Online Surveys - Why Take Online Surveys?
If you're looking for a way to make some extra money, chances are you've already taken online surveys. But how do they work? And why do people still take them if the benefits aren't much better than cash? The answer might surprise you.
With the countless number of websites that offer these surveys, it can be hard to know where to start. We'll go over what makes survey sites effective and which sites are worth your time! This will also help you avoid scams and give you some new tips on how to get more out of your survey experience.
Just to clarify, I'm NOT talking about making money through surveys. You can do that with any website or you can even go to a place like Swagbucks or MTurk. What I am talking about is answering surveys for extra cash or other perks like discounts and special offers.
Now that we've cleared that up, let's get down to the business!
What exactly are online surveys?
Online surveys are simple: you answer a question about something in your life and then get paid for it. Some sites will pay you for filling out an entire survey, while others may only pay you for a certain number of questions answered (capped at $10 per survey). You can use your own literature in your survey, but you'll be paid less than if you didn't use your own stuff.
What kind of questions/surveys do people take?
Here are some popular surveys:
- Surveys about life and human relations
- Surveys about consumer products
- Surveys about the environment, social issues, and paranormal experiences.
- Surveys about sports, TV shows and movies
- Surveys about political issues, current events and personal interests
- Web usability tests. These are used to make sure you don't have any problems using the website after it's released (e.g. Yahoo! Answers).
How do I find out more?
When you sign up for an online survey site, there might be more information about what you're doing a few pages in. There are also many sites that have reviews of survey companies and what they've done in the past. Some of these sites will even tell you about the people behind the site so you can make an informed decision about whether or not to use them.
How much does it pay?
Survey companies usually pay in a number of different ways. Most often, they will pay out through PayPal (and some will be instant). Some other popular ways to get paid are check, money order or points that can be redeemed for cash or prizes.
How much can I expect to make per survey?
The amount of money you make will depend on where you go and what site you're taking surveys for. While some sites pay more than others, it's not uncommon to make between $0.25-$0.50 per survey and it can go up to $10 per survey on some sites.
What are the negatives?
One of the major things you want to consider before taking surveys is whether or not the site itself is trustworthy. If you're using a website that just came out with a new survey, chances are less people will be taking that survey than one that's been around for years and has a good reputation. If you see that there have been issues with the company (like being sued for fraud), then there's a chance you could get scammed as well. It's also important to note that online survey companies are usually not regulated to any degree by the government, making them an easy target for fraud.
What are some tips?
The major thing you want to do is make sure you're using a reputable company. This will make it easier to get paid and you'll have less chance of getting scammed. Here's what you can do: Check out the site's reviews online to see if people are reporting getting their money or if it seems like a scam. If you're getting a lot of hits for your surveys, then there's probably a reason for that – so look into that as well!
How about some extra tips?
- Go for the big-name companies. These companies have been around for awhile, so they've had time to make sure they have a reputation. Plus, more people will already know about them and will be willing to take surveys from them. Some examples are American Consumer Satisfaction Index ( ACSI ), SurveySpot , Harris Poll Online and Paid Viewpoint .
- Go for surveys that pay higher amounts. Sometimes you can get more money per survey by going with a higher paying site.
- Survey in a variety of places. You don't want to go for one specific topic, because you'll be less likely to get the amount you're looking for and the site won't be as effective at getting people to take surveys from them. Also, make sure you're trying every survey site out there and answering every single survey that's even close to yours – there are many bonuses/rewards for this!
- Take time to find good sites that pay well and are reputable. You don't want to go and take surveys one-by-one that's a long way from where you live, so make sure you do some homework before hand!
- Do your research. Read up on the site, watch out for scams, and see what they have to say in terms of their reputation.
Surveys are a great way to make some extra money.
Conclusion
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. We hope it helps you find the perfect survey site for your needs. If you want to share positive or negative experience, please leave a comment below!
We wish you great success in your quest for making extra money through surveys.
Most of all, have fun! Happy Surveying!!
- The Team at Online Surveys Action
To learn more about how to be successful at using online survey sites like Survey Spot, please view our FREE video series that covers How to Use Online Surveys . Enjoy! Stay updated on our blog by following us on Facebook and Twitter .