There are no "secrets"! Consistency is key. I've found that having a routine really helps.
The $500+ is from March 2012... so its not a get rich quick kind of thing.
Here's my routine (for what its worth)
Morning
1. Do daily email
2. Do paid to click (that way all of my other activities count towards the .05 requirement to do the PTC.)
3. Check for surveys (I only do the FC ones so I get a penny if I get disqualified--which happens more often than not)
4. Check for videos and do all the 1 cent ones available. (I do the 1/2 cent ones if I have time, too)
(usually by now I have earned the .05 necessary for the next day's PTC
Throughout the day
- do web searches using the FC toolbar (I try to max out the searches each day for .05)
- visit the forum and try to make at least 2 posts (so I can get the $3 forum bonus each month), also look for quick crediting free offers and do those.
Evening
1. check for new surveys
2. check for new videos
Tuesdays & Saturdays
- do the contests on the forum
When I have extra time I do the biz card transcription.....that can be am extra 5-10 cents/day
My goal is $1/day or $365/year -- not a fortune, but it's $365 I wouldn't have had otherwise!
I only do FC from home, so if I'm travelling I don't do anything......its not worth risking being banned from FC by using an IP address that someone else has used. So, sometimes I don't meet my monthly goal...other times I forget to cash out on the last day of the month, so my cash out the following month is a lot bigger.
Hope this helps!!