How to use Steady to earn money
Stepping into the gig economy can certainly be overwhelming. There are a plethora of apps and websites for personal shoppers, dog walkers, food and grocery delivery drivers, even folks to assemble furniture from companies like IKEA. Without any real direction, you could end up with a phone full of gig apps you never use. Worse, you could miss a great opportunity to earn some cash.
Steady was created to help with that. Think of it as a curator of gig opportunities, customized to your preferences and location. They also take care of vetting apps so you don’t get ripped off. It doesn’t matter why you’re thinking of becoming a gig worker, Steady is worth adding to your smartphone.
What is Steady?
Steady is a clearinghouse app that allows users to learn about and apply for a variety of gigs. Work comes from a variety of sources, and you will find many different types of opportunities. These include:
- Delivery Driving
- Rideshare Services
- Warehouse And Assembly Work
- Restaurant And Banquet Shifts
- Care For Pets, Children, And Seniors
- House Sitting
- Housecleaning
- Furniture Moving
- Website Testing
- Home Customer Service
Job opportunities on Steady come from the most well-known gig providers. They also add gigs from local or smaller clients. This means you can search for many opportunities even when some are overloaded with applicants.
How did Steady start?
Adam Roseman, one of Steady’s founders, conceived Steady in 2017. His father needed post-retirement income to make ends meet. Adam helped him find work that was flexible, profitable, and interesting.
Roseman quickly realized his father wasn’t alone. Many people were in need of ways to earn cash in ways that worked for their busy lifestyles. Others needed help entering the workforce when they didn’t have much experience. He also learned that it was absolutely frustrating to find, research, and apply for gig opportunities one job at a time. That frustration multiplies when a gig turns out to be a dead end or misleading.
Steady was created to solve those problems through technology! Today, there are more than 3 million members on the Steady platform.
How do I sign up to Steady app?
The signup process is quite simple. Steady is available for download through Google Play or the App Store. Once installed you:
- Create your account by providing your name, phone number, email address, and other info.
- Research jobs in various categories that match the job search parameters that you set.
- Apply for the work that interests you.*
- Go to work as agreed with your new client.
- Earn money (sometimes 23 dollars an hour or more)!
- Track your earnings and make bonuses.
If you prefer using social to log in, Steady will allow you to use your Facebook instead of creating a user id and password. You can also opt into text alerts for new opportunities. Many users also choose to receive push notifications. Make sure you link your bank account. Steady has paid out over $7 million to their members to date, but you have to link your bank account to get paid! No bank account? No problem! Steady has partnered with several well-known online banking institutions, and you can get an account and get paid for signing up for one!
Finding the right gig for you
Steady uses your location to help customize your gig opportunities. After that you’ll see a few different categories.
Working from home
If you prefer to telecommute, try this category. It will show you jobs such as remote customer service, freelance writing, and tutoring. This is an ideal source of job opportunities for anyone without transportation, or who needs to stay close to home to take care of family members. Of course, many of us are already working at home, and this adds one more source of income to the pot.
Anytime work
Many people find that this category is the real moneymaker. This is where you’ll find food delivery jobs, rideshare opportunities, and grocery delivery. Consider signing up for multiple opportunities if possible. It’s a great way to maximize your earning potential, and get the most out of your gas tank. The gigs available may vary from place to place, but you’ll almost always find opportunities at:
- Instacart
- Shipt
- DoorDash
- Postmates
- Local And Specialty Delivery Companies
You’ll find a few other opportunities here. Warehouses, factories, and moving companies often use Steady to meet last minute shift needs. Restaurants, bars, and banquet centers do as well.
Do a bit of exploring. You can use filters to help you find the most relevant job opportunities.
Once you connect with opportunities that work for you, simply head to the right app or website to get to work. Don’t forget to return to Steady regularly to learn about new on-demand job opportunities.
Latest opportunities
This is the category for the most recently added gig work. It’s a bit of a gold mine, because the newer the opportunity, the less likely there’s a long waitlist of other applicants. Users should also see this category as a bit of a trust booter. It indicates that the app is constantly being updated with new gig work. Sometimes, companies that are offering hiring bonuses will post listings in this category to draw in new talent.
How do I apply for a gig
Steady is designed to make it easy to apply for work that interests you. Once you read the informational blurb about each gig, you simply click on the link to apply. After that, you are routed to that company’s website. For example, if you decide to apply to work as a delivery driver, you’ll be routed to Postmates or another site.
In some cases, the gig provider may ask you to download their app. Just keep in mind that any information you exchange or agreements you make are between you and the client. This includes any future communication with the gig company.
