Do you need a side gig? You know, something flexible and easy that brings in some extra cash? Paid online surveys are the answer! Taking surveys is one of the best ways to make money online, and it’s simple to get started. In this article, we’ll talk about how to launch into paid surveys, how much you can make, and some tips and tricks for getting the most out of this excellent little side hustle.
Best Side Gig: Paid Surveys
Almost half of all Americans report doing some kind of side-gig in addition to their primary jobs. Many have pursued second jobs to have more disposable income—extra money to spend on vacations, entertainment, or non-essential purchases. But around 30 percent of those with second (or even third) side-hustles do it just to make ends meet. The reality is, lots of us have no choice.
Whether you’re considering taking a part-time job or starting up a side-hustle, there are a few things to consider before you make a decision:
Do You Have the Time?
Everyone has the same 24 hours each day. Still, depending on your circumstances (like school, children, or other responsibilities), the amount of extra time you have to work a second job can vary. Some people can leave their primary job after a shift and devote another four or five hours a second venture. Others only have a few hours a month. So you’ll need to decide how much time you can realistically expect to spend on a side-gig before you jump in.
Do You Have the Mental Stamina?
If you’re working full-time and already running on empty, a side-hustle might be out of the question. Everyone’s stress levels are different, and you may need more downtime than the next person to maintain your sanity.
For example, you might already have a full day between your commute, driving your children to and from school or daycare, household chores, and other obligations. In situations like this, it would be unreasonable to consider leaving the house for several more hours for a side hustle, no matter how badly you want to make extra cash. You may barely have ten minutes to yourself before falling into bed exhausted each evening. Pushing yourself to the limits under these circumstances could leave you feeling burned out and discouraged.
Do You Have the Resources?
You can pursue many side-hustles on a shoestring budget, but few will be completely free. For example, if you want to establish an online content writing business, you’ll need to advertise your services, set up a website, and invest in some tools and training to help you be successful. Likewise, if you decide to sell used items on Ebay, you’ll need shipping supplies and the funds to pay for postage.
The perfect side hustle is one that has no startup costs, can be done on your own schedule, and is flexible enough to stop and start again when life gets too busy or overwhelming. Fortunately, paid online surveys meet all those criteria and more!
Take Paid Surveys in Your Spare Time
You may already be thinking, “But I have no spare time!” We get that. When your schedule is already jam-packed with responsibilities and tasks, it can feel like you can’t squeeze even one more thing into your day. But the beauty of paid surveys is that you don’t have to have more time; you just need to be smart with the time you have. But how?
You Can Take Surveys Anytime
Unlike most side gigs, there are no time restrictions with online surveys. You can work on surveys any time of the day or night, seven days a week, 365 days a year. And each survey only takes a few minutes to complete.
You Can Take Surveys Anywhere
Another benefit of taking surveys for cash is that you are not tied to any one location. As long as you have an internet connection, you can take surveys on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. In other words, you don’t have to wait until you are home to work on surveys.
So, what does this mean? It means that you can use stolen “in-between” moments to take surveys and make money! For example, instead of sitting around playing Wordle or spending time on social media, you could be taking surveys:
- While you are in your doctor’s office waiting room
- During your bus or train commute to work
- While waiting for a friend to get out of work
- When you’re bored and between classes
- After the kids go down for a nap
- While sipping your morning coffee
- During TV commercial breaks
You can probably think of many more opportunities to take surveys during times that would otherwise be wasted. It’s pretty exciting when you realize that you can actually work on a side hustle that makes you money while barely altering your schedule.
How Much Money Can You Earn From Surveys?
Simply put, the more time you spend taking surveys, the more money you will make. Surveys typically pay between $0.50 and $3.00 per questionnaire, so it will depend on how many surveys you can take each day. Some days, you might be too busy even to do one survey. Other days, you might be able to do ten surveys in a row, with the potential to make anywhere between $5 and $30.
