If you're like me, you spend most weekends sitting in front of the computer trying to find ways to earn extra income from home. I've tried everything from selling things at yard sales and doing odd jobs around my neighborhood to writing articles and freelance editing. But nothing has been as lucrative or consistent as filling out surveys online -- until now, that is.
I'm not alone either. Online surveys are one of the fastest growing methods people use to earn an average $50 per month (or more). According to market research firm Nielsen-Netratings, over 40 million Americans have taken some sort of consumer survey this year -- up 10% from 2008. And while many of these surveys are free, others require payment. If you want to take advantage of those surveys requiring payment, here's how to maximize your chances of making money...and getting rich quick.
Yes! There is a maximum amount you can make per hour when completing surveys online. It depends upon which site you choose to complete them on. For example, if you work with PanelPlace, you'll only be able to get paid between $0.10 and $3.00 per completed survey. On OpinionOutpost, however, you could be earning up to $20 per hour by just answering phone calls. Other companies allow you to get paid anywhere from $1 per call all the way up to $75 per sale. So always check before signing up with any particular company. The best place to start looking though would probably be at http://www.surveymaster.com/affil_paid_surveys.htm where they list their top paying survey panels along with other useful information such as whether or not you qualify based on age, location, etc. Also read reviews posted at http://www.thewirecutter.com/reviews/surveys/, a website dedicated solely to reviewing various survey programs. They also provide helpful tips on maximizing earnings.
The bottom line is to focus on finding reputable survey panels that pay well, then stick with them no matter what. You shouldn't even bother joining multiple panel places because you won't receive your checks quicker than through your primary account. In fact, you may end up losing money due to fees associated with having multiple accounts.
Also keep in mind that you should never sign up unless you feel comfortable. Don't worry, you don't have to join right away. Start off small by simply registering so you can test drive the program first. Then once you see how easy it is to fill out surveys, register for full access. Some sites will give you a week free trial but after that, expect to shell out $30 -$60 per month depending on your plan. This fee isn't too bad considering you can easily make $200+ per month working part time, especially since you won't be spending much time actually filling out surveys compared to traditional employment.
Absolutely. Since every legitimate survey service pays differently, each offers different incentives. Take a look at what you'd earn per hour with a few popular services below:
Opinionoutpost.com: Between $2-$15 per day
Panelplace.com: From $0.10 to $5 per day
Paidview.net: Up to $4 per minute
SurveySavvy.com: Paying customers get rewards ranging from points to gift cards
There are two additional factors to consider. First, remember that you can shop around to save money. Many paid survey websites offer discounts to members who refer new members. Second, you'll want to stay within your comfort zone. While you might be tempted to answer questions that seem difficult, avoid this temptation. Your answers should reflect your opinion without going outside the realm of possibility. Remember, the goal of surveying is to help businesses learn what consumers want, not to impress strangers with your knowledge of quantum physics or rocket science.
A final word regarding "quick buck" scams: Yes, there are still plenty of them out there. But you'll be better protected by using legit survey panels instead. Most importantly, avoid "double dipping" by avoiding both free trials AND sample surveys offered by the same company. Free trials almost always come with restrictions on number of surveys completed per period, frequency of payments, etc., whereas samples are usually limited to 1 question. Never enter into a contract agreement with anyone promising large sums of money quickly. These types of deals typically involve illegal activities like gambling, lottery schemes, and pyramid schemes. Legitimate survey opportunities pay monthly via PayPal or direct deposit.
Yes, absolutely. Just follow our simple steps and you'll soon discover why millions worldwide continue to participate in the world's largest marketplace -- us humans.
Signup for at least 2 months ($19)
Complete 5-8 Surveys Per Day
Earn $25 After Signup Bonus + Referral Bonuses
Total Earned = $125
That's enough to buy lunch with friends and maybe go shopping afterwards!
Only you can decide if participating in paid surveys is worthwhile for you. Personally, I enjoy the convenience of being compensated directly whenever possible instead of waiting weeks for checks to arrive by mail. Plus, it gives you flexibility to pick up extra cash during slow times. Another reason I recommend it is that you can create a fun side business that provides you with passive income. However, keep in mind that this type of income takes longer to build and requires more effort. As with anything else, you must put forth the initial energy required to achieve results.
Here are some key points to consider:
You can set your own schedule. Work when you sleep. Or vice versa.
No boss hounding you constantly. No crazy traffic jams.
Your job doesn't revolve around someone else's agenda.
You control your destiny.
You can quit anytime.
You don't have to deal with annoying coworkers.
You can travel the country without worrying about lost wages.
You can live wherever you want.
