4 Reasons You Should Be Wary of Paid Surveys
Market research is big business and not just for the companies that pay to get them done but also for the people who are directly and indirectly involved in gathering information. One of the most traditional methods that companies have used to conduct research is the survey. By preparing a number of questions for consumers and target markets (usually answerable by "yes" or "no" but may include open-ended questions), companies can get valuable insight into how people think, pick products, how much they spend and what their reasons are for spending. In the age of technology and the Internet, companies now use online surveys to reach a wider and more diverse segment of their target market. These days, one can easily sign up for online surveys and get paid in the process. However, not everything is what it seems. With online surveys becoming a popular (and mostly) legitimate way of making money at home, they should be considered a reliable cash cow, right? Not exactly. Here is a look at the reasons why you should be wary of "paid" surveys online.
Promises That Are Too Good to Be True Might Just Be That.
Online surveys are fairly easy to find - just type a few search words and the links will start popping up: "Earn $$ filling up surveys", "Make Hundreds of Dollars in Surveys", "Easy Money With Online Surveys", "Get Paid $100 Per Hour for Your Opinion". The problem is that in order to attract more participants, some survey companies resort to exaggerated claims. The problem here is that it is rare for surveys to pay more than $5 for every survey and high-paying surveys are not common. There are, however, focus groups and online discussion groups that can pay from $50 to as much as $200 an hour. If you can participate in these forum groups at least twice a week, you could earn well over $1,000 a month.
Yes, You Can Make Money But...
There is also the question of time. True, you can get paid for participating in surveys online but the promise of making hundreds of dollars does not always come with a guarantee or deadline. For example, just because a survey invitation promises earnings of "up to" $500 a week does not mean you will be paid as much. Here's why:
First, you have to qualify. Not every survey that becomes available qualifies everyone. Certain types of surveys will require the participant to be a certain age, background, educational level, financial capacity and yes, even gender. A high-paying survey about feminine care, for example, will automatically disqualify male participants.
Second, you may not always earn as much as you would like. An online survey company that claims you can earn thousands may not always be lying. You could, indeed, earn thousands, if you qualify for and complete every survey that comes along and you keep at it for a long period of time. Keep in mind that you could earn a good amount of money but the survey ad does not really tell you within what period. Weeks? Months? Years? The offer simply does not come with a guarantee.
Third, a single short survey could take a few minutes to complete but the high-paying ones will require some considerable amount of time to finish.
The Term "Paid" May Have Different Connotations.
Not every survey company pays in cash. There are many that pay out in gifts, gift certificates and reward points that can be used to purchase goods and services online. Some rewards also come in the form of credits that will qualify the participant to join a sweepstakes draw. If you win, you can expect prizes that are either paid out in cash or big ticket items. Although paid online surveys can offer a good source of extra income, they will not be a realistic alternative to a regular paycheck.
Paid Surveys Are Typically Third Party Solutions.
It is uncommon for a company, business or corporation to conduct paid surveys online themselves. Very often, they hire other companies and businesses to do it for them. In exchange, they pay a set fee. These online survey companies in turn invite people to participate in the surveys and reward them with either cash or gift prizes.
While this has been a rewarding and productive partnership for many years, it is far from perfect. In many cases, it is not the company funding the research that makes the invitation and pays the participants, it is the third company they hire. It is usually left up to the third party company to determine how much to pay, what to pay and when.
Should You Participate in Online Surveys?
If you have the time and opportunity, absolutely. Most surveys are consumer-centric and you would do many industries a great favor by letting them know what you think about products and services. It also does not hurt that you could get paid in cash, gifts or certificates in return for your participation. Just keep your expectations realistic and stay clear of companies that promise too much.
Promises That Are Too Good to Be True Might Just Be That.
Online surveys are fairly easy to find - just type a few search words and the links will start popping up: "Earn $$ filling up surveys", "Make Hundreds of Dollars in Surveys", "Easy Money With Online Surveys", "Get Paid $100 Per Hour for Your Opinion". The problem is that in order to attract more participants, some survey companies resort to exaggerated claims. The problem here is that it is rare for surveys to pay more than $5 for every survey and high-paying surveys are not common. There are, however, focus groups and online discussion groups that can pay from $50 to as much as $200 an hour. If you can participate in these forum groups at least twice a week, you could earn well over $1,000 a month.
Yes, You Can Make Money But...
There is also the question of time. True, you can get paid for participating in surveys online but the promise of making hundreds of dollars does not always come with a guarantee or deadline. For example, just because a survey invitation promises earnings of "up to" $500 a week does not mean you will be paid as much. Here's why:
First, you have to qualify. Not every survey that becomes available qualifies everyone. Certain types of surveys will require the participant to be a certain age, background, educational level, financial capacity and yes, even gender. A high-paying survey about feminine care, for example, will automatically disqualify male participants.
Second, you may not always earn as much as you would like. An online survey company that claims you can earn thousands may not always be lying. You could, indeed, earn thousands, if you qualify for and complete every survey that comes along and you keep at it for a long period of time. Keep in mind that you could earn a good amount of money but the survey ad does not really tell you within what period. Weeks? Months? Years? The offer simply does not come with a guarantee.
Third, a single short survey could take a few minutes to complete but the high-paying ones will require some considerable amount of time to finish.
The Term "Paid" May Have Different Connotations.
Not every survey company pays in cash. There are many that pay out in gifts, gift certificates and reward points that can be used to purchase goods and services online. Some rewards also come in the form of credits that will qualify the participant to join a sweepstakes draw. If you win, you can expect prizes that are either paid out in cash or big ticket items. Although paid online surveys can offer a good source of extra income, they will not be a realistic alternative to a regular paycheck.
Paid Surveys Are Typically Third Party Solutions.
It is uncommon for a company, business or corporation to conduct paid surveys online themselves. Very often, they hire other companies and businesses to do it for them. In exchange, they pay a set fee. These online survey companies in turn invite people to participate in the surveys and reward them with either cash or gift prizes.
While this has been a rewarding and productive partnership for many years, it is far from perfect. In many cases, it is not the company funding the research that makes the invitation and pays the participants, it is the third company they hire. It is usually left up to the third party company to determine how much to pay, what to pay and when.
Should You Participate in Online Surveys?
If you have the time and opportunity, absolutely. Most surveys are consumer-centric and you would do many industries a great favor by letting them know what you think about products and services. It also does not hurt that you could get paid in cash, gifts or certificates in return for your participation. Just keep your expectations realistic and stay clear of companies that promise too much.