Review of the Best Sites that Offer Paid Surveys at Home
The worldwide web offers so many ways for people to earn money, whether through full time work, online business, passive income and so much more. Paid online surveys have also become extremely popular, which is evident with the rapid growth in number of websites that offer paid surveys at home or at the comfort of your own desk. If you have a computer, you can simply give your opinion about politics, dishwashing liquid or just about any product in the market.
It’s either you complete an online survey for cash or attend face-to-face groups, but experienced site members say they can earn as much as $50 to $100 per month in terms of cash and free products. What they do is register at various survey sites to increase their chances of being chosen for the surveys and earn more. If you are thinking of doing the same, we have put together some of the best online survey sites where you can become a member and check if you could really earn a decent income out of them. You can also learn how these sites work and how you can take part.
How They Work
Marketing is a huge endeavor, and in business, an idea left untested is a bad idea. Before spending large amounts to design, manufacture or market a product, companies can opt to figure out whether there is actually a market for it. This is market research, which is actually a big business in itself. Companies invest millions if not billions on product testing, focus groups, interviews and surveys. They try to determine which flavor of biscuit is most delicious, etc., and to save time and costs, they turn to online market research. Online surveys can easily be conducted which cut the costs in half as opposed to traditional snail mail or phone surveys. Consumers who participate in paid surveys at home are offered rewards. Some earn redeemable points that earn them gift cards, free products and a whole lot more.
How to Join
There are mainly two ways to participate in online surveys. First is through online surveys for cash and second is through focus groups. The first one entails signing up, waiting for survey alerts and zipping through questions. Once the survey is completed, the site adds cash into your account. This can be fun, for you can be asked about everything from computer games to your personal life. Focus groups on the other hand pay higher per session, but they are limited to only a few times a year. They may only involve sharing views about various subjects and you can be paid and offered free refreshments.
Top Ten Paid Online Survey Sites
1. My Survey
My Survey tops the list of the best paid surveys at home because of its simplicity from the sign-up process to knowing which better surveys from junk offers are. The website itself is minimally designed and detailed, which are what actually matters if you are an experienced survey participant. It also stands out in letting members know which are going to cash out the best and quickest. Most survey takers are on the lookout for new offers since higher end ones surprisingly run out. Also an advantage of using My Plus is the fact that it does not include personal information given to them during sign-up for most surveys and their asking for consent before disclosing this information.
2. Swagbucks
Swagbucks is one of the most popular rewards sites that let you earn through Swagbucks codes, Swagbucks games, TV, etc. It does not just offer paid surveys but a wide variety of ways to earn Swag Bucks, its virtual currency, which later equate to cash or free products. Swagbucks attracts many survey takers because it is more up front with how they use your information. It boasts convenience because of the seamless and quick setup, not to mention the broad selection of surveys and evaluations. It can be used and accessed at Android and iOS mobile devices, unlike My Surveys that is easier to access in desktops. It asks for consent before in distributing information to a company.
3. Vindale Research
Vindale Research has earned a good reputation among online survey sites, and for good reasons. For first time participants, the website is accessible and well designed. It does not include clutters of invaluable offers and subscriptions. Among the others, Vindale offers a good way to earn extra money that is worth your time. This reason alone makes the company well worth the try. The site is intuitive and easy to use; it is supported on different browsers, OS and platforms and is responsible in handling out information.
4. Pinecone Research
Pinecone Research is also one of the biggest online paid surveys, no wonder it was recently the target of scammers. Pinecone pays through Reward Points. The member will decide what will their money be worth come cash out, but Pinecone will let them cash out earnings. The site is also right about privacy. It only uses member’s information for making metrics and statistics and not distributing them out to every third party. It also scrubs identifying information when reporting to clients. It is convenient to use from sign-up to finish, and is accessible in most platforms and browsers. Payout is around $8 to $10 an hour.
5. Global Test Market
Global Test Market is responsible in using information given to them. Before giving out data to make money, they will inform you first and ask for your consent, which is decent for an online survey site. The company stands out in this area, even if most companies will just profit out of the data they can use. However, if you are a beginner, you might find it difficult to determine which offers are good and which ones are not.
