Good quality paid market research survey sites do exist but they can be hard to find!
Where do I find them?
There are two methods used to find them either methods works but one takes a little less time and energy. It really depends on what you prefer.
Method #1 – Search online!
This is the most commonly used method. It takes time and involves a bit of trial and error but it works and a lot of people vouch that this is the best method.
Firstly go online and search using various keyword phrases – you’ll have to be imaginative though and you will find page after page of market research companies vying for your time. After all it’s your time that you are trading with. This is where it can get a bit tricky. There are unfortunately a lot of bogus sites online that are just fishing for your details and selling them off to junk mailers and email spammers so at least get yourself a new email address specifically for market research work.
You will need to get at least 50 sites signed up to in order to get a decent flow of income and you should be able to get between $5 minimum and $15 for more intricate market research surveys.
When you’re doing your search you should also keep in mind that online survey taking is a wide field and encompasses pure market research, product research, opinions and focus group participation – so don’t rule out any of these types as focus groups in particular will pay well!
You will find though, that the number of sites that pay will reduce over time – so you need to keep ‘restocking’. I don’t know why this is but I think it has something to do with seasonal factors (Summer periods are quieter!) and targets being filled. This leads me to the second method!
Method #2 – Survey Membership Site.
Since I used the first method to find paid market research survey companies I was a bit more experienced in knowing how to find a legitimate site that would provide me with an opportunity for more sign ups with less hassle. I also know that there are a lot of people for whatever reason don’t want to go into this business the way I did and that’s OK – maybe your time commitments are a major factor but this method is both a ‘stand alone’ or ‘combined alternative’.
I found that using both the free search and then the membership site worked best for me and I managed to get into a focus group that pays me $100 a month for about 2 hours work – a real little ‘gem’!