I think there are many factors that make a survey site ideal. I have outlined several things that I look for in a paid survey panel and included examples of online survey sites that embody these qualities. I am certain that I have left a few things out, so feel free to add your comments and your favorite survey sites that you feel belong under these 19 categories.

• Frequent paid surveys: GlobalTestMarket – IPSOS I-SAY – OnlyCashSurveys – Opinion Outpost – Surveyhead – SurveySpot – Toluna Valued Opinions

• Fair compensation for the amount of time spent ($1-$10 for 10 to 45 minutes): American Consumer Opinion – GlobalTestMarket – HCD Research – Opinion Outpost – Pinecone Research – Socratic Forum – SurveySpot – Valued Opinions

• Screeners that insure that you qualify for most of the surveys received (80-90%): GlobalTestMarket – HCD Research – OnlyCashSurveys – Pinecone Research – Socratic Forum – Surveyhead – Valued Opinions

• Cash instead of points system: American Consumer Opinion – Mindfield Online – Pinecone Research – Socratic Forum – Surveyhead – Survey Savvy – Valued Opinions

• Offers Invoke Interactives for higher incentives: ($10-$150 for 45-120 minutes) 20/20 Research – American Consumer Opinion – SurveySpot

• Offers product testing: 20/20 Research – American Consumer Opinion – Global Opinion Panel/Synovate – IPSOS I-SAY – Mindfield – MySurvey – Pinecone Research – SurveySpot – Toluna – Valued Opinions

• Instant or quick confirmation of incentives: GlobalTestMarket – HCD Research – Socratic Forum – Toluna

• Surveys that disqualify you quickly: GlobalTestMarket – Opinion Outpost – Surveyhead – SurveySpot

• Low Cash-out Threshold ($1 to $10): Epoll – HCD Research – IPSOS I-SAY – Mindfield Online – MySurvey – Opinion Outpost – Socratic Forum – SurveySavvy – SurveySpot

• Pays via PayPal in a timely manner (3-4 days): Epoll – Pinecone – Surveyhead – SurveySpot

• Good customer service by email, phone and snail mail: American Consumer Opinion – GlobalTestMarket – Opinion Outpost – SurveySpot – Valued Opinions

• Surveys that don’t ask repetitive questions or too many specific product traits: HCD Research – Socratic Forum

• Well-organized easy-to-navigate website with payment and survey history: GlobalTestMarket – HCD Research – Mindfield Online – MySurvey – OnlyCashSurveys – Socratic Forum – Surveyhead – Valued Opinions

• Forum to air complaints with dedicated customer service representative: None really

• No sweepstakes, advertisements, spam or trial offers: GlobalTestMarket – HCD Research – Opinion Outpost – Socratic Forum – Surveyhead – Survey Savvy – Valued Opinions

• Few or no survey glitches: GlobalTestMarket – HCD Research – Opinion Outpost – Socratic Forum – Surveyhead – SurveySpot – Toluna

• Surveys that have progress-tracking-bars (varies widely)

• Surveys that have Next and Previous buttons so you can go back (varies widely)

• Surveys that have answer-bars instead of small circles for your answers (varies widely)

So that is my idea of the perfect ingredients for a great survey panel! Share your thoughts below!

Product tests are another lucrative form of paid online surveys that not only pay you for using a product, but allow you to keep the extra product after the testing is over. Some of the items that are commonly sent for product tests are toilet paper, paper towels, frozen foods, cereal, breakfast bars, mixed nuts, powdered beverages, laundry detergent, laundry softener, dishwashing detergent, toothpaste, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, body wash and disposable/battery-operated razors. Most product tests pay you between $5 and $30, but some pay much more. Some of the more unusual product tests that I have seen include a $700 captioning phone for the deaf, which paid $30 and allowed me to keep the phone and $150 mystery shopping product test that required me to enter a cell phone store and pretend to be interested in buying a phone and phone service.

In most cases, the company will send you two different products, each labeled with a specific code, and ask you to test the first product first before trying the second. It is extremely important that you not only write down the code/s or not throw away the box, package or container that has the code written somewhere on it, but that you also not confuse the two products. After testing the first product for a week or so, you can put that one away for later use and move onto the second product. Usually, I have lots of both products left over after testing, especially lotions, shampoos and conditioners.

Companies are looking for an in-depth, honest, objective opinion concerning their products and the more attention you put into observing, analyzing and comparing the two products, the better they like it and the more likely you are to receive additional product tests from that company, Vague, obvious and indifferent opinions are not as useful. Some of the best survey sites for product tests are: MySurvey, Toluna, SurveySpot, IPSOS I-SAY, Valued Opinions, Pinecone Research, Mindfield Online, Global Opinion Panel/Synovate and 20/20 Research. My singular mystery shopping experience came through ShopTalk and I have yet to earn another dollar with them since November of last year. One last hint: if a survey appears to be a rather short one and asks about food allergies, then it’s a safe bet that it will be a product test.

Invoke Interactive surveys are a very important part of taking paid surveys online because they are usually the highest paid form of survey you will encounter. Invoke Solutions is one of the companies that allow for live, real-time chat where multiple persons are shown pictures of products, asked questions and everyone gives their answers simultaneously over the course of 60 minutes up to a couple hours. It is similar to being in a chat room only you get paid from $10 up to $200, with the average incentive being $35. A typical Invoke Interactive survey email invitation will look like this:

Dear LapisLee,

Thank you for agreeing to participate in our online interactive survey. This survey will be hosted by our research partner for this project, Invoke Solutions. In order to participate in the survey, you will need to follow the instructions below. SPACES ARE LIMITED! Please remember that by logging in early or on time and completing the entire survey, you will be entitled to a $20 incentive.

ONLINE INTERACTIVE SURVEY DETAILS

Your session is scheduled for Thursday July 17th 2008, at 5:00 pm EST/ 4:00 pm CST/ 3:00 pm MST/ 2:00 pm PST. Duration: Approximately 75 minutes.

