| One may wonder how did online surveys and focus | | | | Tip number two: Are they international? - This is |
| groups came about as a home based income | | | | especially important to international customers (outside |
| opportunity? Well big companies need regular | | | | the US). Does the site offer sufficient activity for |
| consumers to test their products, fill out surveys about | | | | people who are not Americans? If it doesn't, that you |
| their needs and preferences, participate in focus | | | | should look for another one (if you are from outside |
| groups, watch their TV commercials, etc. These | | | | the US). |
| companies are willing to pay or give special gifts for | | | | Tip number three: Are they updated frequently? Try to |
| ordinary people who are willing to take part in these | | | | find out if the database for members of the site is |
| activities. So, there is a mutual benefit situation, and | | | | being frequently updated with new offers. This is very |
| people can participate in these activities and make a | | | | important, as you don't want to end up with access to |
| nice additional income from home. | | | | a "dead" data base. |
| You might ask - "how do I find these companies and | | | | Tip number four: Do they have a good customer |
| the deals they offer". And you are right - it is not easy | | | | care? Drop them an email and see how much time it |
| to find these companies, sign up to their deals, and | | | | takes them to answer a simple enquiry. Do they |
| hope they pay for your time. This is where online | | | | answer the question you asked them? (Amazingly |
| survey sites come in. | | | | enough, some customer care reps. simply ignore the |
| Online survey sites, also known as online survey cash | | | | question you asked and answer whatever they feel |
| sites, offer you a periodically updated data base that | | | | like). |
| contains the best survey and focus group offers form | | | | Tip number five: Do they offer a guarantee? This one |
| reliable companies. The access for the data base | | | | is important. Make sure you can check out the |
| costs only a one time fee, and from then on you can | | | | members area, and request a refund if the site does |
| access the data base an unlimited amount of times, | | | | not answer your highest expectations. This way you |
| and fish for the latest offers. You than go and take | | | | will be completely safe from investing in the wrong |
| part with the offers you chose (fill out a survey, watch | | | | survey site. |
| a video...whatever the offer is). The company that | | | | Tip number six: Is there a monthly fee? Most survey |
| handles the survey sends you a check. It's really that | | | | sites request only a one time modest fee of about |
| easy. | | | | $30-$40, for lifetime access. Make sure you are not |
| Now, of course you need to find the right online survey | | | | billed monthly for using the site (unless you found a |
| site to join. There are quite a few parameters you can | | | | survey site that is something special, worth a monthly |
| look into when choosing a good online survey site. | | | | fee) |
| Let's take a look at a few tips for doing that: | | | | Tip number seven: Will they be here tomorrow? This |
| Tip number one: Do they offer a verity of activities? - | | | | one is the hardest. Will this survey site survive to the |
| some sites only list offers that are of one nature, say, | | | | long term? Some of these sites are being shut down |
| online surveys. While there is nothing wrong with online | | | | because they don't have enough members. So, make |
| surveys, you will probably want a verity of activities | | | | sure your site is popular and has lots of happy |
| such as focus groups, commercial watching, product | | | | members. This will indicate that the site owners are |
| tryouts etc. So, you should look for a site that lists all | | | | more likely to be here tomorrow. |
| these activities. | | | | |