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ChaCha Real Live Search
The primary challenge for search engines is to provide search results that are relevant and accurate—to find and deliver what it is that people are looking for. ChaCha Real Live Search is taking a new approach to finding and delivering the results that people want from their searches.
Machines Aren’t Human
Instead of fighting the fact that machines aren’t human, ChaCha is embracing it—the whole idea behind ChaCha is to acknowledge that machines will never be able to return the results that humans are looking for as well as a human could. Instead, ChaCha is using humans to deliver results. ChaCha “guides” are paid to deliver one or more relevant results for a query, using whatever abilities and skills humans have that machines don’t (intuition, inspiration, and the ability to see subtle, implicit relations between items).
My take on this was, “oh, they’re combining Google with DMOZ”—building a search tool with the human recommendations built in. It will be very interesting to see how well ChaCha can store and track the results and information that are generated by their guides. The success of ChaCha is dependent on how well they “leverage their human resources”—on how many results and how much relevance they can get from a limited group of people.
Humans Aren’t Machines
Another severe potential problem with ChaCha is that humans aren’t machines—they have foibles, imperfections, and biases. For example, how can ChaCha guarantee that some of its guides aren’t going to try to deliver results that benefit them or their friends? It needs to establish a guide’s level of expertise to make sure he or she is delivering good results. It may be difficult to have enough quality guides to handle the potential volume of searches.
Paying for the Search Results
Another critical factor for ChaCha’s success is how it is going to pay for its guides—ChaCha serves video ads while you wait for your human guide to gather results, and it is dependent on a critical mass of these ads in order to survive. If they can’t garner sufficient advertiser interest, they will choke as the volume of searches increases.
It would be really, really neat if the video ads that were served were related to the query—and the ad spots were auctioned off just like Google or Overture text ads.
Google Support
One of ChaCha’s main pillars is its live chat feature—you communicate with your guide through chat. This means that essentially ChaCha is Google Search’s support team. Google doesn’t provide much customer service, and so ChaCha is filling the gap for them. There is a pretty close resemblance between Google’s and ChaCha’s home pages. 
Watching ChaCha will certainly be interesting—who will deliver more relevant results, the scaleable-but-uninspired machines or the intuitive, emotional but non-replicable humans? How will ChaCha manage its mix of humans and machines? Can ChaCha out-do Google’s results for relevancy?
Note: please don’t violate ChaCha’s terms of service by posting invitations for people to join ChaCha on this blog. I don’t want any guides losing their accounts because ChaCha found out they weren’t following the rules.
on September 21st, 2006 at 11:39 pm
[…] ChaCha uses humans for search, but they’re no longer the only ones. Some search problems are a long way off from being solved, and rather than wait for technology to catch up, Google is using humans to label images for its image search. […]
on September 26th, 2006 at 1:56 am
The pay set up is a bit sketchy, seems like a pyramind style pay system…and they only can get paid through a company debit card…still a lot of red flags to get through.
on September 26th, 2006 at 9:15 am
That’s interesting to hear that it seems like a pyramid-style payment system. Are there several “levels” of guides or some kind of referral system, then?
You’re right, if the only payment method is a company debit card, they still have a few bugs to work out. They need to include some other options. Direct deposit, PayPal, or a program that cuts monthly checks all sound good.
Thanks for the info, Zoe
on September 29th, 2006 at 5:06 am
It isn’t, strictly speaking, a company debit card. It is a card linked to a bank account that the guide owns and ChaCha transfers earnings to. It is essentially direct deposit only centralized in one bank.
There are levels of guides. Apprentice, Pro, Master and Elite.
You are paid more for Elite status and not at all for Apprentice status. Additionally, these levels are for the keywords they work with, not specifically for the guides themselves. So you could be an apprentice on a few keywords and a master on others or any combination of the 4 different ratings.
I know it seems to have an MLM flavor to it but it really isn’t that, either. There is no pressure to have a network, you can earn money without one and you aren’t required to buy or sell anything.
What it is, is a way to recruit new people for the guide pool. The thinking being that guides will know people who can do this and will be motivated to invite a higher quality of searcher since that will effect the money they earn for this. The money acts as an incentive.
Although, truth be told, no one has yet managed to convince me that this model is wholly a good idea. I’m talking to some of people there tomorrow, perhaps they will be able to change my mind.