The single most important thing is to click on the email invitation and complete the screener IMMEDIATELY because these high-paying surveys DO fill up within a matter of minutes. The second most important thing is, after having received the email above, or something similar, make certain that you log in to the survey site at least 30 minutes early because they do qualify more persons than they have available spots and the first ones logged in will get those spots.

Once you have qualified and logged-in, the Moderator will explain the rules of that particular session and ask everyone to give their name, where they are from and something they enjoy doing. This is just to test that everyone is properly set up for the session. Sometimes there will be a webcam and microphone involved which can make for technical problems.

Once you have been shown the product, the Moderator will ask you questions, some of which will be multiple-choice, but others will be open-ended, meaning you have to type your thoughts, feelings, impressions, etc. I always try to give the best possible information concerning the product, something unique that I like or dislike about it. The Moderator may ask for you to elaborate further on your opinions, either publicly or privately. Try to stay on topic as I have been dismissed for making comments unrelated to the topic on hand, such as political comments when the topic is healthcare.

You must complete approximately 65% or more of the questions to qualify for the incentive. This figure may vary depending on the survey company. I have encountered Invoke Interactives from SurveySpot, Toluna, IPSOS I-SAY, HCD, SurveySavvy, USA Talk Now, Datatelligence, 20/20 Research and Opinion Place. Invoke Interactives are so lucrative that a single incentive of $100 or $200 can make a survey company shoot up to #1 in your survey list overnight, which is why you must always be on the look-out for them in your inbox!

Here is a short guide to the point values of various survey sites that I like. While most people prefer survey sites that give you a dollar value for their surveys, such as Surveyhead, Valued Opinions, Pinecone Research, Survey Savvy, Socratic Forum, Mindfield Online, ACOP, Clear Voice, Brand Institute and others, the sad reality is that many survey sites are now moving towards a points system.

One example of this would be SurveySpot; however, SurveySpot employs a straightforward exchange rate of one point equals one penny and many others have much more inflated point values, as the table below illustrates. Datatelligence, Directive Analytics and HCD also value points at one cent each. Other point systems that are easy for me to remember include; Global Test Market, where points equal 5 cents each, and Opinion Outpost, where points equal 10 cents each.

The least valuable points of all belong to MyView ($0.000714) and Toluna, whose system values points at ($0.000333 each (about 1/30 of a cent!) which many people dislike. The most important thing to remember is that not all points are created equal. Make certain you know precisely how much a survey is worth in dollar terms before you waste an entire afternoon discussing why you love your wireless phone company so much for 1200 points on Toluna (40 cents) or 350 points on MyView (30 cents).

Buzz Sponge 4000 points = $10 Amazon gift card ($0.0025 each)
Daily Survey Panel 200 points = $1 PayPal ($0.005 each)
Datatelligence 1000 points = $10 Amazon gift card (1 cent each)
Directive Analytics 100 DirectPoints = $1 (1 cent each)
Epoll 3500 points = $5 PayPal ($0.00143 each)
Global Opinion Panel 5000 points = $5 PayPal ($0.001 each)
Global Test Market 1000 Market points = $50 check (5 cents each)
HCD 1000 points = $10 check (1 cent each)
MySurvey.com 1100 Reward points = $10 check ($0.091 each)
MyView 35000 points = $25 pre-paid VISA debit card ($0.000714 each)
Opinion Outpost 200 Opinion points = $20 check (10 cents each)
Survey Exchange 4500 points = $5 Reward Choice gift cards ($0.00111 each)
SurveySpot 1000 points = $10 PayPal (1 cent each)
Toluna 60000 points = $20 ($0.000333 each)
USA Talk Now 100 UTN points = $10 PayPal = ($0.01 each)
Viewpoint 375 points = $10 check ($0.0267 each)

Here is a listing of point values from least valuable to most valuable:

MyView ($0.000714 each)
Toluna 60000 = ($0.000333 each)
Global Opinion Panel ($0.001 each)
Survey Exchange ($0.00111 each)
Epoll ($0.00143 each)
Buzz Sponge ($0.0025 each)
MySurvey.com ($0.091 each)
USA Talk Now ($0.01 each)
Datatelligence (1 cent each)
Directive Analytics (1 cent each)
SurveySpot (1 cent each)
HCD (1 cent each)
Viewpoint ($0.0267 each)
Daily Survey Panel (5 cents each)
Global Test Market (5 cents each)
OpinionOutpost (10 cents each)

Taking paid surveys is a great way to earn some extra cash while studying at college. I’ve been taking surveys for a few years now while doing my studies and that extra cash really comes in handy to help pay for expensive textbooks and other school supplies. It’s also great to having some extra spending cash for other things like entertainment and food. If you’re a member of several good-paying survey panels, it all really adds up.

However, sometimes it can be a challenge to juggle both your studies and survey-taking. Having done this for a few years now, I’ve learned some important tips and techniques along the way and thought I would share those with you. Many of these tips can apply to anyone just starting out taking surveys, not just college students, but they are especially relevant to students who are trying to balance their time between studies and surveys.

Tip #1 – Create a “surveys-only” e-mail address.

First and foremost, to be more organized and prevent any confusion, I HIGHLY recommend creating a separate e-mail address for only survey-related e-mails. This should be done before signing up with any panels because you want to use only that e-mail address for those survey companies. I would recommend using a free e-mail service such as Gmail or Yahoo for this. I use Gmail and have not had any issues.  For myself, I have four separate e-mail accounts (personal, college, surveys, and junk). It really helps to keep you organized.

Tip #2 – Sign up with as many survey panels as possible.

To get the most out of the survey-taking experience and to find out which panels work best for you, sign up with as many survey panels as you can when you first start out, especially the most popular ones. It can be overwhelming at first, but it gives you the best results. Check out the many survey panel reviews on GetPaidSurveys.com. They only list the legitimate survey panels on their website, so you know you won’t be in danger of getting scammed (there are many survey websites out there that are not safe and some that even require you to pay them to use their services, so you have to be careful when searching for survey panels to join through regular search engines). Also check out the top 10 lists on their blog to see which survey panels work best for people. The survey reviews and many blog articles are extremely helpful, especially when you’re first starting out.

