Can I get paid to be someone’s friend? Yes, it’s true, it’s possible to make money and make new friends at the same time! This post will explain you can get paid to be an online virtual friend, from the comfort of your living room.
Today I have an awesome post from Marie, who is getting paid every day to make new friends online.
I have so many questions, and I’m sure you do too. Luckily, in this post, Marie answers every there is to know about how to get paid to be a virtual friend.
This job is not for everyone, but if you enjoy making new friends, this most may be for you. Enjoy.
I am always looking for ways to make money and save money online. With a few different side hustles on the go, something I also do is get paid to be a virtual friend. That’s right, people pay me to be their online friend or companion.
Pretty much anyone can do this so I’ve put together this post in order to tell you exactly how it all works.
What is a virtual friend?
A virtual friend is exactly as it sounds. It basically involves people finding you and ‘renting’ you to be their friend. This is all done online and you don’t even need to meet them.
These individuals might struggle to meet friends for one reason or another.
All the virtual friends that I have made from this line of work have been thoroughly nice people, they have just been lacking in confidence for the most part.
The fact that you can be a virtual friend from the comfort of your own home means that you can get several online friends to maximize the earning potential.
So, can I get paid to be someone’s friend?
Yes, you can. Keep reading!
How much can you make being an online friend?
The answer to this question really does vary and it depends on how much time you are able to put in to be an online friend.
I am going to speak briefly about how much I charge so that you can get a brief idea of how profitable it can be.
When I get paid to be an online friend, I charge around $30 an hour. I go all the way up to $50 an hour if I have to put in more time with an individual.
I ‘work’ on average 20 hours a week so my average earnings are around $2000 – $2500 a month.
I think you will agree that it is a nice chunk of money for just chatting to friends online, listening to their problems, giving them some friendly advice, and perhaps the occasional video chat.
Of course this money does vary and when you are first starting, you might be tempted to charge a little less, which is completely up to you.
Suggested Read: Extra Income Ideas for Working Moms
Is it safe to be an online companion?
Nothing is foolproof but being an online companion is relatively safe as long as you follow some simple tips.
Some people assume that people looking for virtual friends are weird, but that is not usually the case. They are more often lonely for one reason or another, perhaps they are disabled and unable to get out much.
On the other hand, they could just be extremely shy or recently moved to a new area and don’t have any friends yet.
There are many people who find it better to talk to others through a screen rather than in ‘real-life’.
If you do want to be extra safe online, there are a couple of things that you can do:
- First of all, you should not give your address to anyone you are becoming virtual friends with.
- Some people also choose to give a fake name. I do not do this but it’s completely up to you.
How to get paid to be an online virtual friend
So, how does this all work? If you’re just starting out and wondering where to even begin, here’s how to get paid to be a virtual friend in 5 easy steps:
1. Sign Up & Create a Profile
In the sites that I will be talking about later, you simply need to sign up and create a profile.
2. Test Your Personality
You might also be asked to take some quizzes in order to get a gauge of your personality so that you can connect with the right kind of people.
3. Add a Friend-Worthy Description
Put a short description of yourself on your profile and list any special qualities that you feel would make you good for the role, i.e. good at advice, funny, knowledgeable at a particular topic.
4. Add your Payment Details
Make sure that you add payment details so that you can be paid for your services. With many sites, you can choose whether to receive the money into your PayPal account or straight into your bank.
5. Wait for the friendship requests
Once your profile is complete, you’re ready to start being a virtual friend.
Your profile will be visible to anyone seeking an online companion. If they like your description, they can message you. Your new online friendship can grow from there.
What kind of services does a virtual friend do?
Think of the kind of things that you do with your ‘real’ friends online. This is what you are expected to do with anyone you meet on the platform.
You might have males and females contacting you; and it is important you discuss your hobbies together so that you at least have things to talk about. That way, you can find friends who you actually have things in common with and it is more likely to go well.
Being a virtual friend is purely platonic and if anyone requests anything extra from you like dirty talk, you can easily say no and report them to the site.
I have only had one creepy encounter on one of these websites and luckily it was sorted out quickly by the support team.
How to Find Virtual Friend Jobs?
Now that you know a little more about how you can get paid to be a virtual friend, you are probably wondering how you can get started in this entire process. Below you can find the three sites that I use to meet people looking for these types of services.
RentAFriend.com
This is a really easy website to use and I definitely recommended if you are looking to get paid to be an online friend.
There is such a high number of members on this website, which makes it really easy to find what you are looking for.
It is fairly easy to sign up although there is a short application process where you will need to market yourself as best as you can.
After you’ve submitted your details, your profile should be accepted within a few days and then you will be able to be found by users on the site.
You can make anywhere from between $20 and $50 an hour through this site, it is up to you what you charge but be sure to mention this on your profile.
Pros
- As the person offering friend services, you are not charged at all. You get to keep every penny of whatever you keep on the website, which is a big plus.
- There is a high member count on RentAFriend.com, which makes it more likely that you will find a friend or hopefully many who have similar interests to you.
- It is well laid out and easy to use the website.
Cons
- It is impossible to do background checks on every person who joins the site; and this is something that is not offered by the platform. Therefore it is important that you are careful about possible scams and also practice the safety tips that I mentioned previously.
RentALocalFriend.com
This is a similar platform to the previous one that I just discussed. I actually use RentALocalFriend.com on a regular basis because of how straight forward it is.
People can sign up from any city in the world to find a virtual friend. Make yourself a profile on the site and make sure to include your hobbies.
Friend seekers will usually browse the profiles based on what they are interested in so it is important that you complete your information as fully as possible.
You could make a substantial chunk of cash on this site and $120 a day is not unusual. You do need to pay a fee to become a member however but it is definitely worth it if you use the platform to its full potential.
Pros
- It almost seems a little more prestigious than similar websites and the fact you have to pay an annual fee to become a verified friend, means that there is less competition from people in your area.
- There are fewer scammers than on the previous website.
- It is easy to make a profile and once verified, you are sure to be inundated with messages from friend seekers.
Cons
- You need to pay an annual membership fee of $100.
Fiverr.com
You might have heard of Fiverr in the past, while it is not specifically for get paid to be a virtual friend, it is a large marketplace that is trusted by millions of people all over the world.
Fiverr has recently launched Fiverr Friendship, which is a really cool idea that I have utilized personally.
You simply advertise your services, set a price and you are ready to go. Rather than meeting up, Fiverr Friendship allows you to offer services that you can do online. This involves general chit chat, relationship advice, and more, which is perfect for what you are looking for.
Pros
- The platform has verified payment options which means you can get paid in your currency and it also helps to weed out potential scammers.
- The added advantage of not having to meet in person, when you meet somebody on here, it can be a ‘virtual friendship’ at its finest.
- Really easy to advertise your services and set your own price, you call the shots on Fiverr.com.
Cons
- Fiverr will take a small commission from using their services, which means you don’t get to keep everything you make.
Conclusion
As you can see, getting paid to be an online friend is something that almost anyone can try.
If you find it easy to make friends and have an outgoing personality, it could definitely be something that you could be great at.
I’ve been an online virtual friend for a couple of years now and I absolutely love it.
I’ve actually ended up making a few real friends from the entire process who I still talk to on a regular basis.
I suggest weighing up the pros and cons of the sites that I have talked about and just give it a try for yourself!
Feel free to leave a comment to let me know how your virtual friend stories.