Most important of all, you become responsible for yourself financially rather than relying on another person for your livelihood. With that said, let me share something inspirational I heard recently. A friend told me she had earned thousands of dollars per month doing surveys. She was living in her car driving across state lines, searching for the next big thing. Now, I didn't ask how long it took her to reach that point, but I did inquire as to whether or not she eventually got tired of life on the road. Her response was "no." When asked why, she replied "because I became successful!" What does success mean to you? That's ultimately up to you.
So yes, you can definitely make good money with online surveys. All you need is motivation, dedication, and persistence. Once you begin seeing positive results, you'll wonder why you waited years to try it out.
Have you ever participated in online surveys? Do you think they're a viable source of income? Share your thoughts and insight in the comments section below.
My experience as a consumer and researcher in the world of paid online surveys has been disappointing at best. I have spent countless hours trying to earn some extra spending money by filling out surveys from companies like Google, Harris Polls and Opinion Matters. I've tried signing up with many different websites but had varying degrees of success when it came to earning money for my efforts. In fact, after 50 hours of taking paid online surveys on 12 different sites, not one penny worth cashing arrived in my PayPal account -- so I can safely say that making money with online surveys is next to impossible.
So why do people still try to make this work? There are two reasons. First, surveys give us insight into our own lives and allow us an opportunity to see how other people live. Second, surveys are free! So if you want to get something done without paying anything (other than your computer/laptop battery), they're a great way to go about it. The problem comes down to whether or not you'll actually be able to turn those insights into cold hard dollars. If you’re looking to fill out surveys just because you enjoy personal interaction then there's no reason to read any further – skip right over this article and check out these 5 fun ways to use Facebook to earn cash instead. However, anyone who wants to make real money with their data should keep reading.
Here's everything you need to know about surveys for money.
Survey Junkie was probably the first site I signed up for back in 2010. It didn't take me too long before I began receiving invitations to complete surveys, which could either be completed immediately via email or later via text message. When completing surveys through SMS, I would receive a code sent directly to my phone number, allowing me to instantly submit responses. You don't even need to sign up for Survey Junkie to participate in its research studies — simply send them an invitation and start answering questions. From there, you will begin receiving offers to join various marketing panels where you will receive compensation based upon the amount of information provided during each panel.
The downside of this method is that all forms of communication are handled exclusively through emails. This means that you must wait until you log into your Survey Junkie account every day to view new offers. While this isn't necessarily bad per se, it certainly doesn't lend itself well towards maximizing earnings potential. Plus, sometimes it takes several days or weeks between receiving an offer and being notified that you qualify for that particular study. This delay causes unnecessary frustration and delays in your ability to maximize earnings.
In addition, once enrolled in a Panel, you may also find yourself bombarded with spam messages and calls from telemarketers asking you to buy things. These robotexted calls often result in purchases such as cable TV packages, lottery tickets, etc., and while the intention behind sending these "offers" is nice, it ultimately hurts participation rates and makes the entire process feel more impersonal than it needs to be.
Overall, Survey Junkie seems to have evolved into a decent company that provides some opportunities for earning money, but due to poor design choices and lack of customer service improvements, it feels stale and uninspired. For better results, look elsewhere.
Yes...and No. On the positive side, Survey Junkie does provide users with access to some pretty cool incentives. Users can usually expect to be compensated $3 -$20 per hour depending on the type of study they choose to participate in. As far as actual income goes, however, this approach definitely falls short compared to similar marketplaces offered by Swagbucks and Amazon Mechanical Turk.
On average, participants who regularly complete quality surveys on Survey Junkie typically make less than $5 per hour. That said, the majority of surveys require only 10 minutes or less to answer, meaning that you can easily fit one of these surveys into your lunch break. And since most surveys pay around $2-$5 per task, the rewards add up quickly. Of course, this figure assumes that you are actively participating in 3+ surveys per week. If you aren't, chances are you won't reach this mark.
One thing that separates Survey Junkie from much of the competition is its focus on providing high-quality research studies rather than simple surveys designed to collect names and addresses. Studies conducted under SurveyJunkie tend to be longer, higher quality, and involve direct feedback and input from customers.
For example, one recent Study asked consumers to rate a series of products sold at Target stores across America. Another Research Project collected opinions regarding the availability of Wi-Fi hotspots in coffee shops nationwide. Yet another project surveyed moviegoers' preferences concerning DVD extras. All of these projects were considered excellent examples of Survey Junkies' superior quality standards.
Another benefit of using Survey Junkie is the ease of creating accounts and logging into your account daily. Unlike other services, Survey Junkie automatically creates an account for you whenever you register for a study. Once logged in, you can select surveys and answers without having to enter additional login details. This convenience alone reduces the likelihood that users will forget to log in altogether.
