An Honest View of Survey Income Opportunities

 

Companies around the globe rely on consumer feedback to develop products that sell. Retailers need to measure customer satisfaction to improve their margins and defend or increase their market share. And they are willing to pay for it.

If you have a bit of time to spare, have a computer with internet access, and are comfortable with sharing and expressing your opinion, then taking paid surveys online may be a fun, easy and rewarding source of (extra) income.

I have been filling out surveys for a number of years and am ready to share my experience with you and help you steer clear of scams and time thieves. Anybody interested in this approach to make some extra cash on the web with market research is invited to exchange ideas and experiences here.

Taking Surveys - Will I get Rich? 

Hint: Don't quit you day job just yet

Although I realize that everyone might have a different perception of rich-ness it's safe to say - you won't get rich overnight by filling out surveys. But with the right information and mindset you WILL make some decent money.

A lot of survey companies "compensate" you by entering you in their monthly, quarterly, or whenever drawing of varying cash or points prizes. They commonly range from $10 to $100, in some cases even $5,000 to $10,000. The odds of winning depend on the number of entries, but it's safe to say don't expect to win something on a regular basis. If you like the thrill of sweepstakes for BIG money and have lots of spare time, by all means, give it a try.

For the purpose of this lens however, I shall focus more on those companies where you will definitely make some cash, not just lottery tickets, "chances" or alarm clocks.

Bookmark and ShareImportant Tip: Before we dig in please make sure to bookmark this page so you will always find your way back.

Recognize who you're dealing with! 

A little caution saves you from tons of SPAM and waste of time and money

If you want to venture out on your own and do some research you will come across a myriad of sites promising you fabulous rewards (like $1,000 gift cards, 60-inch Plasma TVs, Caribbean Luxury Cruises for 4, and the like). You get the idea, if it sounds too good, there's probably a catch.

Once you sign up you will find out that in order to get the promised reward you must first complete a certain number of tasks like applying for credit cards, subscribing to download services, ordering free samples, and the like. Only if you complete all demanded steps, and have them reported back to the marketing site within the alloted time frame, you may be able to receive the reward.

Even if you are willing to do what it takes, it is important to know that these sites are not genuine market researchers. They are marketers who receive commissions from the companies they promote.

Important tip: Always read "the fine print", Terms and Conditions, or whatever it's called, to see what you're dealing with.

Try - Don't Buy! 

Join a few sites and test the waters

OK, now that you know who are not real or paying research companies, I will show you some of the genuine market research companies that compensate you adequately for your valuable insight.

Sign up with all of these for starters, submit your profile and take a couple of surveys. This will cost you nothing but a few minutes your time. Membership is always free.

If nothing else, register with my favorite and recommended panels and see what it's all about. To receive survey invitations, you will need to submit one or more profiling questionnaires so that the surveying company can pre-select you for their client's specific requirements.

MySurvey Official SiteMySurvey is really cool. They always offer 10 points at first for every survey (usually less than 5 minutes long). Many times though, you will qualify for more points as revealed during the survey. MySurvey never fails to surprise me (in a good way) and they are coming out with a totally cool new way to receive your earnings. Don't know if it's still a secret so I'll keep my mouth shut. But it's really unique and very practical. I've been a member of MySurvey for a long time, and they're still one of my favorites!



You may have to wait a few days before a suitable survey opportunity comes along. Monitor your email inbox and jump at every invitation sent your way.

Top 6 Online Survey Sites for Cash 

Proven and trustworthy

These are real research sites that are 100% free to join. They send meaningful surveys on a regular basis and I can personally attest that they pay up as promised. I have actually received checks or PayPal for cash and tons of neat stuff to test. If you are serious about giving online surveys a try, you should definitely start with these companies before anything else!

Knowing what a real company looks like will also help you avoid the hordes of look-alikes who are only after your email addresses to spam you.
  1. Ipsos i-Say
    Ipsos is one of the largest and most respected survey-based research companies in the world. In addition to your monetary survey compensation there are several very interesting prizes to be won, like gift cards or even a car!
  2. Survey Savvy
    SurveySavvy sends well targeted surveys, infrequently at first until you complete your profile. They offer cash rewards, not points, lottery tickets or other gimmicks. I receive more $20+ surveys from SurveySavvy than any other research panel. You can request a check of your earnings anytime you like, no need to rack up a threshold amount. This is just one reason why SurveySavvy is at the top of my favorites list. They also have the most generous referral bonus which compensates you for every friend you refer, as long as you are an active member. I believe every family should have at least one SurveySavvy member!
  3. NFO MySurvey
    This is another reputable market research company with a very good program. You receive points for every survey, even short screeners. If you qualify for the entire survey you'll be offered a higher reward. Points can be converted to cash. You also have the choice of charity donations, merchandise or raffle tickets for fantastic prizes. In addition, regular sweepstakes are held for added cash prizes. Can't miss with this company. US, Canada, Europe.
  4. Opinion Outpost
    Whoa! Opinion Outpost adds a bit of Western fun to the serious survey business. Their bounty is real though, generally between $2 and $5 for regular surveys. US and Canada residents only.
  5. American Consumer Opinion
    ACOP rewards its survey panelists with cash for every survey taken, and also offers monthly member cash draws. Accepts participants from around the world. Available in most major languages.
  6. MindField Online
    MindField Online is the online data collection child of McMillion Research. They have been in business almost 30 years now and have a worldwide clientele. A very reputable research company, which pays cash for every survey you participate in! Minimum payment threshold is $10.

