The Truth About Paid Surveys

The Truth About Paid Online Surveys - A Question and Answer Session



With thousands of people trying to find a way to make some extra money online everyday, paid online survey sites are popping up everywhere. With so many out there (some good, some - well, not so good) it's hard to determine what to believe. In an attempt to clarify the ins and outs, and the myths and realities of paid online surveys, I've composed a series of questions and answers to help you sort everything out. We'll start with the basics and then get into the nitty gritty.

 

Question: Is this for real? Why would someone pay me to take online surveys?

Answer: Yes, this is for real. There are literally hundreds of legitimate market research companies out there who offer incentives for your opinion. Companies have come to these firms to get public opinions on their products or services and are willing to pay them to find out what you think. They then pass some of that payment onto you.

 

Question: What are the surveys about?

Answer: Just about anything that you can think of. You may be asked to review a movie trailer for a new movie, what kind of peanut butter you like, what restaurants you frequent, you name it. From barbeque grills to medical questions to appliances to what you had for dinner last night. There are sites for specific age groups, professions, hobbies and interests. The surveys are generally very interesting and these companies are looking for your opinion on how to shape their products.

 

Question: How does it work?

Answer: Each company works a bit differently, but here are the basics of online surveys. You will sign-up for a paid survey site. You will enter some basic demographic information (age, gender, etc…), and when they have a survey available in which they are looking for someone who fits your profile, they will send you an invitation to take a survey. The invitation will usually contain a link directly to the survey and the incentive they are offering for you to take the survey. Just click on the link and take the survey to qualify for the reward.

 

Question: What kinds of incentives are offered?

Answer: The incentives vary for each site, but generally the incentives take the following forms: cash, gift certificates (Amazon gift certificates being the most popular), and merchandise (DVDs, small appliances, electronic gadgets, cookware, etc…). Each survey site will offer one or several of the above incentives for your participation in their surveys. Many will offer these straight out, for example "get paid $75.00 to take this survey."

 

Question: Will you get spammed by signing up for paid survey sites?

Answer: No, but you do have to be careful. There are some sites out there that are simply advertising firms posing as paid online survey sites. None of the sites reviewed on this site will spam or sell your information.

 

Question: How much can I make?

Answer: That's really hard to say. It really depends on a number of factors. How many sites did you sign-up with? How often do you take the surveys you are invited to take? What is your demographic? Etc… But I won't just leave you hanging at that. I would say, if you sign-up for a number of survey sites, take the majority of the surveys you are invited to and are not limited in life experience, you could make perhaps $1,000 to $5,000 a week in cash. You can easily make enough to take the family out for dinner, buy a few extras, get a few nice things for around the house or save it all for your Christmas shopping.

 

Question: So, is it worth it?

Answer: Yes, I think so. Whereas, it's not going to make you filthy rich, it's certainly an easy to get headed that way. I find the surveys to be enjoyable to participate in and for the time spent, the compensation is really good.

 

That wraps up this question and answer session. Hopefully this article has shed some light on the world of paid online surveys. If you cut through the hype and know what to look for, online surveys can be an enjoyable way to make some extra money. You'll get to see new products before they come out, give your opinion on how to make existing products better and get paid to do so. Not too bad for a few minutes of your time.

 

Programs Reviewed

Reader Favorites