Free Online Surveys

From LoveToKnow Online

Free online surveys offer an opportunity for users to share their opinions, and maybe pick up some cash or prizes along the way.

Survey

Why Take A Survey?

Most people enjoy sharing their opinions on everything from mundane topics like favorite foods to deeply-felt moral or political positions. It's one of the reasons blogs are so popular. Free online surveys tap into this need to tell people what you think.

How Does It Work?

Survey participants receive a link to an online survey. Survey topics vary, but you will most often be giving feedback on topics important to marketing professionals. Your answers could determine which commercial a cat food company uses to promote its latest blend or influence the suggested retail price of a new shampoo. Granted, these aren't life-changing decisions, but it's still kind of cool to know you played a small part, and all because you took a few minutes to fill out a survey.

Telling others what you think doesn't pay the bills, though. That's why most free online survey sites offer rewards and prizes. There are three typical reward structures:

  • Drawing entry - For each survey you complete, you are given an entry in a prize drawing. Participants give up a more concrete payment for a chance at something large, whether it's a top-of-the-line grill or $10,000 cash.
  • Points - Every survey is worth a certain number of points redeemable for cash, gift certificates or merchandise. Sometimes larger points-earning sites like FreeRide or MyPoints offer surveys as just one of many ways to accumulate points.
  • Cash and gift certificates - Each survey is worth a certain amount of money. Participants may be paid by check, PayPal, or a gift certificate to a popular online vendor like Amazon.com. Intensive surveys may be worth as much as 10 or 25 dollars, but most will only be worth few dollars.

One added perk of completing free online surveys is you may have a chance to take part in product testing. If you're selected, you will receive a sample of a new product with instructions on how frequently to use it, then fill out a survey after the trial period. Focus groups are another related experience. In a focus group, several people gather together to discuss a topic or product. This occasionally takes place online in a chat room or in forum posts, so online survey companies may coordinate a focus group from time to time. Neither of these possibilities will make up the majority of your online survey time, though.

Getting Started With Free Online Surveys

Finding Surveys

  • MySurvey offers points for completing surveys, and sometimes asks users to test sample products. Points can be redeemed for cash, products or raffle tickets for larger prizes.
  • PineCone Research is a highly regarded online survey company paying cash for all surveys, but they only add new members during online recruitment drives. If you happen to see a banner ad for the company, sign up while you have the chance.
  • Yellow Surveys provides a directory of over 500 survey companies.
  • Paid Survey Portal offers another directory of available surveys.

Registering

Almost every site will ask you to fill out a basic survey about yourself, your household, your income and preferences. This will help the company match surveys with their intended audience. If a soft drink company wants to test its appeal to the teen male market, it doesn't do anyone much good to ask a middle-aged woman what she thinks of the beverage.

Qualifying

Even after you've filled out a preliminary survey, you may still need to answer qualifying surveys to see if you fit a particular profile. Marketers may be looking for consumers with specific jobs or certain hobbies. You'll usually receive some payment for answering these qualifying surveys, although obviously a quick five-minute survey won't earn you as much as a full survey taking half an hour to complete.

Completing Surveys

You will usually receive email notification when a survey is available, although some companies ask you to log in to your account to find new surveys. Click on the survey link, and you're on your way. Some survey questions ask you to rate statements on a "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree" continuum while others ask you to type a response to specific questions. Answer the questions honestly and to the best of your ability. After the survey, look to the individual site for any instructions for claiming your payment.

Hold On To Your Money

You're not going to get rich by filling out online surveys, but if you enjoy sharing your opinion, it can be a fun way to make a little pocket change. Unfortunately, the online survey market is filled with companies asking for a registration fee before they will connect you with surveys and focus groups. If a company posts exorbitant statements about the amount of money you can make, claims you can quit your job and live off your earnings, and then asks for a payment of "only" $39.95, run away. You can find the same links and information online for free.


 


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