Archive for April, 2009

 

What are Paid Surveys?

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009
One of the most popular marketing techniques these days is making people think that they are going to get paid to take online surveys. Many websites are generating leads and gathering your personal information by advertisements claiming you will get $20, $50, or even $100 to participate in their online surveys.

These “online surveys” usually consist of making you buy something from one of their affiliates. They will pay you $20 to join book club or dvd rental program. There is usually a high payout you must reach before you can actually get a check. Usually you will have to sign up for several offers before you reach the minimum amount to request a payout. These programs are designed to keep you from completing all the steps necessary to get paid.

It is programs like these lead people to believe that paid surveys are a scam. In fact, you really can get paid to take online surveys. Unlike what the “scam” sites claim, a paid survey doesn’t usually pay $50 or more. And it doesn’t involve making a purchase, joining a book club, or applying for a credit card.

A real paid survey is simply a research study conducted by a market research company to gather information for a corporation, manufacturer, or advertiser. Big corporations spend millions of dollars marketing their products. They need to know who buys their products, what they like and dislike, what features of the product are important to them, etc.. With this knowledge they can in turn make products that people will buy. When they need one of these studies done they hire a market research firm. Most market research companies now have online panelists. When a study is done the research company will send out an email to its members asking them to participate in an online survey. This study usually consists of a few questions to determine your demographics. This is so that they can get information from the people who actually use the products. For instance, if they were conducting a study on video games they might want only males from ages 18-25 who own a Playstation. If you were a 35 year old female you wouldn’t qualify. Once you have qualified for a survey you will then be asked a series of questions related to the product. You may be asked to view a commercial, or even test a new product.

Before you take a survey you will usually be told what the compensation is for your participation. Even if you do not qualify, you may be entered into a drawing for cash or other prizes. Most paid surveys pay somewhere between $2 and $20. There are actually surveys that will pay over $100. But these are not common. Surveys that pay very high amounts are mostly reserved for those in the medical field and computer programmers. That doesn’t mean you can’t make a decent amount of money taking online surveys. You can.

The way to make sure you are always in need is to be a member of as many paid survey panels as possible. There are litereally hundreds of panels you can join. Some may ask for your help daily. Others may only need you once a month, or less. Some may never need you. Being a member of 10 to 20 panels will almost guarantee you receive at least one survey invitation a day. Often more. You can join and be a member of as many survey panels as you like. Most panels take about 5 minutes to register with. Unless you are going to take the time to join a couple hundred panels, you will not be able to make a living taking paid surveys. However, if you are looking to make some extra money every month with no investment then paid surveys is a great way to do it.



By: Chris Price

About the Author:

Chris Price is the owner of the free paid survey directories wahmservice.com and paidsurveysources.com. Visit these sites for more information on taking paid surveys



 

Work At Home: Taking Paid Surveys

Monday, April 6th, 2009
As you search for ways to make money from home you will find many options. The problem is that 99.9% of these money making opportunities will do more wasting your time and maybe money than earning you an income.

In this article I’m going t talk about Paid Survey opportunities. I’ve spoken with people who have tried Paid To Take Survey systems, and what I learned was very interesting. There’s a downfall that many people don’t think about until they are involved with the Paid Survey program.

The big drawback is that you need to qualify for the survey which you are emailed. The average pay is only $20.00 to $50.00 for a completed survey. Sounds easy don’t it? Well the qualification process is very time consuming and difficult.

Let’s say that you are emailed a survey about pet food. The questions asked will be multiple choices. If you select the incorrect answer, then you are instantly rejected without any pay what so ever! Now if they ask “How many pets do you have in your household 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 and you have a cat and dog so you answer 2 and they are looking for the answer of 3, 1 or 4 then goodbye to you and the time you’ve spent so far!

But let’s be positive about the outcome of this example survey. Just for fun let’s say that you get the first question correct, what do you think your chances are of getting 20 multiple choice questions correct when there is no right answer, just the answer they are looking for? I’d say not very likely.

