Welcome to Smuggle Me

I came across a website that I’d never seen before called Ether. I can’t believe that someone can actually start a business like this.

Here’s an excerpt of what the idea is about:

We make it easy to sell what you say.
We all have something valuable to say. Whether you’re an accountant, a computer expert, a blogger, or a good gossiper, you can earn money selling what you say to others over the phone or through email.

I don’t know if I could imagine someone paying to talk to me on the phone. In fact, as I write that it sounds to much like phone sex to work for me. Sure, I have some knowledge, but I’m not sure talking to me would be worth any money.

The worst part of the idea is that you really have to market it yourself on your own blog or website or something. If they had a community of professionals that you could call and therefore would provide me with free referrals then it might be more interesting. Either way, it kind of freaks me out.

Here’s a full description of the process of getting paid to talk on the phone:

1. Get your free Ether Phone Number
Get your free Ether Phone Number Sign up for your Ether Phone Number: 1-888-MY-ETHER with an 8-digit extension that is unique to YOU. Set it to forward calls to your actual phone number – your cell, home, work, or any other number. It takes 2 minutes to set up and it’s free.
2. Set your rate
Set your rate How much is your time worth? $75 an hour? $15 for 15 minutes? $30 per call? Whatever you like. People will only be able to call you when they’ve prepaid your rate.
3. Take calls only when you want to
Take calls only when you want to Your phone will never ring when you don’t want it to. Just set the hours when you want to take calls by adjusting the automatic schedule – currently set so you don’t get calls at night. Or, turn your Ether Phone Number on or off with the click of a mouse or by using your phone. Learn about what happens on a call.
4. Market yourself
Market yourself Put your Ether Phone Number on your business card, website, blog or wherever people can find you. Your actual phone number is kept private.
Market yourself Click to Call. You can also get an Ether Button for your blog or website that lets customers know whether you’re available to take calls. Clicking on your button guides them through the payment process with a simple web form.
5. Phone me the money
Phone me the money
Your phone only rings when people prepay your rate. Ether bills their credit cards and sends you your money via direct deposit or check. Ether ‘s commission is 15%, with no monthly fees, no setup fees, and no connection fees.
And there’s more:
Earn money via email.
Earn money via email.
You can sell any digital content, such as reports, photographs, podcasts, videos, etc. Simply send an Ether Mail with the contents you’d like to sell and set the price you’re charging. People will only be able to view the contents when they pay your price.
Sell content on the web.
Sell content on the web.
You can also sell digital content using an Ether Buy Now Button you can place on your website. Simply set up a Buy Now button with the contents you’d like to sell and set the price you’re charging. People will only be able to view the contents when they pay your price.