Online surveys are a great way to make some pocket change by answering questions about ads, products, and services. They are perfect for supplementing your income and adding a few bucks to your bank account every month. Some people even earn gift cards to purchase household necessities, pay for a trip, or buy a long-coveted item. While there’s no guarantee of making it big with paid surveys, there are many upsides to this type of at-home work. In this article, we will look at the benefits of working from home taking paid surveys.
How Do Paid Surveys Work?
Market research firms need data that helps brands decide what products and services to bring to market. This data can only come from real consumers, and that’s where taking surveys for money comes in. Since it can be hard to get people to answer surveys in today’s busy world, survey companies act as middlemen. They pair consumers with market researchers for a match made in marketing heaven. The consumer gets a little cash or another type of compensation, and the marketer gets their data.
What Are the Primary Benefits of Taking Paid Online Surveys?
Think the only benefit of taking surveys is the cash? Think again. There are numerous reasons to add survey-taking to your list of freelancing gigs. Here are just a few of them:
The Money
Okay, so the chance to make money taking surveys is why most people get involved. Aside from the occasional questionnaire here and there, most people are not likely to fill out lengthy surveys without some type of compensation. Who has time for that?
Reputable survey sites pay their users anywhere between .50 to a few bucks per survey, which can add up fast. And most legit sites let participants cash out their earnings with PayPal or some other online payment system. It’s a win/win for everyone involved. The market research firms get the hard data they need, and you get to earn some spare cash just for sharing your opinion.
Gift Cards
Cold, hard cash is not the only reason to take online surveys, though. Some users prefer to be compensated with gift cards instead. For example, Branded Surveys offers users dozens of options to choose from when it comes to gift cards.
Members can cash out their earnings for gift cards from Starbucks,
Airbnb, AMC Theatres®, Apple Music, Banana Republic, Bed Bath & Beyond®, Cabela’s, Chipotle, and dozens of other retailers, restaurants, and services.
One of the most popular options for cashing out is an Amazon gift card. An Amazon gift card is the next best thing to cash since you can use it to purchase just about anything. From groceries to clothing to sporting goods, you can find it all on Amazon.
Open to Everyone
One of the main advantages of paid surveys as a side-gig is that they are open to everyone. In some cases, users must be a certain age, but otherwise, you can join a survey site regardless of your level of education or experience.
This can be appealing for those who do not want to go through a lengthy interviewing process, filling out applications, and other tedious tasks of getting a part-time job. Almost everyone will be approved to join a paid survey site, and as long as you follow the rules, your continued participation will be rewarded, no matter your background.
All you need is internet access and a computer or smartphone to take surveys. This makes it an ideal opportunity for students, retirees, those with disabilities, or anyone who wants to score free cash or gift cards.
No up-Front Costs To Join
Another advantage of online surveys is that there are no fees or upfront costs to join. Legit sites will not charge you a dime for membership, and your only investment will be a few minutes of your time.
Be aware, however, that there are plenty of scam sites out there that are trying to get your hard-earned money. They pose as survey sites and ask for a small membership fee to cover administrative costs. Don’t fall for it! A reputable site will never ask you for money. It’s always the other way around.
While we are on the subject, don’t fall for promises of huge earnings, either. Legit sites pay their users fair and modest compensation. This is not a get-rich-quick scheme. Sites that claim you can earn hundreds of dollars for filling out a few questionnaires are bogus and only looking to harvest your personal information.
Save Time on Commuting
If you get a part-time job to supplement your income, chances are you will need to go somewhere outside of the home. With online surveys, you never need to leave the house. This is good news for those who do not have a car or for whom public transportation is a problem.
Save Money on Childcare
If you have kids, you already know that getting a job and managing childcare is a hassle. It’s usually not even cost-effective to add an additional part-time job to your schedule, simply because the cost of babysitting would typically negate the benefits.
Online surveys are easy enough to do with your kids around. In fact, your kids may even help you answer some of the questionnaires! No need to leave the house or pay for expensive childcare.
Stay Comfortable
Is there anything better than working at home in your comfy sweats on your own couch? We think not. With online surveys, you never need to invest in a fancy wardrobe or get dressed up to go to an office. Instead, you can wear your pajamas.
You don’t need to sit at a desk, either. You can complete surveys from your bed, poolside, or from the hammock in the backyard. It’s your choice! As long as you have an internet connection, You’re good to go.
Work Anywhere
You are not limited to working at home with paid surveys. As long as you have wifi, you can work anywhere. For example, if you already commute to a full-time job, you can complete surveys during your trip into the office (assuming you are the passenger and not the driver).
You can also do surveys on your smartphone between classes, at the hairdresser, or while you are waiting for a dentist’s appointment. They only take a few minutes each, so it’s easy to squeeze them in whenever you have some time to kill.
Make Your Own Schedule
A part-time job is typically dictated by the hours someone else sets for you, however inconvenient that may be. With online surveys, you can select your own schedule and work whenever you want.
Do you tend to be a night owl with insomnia? Work on surveys late in the evenings when you can’t sleep. If you are a morning person, use your alone time to complete questionnaires. The beauty of online surveys is that the workplace never closes. You can work 24 hrs a day, seven days a week, during weekends, holidays, or any time you choose. You’re in charge.
This flexibility also means that you don’t need to miss out on important events or reschedule appointments because of work. Instead, you can create your own schedule and change it whenever you like.
How To Get Paid Taking Surveys Online
If having a look at the benefits of working from home taking paid surveys has made you curious, here are a few tips on getting started:
- Find a Reputable Survey Site
As mentioned earlier, there are scam sites out there that are more than happy to charge you membership fees or make wild promises about earnings. Legit sites are there; you just need to find them. Branded Surveys is one such site. They have over 35,000 positive reviews on TrustPilot, and that says a great deal!
- Register With the Site
Registration is easy and takes less than five minutes. Once you find a legit survey site you want to work with, fill out your registration information and submit it. All you have to do is confirm your email, and you’ll be in. It’s that easy!
- Fill Out Profile Surveys
Once you have registered and logged into the site for the first time, you will want to fill out any profile surveys on your survey dashboard. Profile surveys are preliminary surveys made available to new users. You will usually be compensated a small amount to take them, and you absolutely should complete them.
Why are profile surveys important? Because they contain essential information that can help a site match you with the right market research firms and questionnaires to make the most money. If you skip them, you could miss out on some great future opportunities.
- Complete Your First Few Regular Surveys
After you have finished all of your profile surveys, you’re ready to start completing regular surveys for cash or gift cards. Select a study you are interested in and fill out the information requested.
As you complete each survey, think about the questions carefully and give your honest feedback. Rushing through surveys will not do you any favors, and some even have timers to detect cheating. Fill out each question thoroughly until you reach the end to ensure you get credit for your time.
- Get Ready To Cash Out Your Earnings
Once you have completed enough surveys to reach the payment threshold, you are ready to cash out your earnings. Depending on the site, you might select PayPal, a gift card, or some other method. Follow the instructions to ensure a seamless transaction, and contact support if you have any questions or concerns.
- Repeat
After you receive your first cashout, you can go back and complete more surveys. Log in each day to your preferred survey site, and check your email often for the most lucrative opportunities.
The early bird gets the worm, and in the case of paid surveys, this is often the case. Surveys can have quotas, and once they are reached, the survey can be closed to new participants. Get on those surveys early to ensure you get your share of the pie.