There are a few people I spoke with who tried 100+ surveys before giving up. Imagine all the time some people waste in hopes of maybe and possibly getting just one survey completed once a week. I love making money from home but not that little bit of money for such a large amount of work.

Paid To Take Survey Systems are no better than the read emails for pennies opportunities. There are plenty of great ways to make money online that doesn’t require you to spend all day struggling for a few bucks here and there. Most legitimate home based business opportunities do require an investment. Keep in mind though that you are investing in your future.

The hard truth is that you have 3 choices. The first choice is to waste your days on worthless endeavors such as paid to read or Paid To Take Surveys. The second choice is to keep your day job. And third and I think best choice is to search out a legitimate home based business where you can earn hundreds and even thousands of dollars per week. Of course you’ll need to be careful when investing that you don’t get scammed by hyped up opportunities which have little to offer.

The decision is yours but if you’re going to spend all day working for pennies to nothing taking surveys, then why not just stay 9 to 5? That’s just my take on the matter.



By: Dean Fischer

About the Author:
I’m Dean Fischer. I’ve been networking from home for over eight years. I write articles of tips and advice based on either research or first hand experience. View My Other Report! Is a non-bias report on the RFS opportunity. I am not a member of RFS. Here’s How I Make Money!



 

Paid Survey Scams - How to Protect Yourself

Saturday, April 4th, 2009
Are paid surveys a scam? You have probably seen the following ads in various places on the internet. “Get paid to take surveys! Earn up to $250/hr for giving your opinion! Make thousands of dollars a month taking paid surveys in your spare time!” These and other ads beckon viewers to take paid surveys that hold any number of promises in regards to how much you are able to make off of them. Paid surveys are a form of market research, performed by market research firms in order to gather information about a particular product. Often this research is done at the request of major companies in order to gauge the public’s reaction towards a product. Paid surveys are just one of several ways of collecting this information.

Participating in a paid survey can be a good way of making a small fortune, but there are those out there who are more than willing to take advantage of someone who is looking for a quick way to make a small amount of money. Paid surveys in of themselves are not a scam, but as mentioned, there are a lot of non-reputable websites that lure people into giving up their personal information or signing up on mailing lists on the pretense of joining a “legit” paid survey program.

The most important thing you should do beforehand is to research the company that is offering the paid survey — in this instance, Google is your friend. There is bound to be information about the company you’re looking up, whether it is praiseworthy or cautionary. It is also a good idea to check with the Better Business Bureau in order to see if the company has had any complaints or other issues. Out of the hundreds of legitimate paid survey companies, the most well-known are American Consumer Opinion and Opinion Outpost.

Watch for surveys that promise a high rate of return. Even though you may hear stories of people who have made thousands per month on surveys alone, chances are those stories are just hype. The bare truth is that you probably won’t get rich just from surveys alone. Since most companies only average about 1 survey per week, you may have to work with a lot of companies to get any actual income going. The upside is that there are companies that pay out weekly or even daily. Some companies even allow you to try out and keep new products, if you have been a loyal survey taker at those companies.

Be careful of companies that ask for “registration fees” or “membership fees” upon joining. If you have to make a steep investment before making any money from surveys, don’t. There are plenty of free paid survey companies offering the same level of service and that can save you from spending over $50 on membership fees. Check to see if there are any forums or directories with a list of free and membership only paid survey sites. These sites usually offer free information on these companies, as well as extra advice.



By: Moni Arora

About the Author:
Moni Arora has participated in many paid surveys, focus groups, and product tests. He has reviewed and gives his opinion on the best paid survey sites. For information check out Paid Surveys - Review of The Top 3 Paid Survey Sites



 

How Paid Surveys Work

Saturday, April 4th, 2009
Paid surveys are designed to gather opinions and information from an individual and, in turn, offer a financial reward to those who are willing to take the time to complete the survey. Companies who want to improve their marketing strategy and/or product are the most likely candidates to offer a legitimate paid surveys work at home opportunity.

