Online Surveys for Movie Buffs and Gamers
Escape to another world and forget about your worries. That’s how most of us enjoy spending our free time; melting away into the fun and fantasy that comes along with the latest blockbuster movie, action-packed video game, or adrenaline-pumping sports event. In a tough economy and with unforgiving ticket and concession prices, taking paid surveys is a great way for movie buffs and gamers to fund their little entertainment habits! Plus, it is very personally satisfying to know that input and insights provided have helped create or re-tool products for all consumers.
Marketing companies that work with the movie industry are always looking for certain demographic groups to either screen movies, watch movie trailers (previews) and give detailed feedback. Who knows, your opinions about an up-and-coming movie could have an impact on the actual scenes that you see when it is finally released to the theater! Also, sharing information about the products you buy, the media you watch, your income level, and other demographic information helps marketing execs decide how, when and where to advertise the film. There are also many “mystery shopping” assignments for theaters where you are assigned to enter a cinema, count the number of people in the audience, describe the quality of the theater’s sound, screen and surroundings and more.
Online surveys for gamers revolve around the entire gaming experience. This might include questions that inquire what platforms you prefer (such as computers, consoles or handhelds) to your favorite gaming genres (such as action games, puzzle games, or multi-player online games). More than 65-percent of American households play video games and it’s not just the kids – the average age of a gamer is 35 years! So, other members of your family may be asked to give feedback on paid surveys about video games. Other marketing activities such as voting on which game cover artwork you like best or ranking the importance of video game features are other assignments you could receive through online surveys. A lucky few are sometimes invited to actually test out various video games at home before they are released to the general public.
How To Join Focus Groups
The good news is that market research companies are always looking for people to join their programs. If you don’t already know about this good way to make some extra money, you need to get on board. Focus groups are used by companies and marketing firms to collect and analyze consumer opinion and insight on various topics. If you are a consumer of food, household products, cars, medical services and just about everything else, then you are a prime candidate for focus groups!
A focus group typically is a “live” event where you meet with a group of other consumers in a meeting room to discuss and interact about a particular product or service. This means you’ll need to have a car or reliable transportation to travel to the venue, which is almost always in a large-sized city. Recently, there has been an increase in online focus groups that allow folks who can not get out of the house or live in more rural areas to participate in the discussion. These online focus groups are set up as “webinars” or “web chats”, so you’ll need a phone line and a computer with decent Internet access.
If you are interested in participating in focus groups, you can check the websites of your favorite products to see if they have programs in place and are accepting applicants. Also, there are databases that list legitimate focus group and online surveys; surf through these and apply for membership at the ones that interest you. Participants are chosen for focus groups primarily based on demographic information (such as age and family size) and interests (such as movie-goer or snack food eater); these qualifiers revealed when you fill out the initial registration forms for each focus group site. Occasionally, you also may be sent “screeners” via email or be called on the telephone to answer a few questions before you are asked to join a focus group.
Other projects, similar to focus groups, may also come up from time to time. In addition to roundtable discussions, you may also be asked to participate in mock jurys, website evaluations, one-on-one interviews and take paid surveys. Usually these events take approximately 2 hours, although some may be shorter or longer. You will always be notified of the project details before accepting the job. Successful participation in the focus group could earn you $30 to $300 dollar based on the project and company.
Don’t Pay for Survey Site Access
If you’ve ever surfed around on the Internet looking for ways to make extra money, you no doubt come across many survey sites claiming to fill your pockets with cash for very little effort on your part. In fact, some of these companies can sound so sincere and promising, that unsuspecting participates eagerly pay some upfront fees with the anticipation that they’ll soon be on easy street.
However, we are here to tell you that paying money to view a listing of survey sites is not a good use of your money. We hate to use the word SCAM, because some survey site lists may charge for their product – a contact list of survey sites --- and make no promises about the outcome. So they aren’t really stealing your money, but it’s just not a cost-effective product to buy. Some of the come-ons might sound like this “We offer you a huge database list where you can instantly access over a hundred survey sites for a one-time fee of 29.99.”
Instead of paying nearly $30 of your hard-earned money, you can find plenty of databases of survey sites that offer your free access to legitimate, validated online surveys. The reason these no-cost survey databases can be offered free of charge is that the administrator receives a small referral payment from the listed survey sites. That is, each time you visit the database and click through a survey site link, a fee is paid to the list owner for directing new business to the survey site.
So, when looking to participate in surveys, understand that it is never necessary to pay money up front. Most companies with survey site information are being paid directly by the survey site; therefore, payment by the consumer to participate is not truthful. Also, when joining survey sites, make sure to always read the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy to understand exactly what you are getting into. Even if you are not paying money, follow the piece of advice “Buyer Beware.”
Sweeten Life With Candy Surveys
Some sweet times are coming your way because June is National Candy Month. If you haven’t already been celebrating, break open a chocolate bar or bag of jelly beans and enjoy! And, while you sitting back enjoying this favorite treat of people around the world, consider another way to sweeten you day – taking paid online surveys. Just think you can make a little extra money in your spare time to help fun your candy habit!
