Online surveys are a great way to make some extra money. They are not a get-rich-quick scheme, but they can help you earn a bit of cash to spend on things like your favorite morning coffee or a small reward for yourself. You can also save up the money you make by taking paid online surveys for something bigger. Maybe you would like to take your spouse to lunch at a new restaurant, or you have your eye on a special pair of earrings. Taking surveys online can make little luxuries like these possible.
However, it’s essential to keep in mind that online surveys will not replace a full-time job. The amount of money you make will depend on the number of surveys you complete and the length of the surveys. However, if you stick with it, you can make some extra cash to put towards things you enjoy.
How can you make money with online surveys? It’s easy! All you need to do is find a reputable survey site and create an account. In this article, we’ll talk about the benefits of online surveys, how to find the best survey site, and how you can begin making extra cash immediately.
The Benefits of Paid Online Surveys
The following are some reasons why taking surveys to make extra money is something you should consider doing:
- You can get cash fast. Unlike other work-at-home jobs, the time required to qualify for a survey or get paid is minimal. Many times, surveys will credit your account immediately upon completion. Cashing out is easy, too. Legit surveys sites have multiple ways to withdraw your earnings, including Paypal or direct deposit right into your bank account. In some cases, you can even take surveys for gift cards.
- They are a great way to voice your opinion on the products and services you use every day. As a survey taker, you have the opportunity to shape the development of new products and services. Big companies need your opinion to help them decide what new products to introduce to the marketplace. You can be a huge part of that process.
- You can take them from anywhere with an internet connection. That means you can do paid online surveys at home, during your breaks at work, or even on vacation! Some people take paid surveys while waiting at the doctor’s office, while the kids are napping, or during their morning bus commute. This flexibility is one of the primary benefits of paid surveys.
- There is no set schedule and no requirements or quotas. If you need to take time off, that’s fine! You can pick up where you left off anytime. And although you can make more money the more surveys you do, you can do as few as you would like. Nobody will be pestering you to perform faster or take more surveys.
How To Earn Money With Online Surveys
Now that you know some of the benefits of taking online surveys for extra money, it’s time for some step-by-step instructions on how to get started. Following these simple tips will ensure that the whole process runs smoothly and you can start earning fast.
Find a Reputable Survey Site
Before you sign up for any survey site, it’s essential to make sure that it is reputable. That’s because while there are a lot of great survey sites online, there are also some that have a poor reputation. In some cases, scam survey sites only exist to steal your personal information, and you’ll never see a dime of your earnings. So obviously, finding a legit site is vital to your success. Here’s how:
Google Online Reviews
People are remarkably honest when it comes to companies they like and dislike, so one of the best ways to check if a survey site is on the level is to look for reviews online. Just type the name of the company followed by “reviews” into your search box. It shouldn’t take too long to figure out which companies are reputable and which ones are bunk.
For example, Branded Surveys has almost 45,000 reviews and a rating of “excellent” on Trustpilot. When choosing the best survey site to partner with, this is the type of data you want to see.
Search for Contact Information
Does the site have a way for users to contact support or an administrator? If there is no support ticket system or way to reach out for help with your questions, you should steer away from the site. For example, What if you cashed out your earnings and you haven’t heard a peep from the survey site? Of course, most people would attempt to contact support. But if there is no way to reach them, there is little chance you’re going to see your money, and all that time you spent on surveys will be down the drain.
So always check to ensure there is a way to reach out and contact support, even if it is a contact form or ticketing system. You can even test a site out by sending in a support ticket before you sign up. Tell them you wanted to make sure they are a legit site that responds to their users. A reputable site will be happy that you reached out.
Be Wary of False Promises
A scam survey site will almost always promise more than they can deliver. If a site promises you big money for taking surveys, it’s practically a guarantee they are not legit. No business can stay afloat by sending hundreds of dollars a day to tens of thousands of users. So when you see ads that say things like “Earn $100 for every survey you answer”, don’t fall for it.
Legit sites pay between $0.50 to $3.00 per survey. That’s why you can’t get rich by taking surveys. But can you earn a decent amount of extra cash that you don’t need to feel guilty about spending? You bet!
Keep Your Eye Out for Sign-up Fees
Another way to tell if a site is legit or not is if they ask you to pay a fee. A reputable site will never ask you for money. It’s always the other way around—they are the ones that pay you. Still, some fraudulent sites think they can get away with this, and often they do.
It works like this: The site tries to claim they are exclusive and only allow a few people to join, but you are somehow special, and they are going to reward that by letting you become a member. That is, if you pay a membership fee.
Sadly, this trick works. And not only does the scam site take your money, but they also steal your personal information that you willingly filled out during the signup process. So beware—even if it’s only a dollar—a legit site will never ask you for money.
Signing Up With a Legit Survey Site That Pays
If you’ve gone through the process of vetting the best online survey site by ensuring they are legit, now all that’s left to do is join and get paid to do surveys. But how do you do that? It’s easy. We’ll walk you through the process:
- Register With Your Preferred Site
Signing up for paid online surveys is simple. First, you’ll need to have a device such as a phone, tablet, computer, or laptop and an internet connection. Then, just fill out the information the site is asking for upon signup—usually, this will be your name and email.
- Confirm Your Email
You’ll need to look for a confirmation message in your email. Once you get it, respond to it right away so it doesn’t get buried in your inbox. Then, you can sign in and have a look around the site. Some members like to create a new email especially for their survey stuff. This can help you to stay organized.
- Complete Your First Profile Surveys
Once you sign in the first time, you’ll notice you have a personalized survey dashboard just for you. This will be similar across most survey sites, although Branded Surveys offers you the chance to get started with paid profile surveys.
Paid profile surveys are how a survey site gets to know you better. They are in-depth questionnaires that ask you about your demographics—questions like your age, gender, what region of the country you live in, etc. The primary purpose of these surveys is to match you up with the best and most lucrative opportunities for people who meet your specific criteria. So you’ll want to be sure to fill these out thoroughly so you don’t miss out on any potential earnings.
- Start Doing Regular Surveys
After completing all of your profile surveys, you can start taking regular surveys for cash. The survey dashboard is where you can find the ones available to you, and these will change often. For example, you might log in to the site in the morning and find there is not much available. However, by afternoon there could be ten surveys you can complete. So, it’s important to check back often if you want the best chance of making money.
- Be Honest and Thorough
When completing surveys, companies are looking for honest answers, and they are looking for complete surveys. You will usually not get credit for taking only part of a survey. You need to complete it to the end. And you’ll also want to be honest. If you have a lot of conflicting information, you could be flagged for fraud. An example of this is completing one survey where you claim to be 60 and have five children and a different survey where you claim to be 18 and childless.
So, take your time and fill them out thoroughly. The better you do at taking surveys, the more surveys will become available to you. Naturally, that means more money in your account.
- Cash Out Your Earnings
The moment you have waited for is here. It’s time to cash out your first set of earnings. Simply follow the directions and choose your payment method. You typically won’t need to wait more than a day or two to see your money. However, every site is different, so you may need to be a little patient, depending on the cashout policies of that particular survey site.
Closing Thoughts
There are lots of ways to make money online, but surveys are the fastest and easiest way to begin. Getting started with an online survey gig is not only possible, but millions of people like you do it every day to supplement their income. As long as you find the right site, are consistent in your efforts, and are realistic about your earnings, you will find that paid online surveys are a great side hustle that you can participate in year after year to earn some additional money.
