How I make money, avoid spam and still enjoy taking paid surveys

At their essence, true paid surveys are unlike any other ?get paid to? programs on the Internet. Why? Because the real paying sites are market research companies that work for reputable companies, political organizations, etc. to gather information. They aren?t pyramids, investment opportunities, etc., they are research.

So why does the paid survey industry have such a bad name? There are a lot of sites out there that are scammers, spammers or just plain inactive. As an example. At last count, I signed up with more than 300 sites. After signing up with all of these sites, I had to weed through thousands of e-mails for supposed ?surveys? and get off those lists that really were page after page of offers that wanted my credit card numbers. I had to deal with a fair amount of SPAM that suddenly began showing up. And today, I actively do surveys and get paid by 10% of them.

Unlike many other get paid to programs, most programs aren?t build on downlines and referrals. Do some of them have referral programs? Sure. Some of them pay nicely, some not so well, some get you drawings for sweepstakes and most don?t pay at all for referring people. Each month, I make less than $20 off referrals.

Can you make money taking surveys? Absolutely. I am to a point where I make at least $200 a month taking them. I spend about 15 minutes a day doing surveys, that averages out to $26 an hour. I think that?s worth it. I have never known anyone who made $2,000 a month like some sites promise. It just doesn?t happen.

Do I recommend signing up and getting involved? Absolutely. For two reasons. First, you are helping educate companies about their products. Put simply, you are making a difference. And second, the money is great too.

But, like any get paid to programs on the net, there are some things you HAVE to know.

1. The cardinal rule of taking surveys online? Never, ever pay to get a list of survey sites or to be added to a list of sites by someone else. In my opinion, I wouldn?t even bother with the sites that say they will do this for free. Research the good sites, sign yourself up, individually with each of them and then you will know you are signed up and that your information is accurate.
2. Do your research. There are companies that pay handsomely for referrals but will never send you a survey yourself. I don?t recommend those and I won?t suggest them either. Will you see a lot of other people promoting them. Absolutely, they are making money if you sign up. But are you looking to make money for taking surveys or make money from referrals?there is a difference.
3. Fill out your profiles completely. Depending on the survey, any one of those questions could be the one they need to know to have you qualify.
4. Take sweepstakes surveys from time to time. I don?t do all of the ones I get in my e-mail, but when I have a minute, I do take them. Lets those companies know you are out there and willing to be active. Even sweeps companies send out paying surveys from time to time.

edited

You said you made $200 a month. Could you tell me a site in which worldwide members can make just half of that?

Global Test Market is very good for international members...but it really depends on where you mean you are internationally? Some sites are great for Europe, some for Asia, etc...

except surveysavvy

Europe

Which is the best for Europe?

essm GlobalTestMarket is good for Europe

Looks fine.
How about ciao surveys? Do they pay?

essm ciao is good, also gozing is good for me, although lots of people don't have success with them.

happygal what sites have you had the most success with then ?

nice write up Happygal! concise and straight to the point very refreshing!

May I copy paste what you wrote and when I add survey tab to my site say:

Text Below Written By happygal @ gpf:

?

Cyberfilly, thanks. There is so much fluff out there about surveys, I just wanted to share my thoughts on the topic

Me personally (and I am in the US) I have been paid the most by mysurvey, for sure. I have also done very well with Global Test Market (I am actually doing a $100 online group for them tomorrow), Lightspeed, Survey Direct and Pinecone.

And yes, Druth, and feel free to include that as well as my blog if you like. Nothing fancy but I was scammed by so many sites, I want to share my info if it can help anyone else.

kool thanks it saves me from writing basically the same thing not as nice and its by an experienced survey taker hehe.

I'm registered since November in GlobalTestMarket and never received a survey.

It is definitely the luck of the demographics with them and all surveys. US and Canadian survey takers often have very good luck, but it is possible to do well if you are outside these two countries as well.

suissspub it really does depend on so many factures whether you receive surveys, your age, your sex, whether you are a car driver, which country you are from etc.

USA, Canada, UK and Australia get the majority of surveys solely due to the larger amount of big companies that want to pay for peoples opinions.

In most countries there are survey sites solely aimed at that particular country, you need to use google or another major search engine to search for them, you need to search domains from your country and sites written in your language, and you will find national paying survey companies.

On forums like this you tend to only hear on the large survey sites, but there are literally thousands of them out there, a bit of work searching and you will find some.

Hey is it possible for you (the OP) to tell me which of those in your blog pay by Paypal?

I'm only signed up for GoZing (which has paid me), Esearch (which has also paid me once), and SurveyClub (which I haven't gotten anything from yet)

In addition to the ones you mentioned, I have been paid via paypal through Survey Direct, Brand Institute and Vocalabs.

Yes, Shadow_X

I found survey site in Portugal called MULTIDADOS.

Thx

tried acop anyone?

I've been with ACOP for a little over a year... qualified for a few surveys, but haven't received any money yet.

I should go check my status there... see what the dealio is...

Thanks for the reminder, girl!

ACOP doesn't send surveys all that frequently, but they do pay when they do...I would definitely check it out with the cmbrewer.

Dang, I can't find any links to show account status. (points or $$s in account)

Do they not keep track of that, or am I doing something wrong?

On the subject of surveys I had an email from Gozing they are now partnered with ciao which can only mean good news because ciao are a very good survey site.

Ciao is a very good site. I hope they will remain so now, gozing went downhill fast after greenfield bought them. (takes 9 months to receive a $1 payment???)

*crossing fingers*

Yes, I hope there is good promise there. Greenfield has been a bit better about payment times, still slow, but at least they tell you to expect it to be slow now

It seems great.I've already joined some paid to surveys site but I';ve got few surveys.
By the way, one local site did sent me 3 surveys today.

I had 13 invites for surveys in my e-mail this morning and have qualified for 7 of them so far...all paying. A very happy Tuesday

happygal.Which international sites in your list are good for asia do you think?

My local site give really little money for taking surveys.

hi just clarification CIAO gozing and greenfield are 1 site now? or just like 3 different sister sites all owned by one/team PO?

From the greenfield onlines corporate web site:

Greenfield Online gives you access to online communities via our subsidiaries, Ciao GmbH and goZing Network.

goZing Network is a premier pay-for-performance, online customer acquisition network for direct response marketers. Our network consists of over 6,000 affiliates which translate into our ability to deliver proven results to our clients and demand top dollar to our publishers. goZing has been proudly serving the online community of webmasters, agencies, merchants, and publishers since 1999. We are 100% committed to providing the best ROI to our merchants and we are 100% committed to maximizing the revenue of our publishing partners. We look forward to doing business with you.

Ciao offers a highly effective marketing environment for merchants and advertisers, where they can access well-informed customers in the critical moment when they are taking purchase decisions. Of the 12 million monthly visitors to the platform, more than 2 million move on to merchants and buy.

So yes, all three are very much connected to one another.

Great job HappyGal!

Much better job than my feeble attempts to help people with surveys! Sign up for a ton, weed out the junk, weed out those that don't pay, and jump on the ones that do pay. A little time doing surveys every day can add up quickly.

suissspub-@ GTM have you filled out all your profiles? Also the surveys that you have been invited to will be listed at the site, just incase your emails aren't getting through.

Hey, thanks for the nice feedback. glad to hear people are finding my thoughts helpful.