Some survey panels may send out several survey invites a week, while others only send out a few a month or even less. It really depends on your demographic and what you qualify for. You can always drop out of the panels that don’t seem profitable for you. The important point to remember is to find the ones that work best for you and focus on those in the end.

Some top panels I recommend starting out with: Opinion Outpost, Global Test Market, Toluna, and MyView.

Tip #3 – Always fill out your profile surveys and remember to update them.

Filling out profile surveys can be very time-consuming depending on the survey panel, but it’s well worth it to do so. It’s best to do it right after signing up with a survey panel to get it out of the way. Filling out profiles increases the amount of surveys you will receive because the panel will know more about you. Also, remember to update your profiles at least once a year, especially if anything important changes in regards to your household or what school you are attending. I try to update my profiles every six months or so.

Tip #4 – Check your e-mail frequently, if you can.

With surveys, it’s always best to check your e-mail account as often as possible so you don’t miss any important opportunities. This can be difficult to do with a busy lifestyle and especially when you’re in college. My strategy is to check my e-mail whenever I get a break during the day. If I spot a high-paying survey, I’ll take it if I have time. If not, I’ll wait until later in the evening and hope the quota isn’t full. Some surveys fill up faster than others, especially if they pay a good deal. I find this to be especially true of survey panels like Opinion Outpost, Mindfield, and Toluna. I usually have several breaks during the day (especially during computer lab, since I’m a design major), so I check my e-mail often when I have the time.

Tip #5 – Set aside a time during each day to concentrate on taking surveys.

To better organize your time, set up a time during the day that is convenient for you and free of distractions to focus on taking surveys, especially if you usually can’t do surveys throughout the day. An hour or two should be sufficient depending on how long you’re willing to put into it. Since I’m in class the majority of the afternoon, I set aside a few hours in the evening to focus on surveys. I also sometimes take surveys during my breaks during the day, especially if I know the quota will be more than likely full by the evening when I get home or if the survey pays more than others.

Tip #6 – Keep your browser bookmarks organized and use tabs for quick access.

I keep a folder labeled “Surveys” in my bookmarks for Firefox and Internet Explorer. I put a bookmark for every company I take surveys from. I list the companies I use the most at the top of the list to make things easier for me. I also keep shortcuts to my most-used survey panels on the top of my browsers for easier access. I like to multitask a lot, so I use tabs to access several surveys at once in Internet Explorer. I have Internet Explorer configured so that it loads multiple “homepages,” which are the survey websites I use most like Toluna and SurveySpot. It just makes things easier and faster for me when I want to quickly access survey websites to find surveys.

Tip #7 – Always try to take surveys in Internet Explorer.

I’ve had more problems using Firefox and Safari for surveys, so I always make it a habit to use Internet Explorer. I rarely have problems using this browser for surveys. I honestly prefer Firefox for everything else, but for surveys, I always use Internet Explorer because it is the most highly-used browser and videos tend to load a lot better in it for me. I tend to have issues with loading survey videos in Firefox and Safari. Unfortunately, at my college, we mostly use Macs, so using Internet Explorer isn’t always an option, in which case I use Firefox and hope for the best.

Tip #8 – Keep records of surveys, especially high-paying ones.

I keep records of most surveys I take in a Word document. Since I take so many, I don’t keep a record of every single survey I take (I don’t really have the time to record each one), but I do record the ones that pay the most money in case I’m never paid.

Tip #9 – Keep a record of cash-outs.

I always keep a Word document of all my cash-outs with survey panels. I try to keep it simple and just list the survey company, what I cashed out for, and the date of the cash-out. I keep my screen shots of the cash-out in a separate folder, too. This goes a long way in keeping organized and is especially helpful in monitoring how long it takes for a survey company to pay me.

Tip #10 – Take screen shots to use as evidence in case you don’t get paid.

I always take screen shots if I encounter an error on a survey I’ve spent a long time on so I have evidence to help me get credited for it. I also take screen shots of my cash-outs, just in case I never get paid. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Tip #11 – Have a separate folder for survey-related papers sent by mail.

I keep a folder with the label “Surveys” on it in my room to store survey papers I get through the mail. Most of these relate to product tests I’ve received, but I also sometimes get mailed surveys (mainly through MySurvey). It really helps to stay organized and keep my survey papers and college papers separate from each other.

Tip #12 – Keep an eye out for Invokes and focus groups.

Invokes (interactive online focus groups) are typically found by searching surveys on popular survey sites such as Toluna and SurveySpot. They do not appear frequently and are therefore hard to come across. However, these are worth much more money than typical surveys and usually pay $20-40 for an hour or two of your time. Look for surveys that have “sweepstakes only” in the incentive field or that are really short and only offer a few points or cents. That is sometimes a clue. Sometimes you get lucky and it’s a short survey to see if you qualify for an Invoke. Invokes are scheduled for a specific date and time, so make sure you have time to participate. I usually get invited to at least one a month.
You can also try to qualify for focus groups that may be offered in your area. There are a lot of companies that specialize in conducting focus groups, some in person and some online (discussion forums are especially popular nowadays). However, it can be discouraging because qualifying can be very hard and quotas fill up fast. I’ve only qualified for a few in the few years I’ve been taking surveys. It’s definitely worth trying for, though, since these focus groups can pay anywhere from $50-300 or even more in some cases. Some target college students specifically, especially ones having to do with electronics and entertainment, I’ve noticed.

Tip #13 – Keep a look out for product tests.

I love product tests. It’s one of my favorite parts of doing surveys and really helps to save money as a college student because I don’t have to go to the store so often to pick up more shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, or other household items if I like what I’ve been sent to try. For product tests, I definitely recommend signing up with Synovate (I get the most product tests from them) and keeping an eye out for product test surveys on Opinion Outpost, SurveySpot, and Mindfield. It’s hard to know exactly when a survey will lead to a product test, but the more surveys you take, the more likely you’ll come across them.

Tip #14 – Check university websites for surveys.