The Most Important Thing:


  • You never need to pay a reputable research company to join!

  • Trust your instinct!

  • If it sounds too good to be true, it usually most certainly is!

So, how much cash can I realistically make from surveys? 

Where's the money? Show me the money!

Basic Tips to Maximize Your Survey Earnings 

General stuff you should consider

You won't get a lot of targeted survey invitations that pay handsome rewards right from the start. But there are some pointers that will help you maximize the earning potential and lay the ground work for a successful relationship with your market research company:
  • Once you register with a panel make sure you fill out all available initial profiling surveys. These come either in the form of an "about me" survey or can consist of several short profile quick matches. These are a prerequisite to receive relevant survey invitations.
  • Provide accurate contact information. You want to make sure that you'll receive your checks, samples, gift or merchandise.
  • Be truthful in your answers. At the very least, be consistent, especially when it comes to personal questions about you. The survey companies will sometimes cross-check your information and might disqualify you if your answers don't measure up.
  • Respond promptly to survey invitations. Especially to those with a financial compensation. The survey companies usually need only a certain number of respondents and available spots fill up very fast. Sometimes in a matter of a few hours.
  • Don't get discouraged if, after a few screening questions, you don't qualify for the whole survey. The more you respond promptly to invitations the more chances you will get in the long run.
  • Product tests are a fun respite from tedious survey business. Often not readily recognizable at the start, you will receive full-size product samples, commonly of personal care items, household stuff or novelty foods.

    No, contrary to what you may have heard, Plasma TVs and digital cameras get tested elsewhere...

    However, you usually get to keep the products, even if only a small portion is used for the test. They are generally ready to market so you don't need to feel like a lab rat. In addition, you often get a financial incentive for submitting an evaluation of the product(s). Sometimes even multiple times if follow-up surveys are required.
  • Important Reminder: In my experience, survey invitations often get stuck in Spam filters. It is important to add their email address to your whitelist. Check your Spam folders occasionally if something was not delivered to you. It's really upsetting to miss out on a big paying survey!

6 Easy Tips To Maximize Your Survey Success 

Advanced tips for long-term success

OK, so you've taken a couple of surveys, had enough fun to keep you going, lost the "get-rich-overnight-without-any-effort" illusion, and want to crank your earnings up a notch. Here's some advice that might be helpful to reach that goal:
  1. Sign up with any and all survey companies, market research institutes, or whatever they call themselves. Get on as many panels as you possibly can. Every site sends infrequent invitations, and you won't pass each and every qualifying screener. Your only recourse to keep busy is to have as many sources for paid surveys as possible.
  2. If you want to make serious cash you have to treat this as a business, or like a real job. Taking one survey every now and then is not going to line your pockets wth gold. You have to invest regular hours just like with most other jobs. The bonus part is that you can more or less choose your own hours and work as much or as little as you like.
  3. Don't wait for $100 surveys. In the beginning, take every survey that you get invited to, even if it doesn't offer a king's ransom. Normal, everyday surveys pay between $1 and $5. Not much, it seems. The money is in the volume, so take 10 or more surveys a day if you can.
  4. Sometimes the gems reveal themselves only to the faithful. Meaning, in some cases the reward will be much greater than initially announced. The survey companies want to insure that they have the right person for the job and so will reveal the reward during the course of the survey if you fit into the profile. This prevents dishonest panelists from trying to guess the desired anwers only to collect the reward.
  5. Be on the lookout for invitations to focus groups. These are either online or offline sessions of approximately 60 to 90 minutes duration with an interviewer or moderator. Here is also where the famed $150 compensations are to be found, occasionally. Online sessions commonly pay $20 to $30. You can imagine that these gigs are high in demand, so if you're lucky enough to be invited to one you should respond as quickly as possible, mark your calendar and show up early.
  6. Make use of the friend referral bonus! Many survey companies credit you with extra points or a small reward (typically around $1 - $2) for any referrals that join the panel. You'll be doing your friends a valuable service and make an extra buck here and there.

About The Referral Of Friends 

Share your success with friends and family

As mentioned earlier, many survey companies pay you a small token of appreciation to refer others to their panels. This is a nice way to spruce up your survey earnings.

If you've had success with a particular survey company chances are that someone you know would welcome your invitation to make some extra money.

Most people looking for an honest and easy income opportunity on the internet are grateful for a personal referral of an opportunity that really works.

Visitor Feedback and Guestbook 

Let me know what you think

If you have enjoyed this lens, found some useful information, or even have additional suggestions or constructive comments, please share them here.

I would also suggest that you bookmark this page so you can always refer back to it. If you have friends who are also looking for some extra income from home please feel free to forward this page to them.

Thanks for visiting, and good luck with your survey success!