If you’ve ever been accused of being too talkative, headstrong, or opinionated, you’ve come to the right place. That’s because no matter what other people say, the world needs people like you who aren’t afraid to stand up and tell it like it is!
And we have great news for you! You can make real money online if you’re ready to turn your opinions into cash. In this post, we’ve got five ways to get paid for your opinion by doing everything from paid surveys to starting your own YouTube channel.
1. Focus Groups
If you want to get paid for your opinion online, focus groups are a great place to start. With focus groups, consumers get paid to provide honest feedback on products and services before they are released to the public. Focus Groups are also used to gather information about products that are already available so that companies can make them even better.
Focus groups are a lot like paid surveys, but the studies are longer and more involved. Thus, they typically pay more. Some focus groups are conducted in person, although many are hosted online these days. Almost all seek to have a group of diverse individuals participating, so the market research company can uncover different thoughts and opinions across a wide range of people.
You’ve probably heard of focus groups before and wondered how you could get involved. But unlike some of the other ideas on our list, participating in focus groups can be harder to nail down, since most people don’t know where to look for them. However, you’re in luck! We’re going to drop that hidden knowledge right here.
How To Find Focus Groups Online
To find focus groups, you’ve got to put your research cap on and start Googling. First, you’ll want to start with some of the major marketing companies that host focus groups. These include FocusGroups.org, FocusGroup.com, Userinterviews.com, and a few others. You’ll want to come up with a list of all the ones you find, and be sure to sort out the legit focus groups from run-of-the-mill scam sites.
Search Locally
The highest-paying focus groups will typically occur in person, so you’ll also want to look locally. At least one company, Paid Focus Groups, has a database you can search to find opportunities in your state. You can also check local classifieds, Craigslist, and job boards in your area, or simply type “focus groups near me” in your browser’s search bar.
2. Take Paid Surveys
You have undoubtedly heard of paid online surveys. You see them on every “how to make money online” list, and you may have even joined a survey site or two over the years. If you’re looking for the fastest way to make money for your opinion, paid surveys are the answer.
Like focus groups, paid surveys are also designed to gather data from the public about the products and services that will reach the consumer marketplace. The primary difference is that survey sites are easier to get started with, have no specific time commitment, and have a faster payout than focus groups.
How To Get Started With Paid Surveys
To start taking surveys for money, you need to first sign up with a legit survey site. This is probably the most crucial part, but luckily we can recommend a place right off the bat. Branded Surveys has been in business for over a decade, and they have paid out nearly twenty-four million dollars to their users. It’s hard to find a survey site that pays reliably, so going with Branded Surveys is the quickest way to get started and avoid all the scams.
Signing up for Paid Surveys
After you’ve found a legitimate paid survey site, the next logical step is to register. This simple process involves inputting your information and authenticating your email address and other information. During the sign-up process, you may be asked questions about your age, where you reside, how many children you have, and additional demographic information. This is so that you can be connected with the highest-paying surveys, so be thorough in your responses.
How Much Can You Make With Paid Surveys?
Genuine survey sites typically pay between $.50 and $2.00 per survey, while there are always opportunities to earn more. The secret to making money with surveys is to do them regularly. Completing three $1.50 surveys per day, for example, may not seem like much, but at the end of the month, you’ll have an extra $135. Not bad for something that only takes a few minutes each day. Did we mention you can also take surveys for gift cards?
Why Should I Do Paid Surveys Instead of the Other Ideas on This List?
Surveys are the easiest way to get started making money online, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try out the other ideas we’ve listed. Of course, the more effort you put in, the more money you will make, so get creative about sharing your opinion!
3. Become a Blogger
If you’ve got something you need to tell the world, there’s no better way to get the word out than with blogging. And these days, bloggers exert a lot of influence over the online marketplace. But did you know that blogging is a great way to make money online?
For example, suppose you have a lifestyle-type blog about parenting. You’ve got small children, you’re interested in various parenting topics, and you decide to start a website or blog of your own. In it, you feature articles about the best diapers, the best baby formulas, the top remedies for teething, and dozens of other relevant posts.
Once your blog has enough readers, you can start adding affiliate links to some of the products featured in your articles. This means that you make money whenever a customer clicks on one of your ads. And if they make a purchase after clicking one of those ads, you’ll earn even more money.
The internet is a fascinating place to earn, and once you get into affiliate blogging, you’ll want to learn how to make the most money you can from it. A few places to start learning about making money blogging include:
4. Start a YouTube Channel
Similar to sharing your opinion by blogging, ambitious people who enjoy video can create a YouTube channel. The idea is the same, but your content is delivered via video instead of words.
AdSense revenue is the most important source of income for most YouTubers. However, you’ll need to be accepted into the YouTube Partners Program before you can start earning for ads on your page. And you’ll need a few things before that can happen.
How Long Does It Take To Earn From a New YouTube Channel?
Earning on YouTube takes a little bit of time since. You’ll need to have 4000 public view hours (people need to watch 4000 minutes of content on your channel) and at least 1000 subscribers plus an AdSense account. But once the ball is rolling, you can join the YouTube Partners Program.
Over the course of a year, you must have at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 legitimate public view hours (this implies that people must watch 4000 minutes of video content on your channel).
An AdSense account is required. You can start earning money from ads once you’ve been authorized for the YouTube Partners Program.
While some YouTubers make their money from ads alone, others become influencers—people who are experts in specific niches or topics who have a steady following. Popular influencers are valuable to brands because they can endorse specific products and exert much power over what people choose to buy. Thus, becoming an influencer is an excellent way to earn income on YouTube.
5. Product Testing
Finally, the final idea on our list of making money for your opinion is through product testing.
Paid product testing exists because brands want to know what customers really think about new items they’re developing, and they need consumers like you to provide feedback first. Having customers provide feedback on a brand’s new product development will save time and money if the product fails to meet expectations and requires adjustments. Product testing is a lot like taking paid surveys for money, but instead of sharing your opinion on a questionnaire, you have the additional step of having the product in hand.
To get started as a product tester, all you need to do is sign up with one or more product testing panels. Of course, there is no guarantee you will qualify. For example, some brands are looking for participants with small children. Others are looking for people over 50. The market is in constant flux, so it’s always a good idea to check back often and see what is available with these panels:
- Toluna Influencer Panel
- Product Review Panel
- Product Testing USA
- PinchMe
- BzzAgent
- Johnson & Johnson Friends & Neighbors
Final Thoughts: Using Your Opinion To Make Money
If you’ve ever thought maybe you should keep your opinions to yourself, you could have been wrong—at least as far as the money-making ideas above. Market researchers need data, and they reward participants for being a part of the process. Consumers can get paid to take surveys, join focus groups, or even test new products. And if you want to establish something even more lucrative, starting a blog or YouTube channel are excellent ideas when planning for long-range financial goals.
While it’s impossible to guarantee what you will earn by implementing our ideas, you will learn a lot about how the world of online marketing works. Plus, having a little extra money, gift cards, or free products can help during lean times.