6. VIP Voice
VIP Voice is not for people who really want to make money out of doing surveys online. The site will take, keep and profit from your information when given the chance. Unlike the top sites previously reviewed, VIP Voice hides their consent. Do not expect them to inform you or get your consent when using your information. You will also make silly reward points that do not even equate to cash. Sign-up is easy but your clicks are directed to third party sites. It can be accessed across all browsers and OS but does not work well on mobile devices. It performs poorly on return on time so do not expect much.
http://www.vipvoice.com/Toluna.MR.TrafficUI/MSCUI/Page.aspx?pgtid=1&utcoffset=-8
7. Inbox Dollars
Inbox Dollars can already confuse participants at first try. You can see surveys and other opportunities that will let you earn in cash, but you will also see solicitations for different products and services. Inbox Dollars profit from advertisers. You will earn a small cut of emails read or links clicked. Links that offer more pay will involve signing up for a service. In the end, you will not get earnings that are worth your time. However, the site is convenient to use and is accessible through various OS and platforms. Some say that it can be a good source of passive income if done right.
8. Opinion Place
Opinion Place is a survey and market research conglomerate and claims to pay up to $5 for every survey. This can easily attract survey takers, but they must be careful because some conditions are not listed outright on their website. It offers decent returns in terms of rewards and the equivalent points to dollars. It does not pay directly in cash but is can be a regular source of extra money. The site does not work well on mobile devices, and when available, payouts can be good.
9. Opinion Outpost
Opinion Outpost is viewed by some as too good to be true. The site does offer decent earnings when you sign-up and take surveys. They can do everything that the competition offers, plus they are reliable. A good thing about Opinion Outpost is that cash can be redeemed early because of its low payout threshold. You can get your payment through PayPal and enjoy prizes if you win in its quarterly draw. It is also accessible though not very friendly on mobile device. It boasts better rewards program and will inform you before selling your data.
10. Toluna
Toluna offers around $1.50 per survey. That could be great if they were outright in telling you that 90,000 reward points equate to $30 PayPal certificate. Each survey pays 1,000 to 50,000 points depending on the length. Surveys last 15 to 20 minutes. Your vouchers can be sent electronically or through post. Toluna offers apps for Android and iOS, so you can use it anywhere there is Internet connection. Prepare to take so many surveys before getting your first PayPal e-certificate. It informs survey takers when they are storing and using their information.
Few Things worth Knowing Before Taking Surveys
You can read so many tips about being successful in taking paid online surveys, but there are a few things worth remembering before participating. Two key virtues are patience and consistency. It is best to have a dedicated email address and check emails regularly. Do not use gift vouchers quickly or store cash in your survey account. If the site asks you to pay a certain amount in order to join, then go out and look for legit sites. When you start working, keep a log of your activities. Here are other important tips:
Focus on the Ones that Suit You
Once you start taking surveys, you will see so many survey panels and get overwhelmed. You do not have to be confused on which ones to choose. At first, you can sign up on several items and then observe your inbox or dashboard for the surveys that come in. Take note of the surveys that pay for the time you give in and where you mostly earn money from. Afterwards, concentrate on them. This way, you will not miss better-profiting surveys yet stay signed up on others in case they have surveys.
Watch your Time in Taking Surveys
You may have some issues at first when watching your time in taking surveys. It is best to start taking when you have the whole 5 or 10 minutes to stay uninterrupted. This is because when you pause for a while the survey may expire and you may have to start all over again. It is best to aim completing it in one sitting to avoid wasting time and energy. However, be wary also of surveys that will penalize you for rushing. In the end, it is a matter of balancing time.
Keep your Demographics Updated
Do not forget updating your information when you have to. This can get you more surveys or more opportunities to survey. For instance, when you buy new device such as iPhone or iPad, you can update your profile and be qualified to join surveys for people that own these devices.
Log your Cash Outs and Other Important Information
If you are a member of various survey panels, this is important. You can create a text document recording the times you have cashed out in a company. Include name of third party, cash out date and amount. You can also insert a screenshot of the cash out process as proof. This helps you anticipate what you can receive from your mails in the coming days. In case you have problems receiving the payment you are supposed to get, the records are clear and intact, and you have proof to show. Be sure to indicate that you already got the payment in case you did. You can also include the usernames and passwords in this record file so if ever you forget some of them, you know where to go.
If you would like to earn extra income out of taking surveys, experienced participants recommend taking part in several sites. The best ones are listed for you above. You can have five or all of them if you can take surveys on a daily basis. Even if your aim is to profit from these surveys, it is still best to be honest while doing it. Provide accurate answers. Do not feel down in case you are not selected as participant after a few screenings, for it might take a while before you match their needs.
Be wary of those that pretend to
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