All About Checkealos
Do you frequently surf the web and visit different websites for various purposes? Then you probably would do well as a user experience (UX) tester. To become one, you need to check out and apply to at least one UX testing platform such as Checkealos. After reading this article, you will surely understand what is Checkealos and whether you could really pursue an online gig from this platform.
UX testing is the process wherein a tester whose demographic information matches the requirements of a researcher (company, website developer, website designer, etc.). The tester gets to use a website or an app while following a certain set of tasks/instructions. As he tests the website/app, the tester needs to speak loudly about what he is doing, about what he expects to experience while completing the tasks, about his opinion of the website/app and about plausible suggestions he has for them.
This video from Checkealos explains what user experience is
What could convince you to sign up as a tester for Checkealos is that it has worked for many well-known brands.
You can see from Figure 1 below which brands have hired the UX testing services of Checkealos.
Figure 1
Requirements
With Checkealos, you could test apps and websites about cars, insurance, banking, e-commerce, virtual reality and more. To join Checkealos as a tester, you must meet the requirements shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2
The technical requirements of the job are a computer, a tablet or a smartphone, reliable internet connection and an email. The devices should have a microphone and a minimum 2 GHz processor.
The email you provide is where you will receive notifications about paid test projects. You also need a PayPal account to receive your payments.
They also require you to have the willingness to spend a considerable time of 15 minutes to provide your feedback about the app or website you will be testing.
It is also a requirement to perform the test while inside a silent room so that your audio recording will be noise-free. This is like the workstation setup required if you are working as an online English tutor.
Just like other UX testing platforms such as User Testing, Userfeel, TryMyUI, Validately, Userbrain and uTest, the job requires that you download and install an application on your device that will record all your activity. For Checkealos, you need the latest version of Java.
After you have accepted a project, you must follow the instructions for completing the tasks. The installed (latest version of) Java video recorder will then activate with a reverse countdown. After this countdown, you may click on the “Start” button. There is a pause function you can use if you need to stop the test momentarily. The system will upload your recording automatically.
Some people do not feel comfortable about having to download and install an app in their devices. You could even read these concerns from a Reddit thread. One Reddit user commented that the Java recording download could just be a virus that might put his computer at risk. Another Reddit user explained that he has an antivirus program that helped him scan the downloaded app.
Test Projects
A Checkealos client will publish a project that contains a tester profile (age of tester, required device, location and frequency of internet usage), which will determine if you are qualified. You will get notification through email every time there is a published project that matches your demographic details.
You need to understand that when you receive this notification, it is not a reservation of your slot for the particular project. Instead, it should serve as a reminder that you must take immediate action to take part in the project. Participation in paid tests is on a first come, first served basis.
Also, before you can finally take the test, you must answer and pass the qualification questions that will additionally determine your eligibility to do the project.
How To Apply/Join
The testers’ page on the Checkealos website is at https://www.checkealos.com/get-paid-for-your-feedback/. If you are intent on signing up as a tester, you may click on the “Register Now” button. Doing so will open a new tab, such as shown in the figure below.
Figure 3
The first part of the registration is about your personal details. You need to enter your first name, last name, date of birth (1940-2020), gender, country of origin, country of residence, autonomous community/region, province, county, phone number, internet usage, technology used (computer, smartphone, tablets, other), languages spoken (native, secondary), annual income, civil status, family situation, what you do for leisure, type of house you live in, educational background (highest level of education), mobile preferences, bank profile, insurance profile, tourism profile, automotive profile.
In this registration form, you can see that you have various options for technology used. For a computer, there are Windows desktop, Windows laptop, Apple desktop, Apple laptop and PC with Linux. For smartphones and tablets, there are iPhones and Android. There are other gadgets, such as smart TV, streaming TV box, handheld game console, and home game console. You can check as many as possible as long as you have them available for use if there are tests that require them. This could mean that the more technological gadgets you indicate you can use for Checkealos tests, the higher the possibility of your eligibility to more tests.
Potential Income
$10 seems to be the average minimum payment rate offered by UX testing websites.
Figure 4
At Checkealos, a feedback session may last up to 15 minutes and you could receive 8 euros per (or about US$ 9 based on the conversion rate at the time of writing) feedback.
On its Facebook page, you may see one of the latest projects and this project offers 50 euros for taking smart TV related tests.
Work Schedule
From Figure 4, you know that a feedback session will require you to allot 15 minutes of your time to finish it. A typical project takes 15-20 minutes. When you get a notification, make sure you will allot enough time if you do not want to miss any opportunity to earn extra income.
From the explanation earlier about matching testers’ profiles to what the client requires, you have an idea that there is no guarantee of receiving notifications about paid projects. Thus, you have a flexible work schedule to use and follow.
Benefits / Bonus/ Increase/ Training Provided
Checkealos is one platform that offers something that will help its testers to at least get an idea about what it takes to complete a tester’s job effectively. On its website, you can watch a video presentation that shows how to give proper feedback.
Once you have registered for an account as a tester, you can access your dashboard and find there a video that will teach you more about the dashboard, about Java settings for Windows and Mac, special settings for Mac, microphone settings, project execution and project review.
The tester dashboard also has a link to an instructional guide to download Java. You may also test the Java recorder through the dashboard after you have installed it.
Conclusion
PROS
CONS
While I find nothing too exceptional about Checkealos, I think it is a worthy addition to a list of UX testing websites to join. If there are no available paid projects from other platforms, perhaps Checkealos might have one for you. However, you must set a realistic expectation and practical plan of action when taking on this online venture of UX testing. The job itself is easy and does not take a lot of time. However, do not regard it as an excellent source of income because you have no guarantee of participating in paid tests for any time. On a positive note, this flexibility in schedule should give you an idea that you may use your time more wisely by looking for other online money-making opportunities you could take advantage of.