When it comes to online surveys, the best opportunities are those that use demographics to select their participants. This means that many paid surveys require the participant to first answer a series of pre-survey questions to ensure that they are a good fit for the program. If an individual is selected to participate in the actual survey based on the answers they provide, they will be compensated according to the terms of the program.

Online surveys are one of the simplest ways to earn money online because companies are always conducting marketing research. What this means for those who participate in paid surveys is a consistent stream of opportunities for sharing their likes and dislikes. Basically, you can use online surveys to get paid for your opinions.

As with any online work at home venture, there are both legitimate opportunities and there are those that are nothing more than a scam. It’s always important to know how to recognize these as every company will sound legitimate at first glance. When it comes to online surveys, there are two types of scams. The first type involves collecting money for a subscription and then providing outdated information or, in the second type, some companies may simply take your money and run.

So, how can you spot the difference between a genuine opportunity in online surveys and those that are not worth your time? You may be surprised to learn that it’s not as difficult as you may think. The best way to compare online surveys is to read product reviews and ratings from a trusted resource, which can provide you with some early insight and help you choose the best way for you to earn money from home in your spare time. Just like online auction feedback and retail product reviews, it’s essential that you take the time to read reviews relating to online surveys. Once you become familiar with experiences that others have undergone with a specific company, you will be better able to choose the right option to help you earn money from home.

If you still wish to conduct some independent research, you can check with the Better Business Bureau and find out if the paid surveys opportunity that you are considering has received any complaints from other consumers. Once you are ready to start working with online surveys, be sure to read the terms or agreement associated with the survey and look for information relating to payment. Because each paid surveys program is different, payment schedules will also differ.

The information contained in this article is designed to be used as reference purposes only. It should not be used as, in place of or in conjunction with professional legal or financial advice relating to paid surveys, online surveys or learning how to make money from home.



By: Brian Dolezal

About the Author:

Brian Dolezal is a contributing editor for TopConsumerReviews.com, a leading provider of independent reviews and rankings for hundreds of consumer products. You can find out how top paid survey programs compare by visiting TopConsumerReviews.com today.



 

The 3 Methods to Maximize Your Paid Survey Profits

Wednesday, April 1st, 2009
In the present epoch, there is a lot of trend of making money online by taking paid surveys. Nevertheless, because of numerous scams on the Internet you may end up losing your time and energy. Sometimes the links and emails are outdated, information is confusing and there is no customer support to assist you. If you use this resource intelligently, you can make money easily and it is fun as well. Here are some quick tips for you to maximize your paid survey profit.

Once you register with various firms, you should check your email frequently and accept every offer. This will help you to establish yourself as a consistent survey taker and these companies love to offer more surveys to you; they may offer you higher paid ones as well. When you will build a good reputation with the firms, you could later choose and select the surveys that you prefer to do.

Register with Sites That Pay Cash:

You should register with sites that pay cash. You will find many sites which pay via Pay Pal or cheques after the completion of the task. Registering with more sites ensure that you will be taking surveys constantly and keep making money.

Join Many Companies:

You should try to join as many research companies as possible as it will enhance the flow of work. The more you become known for doing certain specific surveys, your demand in the market will increase and you will be offered with several opportunities. Moreover, you should also have a unique account so that your money can be transferred safely.

Send Referrals:

It is interesting to know that many of these paid survey programs extend referrals. By referring your friends and family to these sites and taking surveys from them, you can also earn referral commission. This surely is one of the best things about making money quickly in paid surveys.

You must also ensure to give correct account and personal information to these sites. They need this information to send you money as well as to send prizes sometimes.

You also have to install certain software programs like Java and Flash to start working for paid survey companies. It is good if you have these programs installed otherwise, they always provide you with the link on their websites.



By: Lara Lee

About the Author:

Lara Lee is a paid surveys expert and makes over $2000 a month from paid
surveys
. She has extensive experience making money online with these unique survey websites. Click here to see a list of top legit free paid survey programs.