So, you thought you would try to make some money by taking paid online surveys. What's the first thing you do? Of course... perform a Google search on the term "paid online surveys." If you try this technique, you will find that almost 500,000 (yes, half a million) pages will be returned for your viewing pleasure. Try the same search without the quotation marks, and the number will explode to more than 25 million. With all this information available, much of it contradictory, how can you possibly know where to start?
As you would find by checking out a few of those search results, there are countless organizations offering you information on taking online surveys. Most of these companies are not the actual businesses collecting the market research, but they are companies who have created huge databases full of information about those businesses and the surveys they are performing. These organizations would like to share their databases with you, for a "small" membership fee.
So the question is, do you want their information, or would you rather go it on your own? In my opinion, your answer to this question should be a resounding YES! Not only will having access to a survey information database save you hours of research you would otherwise have to do yourself, but if you've chosen a good organization to align yourself with, you will find further excellent information, such as the time the survey will take, the exact compensation, specific requirements, and more.
Therefore, the key to a good experience with paid online surveys becomes choosing a survey organization with an excellent database. You want to find a company who puts concentrated effort into making sure their information is accurate and up-to-date. It is also very useful if you are able to sort and filter your query responses by the amount and type of compensation offered for the survey (cash, points, gift cards, etc.).
You will also be concerned with the amount charged for the membership. It is most common for these companies to charge a one-time, lifetime membership fee ranging in the neighborhood of $30-$60, but it is not unheard of for them to offer other fee structures, such as a moderate sign-up fee, followed by a recurring monthly charge for as long as you remain a member. If you are serious about pursuing an income with paid surveys, I would highly recommend the one-time fee, as the monthly charge can accumulate quite quickly.
In conclusion, if you are sincere about earning an income by participating in paid online surveys, then your key to success is in choosing an excellent survey information database. This knowledge will enable you to make the best choices about survey opportunities to pursue, in order to meet your time, schedule, and income goals.
