We’ve all seen them: the ads online or in magazines offering a new way to make money from home, how you can easily earn extra cash by filling out surveys online, or get paid for giving your opinion. But is this too good to be true?
The answer is no! You can definitely earn a bit of money from surveys, provided you find the right survey site to work with. And while answering a few questions online isn’t going to make you rich anytime soon, it could be an easy way to earn $50, $100, or more every month. To understand how paid online surveys work, you need to familiarize yourself with the process, discover the best survey sites, and find out much you can expect to earn.
If you’ve never gotten paid to take surveys online, you may have a lot of questions. “How do they work?’ “How can I avoid survey scams?” “How much money can I make?” “How much time will it take to earn money from online surveys?”
This guide to taking paid online surveys will clear up all the confusion. If you’re ready to supplement your income with an easy and convenient side gig, read on to learn all about the world of paid surveys.
Quick Introduction to Paid Surveys
How do companies make decisions about which products and services to introduce to the marketplace? It may seem random when big corporations unveil a new soft drink flavor or use a corny jingle to announce the launch of a new pet product, but it’s not. In fact, these decisions are made thoughtfully and carefully with the help of market research firms.
Market research professionals gather the data needed to learn about people’s preferences and convey them to decision-makers. But how do they get all that information? One of the primary ways of understanding consumers better is through surveys. We encounter them every day— sometimes multiple times a day. It seems like nearly every time we make a purchase or visit a business; we are asked to complete some kind of survey.
With so much competition for our thoughts and opinions, it’s easy to see how most people don’t bother taking surveys anymore. When it comes right down to it, who has the time?
This problem is precisely how the paid survey industry developed into what it is today. Researchers found that it’s much easier to get customers to answer survey questions if they are offered some type of incentive, and thus, paid online surveys were born.
Who Can Take Paid Surveys?
Nearly anyone can make money with online surveys! There are no special qualifications or skills needed, and they are not complicated at all. You can expect to fill out online paid surveys if you are:
- A student looking for extra cash
- An individual looking for a part-time job working from home
- A person who is home during the day with few commitments (such as school or work) and who make some extra spending money
- An employee looking for a new job
- A stay-at-home parent
- A retiree
- Someone who is driven to make some extra money in addition to a full-time job.
- Anyone who is curious about earning by taking online surveys
How To Make Money From Surveys
Getting started with online surveys is simple. As long as you have a computer with Wifi access and an email account, you can sign up with a survey site and start earning right away.
The first thing you will need to do is find a legit survey site (more on that below) and sign up with your name and email. Then, look for a confirmation message in your email and respond to it right away.
Once you confirm your email and other info, you can take a look around the site and see what it’s all about. It costs nothing to join a survey site, and even if you decide you don’t want to do it, you can still join to get a better idea about online surveys.
Once you are a member, you can start taking surveys. The first ones available to you will be profile surveys. You should fill those out in their entirety with factual and honest answers. Those profile surveys are how a company gets to know you and matches you with the best survey offers in the future.
Your survey dashboard is where you will find the newest survey offers, and they can change every day, sometimes multiple times a day. How many surveys can you take? You can complete as many as you qualify for. Some mornings, the site may only have a few short surveys available, and by afternoon there are dozens of surveys you can take for money. So, be sure to check back regularly to be certain you don’t miss any opportunities.
How Much Can You Really Earn With Surveys?
If you’re considering replacing a full-time income with paid surveys, you might be disappointed. Paid surveys are designed to compensate users a small amount in exchange for their time. So, you won’t get rich with this gig. However, you can earn a little extra cash for some of the small luxuries in life, like dinner and a movie, a new pair of shoes, or a unique item you’ve had your eye on.
Some people like to use their survey money to pay off debt, save for college, or just as some extra spending money.
You can expect to earn approximately 50 cents to $3.00 for each survey you qualify for and complete, so it’s a pretty good use of your time, especially if you didn’t have anything, in particular, going on otherwise.
What Is the Best Time and Place To Take Paid Surveys?
One benefit of taking paid surveys is built-in convenience. You can do them anytime, anywhere – at home, while you’re out running errands, or even when you’re sitting on the couch watching TV. In addition, you can earn money from surveys on your phone, computer, or tablet – the choice is yours.
As if that’s not enough, paid surveys offer convenience of location too! Since there is no set schedule like there would be with a second job, you’ve got more flexibility with where and when to take them. You could be taking surveys at home one night, on your lunch break at your primary job, or even on vacation. Wherever you are, and whatever time of day it is, there’s a good chance you can take paid surveys whenever and wherever it works for you.
Legit Survey Sites vs. Scams
One of the biggest problems in the paid survey industry is scammers. Many shady companies are posing as legit survey sites, making it hard for people who just want to take surveys and earn money reliably and safely.
Scammers often target people who are looking to earn money online by promising ridiculously high earnings. Remember, you will never get rich taking surveys. What you can have is some additional cash just for sharing your opinion. So steer clear of sites that promise you things they will never be able to deliver.
Another trick that scammers use is to require a membership fee to join an “exclusive” survey site. This may make them seem more legit or give you the impression you are getting a rare opportunity to be part of something huge. Make no mistake, any survey site that asks for a fee (no matter how small) is a fraudulent site. The cybercriminals behind these schemes not only steal your “membership fee,” but they steal your personal information and sell it to other scammers.
How Is Branded Surveys Different From Other Survey Sites?
We’ve talked about avoiding scam sites and finding a reputable survey site to work with. One of the most crucial indicators of a legit site is the number of genuine user reviews and the length of time the company has been in business.
Branded Surveys has been in the paid survey business since 2012, so they are not just any fly-by-night company. Additionally, they have a whole lot of happy members. On Trustpilot, Branded has received over 41,000 reviews and been awarded a rating of “excellent.” That’s no easy feat for a survey site.
In addition to being a trusted site, Branded offers impressive rewards to its members. For example, you can take surveys for Paypal, have your earnings deposited directly into your bank account, or even take surveys for an Amazon gift card. But if Amazon is not your style, you can also choose from dozens of other gift cards from popular retailers, restaurants, and services all over the country.
Closing Thoughts
It is possible to earn extra money from home by taking online surveys. And while it won’t replace a full-time income, surveys are a great way to supplement your earnings. As long as you are realistic about what to expect and only work with a survey site with a solid reputation, you can keep earning week after week. It’s like having your own personal stream of extra cash whenever you need it.