Many online surveys focus on consumer products, the household items that we all use every day. Your opinions may be sought out on many household items that could include window cleaners, sunscreens, makeup, pasta sauces, snack foods --- and candy! So, let’s use the example of candy to help understand how the paid online surveys work.
In most online surveys, you will be asked to recall your experiences using the product, the specific brand of candy in this case. The questionnaire may ask you to rate your opinions on a scale, to write out your answers in a more subjective format, or some combination of both. The marketers may also ask for you to indicate all the brands of candy that you’ve heard of and your opinions on each of these; this is so they can gauge their position against the candy competition.
Sometimes when taking paid surveys, you may really get to sink your teeth into the project. From time to time, a company may actually send you a sample of the candy treat to evaluate in your own home and maybe even share with family and friends for their opinions. You must always follow the survey instructions on how to use, distribute, and talk about the product. Sometimes the company encourages the free word-of-mouth marketing while other times the product and information you are sent is proprietary and should be held in strict confidence.
After completing your free surveys on candy, most survey sites will reward you in one of several ways. You may earn “reward points” which can be saved up and later redeemed for all sorts of popular merchandise and gift cards to leading merchants. Or, you may be paid for your opinions with free entries into large sweepstakes offering you the opportunity to win a big prize. Finally, quite a few online surveys will pay participants in actual money via a check sent to their home address or deposited into an online bank account.
Unemployment Still High – Online Surveys Help Pay Bills
It was just about a year ago in 2009, President Obama signed the mega-billion stimulus package into law, claiming that the unemployment rate would not surpass 8 percent. However, in the early months of 2010 the unemployment rate as been as high as 10.4% according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This figure has receded some, down to 9.7% for June, but much of this dip can be attributed to the 411,000 temporary workers that were hired to do US Census work.
If you are one of the nearly one it ten people who finds themselves without a job in these troubled economic times, there are ways to make extra money at home while you keep hitting the job market hard. For example, taking paid surveys is a good way to earn some extra cash that can be put toward paying the bills, buying groceries or covering your healthcare premiums. As a supplement to your unemployment check or part-time job, this can help get you through the rough patches until you can land a permanent position.
Online surveys may compensate you for your opinions in the range of $2 to $10 per survey depending on the length, complexity and the company conducting the research. While you obviously aren’t going to be able to call this a full-time gig, you can make a worthwhile endeavor if you have several surveys lined up per day. In order to maximize your opportunities to take online surveys for money, register with as many survey sites as you can and then when an invitation to participate comes your way, promptly complete the questions. Often, the more active your are taking surveys with a particular survey site, the more invitations you will receive.
Focus groups are another good way to make some extra money in your down time between interviews. Unlike online surveys, focus groups require you to meet at the researcher’s facility with a group of other consumers to share opinions in a moderated, roundtable format. Because participation in focus groups required travel time and a higher level of input, payment for completing can often be much higher. Occasionally, online focus groups can be found that offer the same multi-person exchange of ideas in an “online chat” or “webinar” type format.
Attention: Your Check is in the Mail
“Your check is in the mail,” how many times have you heard (or used) that expression?! If you want a money-making opportunity you can count on, consider taking paid online surveys. During lunch at work, between errands, in the evening watching television – these are all ideal times to take surveys for money. While some scoff at the idea of participating in this make-money-at-home opportunity, it really can be a legitimate way to earn a little extra cash
It is easy to get started in online survey programs. To make sure you are signing up with reputable marketing research companies, get your leads from trustworthy databases of paid surveys, from friends and family, or from online forums that give the thumbs-up on a certain company. If you are feeling uncertain about a specific paid survey program, you can also check with the Better Business Bureau, Survey Police or the word-of-mouth scoop posted on survey discussion forums.
After you submit your basic contact information and demographics, you’ll typically receive invitations in your email inbox to take surveys based on your interests. The length and scope can vary based on the project, but usually the surveys are quite interesting and even fun. After successfully completing a survey, you will be rewarded one of many ways according to the company you are working with. Points for merchandise and prizes are always popular rewards, but even better, participants can often get paid in cash.
When earning cash compensation for taking money surveys, you can be paid in several ways. First, the check can literally be in the mail, where you can then cash it or deposit it however you see fit. Another popular way to send funds is a direct transfer into an online bank account such as Paypal. Finally, you may be sent a pre-loaded debit card with your compensation that can be used at the merchant of your choice.
Achieve Goals with Paid Surveys
Having goals will assist you in living the life you’ve always wanted. From personal goals to professional goals, following proven techniques in goal settings makes the chances for your success much more tangible. Many people have found that taking paid surveys is a great way to help earn extra money to attain goals. Whether you are looking to help finance your education, pay the bills, purchase a luxury item or any other number of short and long-term goals, there are a few tips that can help you maximize your efforts.
