Sharing Personal Info on Paid Surveys
Taking paid online surveys can feel like a leap of faith for many people. Having to enter personal information and opinions over the Internet and hitting the “submit” button can make both newbies and seasoned survey takers apprehensive about the whole process. How do you know if something "good" or "bad" is going to happen once you click. One way to feel safe online is to only sign up with only top-tier, proven survey sites. Visit an online survey database, like SurveyAdventure.com, to see lists of the most popular survey sites which have proven to be legitimate resources.
Another way to allay concerns about a survey provider and what they plan to do with your information is to read their privacy policy. For example, do they identify you individually in market research projects or as part of the collective? Do they keep all your information confidential, only to be shared with the stated client, or do they sell email lists and data to third parties? If you have any questions about how a survey site protects your privacy, contact them by phone or email. If you don’t receive a speedy response that satisfies your query, drop them like a hot potato.
Understanding how the information you submit is used helps explain why you need to furnish it in the first place. Your contact information, such as name and email address, is needed to send you invitations to take surveys via email. Often, a home address is required so that any money earned, product samples, and other rewards can be mailed to directly you. Demographic information about your age, gender and other markers are required to target specific surveys that fit your profile. Depending on the client and their products and services, online surveys can be targeted to certain age groups, parts of the country, educational levels, gender and more. Another often requested piece of personal information is your household makeup –number of children, annual income, own or rent home, level of involvement in purchase decision-making, etc.
Hobbies and interests are also sought after information by corporations; this helps executives target what products to develop, what media to market in, and how to further align the company in a way that appeals with your lifestyle. The more information you reveal about yourself in the profile section of survey sites has a direct correlation of survey invitations you receive in your inbox. So, if a resource for free surveys meets your approval, don’t hesitate about sending in your personal information.
Be Picky About Survey Panels
Many people new to the world of paid surveys often question if there is a magic number of panels to sign up with. If you type in a query of “paid survey” or “online survey” into your web search bar, literally millions of results will appear. This can be completely mind boggling and cause confusion about how to sort out the legit sites from the more questionable survey sites. This is why belonging to too many survey panels in the beginning of your survey career, isn’t necessarily better. A better option is to check out an online database of validated survey sites, such as Survey Adventure, and register with no more than 5 to 10 in the beginning. This keeps your workload focused on survey sites with the best reputations and prevents your inbox from being inundated with “surveys” and special offers from lower-rung survey sites.
When visiting survey databases, peruse through the listings of top survey sites often set aside in a special list. These “best sites” are can be ranked in several ways; by those most popular with panelists, those with the largest payouts, or those that offer the most frequent invitations, or those that are just generally good all-around. Take the time to click through the links for each survey site and read through the home page and FAQ of each program to completely understand the survey site’s preferred demographic panelist, specific requirements, and compensation system. After you feel well versed with the options, pick out the online survey providers (5 or 10) that appeal to you the most and begin creating a profile on each web site.
After you have set up your profiles, invitations to take surveys will arrive through email. Act on these emails as soon as possible to show the survey sites that you are a conscientious worker, ready and eager to work. If you let an invitation languish in your inbox, you are sending the message that you are not a dependable participant. This is one of the major reasons to limit your survey panel memberships to 5 to 10 to not become overburdened with surveys that you can’t keep up with, even if you wanted to. After a few months, when you are in the swing of taking paid online surveys and are familiar with how often each sends invitations, you can add new sites, one at a time, to fill up any extra free time you may have.
Foodies Dream – Get Paid To Eat Out
Imagine sitting down for a great meal that includes appetizers and drinks, the main course and even dessert and not having to pay a single dime when it is all said and done! There are many opportunities in larger cities to be a restaurant mystery shopper that actually make it possible to eat well and get paid or break even at the same time. From casual family-friendly restaurant chains to fine dining establishments and even coffee houses and ice cream shops, you’ll get to please your palate without putting any stress on the pocketbook.
While you do get to eat “on the house” as a restaurant mystery diner, the feasting does not without a little bit of work – although we’d hardly call it drudgery. Primarily, you will be asked to observe and record many quantifiable as well as qualitative factors during your dining experience that will later be submitted on a mail-in, telephone or online survey. These questions could include everything from subjective questions like the overall ambiance, server-friendliness and food quality to precisely measurable factors like how long did it take your food to arrive, were your complementary items (like bread, chips, water) refreshed, and did the server suggest a dessert after the meal.
Typically, so that you remain “incognito” during your restaurant visit, you are asked to pay for your meal as if you were a regular customer and then submit your receipts for reimbursement. After you have filled out the paid surveys to the satisfaction of the mystery shopping agency, you will then be sent your dining refund plus and other incentive that was offered. Becoming a mystery shopper for the restaurant industry is a fantastic way for frugal folks to enjoy a night on the town without breaking the bank. However, do remember that this is a job and the number one priority of mystery shopping in dining establishments is secretly collecting the data that the client company is looking for. As long as you keep this in mind, don’t blow your cover and fill out your paid online survey on time, you’ll likely be tasting your way through town without having to work off your meal by washing dishes all night!
