Paid Online Surveys: 12 Tips and Tricks to Making the Most Money With Them

Are you wondering how to make some extra money without quitting your day job? More and more, people are turning to the Internet to find ways to make extra cash from home.

Paid online surveys can be an avenue for earning some extra cash in your spare time. There are ways to be sure you’re choosing the best paid surveys to make the most of your time.

If you’re interested in learning more, we have the answers.

Here are our 12 top paid surveys success tips.

Are Paid Surveys Worth Your Time?

The economy is difficult for most people today. Many hard-working individuals are looking for side gigs or alternate ways of bringing in some extra cash. As inflation rises, so do the prices of everyday items.

This creates the need for additional money each month to pay bills or simply make ends meet. One way to earn some extra cash is with the best paid surveys.

Online surveys are used by various companies as a form of market research. They question consumers about their products to gauge interest and see if what they sell will be a success or a failure.

With close to 4 billion Internet users out there, these surveys are a fantastic way for companies to conduct consumer research, and they’re willing to pay reviewers for their honest answers.

Getting people to complete surveys without some form of incentive is quite a challenge, so offering cash, gift cards, prizes, discounts, and other perks sweetens the deal for survey takers.

Many companies use a point system, offering a certain amount of points for every survey or task someone completes. You can accumulate points to later redeem for money, gift cards, prizes, or other rewards.

Finding Legitimate Survey Sites

If you’re interested in getting paid for offering your opinion, the first step is signing up with a legitimate paid survey site. There are many to choose from, but they’re not all worth your time or effort.

A legitimate paid survey site doesn’t charge you to work for them, and they won’t promise to make you rich by completing online surveys or questionnaires. Once you find a reliable survey provider, the signup process is typically easy and straightforward.

You may be asked basic questions about your demographics, including your age, gender, and other details. This information helps match you with surveys that can offer you the most points.

Identify Your Money Goals for Paid Surveys

Some people have a negative idea about taking surveys. They may think they are a scam and a waste of time.

Paid surveys won’t make you rich, but the income they provide helps many people earn some extra cash. People often make hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year, depending on the time they invest in taking surveys.

It’s all about knowing which survey sites are best for you and worth your time.

Here are a few of our paid surveys success tips you should consider.

1. Join More Than One Survey Panel

You won’t earn a tremendous amount of money from one survey site. Although some people do manage to earn hundreds a year from certain sites, it’s better to join multiple survey panels for the best chance of success.

Using multiple sites allows you to find surveys that suit you and help you earn the most points for your time. Whether you need a few extra dollars to make a special purchase, buy a gift, enjoy a date night, or save some money, you can earn extra cash with the right paid surveys online.

2. Evaluate the Time vs. Reward Factor

Your time is valuable, so this is one of the top tips for highest-paying surveys. Always consider the time you will have to invest to earn a survey’s reward. These rewards can vary quite a bit.

Some sites clearly explain how much you will earn and the time you must invest to accomplish the goal. Others are less forthcoming, so you will need to do your research to find out if the survey is worth your time and effort.

Some sites are better at explaining what is expected for each survey and the time you will need to invest. If a survey doesn’t make sense to you or seems more work than reward, it’s probably not for you.

Taking the time to consider the time vs reward ratio can make a big difference. It’s a smarter approach than grabbing any survey that comes your way and being disappointed with the results. The goal is to work smarter, not harder.

3. Avoid Cheating

Most surveys have mechanisms in place to ensure you’re taking the survey rather than mindlessly ticking boxes. Cheating defeats the purpose of surveys, which is to provide honest feedback to companies wanting to improve their products.

You could be noted as cheating. The majority of surveys use algorithms to identify those who cheat frequently. This could affect your ability to receive the best paid surveys in the future.

Although some websites offer survey cheating advice, it’s a bad idea if you hope to make money with paid surveys on a long-term basis. Instead, work with a legitimate company that can help match you to surveys you will have an interest in. Then, you’re more likely to be productive and achieve greater success, making some extra cash in this tough economy.

4. Grab the Best Surveys Quickly

When you receive a notification of a survey that interests you, it’s best to choose it quickly so you have the chance to complete it and earn some money for your effort. 

Leaving invites in your inbox until you have more time won’t do you much good. The best surveys are picked up fast. They will be gone in a flash, so take a few minutes each day to check out survey opportunities.

5. Consider Taking Paid Surveys as a Side Gig 

There’s nothing wrong with having a side gig. In fact, more and more of the U.S. workforce are looking for ways to earn a little extra cash from home.