For more academically-oriented surveys, I frequently check university websites for studies. Many are related to psychology or business. My favorite websites for this are the eLab at the Yale School of Management and the Stanford University Psych Paid Experiments website (there are a few online studies, but most are in person at Stanford). The downside is that many of these studies are prize-drawing only; not many pay you directly. Their prize drawings usually include an Amazon.com gift card of $10 or more, and the likelihood of winning the drawing depends on how many people they have participate in the study (usually 10 to 50 people, but sometimes more). I’ve won several drawings from the Yale eLab over the course of a year since signing up, and I usually take a few of their studies each week if I have some extra time. The studies are also pretty fun and interesting, so I really recommend trying them out if you have the chance.

If you’re a student (or even if you’re not) and have any other tips on taking surveys and managing your time, let me know! I’m curious to hear what works best for people and makes your survey-taking experience less stressful and more productive.

Of course it is always important to take the time and due diligence to answers online surveys correctly, however there are ways to use your computer to help organize and speed up some of the repetitive processes involved. Here are a few tips on how to make your computer do a lot of the work for you!

Tip #1 – Utilize your browser auto-complete function.
There’s nothing quite as annoying as having to re-enter your personal information over and over and over again on both profiles and studies – this can admittedly be a huge chunk of your time spent on online surveys!  Fortunately, many browsers are equipped with basic auto-complete functions.  So you may find you’re able to zip through registrations and screener questions by only typing in the first letter of your name, or the first number of your address, etc.  At once, your previously entered information should appear in a drop down box for you to select.  (Tip: hit the ‘tab’ key instead of grabbing your mouse each time, so that you’re not having to move back and forth from your keyboard to your mouse.) If you haven’t enabled this function on your browser, it’s worth the time to take a few minutes to find it in your browser’s settings and turn it on.  A simple Google search of your current browser should provide quick step-by-step directions to help.

Tip #2 – Make a separate email account.
This is probably my biggest single suggestion to those starting out in the online survey world.  It’s been mentioned before that those who are interested in spending a decent amount of time on online surveys probably want to sign up for 10-20 or so strong panels  in order to maximize their earnings.  Considering that you could receive half a dozen surveys from each panel per week (or even per day in some cases), most people have found that’s it’s much simpler to keep survey invites in a separate account.

Tip #3 – Use the functions of your email account  to mange your surveys.
Speaking of email, I’d suggest using an account that allows for a lot of customization in how it allows its users to sort their mail.  In my survey world, I’m a huge fan of Gmail – it’s free, allots a huge amount of storage space to each user, and has several different options for sorting and labeling my inbox that helps keep things manageable.  I’ve programmed my email account to do several different things to my incoming mail that keeps things sorted before I even log-in!  Here’s a glimpse into how I sort my incoming survey invitations to give you some ideas:

• Create folders (or ‘Labels’, in Gmail) for each survey panel. I don’t know about you, but after doing surveys for a year, I’m a little more partial to some companies than others.  By sorting my inbox into these categories, I can instantly view all of my invites from a certain panel.  This also helps with tracking the data I use to judge how useful a company has been for me; for example, if I click on my ‘ACOP’ tab right now, I can see that I’ve received 34 invites from the company since I joined.  I’ve also created a secondary label that indicates that I’ve completed a survey (in my case, I’ve made a tab called ‘*’), so now I can see immediately that I’ve completed 12 of those 34 invites.
• Filter incoming messages from each panel.  Once you’ve created your labels for each panel, you can teach your email account to automatically filter certain email addresses to certain folders or labels (as opposed to adding them manually each time you log in).  In Gmail, click on the email you want to set up a filter for, and select the ‘More Actions’ tab.  Choose ‘Filter messages like these’ and follow the instructions on the screen.  Once you’re done, all future emails from that address will automatically go into the Label you’ve created!
• Create a way to tag surveys you’ve completed. In my case, as I’ve mentioned above, I’ve created an additional label that indicates to me that I have successfully completed a survey.  I also use the ‘star’ function (the little clear or yellow star next to each message in your inbox) to indicate whether or not those surveys have been credited.  In my case, yellow stars are pending; clear are received.  I can then click on my ‘Starred’ tab to see what rewards are still pending – with a quick glance, I can see which ones have been waiting too long to be credited, and then follow through with customer service at those panels to track my rewards.

Tip #4 – Keep a record of your earnings.
Not only is it nice to see just how much you’ve earned taking surveys, but by keeping good records about your survey completions, you have a better chance of winning your points back on disputed claims.  There are a variety of ways I use to track my survey rewards, depending on the panel.

• Email. As mentioned above, I track most of my survey completions through my email account.  My inbox is essentially a huge database of invites, completions, and pending rewards.
• Spreadsheets. While email is my preferred method, there are some panels that are more interactive through your panelist dashboard that through email invites.  Panels like Toluna and Surveyhead particularly stick out to me.  So for example, with Toluna, I write down the survey ID number and reward offered for each survey I attempt through the website.  If I complete it, I also write down the day and time completed.  I then periodically compare that list to the list of completed surveys on Toluna’s website.  If I find a discrepancy, I can then email customer service and find out when I can expect to receive my points.
  I also use a spreadsheet to track my overall earnings.  I list the site, the date I’ve requested payment, the amount of the reward, the type of reward (PayPal, cash, gift card, etc.), and then the date I receive payment.  This also gives me a quick way to check if any given payment might be overdue.
• Screenshots. As you’re probably aware, there are occasionally times where you’ll complete a survey, but then it fails to show up in your account.  I’ve had this happen a few times myself, so I’ve started to take screen captures of the final survey screen (the one that says something along the lines of ‘Thanks, you’re just one step away from submitting your answers!’) as proof that I’ve completed a survey.  I still only do this on the higher-paying survey invites – because that would be a lot of screen captures to save otherwise – but I have already had one instance where I was able to submit a screen capture of a completed survey and receive partial credit for a survey that for some reason didn’t register as completed.  There are free programs that will take screen captures for you, but if you’re using any version of Windows, you can do these easy steps:  Hit the ‘Ctrl’, ‘Alt’, ‘Prt Sc’ buttons on your keyboard; then go to the Start menu and go to Programs, and then Accessories.  Click on Paint.  Once the program opens, hit ‘Ctrl’ and ‘V’.  The image of your screen should have pasted as a new graphic in the program.  The save the image to the document or pictures folder of your choice!  Screen capture saved!  And if you’re using Windows 7, you can also take advantage of the new Snipping Tool to take a screen shot.