As far as downsides go, I'm afraid there really weren't any major complaints among my fellow test subjects. Most researchers seemed happy with the product they received. Some complained about slow payments, others felt frustrated by the lack of payment options available. But overall, Survey Junkie hasn't failed yet, so there's hope for those seeking an alternative to SwagBucks.
If you're going to be doing any serious research, you shouldn't rely solely on Survey Junkie. Instead, you should consider joining forces with other experienced researchers and forming a team focused specifically on answering specific types of questions. By working together, you can increase your odds of achieving larger sums of money. After all, it never hurts to pool resources.
With that said, Survey Junkie is generally recognized as the top choice amongst independent contractors looking to supplement existing incomes. According to CPA Mark Luschini, CEO of MeriTalk Inc, “Surveys are a popular source of supplemental income, especially for stay-at-home moms or elderly individuals. They can range anywhere from $1 to hundreds of dollars per completion, depending on the size of the organization conducting the research."
There are plenty of alternatives to Survey Junkie, including Swagbucks, MyPoints, Toluna and Zogby International. Each platform differs slightly, offering unique features and incentive programs. Overall though, the basic model remains the same: signup, accept requests, answer surveys, receive reward points, redeem against gift cards.
Swagbucks, for instance, compensates members according to the value of the prizes awarded. Members can accumulate SBH (swag bucks) by searching the web, watching videos, playing games online, shopping at partner retailers, referring friends to the website, completing small tasks, etc. Then, members can convert their SBH into Cash Bucks, which can be redeemed for giftcards of sponsor brands like Starbucks Coffee, iTunes Store, Home Depot, Sephora, Best Buy, Toys R Us, Target, Barnes & Noble, Macy's and dozens of others. Gift card redemption becomes easier thanks to easySBH [Broken URL Removed], a browser extension that allows members to search, browse and redeem their SBH within seconds.
While Swagbucks might seem like a dream come true for online shoppers (especially those interested in electronics, books, music and video downloads), it's important to remember that Swagbucks requires users to watch ads in order to accrue SBH and eventually cash. This is fine if you already spend lots of time browsing the internet anyway, but for those who prefer ad-free experiences, other platforms are likely more feasible.
Zogby International, on the other hand, primarily focuses on telephone polling research. Qualifying respondents can earn 25 cents per minute, plus bonuses for returning callbacks and referrals. Earnings vary widely depending on the demographics of the respondent group. To help compensate for low wages, Zogby offers its employees health insurance coverage and 401k plans.
Toluna, on the other hand, mainly caters to professional clients. Respondents receive a flat fee for agreeing to complete certain specified surveys. Payments are processed twice weekly. Compensation varies substantially depending on client requirements and the nature of the question being answered.
Amazon Mechanical Turk is perhaps the most recognizable name associated with non-scientific market research. Participants perform manual labor for approximately 4 cents per hour. Earning levels depend on previous performance and employer preference. Workers can apply to become Official Researchers, which increases hourly earnings significantly.
Finally, there's also the option of becoming an Affiliate Marketer. Essentially, this involves promoting other peoples' products and earning a commission when sales occur. Commission percentages differ greatly depending on the affiliate program and vendor involved.
I've been making a few hundred dollars per month by filling out surveys over the past two years and I thought I'd share my experience so that others can benefit from it as well. If you're interested in earning some extra income or just want to try your hand at paid online research, here's how it works.
Before diving into this topic, let me first point out that there are many other ways to earn money besides doing market research. This article is not meant to be an alternative way to increase your monthly income but rather a guide on how to maximize earnings while minimizing hassle when it comes to starting and completing surveys. To learn more about other ways to earn money without having to fill out surveys, check out these articles:
What Is Paid Online Research And How Do You Qualify For The Best Surveys On Survey Junkie?
The best place where I earned $400+ during one week was through another website called Swagbucks (not Survey Junkie). There are plenty of reasons why they may have paid better than any other site, including their great rewards program which gives away free gift cards every day, like Amazon and iTunes vouchers. They also pay higher amounts than any other site. Their daily reward amount ranges between 25-75 SB points, whereas most sites offer 5-10 SB points per completed survey. Furthermore, if you accumulate 1000 SB points within 30 days, you'll receive a $5 bonus! That means that if you complete 100 surveys each day you could potentially earn up to $50 in bonuses! However, keep in mind that they only send emails out twice a week (once for new signups and once for those who haven't accumulated enough SB) and all surveys must be taken within 2 weeks after receiving them. Also, even though they don't advertise it anymore, you used to be able to request "research" tasks via email as long as you had 500 SB on your account. Since they no longer allow requests, you may still find that option available in search engines. But generally speaking, I found that paying attention to social media accounts such as Twitter, Facebook, Google+, etc., and signing up for newsletter updates were effective ways to build up my balance quickly. Once you reach at least 10,000 SB, you should then apply for premium membership ($20/mo), which allows for unlimited surveys and increased payout.