Make Money On The Go With Mobile Surveys
Mobile market research is quickly becoming a very efficient way to collect information within certain demographic groups. Lightspeed Research, a well-known market research provider, conducted a program in 2007 that showed that the 16 to 24 year old age group has the highest response rate and speediest completion time of free surveys administered through mobile phones. The higher the age demographic, the lower interest in these kinds of free surveys; for example, individuals over age 55 had a response rate of just 17%.
If you know a young adult in this demographic group (or are one yourself), you know that a cell phone is the one piece of technology that is carried at all times. Because this group does not leave home without a mobile communication device and checks incoming messages constantly, it stands to reason that when notifications for paid surveys come over, they will be responded to quickly. Very quickly indeed; Lightspeed reports that 45% of participants responded within just ½ hour of receiving a survey notification and 85% responded within 24 hours.
Additionally, there were interesting findings about the completion rate from this Lightspeed research on mobile surveys. It was reported that the younger age “under 25” age had a 14% incompletion rate (meaning that they started the online survey, but didn’t finish). However, in the “over 55” age group, this number was much higher at 47% which perhaps points to the fact that the older folks were less comfortable with the format. Another interesting fact is that respondents with unlimited monthly plans were more likely to respond that those with pre-paid, limited access.
Since several years have passed since this study and the popularity of cell phones, smart phones, wireless devices and other high-tech gear continues to blossom, it is fair to assume that all age groups are becoming more and more comfortable with the format as the markets become saturated. If your are “addicted” to your mobile phone and are interested in sharing your opinions and making a few bucks in the process, search through SurveyAdventure to find a number of legitimate survey sites that send paid surveys straight to your cell phone.
Get Some Green This St. Paddy’s Day
Taking paid surveys is a good way to ensure you won’t be pinched this St. Patrick’s Day! Be rewarded with lots of green (green cash, this is!) when you share your opinions and ideas on simple and fun-to-take paid surveys. When you are sporting green in any form or fashion, including the dollars in your wallet, you’ll be preventing the requisite pinch that all the non-green wearing folks receive on St. Patrick’s Day. Legend says this tradition about pinching started when St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. Therefore, you are not honoring this patron saint and the Emerald Isle by snubbing green on St. Patrick’s Day; and, as a punishment, you may just get a pinch symbolic of a snake bite.
Around this season, you might find paid online surveys that ask you your opinion about St. Patrick’s Day. We found results from a 2009 survey administered by the National Retail Federations “Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey” that 44% of respondents plan on celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and 56% had no plans to do so. Of those partying for Paddy, the 25 – 34 year-old age group spends the most money, with an average of $39.42 per person. Of the respondents of the cash survey, 82% planed to wear green, 17% planned to attend a private party, 30% planned to celebrate at a bar and 33% planned to make a special meal at home.
All this type of information is not only interesting to fact-loving people like myself, but is invaluable to managers and buyers at stores, restaurants and other establishments that cater to the holiday. Based on the answers of respondents on these online surveys, business executives can make important decisions that ultimately affect you, the end user. Typically, as a sincere thanks for your time, paid surveys will often reimburse you with cash, prizes or other remuneration. You don’t need a lucky four-leaf clover to start taking surveys, simply sign up for many lucrative opportunities through a free database of survey sites such as Survey Adventure.
Teenagers Wanted for Online Surveys
Teens make up an important part of the marketplace, and we should think so since the last US Census in 200 reports that there are anywhere from 25 and 28 million people in America aged 13 – 19 years of age. Power in numbers, this is why leading companies around the country want to hear what young adults have to say about many topics. From entertainment like music and movies to heavier topics like education and relationships, teenagers have plenty of opportunities to speak out and be heard.
A good number of survey sites online only offer paid surveys for adults aged 18 or older. But, if you dig deeper and search through a free database like Survey Adventure, you’ll find great surveys meant just for teens. Some good survey sites to start with are SurveyHead, Mindfield Online, MySurvey, GlobalTestMaret, and SurveySavvy. Typically open to young adults aged 13 years and up, these survey sites are eager to hear your feedback about their products and services. By law, children need to be 13 years or older for companies to collect any personally identifiable information directly from them. If you are a parent and have any concerns, please click the privacy policy of the survey site that your teen is considering for membership.