Tip #5 – Bookmarks.
Finally, the old saying ‘out of sight, out of mind.’ applies to surveys, too.  As I mentioned above, there are some survey panels that are based more on online interactions on the panel’s site rather than through email invites.  So take advantage of your browser’s bookmark function to keep a handy list of the panels that you’d like to check often.  My list includes places like Toluna, Surveyhead, and MyView.  You have several options – some may just want to create a separate folder in the bookmark sidebar along with the rest of their favorite sites, others may want to include them in the bookmark tool bar on top of the browser for an even better ‘in your face’ reminder (that’s where mine are!).  Either way, this is a great reminder to log in to these sites during the day and maximize your point earning opportunities.

Do you have any other technology-savvy tricks to help you with your surveys?  Tell us about them here!

I hope this posting finds all of you doing well.  Today I’m going to provide my thoughts and personal experiences as they relate to the positive offerings of survey panel membership.

Folks join survey panels for various reasons.  They may join in order to fill an otherwise uneventful hour or two in their daily routine.  They may join in order to render input in shaping the products of tomorrow or to make a contribution to their favorite charity.   But for the most part the primary reason for getting involved is to earn a little extra cash.  If you’re a long-time survey taker you already know that there is money to be made.  If you’re a newcomer, or just now thinking of getting involved, I’m certain you’d like to know just what kind of money you could really earn.

You must first understand that survey taking will in no way make you wealthy regardless of what you may have read on the Internet.  No way!  And secondly, there is no reason why you should pay anyone for “hooking you up” with top paying survey panels.  Claims that you can consistently earn hundreds of dollars for 20 minutes of your time are simply not true!  So where do you turn to find the true facts?  The answer is no further away than where you are at this very moment.  My fellow bloggers, Lee, Stephanie and Laura have invested a great deal of time detailing their Top Ten Survey Panels along with dollars actually earned from each.  Therefore my advise to anyone thinking about getting involved would be to take a few minutes and read what these highly qualified folks have to say:

LapisLee’s Top Ten Survey Panels – $3,493.00 Current Total Earnings.

Stephanie’s Top Ten Survey Panels – $2,595.00 Current Total Earnings.

Laura’s Top Ten Survey Panels – $573.00 Current Total Earnings.

I wish to thank Lee, Stephanie and Laura for sharing this most valuable information as well as to tip my hat and say “job well done”!

NOTE:  I feel it understandable but still wish to point out the earnings listed above are relative to the amount of time each individual has been involved in survey taking.  The longer one is involved, the more surveys completed, hence the more she or he would have earned.

So now that you have a feel for the numbers involved, is survey taking for you?  Well, I guess it could be based solely on the fact that you’re on this site at this very moment.  But to be absolutely certain let me ask you a question requiring a simple “yes” or “no” answer to find out:

If you were walking down a quiet street and noticed a 5-dollar bill in your path, would you pick it up and keep it?

I have no way of knowing your answer and am merely guessing that you would more that likely look around and then pick that rascal up and stuff it into your pocket…and I would do the very same thing.  That’s exactly the way I’ve always looked at survey taking.  It’s money I would never have if I didn’t pick it up.  Am I getting rich…NO!  Am I’m earning money…YES!  So if you answered the question with a “yes” I’m positive survey taking is perfect for you.

There’s another part of survey taking that’s just as good as earning some extra cash.  And that’s the in home product tests that are offered by just about all survey panels.  I have literally tested everything “from Soup to nuts” with the vast majority being sprinkled with a little cash.  I’ve tested soup, juice, coffee makers, coffee, tea, shampoo, soap, body washes, underarm, toothpaste, laundry detergent, fabric softeners, dishwashing tablets, headache remedies, heartburn remedies, upset stomach remedies, cat food, dog food, toilet tissue, spot remover, lubricating sprays, batteries, frozen foods, and just this week…snack nuts.  And that my friends is just a partial listing.

So just how do I get involved?  What do these products cost? Do I get to keep the product(s)?  I don’t own a dog so how do I test dog food?  How do these in home product tests work?  And just what do you mean by “sprinkled with a little cash”?

Boy, you’ve got a lot of good questions and I’ll take a shot at giving you the answer to each and every single one.  Here goes:

How do I get involved? It’s quite simple.  All you need do to get started is register at the survey panels of your choice.  I would strongly suggest your selections be based on the Top Ten panel reviews provided by Lee, Stephanie and/or Laura.  Doing so will get you started on the right footing.

What do these products cost? Not a penny!  The manufacturer, through your survey panel provides these test products.  Each product is delivered directly to your home with all postage charges paid in full.

Do I get to keep the product(s)? Absolutely!  No matter what the value of the product it’s your to keep unless your are told up front that it must be returned in the postage paid packaging.  NOTE:  I have tested products with values over $100.00 and never once have been asked to return any.  Your chances of being asked to return any product are slim to none.

I don’t own a dog so how do I test dog food? Just eat it, it’s full of vitamins!  JUST KIDDING, but I certainly understand where you’re coming from.  It would be ridiculous to ask a 99-year-old to test a skateboard and even more so if the attempt was actually made.  So how does the survey panel know to send test items that are relevant to you?  The answer is quite simple.  When you join a panel you will be asked to fill out various individual “profiles”.  These profiles ask things like your gender, age, are you employed, what are your likes, dislikes, etc.  Most panels have several profiles available for your completion and some will even compensate you for your time.  These profiles provide the survey panel with information sufficient to determine what you like, therefore enabling them to send you relevant surveys and products for testing.

