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Type the phrase
“paid surveys” in Google, and you will see a countless list of paid survey
web sites. Some claim $150/hr payment, others say it’s the perfect work at
home job, while others say online paid surveys are just a scam. With all of
these conflicting links, it’s hard to know what to believe. Are online paid
surveys an Internet Jackpot, an online scam, or somewhere in between? Are
you missing a great opportunity or should you stay away?
The first thing that you must understand is that market research is a real
business. Market Research firms have been paying customers to take surveys
and participate in focus groups long before the internet was a household
commodity. It’s just that with the increasing number of people online, the
internet has become an effective and efficient way for marketing companies
to collect data and test their advertisements. Also the internet gives these
market research firms access to a wide demographic of users, which allows
them to get a better idea of how their products will perform with people of
different age, sex, nationality, etc.
Unfortunately, many questionable sites have popped up on the internet which
has ruined the image on online paid surveys. These sites usually make
outrageous claims about how much money you can make by working from home.
They usually charge a “membership fee” to gain access to a list of web sites
that conduct online paid surveys. They claim that their lists are special,
and offer the highest paying surveys. But the truth is that the survey sites
they list can be found for free on the internet. Legitimate market research
firms do not charge panel members any fees or try to sell you any products.
With a little research you can find all of the quality market research firms
yourself. Also, there are several good sites on the internet that offer free
reviews and listings. You should never have to pay for information or access
to online paid surveys.
Assuming that you manage to avoid the scams, and stick with legitimate
market research firms, the question remains is it really worth the time? The
answer lies in your expectations. If you are looking for the perfect work at
home dream job, this is not it. If you would be happy with an extra couple
hundred dollars a month then read on.
The typical pay for any given survey varies, but most offer between $2 to as
high as $50 or more per survey. The problem is that these firms are usually
looking for a certain demographic, and you may not always qualify for all
the paid surveys that are sent your way. These survey invitations are
usually sent to you via an email, with details about the incentive offered,
and a link to the survey. Usually you are asked to fill out a short screener
survey, and if you qualify then you can continue on and earn the full amount
promised. If you do not qualify, you are dismissed, with some sites offering
a small incentive or a sweepstakes entry for your time. The screener survey
usually takes less than 5 minutes, and the full survey can take anywhere
from 15 to 30 minutes.
If you sign up with several quality market research firms, and can qualify
for several surveys, you should be able to make anywhere from $50 to several
hundred dollars a month for the household petty cash piggy bank. It’s not
exactly a fortune, but it can help offset some of your monthly bills, and it
only takes a couple hours a week.
About
the Author: Jimmy Myers
is the editor of
Online Paid Surveys Guide, a web site that offers free, paid survey site
listings, searchable by regions of UK, United States, Canada, Australia,
Asia-Pacific, and International. Listings have detailed descriptions,
incentives offered, user and editorial reviews and ratings. In addition the
site offers many additional paid surveys resources in the way of tips, user
blogs, survey feedback polls, and more.
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