Get Paid to Answer Questions

Do you have some extra time either at work or home and want to put a couple of extra bucks in your pocket each week? If so, you can join the thousands of people who take surveys online for money. There are many legitimate market research websites on the internet that are just waiting to hear your opinions on everything from dish detergent to the latest in high-end vehicles.

To get started, just do an internet search for the relevant keywords such as “paid surveys.” As several million hits will be returned, it takes a little savviness to weed through the garbage that pulls up, but I promise that there are some legitimate companies out there that will pay you for your opinions. These companies offer things like money (typically a few dollars a survey), airline miles, and even gift cards to online merchants such as Amazon.com.

After joining, the method of taking surveys differs between websites. Some sites require you to log in and try to qualify for surveys by answering a few questions, while others will email surveys to you if your profile matches what the client is looking for. And some sites will also offer you the chance to become part of focus groups, which may or may not involve conference calls. Typically, these pay out a bit more than just taking a 20 minute survey online.

Some things to watch out for when looking for market research websites are any that make promises that seem too good to be true. It’s sad to say, but you will not get rich taking surveys over the internet, and if any site says otherwise, then it’s most likely a scam and won’t work out the way you are hoping. And that leads to the next warning: if you have to pay to “join” the website before taking surveys, then that sort of defeats the whole purpose, doesn’t it? After all, you’re here to make money, not give it to someone else. Your opinions are extremely valuable to thousands of companies out there, and they should be all you have to give in the arrangement. Besides, at a few dollars a survey, it takes a lot of work to make up a $50 sign up fee, and that’s even if the outfit is legitimate. Most likely it will just take your fee and you’ll never seem to qualify for any surveys. I have also seen postings on Craig’s List that advertise data entry jobs, and when you email the poster to ask for more information, a person responds talking about referring you to some survey sites. My thought is, if it’s such a great deal, why did the person have to advertise it with a ruse?

So, if you’ve got some time on your hands, you can make some extra money each week by answering questions online in the form of market research surveys. While the extra money won’t quite buy that place in the Hamptons you’ve been coveting, it’s a fun, easy way to put a little extra money into your PayPal account.