Though it’s not required completing any profile beyond your registration information, I would advise that you complete ‘em all.  The more profiles you complete the more survey opportunities and product tests you will qualify for.  And please rest assured your information is safe and will not be shared or sold to any third party………EVER!!!

How do these in home product tests work? After joining a survey panel, and completing your profiles, you will receive an email invitation to a given survey.  Open it, login and begin the qualifying questions in order for the survey panel to determine if the survey will be relevant to you.  If you qualify you will then provide your answer to each survey question.  Provided the survey is one offering an in home product test you will be asked if you would like to participate in the product test as you are nearing completion of the survey.  If you would like to participate simply supply the appropriate response.  You also may be asked to verify or provide your name and address for shipping purposes as well as being advised there will be a follow up survey sent to you after you have tested the product.

After receipt of the test product simply follow the directions for usage as well as the accompanying information detailing the test particulars.  Proceed with the testing for the specified period and keep your eyes opened for the follow-up survey, which you will receive via email after the testing period is over.  Access and complete the follow up survey and that’s all there is to it.

What do you mean by “Sprinkled with a Little Cash”? In the vast majority of cases you will be compensated for completing the original survey.  Further, and more than 50% of the time, you will also be paid to complete the follow-up survey.  So the bottom line is you get paid for completing the survey(s) and you get to keep the product.  And if you take a minute to think about it you’ll also save a little cash on your shopping bill, as the product you are testing is more than likely replacing a similar product you would have purchased anyway.  And it really doesn’t get any sweeter than that.

As previously stated, I have tested more products than you can shake a stick at, and each one has been top of the line insomuch as quality is concerned.  I also get a lot of personal satisfaction in knowing my opinion is shaping the products of the future and that I am among the very first to test drive something brand new.

If you would like to learn a little more about the way survey panels operate please take a moment to visit my October posting entitled:

What you should understand about survey panels

As always, I hope this posting will lend to a better understanding of yet another advantage of survey panel membership.  And if you are thinking about becoming part of our wonderful survey community don’t hesitate because you must jump in before you can cash in.  Good Luck and best wishes.

Before we get started I would like you to know a little about me.  I’m a businessman and engage in Survey taking just like you.  I have no allegiance to any Survey Panel nor am I receiving compensation from any Panel for this posting.  My years in the business world have taught me that it’s critically important to understand the risk/reward potential of any undertaking.  In order to make an informed decision one must understand the inner workings of any undertaking.  I seldom get involved in anything without a complete understanding and that philosophy has served me well throughout my survey taking history.  I began researching well prior to joining my first Panel and wish to offer you my findings in an attempt to save you time and quite a bit of unnecessary aggravation.  If you are a tenured Panel member perhaps this information will shed more light on the industry.  If you’re new to Survey taking or thinking about getting involved you may find this information quite valuable.

I began my research by reading literally hundreds of postings pertaining to just about every Survey Panel out there.  I found many to be positive but the vast majority were negative and somewhat repetitive in nature and can be summed up in the following ten categories:

1. I never receive any surveys from this company!
2. I don’t qualify for any surveys so this Panel is a waste of my time!
3. I spend valuable time taking a survey and suddenly am screened out!
4. The technical problems with this Panel are ridiculous!
5. Don’t bother contacting Customer Support, as they will not respond!
6. I have to wait forever to see a “Pending Survey” credited to my account!
7. The “Minimum Cash-out Threshold” is just too darn high!
8. It’s been weeks since cashing out and I have not received my money!
9. This Panel doesn’t pay, so stay away from them!
10. This Panel was a good one before they made all those changes!

I wish to make it perfectly clear, I consider every complaint to be valid and in no way will I attempt to convince you otherwise.  After all what kind of person would spend her or his time to create and have published a bogus posting?  So why are so many negative complaints?

Let’s pause a moment and put both blame and fault in perspective by using two common everyday events: You go to a restaurant and order a medium rare steak.  When served you find the steak to be well done and immediately begin to voice your dissatisfaction toward the server when in fact your beef (pun intended) should be with the chef.  Or how about this one: You go to a shop looking for a birthday gift for your boss.  You spot something very unusual and know it would be perfect but there is no price tag visible.  Since it’s apparently the only one left you pick it up, hunt down a clerk and ask the price.  The clerk gives you some outrageously high number and you go off on the spot, of course taking it out on the clerk.  While you are completely justified to verbalize your dissatisfaction, the blame was put on someone not at fault in the foregoing examples.

I feel further elaboration not necessary but do find it prudent to again state that one must understand the workings of any industry in order to flourish within that industry.  On the street this is called “learning the ropes”.

As an example, of learning the ropes, let’s take a look your favorite local automobile dealership and its customers: The dealer purchases vehicles from the manufacturer and displays them on their lot for sale.  The customer visits the lot to view, touch, smell, and drive the vehicle (and sometimes even kick a tire or two).  If the customer is in the market for a vehicle, and likes that “special deal”, he makes the purchase and the transaction is complete.  This is merely an example of a simple transaction that has become an everyday method in which we are accustomed to doing business across the board.  You go to the grocery store for a gallon of milk, find it, check the expiration date and then proceed to the check out counter to pay for it, and it’s over.  As we grew up we learned “how business is done” and continue to follow what we have learned every day of our lives.  These normal daily transactions are just as much a part of our makeup as skin and bones.  There’s nothing difficult and everyone knows and understands the drill.

Now let’s take a look at Survey Panels: These companies are a very unique business segment, as they must satisfy two very different customer bases at the same time.  And these customers hold them to higher standards, as both are extremely demanding.  Let’s examine these two customers a little closer:

The first customer is the firm that hires the Survey Panel to conduct the research.  The hiring firm tells the Survey Panel what they are looking for and what they are willing to pay for, thus the screening questions.  Some of these firms will pay the Survey Panel immediately upon receipt of the completed survey while others wish to review the received data prior to releasing the reward.  And my friends, that can take weeks if not months.  Since Survey Panels are no different than any other business when it comes to cash flow, you’re earned reward will more than likely be held up in the process.  And this is the sole facilitator of many negative reviews.  And it’s not the Survey Panels fault.

