With the increasing popularity of online surveys, you most probably have heard of paid surveys or at least participated in one of them. However, there are a few people who do not really understand why it's important to participate in surveys. Let's first see why surveys are quite important to our day-to-day life.
Why you should participate?
Paid surveys are rapidly becoming the most preferred means of data collection today, thanks to the Internet. This is because the Internet has made surveys available to almost everybody who can log on to the Internet from almost every country in the entire world. Collection of consumer information is the main stronghold of the entire market research industry. Market research firms design and conduct data collection, by use of surveys and that is where you, the consumers, comes into play because he/she is the source of the data. Not until lately, production firms had to try and make the best possible estimate of how to make the best goods and services to meet their consumers' tastes, which was difficult for most production companies. But all that has now been turned around and the consumer now can directly influence how or what he wants from these companies simply by participating in research projects. Companies today go full lengths to make or produce goods that have been customized to meet what their consumers' preferences are. For that reason both the production companies have found it easier to make the best possible products for their consumers, and the consumer is most at home with the products these companies produce for him/her to use.
How can you participate?
Participation is simple and quite interesting because you will not only learn something from participating in research projects but also get some reward for it. Marketing research firms pay consumers to participate in surveys, and focus groups. Let's first cover how to find good survey companies, join their panels and start taking surveys.
Legitimate online survey companies
People either love or hate YouGov. The surveys are short ‘n' snappy, and the site is commissioned by everyone from academics to charities, so you get to put in your tuppence on serious subjects. Yet MoneySavers say it takes three to five years to hit the payout threshold.
Another survey site to try is Toluna. Forumites earn regular Amazon vouchers, though some report payments can be slow.
While Newvistalive has a high £50 payout threshold, many MoneySavers have racked up £50 cheques fairly quickly. It usually pays between £50p and £1 per survey - some forumites have made £50 in six months.
The holy grail of survey sites, Pinecone pays megabucks, but is invitation only. You get £3 for every survey. Sadly, the recruitment process is more secretive than MI6. You have to wait until you're invited or spot a web banner advert on another site to sign up.
Mega-popular for its speedy surveys, OnePoll runs polls for the press, meaning fun questions about celebs and your love life. It works slightly differently to other survey sites and doesn't send out invitations - you need to log on daily to check.
MoneySavers earn cash quickly from MySurvey, as it has a low £3 payout threshold and abundant surveys. It pays in cash via PayPal.
Another popular site, Crowdology pays hard cash via PayPal. The payment threshold's a low £4, and many folks rack this up every month.
US survey site GlobalTestMarket pays by cheque in sterling once you've earned $50 (currently £30ish). Many forumites amass £100 a year from the site.
A favourite on the MSE Forum, Swagbucks* pays you virtual 'swag bucks' to answer daily polls, watch videos or play games and these can be cashed in for gift cards, Paypal credits or other rewards.
A must-join, Ipsos is probably the best paying survey site. Its surveys are plentiful, and many rack up £10 or more of Amazon vouchers every month.
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