FAQ - Questions answered on online surveys.
Where to start, what to do and how much you can expect to earn.
Survey scams advice, how to spot genuine companies and market research help
from the market research business insider.
Q: Should I pay anything to join a survey panel?
Q: How to recognise genuine survey panels and avoid scams?
Q: Which and how many panels should I join?
Q: Why am I not getting any surveys?
Q: Why are there no more panels in my country?
Q: What are online surveys?
Online surveys are a great way for companies to find out what consumers think about them. Big and small brand-names will ask you a number of questions about an existing service or a product. A lot of time, you will be asked about your opinions on an idea for an upcoming product, service or concept. Companies get insight, you get to have your say and a lot of time - you get rewarded.
Q: Should I pay anything to join a survey panel?
No. Never. Never, ever pay to join a survey panel or to get access to a list of market research companies. This service is, and will remain free, on SurveySam.com.
Q: How to recognise genuine survey panels and avoid scams?
Here are some tips on how to recognise genuine market research panels. A genuine market research panel:
-Will have a "contact us" page
-Will have "privacy" and "terms and conditions" sections
-Will NOT ask you for your credit card details
-Will NOT ask you to sign-up for or complete "offers"
Check our SCAM and FRAUD page for survey companies to avoid »
Q: Where do I start?
We know that it can be overwhelming with such a big number of survey panels on the internet today. So, to make things easier for you, we have divided our website in different sections, according to the country or the part of the world you are in. If you are in the USA, simply click on the USA flag and you will be taken to the section of our website that lists online survey panels that are in need of USA participants. The most active and reliable panels are listed on top.
Q: Which and how many panels should I join?
This is entirely up to you! The great thing about online market research is that it gives YOU the power. You get to decide how much time and effort you want to spend on doing surveys. Some people like to do it for fun, while some like to get extra cash. We suggest you join the panels that appeal to you most. If you are a mum, you may be interested in Mums' panels. Or, if you are a doctor or a nurse, or an IT professional - there are specialist online survey panels for you, too.
From experience, we have seen that it's best to join at least 5-10 survey panels for an average user. As all panels are different, they require various demographic profiles to suit their market research requirements. If you join 5-10 survey panels, you'll always have a survey to take, if you wish.
Q: How much can I earn?
This varies greatly. It depends on the survey panel you have joined. Some panels will award you cash for every survey taken. Others will give you points that can be converted to cash, gifts or vouchers. There are also panels that will enter you in their prize draws if you take a survey. If your survey panel awards cash incentives, you would usually get $1-$5 for a shorter survey. Specialist panels usually award more. You may also be specially selected and invited to take part in product testing or online focus groups. Incentives for these are much higher and range from $50 - $150.
Q: How do I get paid?
This is usually done by PayPal, cheque or gift vouchers. Some survey panels will do bank or wire transfers. Please check with your survey panel for more information.
Q: Why am I not getting any surveys?
Please note that sometimes, it may take a while before you start getting surveys. Let's say that you are a 35 year-old single mixed-race mother of 2, living in Omaha. You will have to wait until the survey company has been contracted by a client that wants to hear from single mothers that have 2, but not 1 or 3 kids, and that live in Omaha and are mixed-race. Some surveys can be very specific, while others are for general population. It's all about the magical word in the world of market research and online surveys - DEMOGRAPHICS.
It is VERY important that, once you have joined a survey panel, you fill in all their profiling and demographic questionnaires. If you have done this, then they can match your profile to what their client needs and send you appropriate surveys. You will also be letting the survey company know that you are a serious and reliable survey-taker by providing them with your full demographic profile.
Q: Why are there no more panels in my country?
We are aware there are not enough surveys available to members outside the main market research markets - USA, Canada and the UK. Unfortunately, it's the survey companies themselves that decide which countries they want to concentrate their research to. As more surveys become available for your country, we will post them on our website and in our free Newsletter.
Any other questions - contact us here »
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