Other things worth mentioning include their referral system, which pays off big time when someone else signs up under your account. It doesn't matter whether you refer them yourself or they sign up using your link, since both scenarios result in credit towards future purchases. So far, I haven't met anyone who has signed up solely because of me, but I'm sure it happens sometimes. Finally, although not directly related to getting paid, I would highly recommend checking out their customer service before deciding to use their services. In case something goes wrong, they tend to respond pretty fast.
Survey Junkie says that it takes approximately 1 minute to take a 20 question survey, but I've noticed that it actually takes much less. Some people will say that it depends upon how intelligent you are, but I disagree. When I started out, I took all kinds of surveys, ranging from super easy questions to slightly difficult ones. What kind of results did I come across? Not very often! Most of the surveys required clicking links inside pop ups, which usually caused problems due to browser compatibility issues. Others asked ridiculous questions like "If you could choose one food to eat forever, what would it be?", which wouldn't require thinking too much but instead being lazy. Then again, I might have gotten lucky and chosen the right type of surveys, so it really does depend upon what you prefer. Personally, I think the easiest types of surveys to answer are those that ask open ended questions and multiple choice answers, followed closely behind by short surveys requiring simple clicks.
Here are some tips that helped me get the most money possible from each survey. First, always read instructions carefully. Second, never skip any screens. Third, try to avoid answering unnecessary questions. Fourth, watch out for spammy ads. Fifth, make sure you provide accurate information. Sixth, don't worry about missing surveys. Seventh, remember to log out. Eighth, don't download anything onto your computer unless necessary. Ninth, don't forget to save everything. Tenth, stay logged in until you finish. Lastly, try to use as much of their referral credits as possible to purchase additional credits.
According to statistics, the average person completes 3.7 surveys per year. With a decent laptop, internet access, 15 minutes per hour, and 8 hours of work per day, it shouldn't take you more than 52 working days to become eligible for $1,200 in commissions! Of course, everyone's different and won't necessarily meet that number exactly. Everyone's unique skill set varies greatly, meaning some people will probably achieve success faster than others.
However, there aren't enough details provided on how many surveys you'll end up completing, so I can't guarantee that you'll hit that mark. As mentioned above, I received roughly 200 emails per week for the past two years, averaging around 20 per day. During that time period, I believe I filled out somewhere between 80% - 95%, depending on the season. Generally speaking, I got paid the highest rates during the summer months, which makes sense considering school is out and parents are busy looking for babysitters. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to pinpoint any trends regarding the exact percentage of surveys that I completed, so this statistic may vary based on individual circumstances.
It's important to note that the more surveys you take, the more likely you are to receive invitations to participate in focus groups. Focus groups typically end up costing upwards of $300-$500 per session, so if you plan on participating in more than one per month, you may wish to consider saving up a bit more. Additionally, if you ever decide to upgrade your subscription, there's a limit of 5000 active surveys per month, which isn't bad for a company known for sending several thousand e-mails a week.
In conclusion, I definitely feel comfortable recommending SurveyJunkie because it provides high quality paid surveys, offers generous incentives for referring friends, and has excellent customer support. I hope this helps you start making money with surveys!
As previously stated, the main factor determining how many surveys you'll receive is your location. Certain states, cities, or countries perform worse than others, especially Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, UK, Ireland, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India, China, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ukraine, Turkey, Argentina, Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Turks & Caicos Islands, Jamaica, Antigua & Barbuda, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Mongolia, Maldives, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Macau, Taiwan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, Macau, Taiwan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, Macau, Taiwan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, Macau, Taiwan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, Macau, Taiwan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, Macau, Taiwan, Nepal.
This list includes almost every country except Antarctica, North Korea, and certain small islands (Cambodia excluded). Obviously, the bigger the country, the fewer surveys you'll receive.
Another thing that determines how many surveys you'll receive is your gender. Men seem to receive more invitations than women do, simply because men appear to be more willing to spend their leisure time taking surveys (which is ironic given they complain about spending too much time on video games). This seems to hold true worldwide regardless of age group.
Lastly, the older you get, the less opportunities you'll receive. My guess is that younger generations are now becoming more accustomed to technology and therefore are more receptive to joining companies like Survey Junkie. Again, this holds true globally.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.