The second customer is you, the Panel Member.  You receive an invitation, launch the survey in good faith, and begin with the screening questions.  You may screen out immediately or be accepted only to find that you are screened out several minutes later.  You may even invest a fair amount of your time only to ultimately advance to a screen where you find those dreaded words indicating that a sufficient amount of input has been garnered from your demographic, hence you are screened out without earning a penny.  Also, and not that this happens often, you may complete a survey, in its entirety, to learn you have been disqualified at a later date.  And all of this is another driving force behind negative reviews.  Panel Members, who has invested valuable time, find the only available option to vent their frustration is to lash out by blaming their direct contact, the Survey Panel.

The Survey Panel finds itself in a daily “catch 22” scenario.  And while they do their best to satisfy both of their customers equally they often fall short of the Panel Members expectations through no fault of their own.  The firm hiring the Survey Panel is in control and the Panel is left to deal with the aftermath.  It’s just the nature of the beast, and to maintain sanity, something we must understand.

At the beginning of this posting I listed ten different groups that I feel the majority of negative reviews can be categorized under.  I’m going to briefly cover each, with my findings, in an attempt to allow you to draw your own conclusions:

I never get any Surveys from this company:

The only way a Panel can thrive is through the participation of its Panel Members.  With this in mind it would be counterproductive for any panel not to send survey invitations to any member.  No hiring firm will pay any Survey Panel for failing to reach the required number of completed surveys.  The quicker the Panel sends as many invitations as possible, the faster they will hit their target and be paid.  Some Panels email a great number of survey invitations every day while others may only send you one each month or two.  My common sense conclusion would be that they send what they have available and not that they “dislike” any given Panel Member for some unknown reason.  Also, I would advise you not wait for an email invitation but instead visit each of your Panels several times daily to see if a survey may be available.  Some Panels send out very few invitations while having Surveys available (SurveyHead and LightSpeed Panel).

I don’t qualify for any Surveys so this Panel is a waste of my time:

Please remember that the hiring firm sets the qualification standards, not the Survey Panel.  The larger the number of participants required the “looser” the qualifying may be.  Conversely, the fewer number needed the more rigid the qualifying process may become.  You must also understand there are a huge number of Panel Members therefore many surveys will not remain “open” long.  Therefore, when you come home from your workday and check your email and find several invitations many, if not all, may be closed.  Further, I cannot stress enough the importance of completing your personal profiles.  This in itself will give you a better chance of qualifying, as you will receive surveys that will be much more personally relevant.

I spend valuable time taking a Survey and suddenly am screened out:

Being “screened out” early isn’t a real problem, as most understand.  The rub comes when you spend several minutes answering questions only to have the hammer drop.  And the frustration sets in when you feel you have completed the vast majority of the Survey before you get the boot.  Even worse is “disqualification” where you complete the entire Survey but receive no compensation whatsoever.  Again, please understand that this is not the fault of the Survey Panel but instead the standards set by the hiring firm.  It is also important to note that just about every survey has qualifying styled questions throughout so you are likely to be screened out at any time.  Should you be screened out rest assured the hiring firm is not paying the Survey Panel for any incomplete Survey or one that is disqualified.

The technical problems with this Panel are ridiculous:

I couldn’t agree more but have learned that the Internet is not the most reliable thing on the planet.  And it’s not always the fault of the Internet.  The server the Panel uses could be overloaded or experiencing problems, which leads to glitches, or technical errors.  Your Internet provider or your computer could be having issues, and so on.  Should the problem be on the Survey Panel end they will get it straightened out as quickly as possible simply because it’s in their best interest to do so.  If you feel you must email a Panel regarding technical issues please do so but remember they are more than likely getting the same type query from thousands of their Members.

Don’t bother contacting Customer Support, as they will not respond:

Regrettably this is true.  If your query involves a technical issue, as outline above, it would be an unrealistic expectation to think you may receive a response based on the number of same subject queries submitted.  Other queries like “why don’t you send me more surveys”, “when will I get credit for a given survey”, “I’ve been waiting forever and I want my money now”, etc, etc, may get a response but more than likely not no matter how persistent you may be.  I can imagine the drudgery associated with answering the same type questions seven days a week.  But being a businessman I find ignoring the customer to be extremely distasteful and not acceptable.  Important Note: If your query is in reference to a given survey I strongly recommended that you include the Survey Number in the subject line.  I make it a point to write down the Survey Number just before starting each survey.  If I have a problem with the survey I have a number to communicate.  This will get you a response most of the time and is certainly something you should get in the habit of doing.

I have to wait forever to see a “Pending Survey” credited to my account:

Pending Surveys are generally credited to your account when the Survey Panel receives payment from the hiring firm, and not before.  Hence those negative reviews stating “I’ve had several Surveys pending for months and want them credited now” fall on deaf ears.  This is a part of what’s called “Business 101”.  No Company in the world can pay out money it has not collected on a sustained basis.

The “Minimum Cash-out Threshold” is just too darn high:

This is a matter of corporate preference and reasoning I will not attempt to question or explain.  It simply is what it is.  I am a member of a Panel having no minimum cash out threshold (Survey Saavy) and also a member of one with a hundred-dollar threshold (YouGov Polling Point) as well as several in between.  Many Panels pay by way of check, PayPal, gift cards and/or vouchers and it’s up to each potential member to read the awards section of any Panel prior to joining.  Should you join any panel without first finding out the amount of the cash out threshold, or type of rewards offered, this particular negative review would not at all be justified.

It’s been weeks since cashing out and I have not received my money:

I can understand and appreciate the concern behind this type of negative review.  One does expect to be paid for his labors on a regular basis in the real world but it simply does not always work that way in the survey world.  Again I must defer to the business preferences and practices of each individual Panel but will say those paying quickly are “preferred”.  Relying on first hand experience, I have found Panels that pay immediately upon cash out (Survey Spot), within 24 hours (PineCone Research), one to two weeks (LightSpeed, My Survey and Opinion Outpost) and others taking anywhere from 30 days and longer.  No one including myself enjoys waiting to be paid but the bottom line is to be paid in the end.  And I have been paid every dime earned by every Panel I have cashed out with…and that’s what really counts, isn’t it?

