of money or any other information that was included in it.
Another risk is identity theft.
This can happen if someone gains access to your personal information and uses the information to apply for credit cards, loans, etc.
You might be liable for any negative consequences that result from their use of the data, which can include debt collection and financial problems that could affect your ability to get a job or even buy a home.
Another risk is incorrect information in your data.
If there are inaccuracies about you or your family members, it could cause you to be denied services or employment.
Lastly, there is privacy risk.
If you’re not careful about what information you share and where it might end up, your private information could end up being used for something that is less than reputable, such as spam or other unwanted emails sent through unsolicited email lists or bulk mailing lists.
Steps you can take to protect yourself, including encryption, anonymizing, and using VPNs.
There are things you can do to protect yourself from these risks.
One way to protect the data is to encrypt it .
This will prevent others from accessing your personal information if it’s stolen or lost.
You also want to anonymize any data you share, whether you plan on selling it directly or having a company sell it for you.
This will prevent people from knowing who the data is about, which can protect your identity if someone gains access to the information.
You’ll also need to use encryption and anonymizing when sending any of this information over the internet.
Other than that, you should also use an extra layer of protection by using a virtual private network (VPN) .
You can use one of these for free with your laptop or computer.
Or you can pay a subscription fee to have one on your mobile devices.
By using encryption, anonymizing, and VPNs when handling any of this information, you will be ensuring that your data is protected.
Why should I care about my privacy online if I have nothing to hide?
You may be wondering why you should care about protecting your privacy online if you have nothing to hide.
There are a few reasons why it’s important to protect your data, even if that means protecting your privacy.
Here are some of them
Your data could be wrong.
And that mistake could put you in danger.
If this happens, you want to make sure that the wrong information isn’t shared or used against you.
You might not know what your data is being used for.
Maybe it’s legal and harmless, but it doesn’t seem right to you.
This could be especially true if you never gave permission for anyone.
Conclusion
Given all of the risks and rewards associated with data, you should be asking yourself
“should I care about my privacy online if I have nothing to hide?”
The answer is yes.
If you’re not taking steps now to protect your personal information that’s shared on social media or by companies like Google who make money from selling it, then someone else will eventually take control over what happens with it in the future.
By encrypting your hard drive, using anonymizing tools when browsing websites, and implementing a VPN service for increased security measures across devices, you can safeguard your identity against hackers while still enjoying an easy-to-use internet experience.
And remember
Just because you might not see any immediate benefits doesn’t mean your data isn’t being used to generate revenue for someone else.
If you’re not going to take action, then you’ll never know whether or not your data is being used in a way that benefits everyone or just the company collecting it.