About a year ago I started doing online surveys. I signed up for as many as I could, carefully writing down each website, my user name and password for each site and when I signed up. The email offers to fill out surveys poured into my email, making me wish I would have set up a dedicated email account just for those emails.
At first I filled out as many emails as I could. I filled out everything from beverage surveys to foreign travel surveys. I filled out at least 3 a day for a good 2 weeks. Then I was just sick of them. They all ask the same questions over and over and some didn't even make sense. For example one restaurant survey asked if I ever worked in the medical field.
Some of the survey sites I signed up with do not offer cash payments but instead give you points that you can cash in for prizes and gift cards. In a year of filling out surveys I never made enough points for anything!
Then there are sites that enter you into drawings to win cash. Again, after a year I never won any cash. Other sites offered small amounts of cash for each survey filled out. But I started to notice that I was not "qualified" for many of the surveys. So I never made enough cash to "cash out" on those sites either. Most sites I found don't allow you to cash out until you have $50, $75 or even $100 in your account. And then they charge ridiculous fees to get your money by paypal.
Out of 7 sites that I signed up to do surveys for I only made enough money to cash out from one! Awsurveys.com and I made $75. BUT that money was a pain to come by. I had to refer people and fill out every survey that came up. And let me tell you they were few and far between. BUT their surveys paid cash and had the highest amounts. One survey took me 20 minutes and paid $8. That's equivalent to $24 a hour. Most of their surveys are money making schemes though so beware if you sign with them not to buy anything.
And of course never give your bank info.
Another type of website I signed up with is dealsandcash.com Every few days I get emails from them telling me there are "ads" they want me to see. Now this is a way for them to get people to watch money making schemes and hopefully buy this bologna. Each ad pays anywhere from 2 cents to 5 cents. Usually you get 2-5 ads at a time, with that amount dropping as time goes by.
Now I am lucky to get one ad a week. I signed up with them at the end of October 2007 and my account with them has $10 in it. BUT that includes a $5 free joining bonus. So in 4 months I actually made $5. You need $30 to cash out so I may get $30 in another 16 months. But most likely 2 years since the ads come slowly now.
I have given up on all the survey sites except awsurvey.com and that is only because they actually paid up. I received my $75 from them this week.(took 7 weeks to a get the check) And since I only have to do a survey every so often with their site, it only takes a few minutes of my time every month.
I will continue with dealsandcash and update you if they pay out in 2 years! Sigh....
So in the end I do not think survey sites are going to make anyone rich. Or even give you much money at all. So be aware of money making schemes and don't expect a windfall.
Mandi Gordon,
Money Correspondent
Mandi lives in northern Illinois with her husband and daughter.
She is anxiously awaiting spring so she can go fishing!
Mandi's column: Saving for the Average Person is posted on Thursdays.
To connect to Mandi:
To read other money saving articles:
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 65
In the past, I have also done some product testing on things that were cool. For example, I now have my own at-home cholesterol check machine. We actually use it and have bought refill test strips to continue using it.
You get to to know which one's that are good and cull the rest from the herd:)
And it sure seems like the ones that used to pay good no longer offer cash, but points. And now some even "charge" you to cash out.
: )
I've had a little luck doing surveys......
I usually get enough per month to pay my internet bill...
They are Harris online, viewpointforum.com, and lightspeed.
None of these sites give points or rewards for referrals, which seems to be a fairly reliable indicator of value.
I think the key to surveys, just as in business, is DEMOGRAPHICS. The more you are in-line with the target market the companies need, the more surveys you'll get. Key markets right now seem to be African-Americans and Hispanics (since they seem to complete less surveys than everyone else, apparently) as well as MOMS of TWO or more kids (all different age groups) who are the MAIN grocery shopper or online shopper as well as small business owners and female professionals. Since I've joined I've also a good number of requests for my children to fill out surveys since marketing companies KNOW that kids have an influence in what we buy now and parents are spending more money on their kids' stuff now than they ever have.
So, I think it's all in the experience, persistence (do you pick up your email everyday, sometimes several times a day to check for new survey opps - because the good ones go fast!), demographics, and reliability (the more invitations you accept and surveys you complete, the more are sent to you ... length of association seems to matter, too).
Greenfield is infamous for not paying people when they do manage to earn something, or requiring that you "prove" you earned what their system failed to give you of your earnings, so be careful and keep your survey numbers that you did and any proof you can if you finally do one that offers cash. I tried them, and was one of the ones who had money coming that they didn't pay.
I hope some of you wil post articles with the decent paying survey sites...
thanks Lune for the link to your article!
you're very welcome. :)
Have I ever received a check from any survey site? Heck no! I never qualify for the darn surveys.
I am in the process of quitting every survey site I have ever signed up for.
www.TheFatPocket.com
also I wanted to add that Gather is the only web site I have ever made real money on. And have loved every minute of it! So tell all your friends and family about Gather!
but I flat out said no way!! First off I cannot type fast cause
I have Arthritis. And second I would be lost at sea with those
emails coming at me. I don't join anything I don't have the
time or the energy to. I do my Gather and got behind on my
articles of my people. This Gather is enough for me at times
way to much.
They are packed full of excitement, happy times and sad times. You
did read a few of them Mandi. If all the series is not read then one can
miss out on so much of the story. I would be so grateful if you would.
I am writing a sequel to this series as many of my people said they would
like one. We'll see when a month rolls by if I will do that. I need to get
my book published and on the market!!
I still like consumer panels best - in person panel interviews in your own town. Most big cities have them. I've made anywhere between $60 and $175 for 30-90 minutes for these.
If anyone wants the details on mystery shopping, I can provide a wealth of information of teh dos and donts.
To make money online doing free paid surveys you have to sign on only with paid surveys companies that don't know each other' why? well because if you completed a survey from their competence you wont give them a truth answer on their surveys, probably about the same product or topic, they will knew you also signed with their competence and will put you on a black list, so you won't receive good pay surveys or be able to participate on focus groups where the real money is. I got an e-Book from www.workathomepaidsurveygreen.com three years ago and since that I made between $500 to $1500 monthly, this e-Book has the tips, tool and the paid surveys companies that don’t know each other so you will receive surveys from $5 to $120 daily; the e-Book coasted me $27 dollars I think is less now but let me tell you that you will be happy with all the information on their 60 pages easy to read and clickable.
Don’t do anything that isn’t profitable. Period
Amanda Schneider.
New York, NY 10128
I just wanted to stop by since I am finally going through what is now listed as under 4,800 pieces of gather new mail that is sitting in my inbox on here.
With that mentioned I just came across either a mailing from you yourself, or someone else brought this piece to my attention. You or they felt that your creation should be shared with the gather community, which I am very glad that it was passed on to me to view. So I wanted to say Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to publish it here on gather for us to all view. :o)
As well before I leave you I wanted to wish you a Happy New Year... in 2009 :o)