The Truth About Paid Surveys

Paid online surveys is getting more and more popular, it is a good work from home opportunity because it is an easy and free way to make extra money online. However, with so many paid online survey sites popping up everywhere these days, it is difficult to determine what is real and what is ugly, especially for someone who is new to the paid survey world. To give a real picture of paid online surveys, I have outlined some of most basic and common fact about paid surveys in a Questions and Answers manner.

1. Are paid surveys for real?

Yes, Paid online surveys are for real! There are a good number of legitimate marketing firms/paid survey companies that will pay you just for your time and opinion. They pay you to find out what you do think about businesses and manufacture’s products and services.

2. Why so many people think paid surveys are scams?

I think there are three main reasons:

First, there ARE scam/spam sites - they claim to be paid survey sites and in-fact they just want your personal information and turn around and sell it.

The second, there are many websites promoting those "scam/spam" sites just for commission. If you see any websites (paid or free) that list hundreds (300+ or 400+) of paid surveys sites, please be aware! Lot of those websites just promote anything they can for commission, no matter it is scam or spam. Remember, more is not always better!

The third, lot of survey starters do not realize that it takes a while to get paid. Two or three weeks after signing up and taking some surveys, you don't see the money coming in and you start questioning this paid surveys thing is just another online scam. Lot of people just give up this way because they don't know if they signed up with legitimate survey companies and completed surveys, they will get paid, however, it takes time- lot of survey companies have minimum payout requirement to cash out reward, and it certainly takes time to reach that requirement. Also, it takes average 2-3 weeks for surveys companies to process payment.

3. How much can I make for taking paid surveys?

The answer really depends on several factors:

1). How many legitimate paid survey sites did you sign up with;

2). Your demographic profile which determines the number and types of surveys you get and qualify;

3). The amount of time you spend participating in surveys, focus groups, etc;

4). How lucky you are when it comes to drawings, rattles and sweepstakes.

I would say if you signed up a number of good survey sites and take the majority of the surveys you are invited, you could make $1000 to $2000 a year in cash, gift certificates and prize combined. I personally make average $200 a month and spend about an hour and half a day taking online surveys, it takes me about a year to reach this level.

Can you really make $100 an hour? - It is possible to make $100 for a one hour focus group discussion, but you won't have this kind of opportunity to fill a whole day's work. The truth is you are not going to get rich or make a full time salary by doing paid surveys. However you certainly CAN make pretty good extra cash.

4. Do I have to pay to take surveys and get paid?

Absolutely NOT! Legitimate surveys companies NEVER ask you to pay to take surveys. They are always FREE to join, and it cost absolutely NOTHING to take surveys and get paid! Please be aware the difference between survey sites and Paid to Sign Up offer sites, the later pays you for signing up offers, and sometimes you might need to pay upfront a small amount to try the offers.

5. Should I pay a database/directory/list for paid survey sites?

No. With some effort, you should be able to find all yourself. The problem with those database/directories is they usually promote everything they can find for commissions, no matter it is scam or spam, and they can NOT be trusted.

Doing paid surveys is not going to make you rich, but it's certainly an easy and fun way to make extra cash. I enjoy testing new products before they come out of the market and giving opinion on existing products and services to make them better, and the fun part is I get paid for doing so!