At any rate, I managed to make about 100 dollars in 5 days of just running it in the background while I was otherwise wasting time on the internet so from a guide perspective it isn’t a bad pocket money job.
on September 29th, 2006 at 9:29 am
Arlene,
That was a perfect comment - just the kind of information that people want to know about Cha Cha guides.
So yeah, direct deposit is cool. Cha Cha just needs to branch out to other payment methods, once they’ve got the model working. This makes perfect sense, though, for a firm that is just getting moving.
A word-of-mouth referral system also makes sense, if people actually refer those who they see as experts in a field. Again, the quality of guides here is going to be very important. Cha Cha needs to make sure to periodically trim the fat.
Now I’m curious about how to become a Cha Cha guide - I would definitely be interested in some extra pocket money for simply helping people while I mess around on the Internet.
on October 24th, 2006 at 10:24 pm
In previous posts here I saw statements that said that sites might be recommended on a biased basis, and I will admit to being one of those people, however I feel that the sites I am promoting are equal to the search request being made to me.
Although I can’t say that every guide is thinking the same way I am.
I have always hoped that someone would come up with this idea. Although I have no problems searching on my own I know alot of people who have benefited immensely from this program.
I have also been paid for the time I have spent there.
I got in on the cha cha program days after the site was opened.
Although it was completly by accident and have been more than greatfull for the cha cha experience.
I advise anyone who has a desire to work and make a little extra cash to join.
I will advise you it’s not a get rich quick scheme.. You do have to work. It’s paid by the search hour once you reach the appropriate levels.
on December 19th, 2006 at 9:28 pm
I wanted to post again the kewlness of cha cha. they have recently taken many of the ideas posted by the guides and users alike and increased the quality of the search. So be to stop by And check it out. Ask about how you can be a guide too.
on January 17th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
I have been a ChaCha guide for a little bit now and am starting to make some money. For anyone out there that is thinking about it, it does take some time to get through the training before you start to get paid.
on January 23rd, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Hello! I ahve been a ChaCha guide for 4 motnhs now! I absolutley love it!
on January 25th, 2007 at 1:37 am
[…] My site has been linked to in an unordinary fashion—I have a few pages and blog posts that are far more popular and linked to than most of my main pages. More people link to my post on ChaCha, The BYU Blog and Web Site Directory, or The Lime Blog than the home page. All these links’ page rank is getting poured into my site further down in my navigation hierarchy. […]
on February 1st, 2007 at 8:09 pm
I just had a very interesting chat with a ChaCha guide during a training session. One of the ideas that I’ve been kicking around for a little while is checking into what is involved with organizing and deploying a ChaCha guide “Teamsters/Union”.
Of course, this would involve finding ‘non-profit’ status and every other tax regulation in the book . But in casual conversation with other guides (BTW — this wasn’t forced. I just approached the subject as it came up during training sessions if the opportunity presented itself); it seems quite a few people are in support of this idea.
Of course; this comes on the heels of the fact that it seems that most ChaCha guides aren’t getting as many search requests in the last few weeks than they normally do.
Basically what I am asking is this: is this something that the ChaCha guide community is interested in exploring? If so, I will do the initial discovery into what is involved — however, since I have a Small Business to run, I really have no interest in running the Union.
I will also be inquring into the Computer Contracting Union and the Association for Independent Contractors.
If this is something that the guide community is interested in, I will do the initial footwork and find out what is involved. However, if it takes hold I would ask other individuals from the community to step-up and assume responsibility.
In my reading all of this can be done anonymously and withount ChaCha knowing our guide names. From what I understand of the tax and incorporation guidelines, it’s pretty much a no-brainer.
This could mean more amicable treatment from ChaCha.com and a higher pay rate. It could also mean a voice in corporate operations within ChaCha in the form of the Guides!
It would be an advocate for everyone whom spends their time in front of the ChaCha Guide application…
So — what do you think? Would you be interested in something like this?
Just looking for feedback — thats all!
on February 2nd, 2007 at 10:32 am
I love working for Cha Cha. I have no complaints at all so far. As far as the union thing, I don’t agree. We all signed a contract and agreement when accepting to become a Cha Cha guide. Its like saying, hey I want to work for you, but if you let me in, I’m going to take over your company behind your back. Not only that, how many work at home jobs do you know about that has a “union”. I’ve been working from home for 3 years now and have yet to come across any. And if there was any, I’d run anyways. Just my two cents. Rock on Cha Cha, just do what you do.
on February 7th, 2007 at 7:30 am
RE: Union for cha cha guides. I disagree with tht whole idea of the union. As I belong to a union as part of my full time job I think sometimes it creates more problems than it does answers.