Can you take surveys full time for a living? No. Paid surveys are designed to help market researchers gather data on new products and services entering the marketplace. Paid surveys compensate consumers for the time and effort they spend providing feedback for big brands. Nobody has time to fill out surveys these days, but by offering an incentive, big companies can get the information they need to make decisions, and you can earn a little spare cash. It’s an advantage to both parties involved.
Are There Any Ways To Maximize Your Earnings With Surveys?
Yes! There are also ways to earn even more money with surveys. Legit survey sites generally have reward or loyalty programs for users who are consistent with their efforts. For example, a site may offer bonus cash for completing a certain amount of surveys each day, week, or month. Generally, it’s a percentage of overall earnings, and the more surveys you take, the more the percentage increases.
Another way to earn more money with surveys is to invite other users to participate. The site will give you a unique referral code to send to your friends. When they join, you’ll get a bonus!
Be Thorough and Truthful
The best way to make sure you get credit for each survey you take is to be honest and thorough with each form. Don’t rush through the survey. Instead, answer questions thoughtfully, and fill in each question with your best answer. This will also ensure you get invited to the best paid survey opportunities in the future.
Making Money Online From Surveys Is Easy
If you’ve decided to try online surveys as a side-gig, you’ll be happy to know it’s super easy to get started. All you need to do is find a legit survey site and sign up. You could be earning money for surveys in less than 10 minutes. You may even earn enough to cash out some of your earnings today! There are just a few simple steps to get going:
1. Find a Legit Survey Site
If you’ve found the best survey site to try, great! But if you’re still looking, you’re going to need to find a legit survey company. The best way to do that is to:
Look For a Company With Excellent Reviews
Legit survey sites have genuine customer reviews and good ratings. You probably wouldn’t do business with a company with no ratings and information, right? The same goes for survey sites. For example, Branded Surveys has over 47,000 user reviews and a rating of excellent on Trustpilot. Only work with a site that is well-known and reputable.
Look For a Company That Will Protect Your Data
Scam survey sites often exist just to steal your private information, so you will want to be careful when joining any site. A legit site will ask you for your name, email address, and some demographic information so they can pair you with the right surveys. However, they will never ask for things like your bank account number or other sensitive information. Protecting your personal data should be your top priority.
Don’t Fall For Overblown Claims
Many scam sites advertise potential earnings of $50, $100, or more per survey. These inflated claims are a sure sign that the site is not what it seems. Legit survey companies will never promise more than they can pay, and they won’t claim you will get rich taking surveys. What they can do is offer a way to make a little extra cash to put toward bills, expenses, or other items.
2. Sign Up and Get Started
Once you find the site you want to work with, all that’s left to do is sign up, confirm your email, and get started. There is no complicated onboarding and no experience required. Once you sign in for the first time, you’ll notice there are several surveys you can complete right away. These are called profile surveys, and they help the company to get to know you better. That way, they can send you surveys relevant to your interests, age group, and location.
3. Cash Out Your Earnings
If you want to make money with surveys, the final step is to cash out your earnings. Once you have reached the site’s cashout requirements (typically only five or ten dollars), you can convert your points to cash and choose your payout method.
Different sites have different payout methods, so you will want to make sure to pick one that offers a cashout that works best for you. For example, Branded Surveys gives users an option to get cash via Paypal or direct deposit. Alternatively, you can also cash out your earnings for one of dozens of gift cards for retailers, restaurants, and services all over the country.
Final Thoughts
It’s easy to get started with paid surveys, and you don’t need any special tools or skills. In fact, as long as you have a smartphone and a data plan, you can earn from online surveys no matter where you are and what you’re doing!
If you need to take a break from surveys, you can. And the work will be right there waiting if you decide to come back. You can fit them in between your school, family, or work obligations. Plus, you can even combine surveys with other online gigs. If you are looking for a flexible, no-cost side gig to make money on the side, you can’t beat paid online surveys.
