I’ve written before about why online surveys can be worth the time. Making money by sharing your opinion sounds pretty good – especially compared to the times you shared your opinion and then had friends stop inviting you to parties.
In my upcoming book I note that while you won’t earn a full-time wage doing this, you’ll at least bring in some extra money and/or gift cards, and maybe even get some new products to test.
For example, I was paid to cook a taco dinner, try a new shampoo, use a new kind of mop, eat a new variety of chocolate chip cookie and join a focus group about doughnuts that earned me $60 for less than three hours’ worth of work (but which, unfortunately, left me obsessing about crullers).
People in certain demographics, such as “new parent” or “eats a lot of convenience food” are highly sought-after. So are men and members of minority groups. (More on this in a minute.)
All you need is an Internet connection and the ability to scope out the right survey venues. Some of the better sites out there are Harris Polls, ZoomPanel, Pinecone Research, Toluna and ClearVoice.
Best practices for online surveys
Avoid any online survey companies that:
- Pay 100 points at a time – with rewards that cost tens of thousands of points apiece
- Pay in sweepstakes entries (come on)
- Require you to subscribe to magazines or book clubs and then take a “survey” rating the experience (these are actually affiliate marketers)
About that last: You should never have to pay to take or complete a survey. Companies are supposed to pay you. “Membership fee” is synonymous with “scam.”
Start a new e-mail address just for the surveys, and never give out bank info; you should be paid in gift cards or by check or PayPal.
Some preferred demographics
Pinecone Research has indicated a special need for survey-takers who are male, between the ages of 18 and 24 or of Hispanic descent. Anyone in those groups is likely to be welcomed with open arms, virtually speaking.
Surveys aren’t right for everyone. But anyone who’s unemployed, at home a lot, working a late-night shift with little to do or given to lying around surfing the Internet can bring in a few (or more than a few) extra bucks. You might get sent cookies or a mop, too.
Note: Some of the links in this piece are affiliate ones. If someone signs up using such a link I get a small finder’s fee. Think of it as a way of helping to keep the blog lights on.
Related reading:
- Frugal-hacking my way through a month without pay
- Rockin’ the surveys – when it’s worth it
- Things I no longer buy
- Frugal re-entry
You introduced us to swagbucks. I turn mine into Amazon certificates. I save up and then I get to buy something I’ve had my eye on, but don’t want to splurge on myself. I had a surprise this week, a new shampoo for me to try. It’s fun, but you can lose track of time.
When I do surveys I need to set a timer or I will lose track of time. And I just traded some Amazon-via-Swagbucks cards to buy four pounds of ground flaxseed. Nobody parties like a CHID major.
This is super helpful info. My aunt was asking me about how to tell which online surveys are worth participating in recently. I’ll definitely share these details with her (even if she doesn’t fit the prime demographic!)
These are the companies cited to me again and again by other survey-takers when I’ve written about this topic (for MSN Money and others).
Hope she gets into some good surveys, or gets to try a new shampoo.
I’ve joined several and find that it is not worth my time because as a white middle aged female who cooks at home a lot, has no children under 18 at home, is healthy and not planning to buy a new car in the next five years, I VERY rarely qualify to take the survey. And sometimes it takes 5-7 minutes to get through the qualifying questions, only to be told “Sorry, you don’t meet our criteria.” I’ve seriously considered lopping years off my age and/or fudging my ethnicity to qualify for more surveys.
Thank you, as always for the helpful tip! I have a lot in common with Linda G. but for the fact that I am of Hispanic descent, so I will be looking up Pinecone Research. Thank you!
Give ’em an earful, ma’am. Hope it’s profitable for you.
It’s a bit off topic but…
I love crullers. The best doughnut:)
I’ve found doing surveys to be the best use of my time on Swagbucks. Since I’m Canadian, many of the other common survey websites don’t work for me, and I only have so much time to be frittering away. I’m prone to use my gift cards to buy food or other necessities as well, although right now I’m saving for my part of a (still hypothetical) large Christmas gift. And if the Christmas gift doesn’t come about? More food!
You introduced me to swagbucks as well. I also used My coke rewards but after they revamped the site last year I stopped. I found it was easier to stick with one site and try to make it work for me. I also use Checkout 51 and Ibotta apps on my phone. That has been the easiest thing “coupon clipping” without the coupons.
I can identify with Linda G. I signed up with several on-line survey sites, and never made it past the “qualifying” questions. Apparently I was the wrong demographic for everything!
It happens. As a woman of a certain age, I can relate. But I have gotten accepted to some Swagbucks surveys lately, so I will keep hoping.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for turning me on to Swag bucks. Sometimes I get turned down for (I assume), being the wrong demographic (ie, too old). But still, I can make the grocery money from swag bucks and thus save the grocery money or use it for other things.
I’m a swagbuck and Pinecone lover!!! My Christmas tally is at a sad $15 for the year but I’m saving my credit card points up until the last minute for an awesome comeback!!! You will be in shock and awe.
I am always shocked and awed by you, Sonya Ann. Hence the restraining order… 😉