Over here at Gigwalk HQ, we’re working super-hard to get more Gigs into the system. One of our goals is to make sure there are tons of jobs available everywhere in the US.  Many of you have asked us how you can help us get more jobs onto Gigwalk - so here are 5 (really easy) things you can do to help!

Tell your friends to download the app  Businesses want to be sure they have enough people to get their work done.  If you have friends (especially ones that live in smaller cities) that are interested in making a second paycheck by doing quality work, Please let them know!

Tell local businesses about us We’d love to be able to talk to all the small businesses out there.  But we’re a pretty small team (only 13 people) and could use your help! Do you know a real estate agent? They might need help with taking pictures. How about a restaurant owner? You could be giving them opinions on food and service. Tell them about us!

Be professional in every interaction

Businesses want to have an enjoyable experience with the people they work with.  When you’re speaking with someone through Gigwalk, talk to them the same way you’d like to be spoken to.

Do the best work you can possibly do When you’re out on a Gig, remember that businesses are looking for quality work.  The better the results, the more likely they are to post more Gigs and hire you to help them!

Get work done as soon as you can The due date of your Gig may be a month away, but why risk that something will happen that will keep you from earning that money?  Getting the Gig done as soon as possible not only means you get paid sooner, but it also makes you look better to the business that chose you.

We have a ton of updates to the app coming in the next few weeks (including the return of maps!)  Keep an eye out and let us know what you think of them!

For those of you checking out the Gigwalk app there are lots of nifty new features and more coming.  Here are some of the top features in the Gigwalk app.

1. Do Gigs Anywhere (select Gigs)

Before you leave home to do your next Gig, be sure to read the Gig Description carefully because you may not have to travel too far.  Sometimes the Gig could be to go to any nearby grocery store. Better yet, some Gigs you can do from home — just remember to review the Gig before leaving home.

2.  Instant Gigs: Elite Membership of a Private Group

You’ve done great work for a business and earned their trust. Now businesses can invite you to join their private group as an Elite Member so you can instantly do their Gigs without applying.  It’s a great way to get consistent work from businesses.   

3. Message Directly With the Business

Have a question or need something in the Gig instructions clarified?  No worries…just message the business who posted the Gig directly from the App.  It’s like mobile text messaging but entirely free.   Access the Messages feature from the Gig you are working on.

4. Do Multiple Gigs at Once:  

Once you’ve been accepted to multiple Gigs you can manage all the Gigs you’re working on and get them done as soon as you can (as long as it’s before the Due Date).

5. Notifications:  A quick way to find out everything that is happening such as which Gigs you were accepted for and new mobile messages from customers.

We know that finding temporary work can be a hassle. Applying for temp jobs and waiting to hear back is time-consuming, and often unsuccessful. And even in places like Minneapolis, where the unemployment rate has been dropping recently, people throughout the region are still recovering from the recession. With personal finances stretched tight, some unemployed or underemployed folks will be looking for supplemental income.

That’s exactly why we’re excited to announce that we’re launching hundreds of Gigs in the Twin Cities. Gigs are a new way to work on-the-go: simply browse the app to find work in your area, complete the required tasks at the Gig’s location, then submit your Gig and get paid via PayPal when the client approves it. Gigwalk differs from online classifieds since it doesn’t require you to sit behind your computer. Also, each time a Gigwalk user (or Gigwalker, as we call them) successfully submits a Gig, the user earns Streetcred to build up his or her reputation in the Gigwalk community — and to help find his or her next Gig.

Beginning Monday, Feb. 20, Gigwalkers in Minneapolis will find hundreds of Gigs right in their own neighborhoods. For these jobs, Gigwalkers will complete field research tasks for a leading Fortune 500 brand. Gigwalkers will be asked to visit a local store, collect in-the-moment, in-store data about various products using an iPhone, then provide feedback through Gigwalk on the products. This first round of Gigs will run for three weeks, and the payment for each Gig will be $8 to $20 per hour.

To get started, simply download the Gigwalk app in Apple’s App Store and check out the map to find Gigs near you. Once you’ve completed a Gig, we’ll send your payment to you via PayPal. When you’ve completed a Gig, you can earn Streetcred for the work you do and show off your skills with endorsements from your Gigwalk network. If you want to practice Gigs before we officially launch in Minneapolis on the 20th, check out some of our practice Gigs. You’ll see just how easy it is to complete a Gig while you’re out running errands around town.

Happy Gigwalking!

Stop Spinning Your Wheels
You know what sucks? Sitting at your computer hurling your resume at the black hole known as Craigslist job listings.  You know what sucks even more? Doing incredible work for a short-term job and not having a place to capture the fantastic work you did — so the next time you are looking for a short-term job you are right back in the same pool with everybody else.  You are spinning your wheels but not getting ahead. That is unfair. 

We built Gigwalk to change the status quo.  We believe that great work on Gigs should be rewarded with improved access to Gigs in the network.  Now, building your reputation on Gigwalk is going to get even better with skills and endorsements.

