Surveys | You Will Not Get Rich From This Blog

It’s Just a Survey, don’t quit your day job

September 11th, 2009

3 comments

Hey Everyone,

This post is actually a modified post I wrote a few weeks ago about “legitimate paid survey opportunities” and what to avoid. Although I’ve added a bit to it, for the most part it carries the same message and I believe it’s better than before. So I just wanted to post the new and improved version. Enjoy.

I was talking to Eddy Salomon from WorkatHomeNoScams.Com this week and we were discussing the fact that a lot of people still don’t understand what a real survey is. So I thought I’d talk a little about legitimate survey opportunities and what to avoid.

First – a legitimate survey does not require you to complete offers. Yeah, you guys have seen those IPOD ads Congrats you’ve just won an iPod, Complete the short survey to claim your Prize. Wait, hold on, where’s the survey? All you see is a ton of stuff to sign up for. NOT A SURVEY!

Second – NEVER PAY A WEBSITE A FEE IN ORDER TO TAKE SURVEYS!! I really don’t think I need to elaborate further. Legit Survey opps are 100% FREE, and so is joining ANY consumer research panel.

Third – Don’t quit your day job. Occasionally you will be invited to take part in higher paying survey opportunities, but don’t get used to this. I can almost guarantee that your not going to wake up at five A.M., complete a 20 minute survey, make $80 and go back to bed. At least not for the average person. Some demographics will qualify you for some higher paying ops, but mostly just get used to and be happy with a few extra dollars here and there. How much you actually earn will depend on how many surveys you qualify for and complete. Most surveys pay between $2 and $10 each. Occasionally you’ll be asked to test a product. The company will then supply you with the product and some basic instructions. These usually pay pretty good and often your allowed to keep whatever gadget they send you.

You probably see ads everyday that say you can make $25 – $200 an hour completing surveys and participating in Focus Groups. Although these opportunities do exist, the higher paying “focus” groups usually require you to drive to a location to participate. Do some research on these companies before you join, and don’t be suckered into paying a fee to take part in consumer research. Those that scream Surveys are SCAMs are most likely the victims of these websites (where’s my iPod Extreme? ).

Consumer Research is a huge industry and a vital part of how products and services are developed and presented to us “the consumer”. Our opinions are important and although we won’t get rich working a few hours a day completing surveys, we can enjoy a nice supplement to our monthly income for our involvement.

Now that we got that out of the way, do realize that there are a ton of Super Fantastic, Legitimate and FREE Research Panels floating around the internet. My Top Four are listed below and are pretty much all I can handle. All four have been around for several years and in my opinion are the best of the best.

one American Consumer Opinion Get paid for sharing your opinions and ideas by answering online surveys. Win money in monthly drawings just for being a member. Win money in drawings when you fill out a screener (a short questionnaire). Get paid each time you complete a survey (a longer questionnaire). American Consumer Opinion pays by check per survey completed. You won’t see a ton of surveys, usually one or two a week. My first survey panel. I’ve been a member since 2004.

two Survey Savvy Earn Money when you complete a survey. Earn Money when your friends and family you have referred complete surveys. Earn Money when referrals of the friends and family you have referred complete surveys. This is one of my absolute favorite Survey Opps to promote because of the referral program. Plus you can request a check at any time!!

three My Survey Earn Points for taking surveys and for referring others. Redeem Points for cash, prizes or charity donations with just a few simple clicks. Many additional opportunities to win cash and Reward Points. Automatic entry into the $10,000 sweepstakes just for being a member and another entry each day you log into My Survey. A chance to win 50,000 Reward Points when you take the First Chance Survey. Earn an entry into the Survey Completion Bonus Sweepstakes for each survey you complete. A couple years ago I completed a beverage survey in an hour and not only earned $8 but qualified to participate in a two week study where they sent me a Palm Pilot. All I had to do was spend a few minutes a day entering what I drank each day and I made an additional $60. I had to send the Palm Pilot back by the way.

four Lightspeed When panelists participate in surveys, they will usually earn Lightspeed Points. Once they earn enough Lightspeed Points, they will be able to redeem the points for cash, prizes, and online gift certificates. In addition, they will always earn an entry into the quarterly $5,000 Lightspeed Sweepstakes and an entry in the daily 5,000 Points-A-Day Giveaway, where one panelist earns 5,000 Lightspeed Points each day. Lightspeed is known for sending out tons of surveys a week. Some Weeks are heavier than others and of course your demographics will determine how many survey opps you receive and qualify for. Pays by Paypal at $5 or higher.