Keep in mind that you may be asked to provide personal information, just like you would with any other employer or client. For example, a package delivery company will want to verify that you’re a licensed driver. Another may request your taxpayer information in case you earn enough to receive a W2 or 1099.
How much can I earn using Steady app
That really depends. Some people only use the app to pull in the occasional gig to earn a bit of extra money. Others really grind! They pursue as many opportunities as possible in an effort to stack cash. Your location is also a factor in the amount of money you can earn, so are your skills and flexibility. According to the folks over at Steady, the average user increases their income by 5,700 dollars per year after they sign up. In any case, be sure to clarify payment details before you accept any offer. If you turn down an opportunity, you won’t be penalized by Steady.
Steady app features
Many users love that they can apply for, and land, multiple gigs. If you do that, consider connecting your bank account to the app. Don’t worry, it’s a secure option. This will allow you to use one of the app’s best features.
Tracking earnings
Once you’ve connected your account, Steady will pull all of your earning information into a single dashboard. There, you can monitor what you’ve earned, from who. Many users take advantage of this to better understand which gigs are most worth pursuing.
Company benefits
If there’s a downside to working in the gig economy, it’s the lack of benefits. Fortunately, Steady has taken several steps to ease that burden for workers. Workers can sign up to save money on prescriptions, save and invest cash, and get help with insurance costs. There are also cash bonuses for signing up for certain gigs. The app also links to special offers, passive earning opportunities, and banking options.
Cash grants
Steady is also reaching out to workers who have experienced income losses due to the recent pandemic. To help during this time of great need, they created the emergency cash grant program in partnership with their non-profit partner, The Workers Lab. Qualifying workers who have connected their bank account to the app may be able to receive between $100 and $1000.
What sort of people use Steady
Is Steady for you? It probably is if you want access to flexible gig work, including opportunities that you may not find elsewhere. If you have any doubts, you may be surprised at the variety of people who use the app. Here are a few of the folks who are really able to get the most out of this app.
Grinders
What’s a grinder? That’s a person who puts in a lot of hard work in the pursuit of cold hard cash. These are the people who will leave their daily job at the end of the day, and sign into DoorDash to continue making money into the evening. Some are on the grind to earn money for a special purchase. Others see grinding as a lifestyle. No matter what, steady allows them to find the best earning opportunities, and to track the money they make.
Freelancers
Keep in mind that Steady isn’t only a source for unskilled work. Freelancers can bring their skills to the platform to find extra work in their industry. The app does provide links to many of the most popular freelancing platforms. There are also many niche and location-dependent freelancing jobs available as well. You may find jobs in web design, app development, or freelance writing. Take advantage of the opportunity to earn money, and build your client list.
Full-time job seekers
At first glance, Steady may not seem relevant to full-time job seekers. In truth, it’s a really useful app for them for a few reasons.
First, it takes money to look for a job. You’ll need gas money to travel to interviews, and perhaps some cash for clothes as well. What better way to earn that money than taking on work through a rideshare or package delivery company?
People who are light on work experience and skills can gain some through gig work. Steady has connections to many work opportunities that are open to anyone regardless of their employment history. These also offer a temporary means to make some money until something permanent comes along.
Finally, there are companies who post temp-to-hire jobs on Steady. If this interests you, be on the lookout for warehouses, restaurants, factories, retailers, and others who indicate they may be interested in hiring you full-time.
Graduate students
If you’re pursuing an advanced degree, employment can be difficult. You’re busy working on research projects, possibly working an internship, and attending classes. You need flexibility. If your budget is like the average student, you also need decent pay and fast access to your cash!
A gig curation app like Steady is a real goldmine for students. You’ll be able to find work that pays well, and offers tips. For example, if you sign up for a few grocery delivery apps, you’ll earn delivery fees, and tips from satisfied customers.
Budding entrepreneurs
If you’re at any stage of launching a business, you should definitely consider downloading Steady to learn more about it. First, this is an app that curates job opportunities from service providers in your areas. What a great way to find out about potential competitors. This is also a great way to get new ideas about services your business can offer.
Eventually, you may need to bring on some new employees. One way to get started with that is to hire temporary or gig workers. When you’re ready to take that step, the Steady app could be a great staffing resource!
If you want to check out Steady for yourself and find the best gig for your needs, click on the button below to start earning money in a way that suits you!
Disclaimer
Actual earnings may differ and depend on factors like number of deliveries completed, time of day, location, and expenses. Hourly pay is calculated using average Dasher payouts while on a delivery (from the time you accept an order until the time you drop it off) over a 90 day period and includes compensation from peak pay, tips, and other incentives.