Get Endorsed to Make Your Skills Work Harder
You are a master of a skill - anything from photography to writing - so show it. Then ask your colleagues and business partners to endorse you. With endorsements, your skills will work even harder for you.  For example, perhaps you did some freelance photography work at a local event a few months back.  Asking the person who hired you for that freelance job to endorse your photography skill on Gigwalk, combined with your performance and Streetcred, will help you get new Gigs.

How it Works

Ready to start building your Gigwalk reputation? Getting started is easy. 

1. Setup your Skills
First, go to your Gigwalker Profile in the App. From here you can choose to add skills, and specify your area of expertise within each skill. The last step is to add a description. Descriptions are important because they provide additional detail and information about your areas of expertise.

2. Get endorsed
Once your skills have been identified, it is time to ask for endorsements. Click on “Get Endorsements” and you’ll be taken to a page where you can send an email to ask for an endorsement or select from contacts within your phone’s address book. We’ve made the process of asking for an endorsement easy by providing email content. 

When a person receives your endorsement request via email they will be asked to go to a Gigwalk web page where in few clicks they will be able to endorse your skills.  Before endorsing you they’ll login via Facebook to verify they are a real person.  It’s really that easy! 

Have questions or feedback about these new features? Contact us anytime at community@gigwalk.com

Searching for jobs the traditional way is frustrating and exhausting.  Hours are spent scouring the internet for decent jobs, dealing with ten different forms, and scam warning messages. At Gigwalk, you don’t have to scour or search anymore.

With our latest updates to the Gigwalk iPhone app, we are making it even simpler for work to find YOU.

Our new push notifications will alert you when new Gigs pop up in your neighborhood. These notifications (no text messaging charges) get pushed to your phone even when you’re not in the Gigwalk App, so you won’t ever miss out on important Gigs.

Make sure you’re receiving these notifications by:

1. Clicking on your phone’s Settings
2. Clicking Notifications
3. Clicking Gigwalk
4. Turning Alerts On

Scanning through 100,000 Gigs is made easy with our new search filters. When you are looking for Gigs, you can filter by pay and by type. This’ll help you plan your day and be as efficient as possible when you are Gigwalking.

We’ve also heard loud and clear on Gigwalk Talk that you want to be able to receive your money in larger chunks and minimize PayPal fees. Here’s how you can set your Min Payout:

1. In the App, click on your name to open up your profile.
2. Click on Settings in the bottom right-hand corner.
3. Select Min Payout and adjust the wheel to the desired amount. 

Our new notifications will also ping you when you’ve been paid. When you receive this message, indulge in your favorite treat without guilt. 

If you haven’t already, make sure you upgrade to the latest version of Gigwalk to enjoy all these new features.

As always, make sure you’re connecting to Facebook so you can share your Gigwalking successes with the world.

Happy Gigwalking!

P.S. Be on the lookout for special pins signifying higher-paying Gigs. 

At Gigwalk, we’re witnessing something pretty amazing—regular folks turning their iPhones into paychecks, and alleviating some of the stress that comes with challenging economic times. Instead of passively waiting for the economy to improve, ordinary people are using the free Gigwalk iPhone App, doing Gigs, and getting paid. Our mission is to create regular paychecks for all Gigwalkers. 

Our Gigwalk Community

At Gigwalk we are committed to fostering a strong sense of community. Today, we want to showcase three of our top Gigwalkers. Allow them to be your guides into the world of Gigwalking as they offer insightful tips, tricks, and strategies to becoming a successful Gigwalker.

The Gigwalk Wizard

Andrew is a medical device consultant from New York City with 4,100+ Streetcred and $2501 earned to date. He loves Gigs that allow him to discover new places in the New York area. Along with Jenzie, he created a website, Gigwalkingtips.com, to educate fellow Gigwalkers.

The Gigwalk Bard

Ron is a Social media freelancer from Los Angeles, California who occasionally sells wine. With 3,300+ Streetcred and total earnings of $1027, he was introduced to Gigwalk through a family member.

The Gigwalk Traveler

Jenzie is an Event Planner who can be found performing Gigs anywhere in California between San Diego and San Francisco. With 2,000+ Streetcred, she has developed a distinct approach to Gigwalking.  The Gigs she does earn her rave reviews and extra Streetcred from Gigwalk customers.  She was even featured on Fox News for her Gigwalking prowess.

Let’s be honest. Our economy has been rocky over the past few years. Meaningful work, economic stability, and a decent paycheck are no longer guarantees. At Gigwalk, our mission is to provide those with a mobile phone and a can-do attitude with the opportunity to earn some extra cash by doing fun Gigs. Andrew, Ron, and Jenzie’s experiences are available to anyone who want to turn their iPhones into paychecks.

Todd 

 I recently joined the Gigwalk team earlier this month as the Community Manager. Any questions or comments about this post can be directed towards my email, Todd@Gigwalk.com

 We want to give a special thanks to Carol for doing the interviews, and to Jenzie, Andrew, and Ron for sharing their personal views and stories.  

These interviews have been edited for time.