In addition to free surveys, you may even get the chance to test out new products for free that are of interest to teens. Companies realize that they can get really valuable information by sending free samples and then following up with an online survey requesting information about the user’s experiences. Everyone wins, the teen participants get to try cool new products before they are offered to the general population and companies get feedback about how to make any needed improvements. We’ve seen all sorts of great product sampling for teens in the past including makeup and hair products, clothing and athletic shoes, music and magazines and more!
Market Research Big Business
Every year, Big Business in the United States spends tons of money on market research and public opinion polling --- to the tune of $6.8 billion dollars in 2005 according to Inside Research, the bible of marketing research professionals. While on a global level, these numbers grow to $18.9 billion dollars, it is clear to see what a big part of the American business cycle market research has become. Companies want to know that they are directing their resources and efforts in a way that is going to pay off with the end users, their consumers. In 2005, the annual estimate of $6,780,000 was spent in the following ways (reported as a % of the total):
29.9% Market Measurement
21.6% Media Audience Research
8.8% Stakeholder Measurement
8.2% Market Modeling
7.1% New Product / Service Development
4.8% Usage & Attitude Studies
5.5% Advertising & Brand Tracking
3.4% Qualitative / Focus Groups
3.4% Advertising Pre-Testing
2.7% Business-to-Business Studies
0.9% Omnibus / Shared Cost Surveys
0.6% Opinion Research Polling
4.0% All Other
Signing up to take surveys is a great way to have a direct influence in this huge part of the business world. Major corporations want to are want to hear your attitudes and opinions of a variety of issues, especially thoughts about any products or services they have in the works. Your honest feedback can help the executives involved in the product development or advertising divisions of business make improvements that make sense economically and improve usability and name recognition.
If you have a couple hours to spare each week, join a free database of survey sites, such as Survey Adventure, surf the listings of trustworthy survey suites, and register for the projects that interest you. Most administrators of online surveys typically send invitations to participate in various paid online surveys through email and then you can accept and complete the work in your free time. Perks vary from company to company and job to job; most participants find that taking surveys online is an easy and fun way to make extra income.
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.
Help Others Through Online Surveys
Have you been sitting behind the computer screen gratuitously surfing the internet, chatting mindlessly with people you don’t know or staying up around the clock playing mindless games? Make a positive change in your life and put your valuable free time to a better use by taking paid online surveys. You still get to log your “screen time” from the comfiest spot in your house, but instead of squandering your hours on activities that don’t “give back” you can take surveys online and help yourself and others at the same time.
Yes, taking paid surveys does net you a little extra spending cash that can always come in handy, whether you are just trying to pay the gas bill or want to save up for that designer purse you’ve had your eye on for months. But more importantly than an ends to a means for your needs and desires, taking cash survey helps in a “bigger picture” way. Each time you participate in paid surveys and share your personal opinions, you are providing manufacturers and service providers with insightful information aids in product development and marketing. When products and services are designed to better serve the needs of target markets above and beyond your self, everyone wins.
In addition to a few bucks, you’ll gain the intrinsic satisfaction of knowing that you’ve given back to the world in general. For example, it has been widely reported that air bag in automobiles were, in large part, developed in response to meeting consumer’s demands for improved safety. After asking car owner’s a number of questions through paid surveys and focus groups, car manufacters were able to distill down the data and infer that improved safety was a major concern. Similar improvements in safety have been implemented as a result of feedback obtained through online surveys on behalf of many industries including food service, healthcare, air travel, children’s toys and more. Check out Survey Adventure and sign up to start taking free surveys that could make a big impact on the future of products and services that you buy for your family – and others buy for their families! You’ll feel great knowing you’ve done your part in the process, plus making extra cash is a great perk!
A Close Up On Focus Groups
If you are new to the world marketing research, you may have run across the term “focus group” when signing up for various paid surveys and research projects. The term “focus group” is one of those industry-specific phrases that, quite simply, means a group of consumers who are brought together to chat about various products and services. When you sign up to participate in a focus group, the meeting could be conducted in person at market research facility or online through a chat function – even through a Tweetdeck on Twitter!
There are certain things you can expect from focus groups that are a bit different that online surveys. First, if you participate in an in-person focus group, you will be hosted in a conference room like setting, often with snacks and drinks for your consideration. You can expect to be grouped with 6 to 12 other participants (or more or less depending on the project) and moderated by a professional hired to keep the event on task. The moderator will ask specific questions and the conversation will organically develop on its own; your answers will spur on comments from other participants and so on – lots of conversation is the goal of the day, so don’t be shy! Online focus groups follow a similar moderated format, only you are typing in your answers for others to see and respond to – and the snacks come out of your own fridge!
Often, at the conclusion of the focus group, you may be asked to take surveys about the product, service or event in general; this is part of the overall focus group experience. Because focus groups require more time and effort (and revolve around the client’s schedule, not yours), they generally pay quite well. Depending on the project and client company, you can expect to make anywhere from $25 to $200+ for participating in a focus group.