FAQs About Paid Surveys
Here we list a few of the questions we have been posed about the paid online market research companies listed on this site. Hopefully, they will answer a few of your own queries - if not - feel free to contact us.
Is This For Real?
There are HUNDREDS of real, honest, legitimate market research companies out there on the internet. Many will pay you cash for your opinions. Many more will reward you with shopping vouchers, freebies, prizes or other forms of reward. These are REAL opportunities to earn a little something from doing what amounts for doing very little. Gauging public opinion is an important part of running a successful business and you bet there's plenty of big companies out there willing to pay you a couple of dollars to ensure they're getting it right.
How It Works?
Some market research companies operate differently to others but, in the main, it works a little like this. You register your details with your choice of agency and wait for them to contact you. When a new market research study is available, they will compare the target ddemographic with the people they have in their database, and if you match, you will be sent an invitation to take the survey by email. Typically, you have a couple of days to respond to this invitation before the study closes. Upon successful completion of the survey you will receive your reward which may be cash, reward vouchers, freebies or prize draw entries dependant upon which company you are working with.
What Will I Be Answering Surveys On?
It depends, as basically you get whatever matches your demographic profile, however, we have been surveyed on things as widely varied as toothpaste flavours to national government policy.
Do I Have To Answer Every Survey Questionnaire I Receive?
Generally no, although some companies may decide it's not worth sending you more if you never reply to any. There is never any actual obligation to respond to a survey and once started, no obligation to complete it...at least, not at any of the companies we have ever come across. You're strictly a volunteer. Just a paid one.
How Much Does It Cost To Join?
Nothing. Real market research companies get paid thousands of dollars by huge corporations to conduct opinion polls and surveys for them and they will NEVER ask you to pay to join their panels. Remember, your opinion is so valuable to them, they will pay you for giving it - not the other way around!
But I Have Seen Companies Wanting $25+ For Membership! Are These Better?
These are people looking to make a fast buck. They do not conduct surveys themselves, but rather provide their customers with a list of companies who do. Essentially, they make you pay for the information which sites like this one give you for free.
How Much Does Your Site Cost?
The Online Survey Directory provides all the information, listings and advice on this site absolutely free. We are panel members at the majority of the companies listed on these pages, or know and trust someone who is, and have been happy with our membership to date.
We DO NOT list companies who want to charge you to become a member. These are borderline scams, many of which just provide you with a list of other companies who will pay you for your opinions - i.e. the ones we list for free!
If you want a complete list of over 300 companies we will send you one. Just email us. We'll send it to you for free. Most will be untested by us, many will also be inactive and some might not even be real companies, but that's what $25+ buys you.
What Can I Expect To Earn?
We do not make wild claims about the amount of money you can make from joining these sites. You will not make $3000 a month. You can not give up your day job. This is not a substitute for part time work even, but rather a way to make a few extra dollars here and there, just for answering a few simple questions from the comfort of your own computer chair.
But I Heard You Can Earn Up To $300 A Survey!
Yes, we heard that too...from people trying to sell lists of companies for $25+ each. This is simply being economical with the truth. The average survey pays between $5-$25 at most companies. Focus groups pay more, but are much more 'involved' and even these rarely pay more than $100.
Why Don't You Charge For Survey Lists?
We make money from the various forms of advertising around the site. Not as much as we could make by charging people $25+ a time for something they could find for free by searching the internet, but we prefer to be poor but sleep soundly at night. ;)