Although the protect me in a lot of ways for cha cha I think they setup they have right now is great and I believe that at some point we will see greater payouts and other options.. it’s just going to take time.
on February 21st, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Hey to all those who have posted to this blog like me. I just found out from cha cha that’s a violation of thier policies to post to forums and boards like this So I would suggest that no more postings be said on this acct. And ask the admin here to please remove all postings of such so we don’t get into any trouble
on February 21st, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Michael,
Thanks for the heads-up. I wouldn’t want to encourage anyone to break ChaCha’s policies. For the time being (until I see proof otherwise), I’m going to scrub the email addresses from the comments inviting others to be a ChaCha guide. I will, however, leave all the commentary and discussion here, and comments are still open.
Feel free to talk about ChaCha, but please don’t violate the agreement you signed with them when you became a ChaCha guide.
Personally, I think it’s a little odd to prohibit public posting of guide openings, since ChaCha guides are basically on a pay-for-performance system anyway. To hit critical mass, ChaCha should be open to anyone who wants to be a guide and who does the work right.
on February 23rd, 2007 at 12:08 pm
I have an 18 year old son very interested in becoming a guide. I think this would be a great job for him - but what is all the mystery about?
Leonora Valvo
CEO
Global Executive
on February 26th, 2007 at 12:04 am
Leonora,
The “mystery” is about the agreement that ChaCha guides sign when they join ChaCha—it’s part of the agreement that guides will not make public postings to forums, blogs, classifieds, etc., to invite people to become ChaCha guides. The reason for this is that ChaCha wants its guides to invite people they know and trust and feel would do a good job as a guide. The problem with a public posting is that you have no real idea if you are inviting a quality guide or not.
I’ve removed all the email addresses and web sites here to help all these guides comply with the agreement they signed with ChaCha. If they are going to violate their agreement, they won’t be doing it on my site.
That being said, I think it’s all a little bit silly, but until ChaCha changes their policy, I am going to keep guides’ emails and websites from displaying here.
on March 28th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
hi, I just want to complain about the lack of personality with some guides. They’re so robotic. One guide I had complained to told me it was in a contract to not chat…well, then what’s the point? Its no better than using a machine. A few guides I’ve had tonight earn an extra few “Great” ratings. Nice guys - kept me interested with normal humane conversation while I waited.
That’s what the search atmosphere should be like - not a bunch of robotic people who’ve rehearsed everything. You need a lot more people persons.
-Ricky
on January 30th, 2008 at 9:15 am
that’s very cool to see
on April 24th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
The people I spoke with were both professional and personal… Sorry you had problems
on July 3rd, 2008 at 1:14 am
I have jsut started using ChaCha text.. it’s great.. i love it and am seeking to become a super part time guide.
sometimes the answers are off.. and one tried to tell me there are several citys named seattle.. i corected it and it kinda got rude
i dunno… its a great idea.. seems to be a fun way to make money and helps me out a lot.
a guest asked me how many people the key arena holds and chacha told me in less then 30 seconds
on July 21st, 2008 at 10:21 am
CHA CHA HAS TWO CHOICES FOR PAYMENT. DIRECT DEPOSIT OR DEBIT CARD. THERE IS A BASE PAY AND A REFFERAL PROGRAM. YOU CAN GET PAID RIGHT AWAY WITH THE DEBIT CARD OR GET PAID MONTHLY WITH DIRECT DEPOSIT.
on August 5th, 2008 at 12:20 am
YES AND SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS, RIGHT NOW THE PAY ME NOW FEATURE IS NOT WORKING AND THE PAY THAT THEY’RE PAYING THEIR GUIDES GOT CUT BY 50% FOR ALL THE GREAT HARD WORK THEY DO!!! NICE REWARD EH!
on August 11th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
ChaCha is a great company to work for and I wanted to tell you about http://www.myccguide.com They are an unofficial forum dedicated only to chacha. You can talk to other guides learn tips and tricks to work better & faster & complete FAQs for almost everything ChaCha! Plus you dont have to deal with the pressure of the official forums. Tell your friends about us. Its a perferct place for anyone looking to start with chacha to come too and to get the help you need.