Keep in mind that taking online surveys isn’t a career choice. If you quit your day job to take surveys, you will probably regret that decision. Scam websites will try to lure you in and make you believe you can make great money by completing surveys.

Realistically, this is false. This is a side gig that you can do in your spare time. If you’re consistent and choose wisely, you can make some extra cash. Try taking surveys instead of watching Netflix or playing video games. 

Take surveys on the weekend or while on vacation when you have a few hours to spare. It’s a fun option to make some cash, but it’s not a career choice.

6. Don’t Worry Too Much About Poor Reviews

If you do some research on any online survey site, you will find some bad reviews and negative comments. This is the typical response of individuals who were expecting to get rich by filling out surveys.

This is also a common response for cheaters who get caught and lose the opportunity to make a few extra bucks with paid surveys. Beware, there are many false promises and scam sites out there.

However, there are legitimate sites that pay millions of dollars to their survey-taking members each year. The best advice is to choose your sites wisely, follow the rules, and answer the surveys honestly.

7. Guard Your Privacy

You give up some level of privacy by taking online surveys. You may reveal certain aspects of your health or give your political opinions along with sharing your zip code.

Your feelings about your privacy are a factor in the surveys you choose. If you’re uncomfortable revealing any details about yourself, paid online surveys probably aren’t for you.

If you’re a smartphone user, keep in mind that tech firms already know a lot about you based on your social media and browsing habits. With this in mind, a bit of disclosure may not seem like a big deal.

You do need to be careful about what you choose to reveal. Watch out for surveys that send you to a third party, asking you to tick off multiple privacy boxes before beginning the survey. It’s a good idea to steer clear of these surveys and work with legitimate sites to maximize survey earnings.

8. Shake Off the Screen-Outs 

Getting “screened out” happens from time to time when you complete online surveys. This means you aren’t eligible to complete the survey. It can be annoying, but it’s nothing to worry about.

Many survey providers are looking for certain things. For example, they may want to survey smokers, car owners, pet owners, etc. If you don’t fit the demographic, they may shut down the survey before you even get started.

Survey providers address this issue in different ways. Some offer a prize entry or a consolation prize for your trouble.

9. Look for Product Tests 

Some survey sites also offer product tests. They send products for you to review and offer your honest feedback. Product testing typically pays more than paid surveys, and you can keep the products you test, too.

Product tests can be for beauty items, soap, shampoo, baby products, kitchen and home gadgets, and much more. Once you begin testing products for companies, you may notice an increase in similar opportunities rolling in.

10. Accept Invites to Focus Groups 

You will want to jump on any opportunities to join focus groups. Often, survey sites recruit for these groups, which usually pay quite well. Pay for focus group participation ranges from $50 to $200 per hour for your time.

Some groups involve online chats or video calls. You may have to be online at a particular time to participate. Participating in focus groups can increase your chances of getting asked to do more.

Failing to complete the task or show up on time will do just the opposite. Research panels and online focus groups have become more popular over the last few years. Some of this work is done in in-person groups, but much of the work is now online.

11. Use Referral Opportunities

An easy online survey strategy for increasing your money-making opportunities is to “refer a friend”. You receive a commission and a percentage of the income that your friends make from a survey platform.

Be selective if you choose to do this. You don’t want to refer someone to a site you don’t believe in. If you have a favorite site for the highest paying surveys, it makes sense to share that information with your friends.

If they are willing to invest the time, they may benefit from it, too.

12. Research the Survey Marketplace

Paid survey opportunities are continuously evolving. Sites that were lucrative can lose their luster, and vice versa. In the survey world, there are lots of mergers, rebrands, and acquisitions taking place. These companies change and adapt to new technology over time.

It’s wise to watch for these changes, read reviews, and do your research before you sign up with any paid survey company. This includes giving sites that you weren’t impressed with another look from time to time.

These companies are in competition for your interest. They often make changes and improvements that can help offer their members better opportunities to maximize survey earnings.

Other alternatives to taking online surveys include testing products, apps, and websites. Companies want your input to help improve their products, make customers happy, and increase their bottom line.

The Many Benefits of Paid Online Surveys

Today’s tough economy is making it hard for many people to make ends meet. It’s not surprising that they are looking to add a side gig to make a little extra cash.

Although paid online surveys won’t make you rich, they can offer an opportunity to make a little money without a lot of effort on your part. At ProductReviewJobs, you can make money by testing products and providing honest feedback.

This work helps companies make better products and increase customer satisfaction around the globe.

Contact us today to learn more about how product testing can benefit you.