However, to make your goals materialize, you can’t simply sit back and wait for things to happen – you have to be proactive. Goal setting to achieve your dreams takes time to plot them out and then follow-through with lots of hard work. Following proven steps can help you form goals for taking online surveys that are easier to keep and accomplish.
Set Motivating Goals: Goals must light a fire under you, making you want to jump up and take action. If you don’t have commitment to the hobby of taking paid online surveys, it is easy to give up or be distracted. But, if you are truly motivated to make something happen, it usually will!
Set Attainable Goals: If you are dreaming of an expensive mansion, taking a handful of $10 surveys a month is not even going to pay the electric bill. In fact, it is not realistic to think that a full-time income can be made taking paid surveys. But, allotting a just few hours each month to make $100 or so a month is a great justification for not giving up your pricy coffee shop habit or some other attainable goal.
Put Words or Pictures to Goals: Experts suggest putting your goals into words to make them more tangible and more real. In order to keep plugging away at taking paid surveys, even when it might seem to get boring or when you are harried for time, you can try writing down your goals or even creating a “goal” poster. Glue pictures of your end goal onto a blank sheet of paper; it’s amazing how a daily glance at this poster will remind you how much the new car, the college education, the dream vacation or any other goal actually means to you.
Whatever your goals are, big or small, taking cash surveys is a proven means to an end. While smaller goals can be achieved more quickly through a few short paid surveys, even ambitious dreams can be realized with “sticktoitiveness” and a good solid base of reoccurring paid surveys and larger, higher-paying focus groups and market research projects.
Survey Spotlight: NPD Online Research Group
When we ask people who take surveys who their favorite online survey provider is, very often we get “NPD Online Research Group” as a response. This large market research company has been around since 1967 and over the years has gained a very trustworthy reputation. As a member of their noted panel, your opinions will be valued and used to help improve products, services, websites and more. And, of course, the perks at NPD Online Research Group make it worth your while!
One of the first perks you’ll be exposed to after signing up for this safe, confidential survey site is the opportunity to win $1,000 just for registering. Someone always wins these sweepstakes; why not give it a chance to be you. Residents of the United States also will be enrolled in the SweepLand program which is designed strictly for NPD Online Research panelists. For each paid survey completes, participants are rewarded with one entry into the sweepstake of choice – trips, electronics, and other exciting merchandise. Additionally, for each online paid survey finished participants are in the running for another $1,000. Panelists living outside the US also receive great rewards including a daily draw for $100, monthly draw for $1,000 and quarterly draw for $5,000. Regardless of where you live, increase your odds by taking more surveys.
Referring friends is another way to make money at this survey provider. Via the web site, you can send emails to family, friends and co-workers who you think may be interested in taking free surveys online. Embedded in your emails are unique URLs that let NPD Research Online track back those who join so that you will get all the credit. For each person you get to officially join and complete the member profile, you will be entered into a drawing to win $1,000.
Each day when you log onto this great choice in survey sites, check out the fun and interactive polls designed for your entertainment and information. The “Quiz Whiz” offers topical-based trivia for your enjoyment. Questions are usually very timely, for example, yesterday’s question was about Oscar history, fitting since the Academy Awards are this weekend. The “Click and Pick” section, also featured on the front page, is a fun way to see how your opinions, interests and activities stack up against others across the world. After answering a short multiple choice poll on the daily topic, you’ll get to see the poll results immediately after hitting submit.
Understanding Online Survey Screeners
If you are new to taking surveys online, you may be a little confused about the process. Even more so if you have started taking what you think is a full-fledged online survey, online to be declined a few questions later with a “we’re sorry, you do not match our criteria” – or something like that! Typically, marketing companies, corporations and even academic institutions that solicit people for answers to paid surveys are not looking for responses from the general population. Instead, they want to gather information on a specific set or “demographic” of individuals. These demographics of which I speak are quantitative data that is easily measurable and “hard” such age, educational level, residence, number of children and more.
More often than not, companies conducting online surveys will send out “screeners” to their members as a quick way to find out who meets the minimum required criteria of their study. For example, an energy drink company may be looking for men ages 18 – 34 while a wrinkle cream company may be recruiting women ages 35 plus. What a newbie to online surveys sometimes doesn’t realize is that taking the “screener” is the prelude to the actual full-blown paid survey, not the paid survey itself. The screener is like a little mini-survey; if you pass, you’ll be invited to participate in the longer paid market research project. As a token of appreciation, many survey administrators will enter people who don’t qualify (and thus won’t typically get paid) into periodic sweepstakes for cash and other prizes.
While taking “screeners” may seem like a waste of your time, it definitely isn’t. Even if you do not qualify for a particular paid survey, it does put the survey site on notice that you are an active, interested member ready to receive more online survey invitations. My biggest beef with screeners is when companies have extraordinarily lengthy screeners and then tell you “no thanks” at the end – almost like they’ve tricked you out of the information needed and now don’t have to payout. Most well-intentioned screeners should be comprised of just a handful of questions, taking only a minute or two, and then promptly notify you of your status to take the online survey.