Google Helpouts: A New Way to Make Money Online

Google Helpouts has been officially announced after several months of teasing about what it would offer and what users tend to benefit. . Essentially, it’s a new offering that people and businesses can use to make money via live social video.

Helpouts came to peoples hearing sometimes in July, and then in August, Google started inviting people to create them.

The idea of Helpouts from the user perspective was explained by Google VP, Engineering, Udi Manber in a a blog post stating, “What if getting help for a computer glitch, a leaky pipe, or a homework problem was as easy as clicking a button? What if you could connect via real-time video to a music teacher or a yoga instructor from the comfort of your home? What if you could get someone knowledgeable to get you ‘unstuck’ when you really need it?”

The demand for ‘How to” contents has increased over the years and Google has been the place where people turn to for help. These contents however have been dominating Google search results for years.

Helpouts are a bit different by their very nature, they are live and users can search for Helpouts by topics.

For example, if you need help on computer virus, just type ;Computer virus’ and results will display live Hangouts that are available. It will show you the price per helpout (sometimes they’re free) and/or the price per minute. It will also show you the next available time for a particular Helpout. If there is no time found, you have the option to request a time.

Google highlighted that the main benefits of giving Helpouts are immediate global reach, convenience and flexibility and of course, getting paid.

Providers can price the Helpouts as they deem fit. You can charge a fixed price per Helpout or a per-minute rate. Google Wallet is integrated as the payment method. The offering is available to both individuals and brands. Google already has brands like Sephora, One Medical, Weight Watchers, Redbeacon (a Home Depot comany) and Rosetta Stone on board.

Google says Helpouts may be recorded for money back guarantee on all Helpouts, quality assurance purposes, in response to abuse reporting, and for customer retention and provider retention.

There are age restrictions on Helpouts. Users have to be at least thirteen, and providers have to be at least eighteen.

Helpouts categories currently available are Arts and Music, Computers and Electronics, Cooking, Education and Careers, Fashion and Beauty, Fitness and Nutrition, Health and Home and Garden.

To get started, click here

Do you have anything worth offering to customers via live video that relates to your business? Something worth paying for? Do you see a way to make some money with Google Helpouts? Share your thoughts in the comments.