ALT-2 Paid Surveys
With new survey companies propping up all the time and the old ones showing no signs of weakening, it can only be concluded that surveys are very profitable for both survey taker and maker. There seems to be a never ending supply of people who want to ask you directed questions. Company executives, advertisers, film-makers and politicians are among the most likely to seek out your opinions. It's easy to see why they want your opinion; it helps them attune their products to their consumer's needs. The draw for survey-takers is equally obvious; maybe you are interested in the surveys mechanisms, but overwhelmingly survey-takers are primarily drawn to payment with cash, gift certificates, raffle tickets and prizes for your time and head-scratching.
As nothing ever is, not all survey sites are created equal. If you are honest you will never find this out, but they vary according to how much of what they are paid is passed back to you. Every site bars its members from taking a survey that they have already taken elsewhere, so I, as a rule-abiding survey-taker cannot estimate which sites pass on what percentage. One essential component of a good site is that they fulfill their obligation to pay you in some way for your efforts. Most will do this, so it's not much to worry about. Frequency of survey matters a great deal to some - but if you find a site does not send enough, you always have the option of joining another. The entertainment value of surveys is not likely to fluctuate from site to site, so the only other criteria for assessing them is their presentation.
With such a plethora of sites in cyberspace that can connect you with opinion-gatherers, how are you to know which one(s) to join? The most reliable way is to hear a recommendation from a friend or someone in the know. Failing that, just try searching for paid surveys in any search engine and the results should be favourable. Far too many sites are set up to guide your choice, my favourite being buncecentral110mb.com. You will probably want to stick to the most reputable sites, and earn at least $1 for 10 minutes. Does not sound like a lot I know, but remember this is from home and tax-free.
There is one type of site I would avoid: the type where you have to pay to become a member to benefit from their surveys. These can be very expensive, but they promise surveys in the region of $100 to take. If these sites are genuine, and there will always be doubts about a site asking somebody for money, you could earn a handsome full-time living from them. Some will be payers no doubt, but in all likelihood bigger profits are to be made with free and paying sites.
Once you find settle on the market companies you want to join, the process of taking surveys will begin. Most survey-takers find this rewarding in itself most of the time, with a few occasions when it does seem to drag or frustrate. One common type of survey is about advertising campaigns. In these you will watch a commercial, and then will be asked to guess the product, if you remember from anywhere else and to assess it. Another typical survey is a list of film titles, who stars in them and how likely you would like to see them. This is a massive oversimplification, but its meant to be. Learning about the survey process and type of survey you will receive is something for you to experience yourself, and anyway, I’m sworn to secrecy.
Aside from what you already know about before signing up to a survey site, there are two really negative sides to taking surveys. The first is when the survey gets ‘timed out’, when you take too long to answer, even though they want considered answers! The second is when you complete a significant part of the survey, just to find you do not meet the criteria the panel is looking for. This can be negated slightly by maintaining a completed profile, but there are who and where you are can also effect the benefits you receive from being a panellist. Younger and male survey-takers are advantaged as are wealthy countries. Being in a position to make decisions for a company, large ones especially, as well as your family means your opinion on subjects like IT and finance are more valuable. It should not deter you if you do not fit these desired categories, it just means you will have less frequent survey opportunities.
That’s the bad, but there are also other advantages aside from the money. You will find yourself in the privileged position to influence products, perhaps sample the for free, before they are released. This is even more beneficial in a subject like politics, which curiously seem to crop up a lot more around election time. If you are a particularly opinionated person, you might appreciate this opportunity to vent, or you may just have a single gripe. For example, I recently had a survey where I was asked what single issue concerns me most, it was a chance for me to flag up an issue that is rarely spoken about, hopefully it will not end up in an ‘other’ category ignored by all.
As you begin to take surveys, make sure you get value for money, and enjoy.