This Panel doesn’t pay, so stay away from them:

This is the type review that baffles as well as concerns me.  Understanding that Survey Panels are businesses it is possible for one (or more) to experience financial problems which could lead to non-payment.  If General Motors, AIG, and Bank of America, to name a few, found themselves in financial trouble it would be reasonable to assume that these same type problems could be festering within any Survey Panel.  Subsequently the unknown does concern me but what baffles me is the fact that the very same panels receiving such negative reviews are consistently paying me.  My suggestion would be to join a panel, cash out when able, and wait to see if you are paid.  If you are new to survey taking or would like to become a Panel Member I would suggest you begin with the Top Ten Panels which can be found right here, at Get Paid Surveys.  This would be the quickest and safest way to find out first hand.

This Panel was a good one before they made all those changes:

When I was a young boy my mother would give me a dollar and send me to the corner store (about 100 feet away) to get a loaf of bread and package of cheese.  And I remember her telling me I could get a piece of candy but to bring the change home.  As I grew a little older and learned to drive I could put 50 cents in my brother’s car and drive for miles (of course I learned how to disconnect the speedometer).  Today it’s difficult to find anything costing less than a dollar.  And 50 cents for gas?  You get the picture.  Things change and so do businesses, and if they don’t they won’t survive.  Today, and rightfully so, it’s always about the money and I get a chuckle (but understand) those negative reviews about Survey Panels going to point systems or reducing cash rewards to $3.00 from a prior high of $5.00.  Just look at it this way: Be content you can take 15-minutes sipping a $3.00 cup of coffee while earning 3 bucks taking a survey at the same time.  It’s a win-win situation.

I hope these findings lend to your successful survey taking future.  Thanks and good luck ‘til next time.

Jim A. from Tennessee

After 32 months of taking paid online surveys, I guess you could say that I have settled into a routine that I find works best for me. Initially, I would sign up for every survey site: Get Paid to Try (GPT), Get Paid to Click (GPC), prize sites, sweepstakes sites, etc. but eventually I learned that time is the limiting factor that determines how much money you actually earn taking paid online surveys. If you join 200 different sites, you might earn more incentives in a month, but the time you spend doing them will make it less worthwhile and less enjoyable as well. That’s why you must prioritize your survey-taking. You really only need about 20 to 30 good survey sites to earn between $100 and $250 per month plus all of the shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, deodorant, razors, toilet paper, paper towels, frozen entrees, cookies, crackers, breakfast bars, etc. that you may need over the course of a month. All of these things and more are sent free as product tests and must be considered as part of the earnings, although I don’t keep strict accounting of these products.

I’m not an early riser, so I like to drink a cup of coffee, read the morning paper and watch The View before I ‘officially’ start my survey-taking day. I find that most of the higher paying surveys will hit your inbox by noon, so this is a good time for me to start. I like to keep a regular schedule because in the beginning I would spend eight hours per day or longer taking surveys and risk eye-strain, wrist strain and general frustration over filling in hundreds of tiny little check boxes for hours on end. Not only does this put your physical and mental health at risk, but it also compromises the quality of the data, which helps ensure that you receive the higher paying survey opportunities. I rarely spend more than three to four hours per day (not including frequent breaks) taking paid surveys and always quit by 6pm for the local news, unless there is an Invoke Interactive that pays a substantial incentive. These usually begin later in the day and last 60-90 minutes or longer. They can pay from $15 to $200.

The very first thing you should do after clearing your inbox of spam and other unrelated items is to check each and every survey invitation, making note of the higher paying surveys. Always take the surveys for $5 or more first followed by lower paying surveys for $2 to $4. You do not want to take a survey on Toluna for 1200 points (40 cents) only to find out that you have the exact same survey from Global Test Market sitting in your inbox for $5. Although your own priorities will differ from mine, I tend to look at survey invitations from these sites first:

1. Survey Spot
2. Opinion Outpost
3. Global Test Market
4. Valued Opinions
5. My Survey (product tests)
6. Pinecone Research (product tests)

There are also higher paying opportunities from other sites, but I have them bookmarked on my browser favorites because they do not send email invitations as frequently. After finishing the survey invitations in my inbox, I check them in this order:

1. Surveyhead
2. Only Cash Surveys
3. Toluna
4. MyView
5. IPSOS I-Say

The single most important thing to keep in mind with point sites, like Toluna and MyView, is precisely how much each survey is worth. Toluna points are only worth 1/30 cent each; therefore, if you are spending an hour taking a survey for 1200 points (40 cents) you are probably wasting your precious time. If you are taking a 350-point (25 cent) survey from MyView that takes longer than 20 minutes, that might also be a waste of your time. A general rule of thumb is that 10 to 15 minutes of time spent taking a survey is worth about $1. On days when you have very few surveys, then it’s fine to spend more time on surveys worth $1 or less, but if you have been staring at the computer screen for six hours, or longer, taking 40 cent surveys, you will eventually become mentally tired, physically fatigued and frustrated. Take a break after ANY survey (other than an Invoke Interactive) that requires you to be seated at the computer for more than hour.

My final bit of advice is that if you must check your Facebook, MySpace or Twitter, do it BEFORE and/or AFTER you work on paid surveys; otherwise you will have no real frame of reference for how long you are spending at the computer earning incentives. As long as I know that I am averaging about three to four hours per day most days of the week taking surveys then the $250 per month I earn seems cost efficient; although $250 divided by 30 hours per week is only about $2 per hour. Even factoring in all the free products, the Apple Macbook, the Apple iPod and the $500 that I won earlier this year, I am still not earning minimum wage; therefore, I have to view this as a fun hobby that pays, not a career choice. If it makes you frustrated, angry or causes you eye-strain, wrist strain or any other physical or mental ailment, then walk away from the computer and take a nice long break!

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!