I’m sure quite a lot of folks, when first looking into online income, have their doubts about the amount of time spent versus the financial results.  While it’s been said that you’ll never quit your day job…the idea that online surveys are only for stay-at-home moms, retirees, students, or anyone else that only has a minimum of hours already demanded of them…is just plain false.

I’m a full-time employee and run my own part-time business as well.  But in the meantime, I’ve found that I can spend just a few hours a week in my downtime on surveys and other sources of online income, and still bring in a worthwhile paycheck in the process.

I had a coach tell me once, “if it’s no longer fun, than don’t do it.”  Might sound counterproductive to working hard, but the premise behind the sentiment is that you’re not going to do your best if you’re not enjoying it.  I’d say the key to online surveys is to treat it like a hobby, and not like a part-time job.  While it’s true that for many (including myself several months ago when I was out of work) that online income can be a viable part-time job, the most important aspect is to optimize your time to get the most bang for your buck.

Tip #1 – Find your niche.

Sites like GetPaidSurveys.com have done a lot of the heavy research for you and provided a great list of the most respectable online survey panels available.  At the same time, though, I think many would agree with me that some panels tend to work better for specific demographics.  As an individual, I spent a good amount of time with all of them (I would say at least 6 months) to test the waters, but don’t be afraid to drop (or de-prioritize) the ones that aren’t offering enough qualifying surveys for you.  I have a list of survey sites that usually offer me the best pay and/or the best ratio of completions, so I start with those first, and then only attempt the rest after I’ve gotten through those best companies.  Your list is going to be different depending on your age, your race, your gender, whether you own a home or have kids, etc. – so don’t be afraid to experiment and try them all, and then pare down your list as you see fit.

Tip #2 – Small and steady rewards do add up.

I find there are some days or weeks when I’m just swamped with ‘real life’ and can’t even think about taking a survey.  Don’t sweat it!  You don’t need to attempt every single survey you receive (though, of course, some panels tend to send you more invites if you have a good survey history).  However, don’t overlook the simple and quick daily point earners, either!  I’ve developed a routine where I’ll check my survey email account before I even get out of bed in the morning – this is when I usually do my quick point earners – I’ll vote on the Toluna quick polls, do any daily sweepstakes or contest entries that various sites may be offering at the time (for instance, the SurveySpot sport-related contests, or the MyPoints daily spins), and the “get paid to” click emails from various other sites (if that’s your thing).  I find that even those weeks when I’m too busy to take a single survey, I can still earn a few bucks in the background by just doing these quick point earners.

Tip #3 – Double dip.

I think it’s safe to say most of us have at least some downtime at work, where we’re sitting in the office and waiting for the next project.  Instead of aimlessly browsing the internet, chatting on Facebook,  or playing games – why not make some more money?  There have been days when I’ve made a serious chunk of spare change while ‘on the clock’ – so if you’re like me and have periods of inactivity in the office, use the time wisely!  There’s a certain satisfaction knowing you made enough extra money on online surveys that afternoon to pay for happy hour that night!

Do you have other tips and tricks to making money on online surveys while juggling your career, your family, and your free time?  We’d love to hear them!

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