Start Making Money Today With Survyes!
How online survey sites work
Marketing is big business. By learning to target products at the right people, companies cut their advertising spend and increase sales. Add to that the focus group world of politics and the media, and it's clear why businesses pay for your opinions.Better still, because the whole point is focusing on different types of people, you don't need special qualifications. You just need to be you.
How to take part
There are two ways to take part:Online surveys for cash. All you have to do is sign up, wait for survey alerts to land in your inbox, then zip through the questions. Survey sites then add the cash to your account. Polls are often fun – you get to vent about everything from video games to your sex life. For a full how-to, see Survey Sites below.
Focus groups. Traditional market research focus groups pay much more per session, but you're limited to a few a year. All it involves is giving opinions on the chosen subject, usually with free refreshments, and you can walk away with anything from £30 to £160. See Focus Groups below for more.
Some inspiration...
Dedicated survey-stashers can make £200 a year in cash and vouchers. Some forumites have even pushed it to the max and made £800 a year.It takes a few years to build up enough to cash out with various sites, but I earned £800 last year in cash and vouchers. Comes in very useful!
- funnyguy
I have earned over £200 in the last year just doing online surveys while watching sport on TV or listening to the radio. The money from these - I always get cash if possible - just helped me pay for my new boiler. Next stop new windows!
- jet9cat
In the last year I've made over £800 on online surveys, but it does take a lot of spare time and all survey sites were definitely not created equally. If I really busted a gut and did every survey I received I could probably double it.
- nehpets81
I am a massive fan of focus groups as a way of earning some extra cash - especially if you have time on your side. I go after work or in my lunch break, and I recently got £160 for half a day.
It's good money for just being honest about your thoughts and you get free hot drinks and sandwiches. One group I attended even had free wine!
- MartinLewisisalegend
Survey sites: The DOs & DON'Ts
Before you become a survey stasher, there are a few things worth knowing. Remember, patience and consistency are key virtues.DON'T store cash in survey accounts
Survey companies aren't banks. There's no protection if one
closes, taking your cash with it. So withdraw your cash as soon as
you reach the payment threshold. When a previous survey firm closed
down, many lost money.
DO set up a dedicated email address
Don't use your normal email address - it'll be immediately
flooded. Instead, set up a dedicated email account. As a powerful free
option, Gmail is among the best.
This is also a quick way to check which surveys you've been given.
This is also a quick way to check which surveys you've been given.
DON'T expect to be instantly rolling in it
One downer is you've no control over how many surveys you're picked
for. So it can take a while to earn enough to hit survey sites'
payout thresholds. If you give up, it means the surveys were done for
nowt.
For this reason, it's important to understand it's not quick cash. Yet it's nice extra income, provided you consistently fill out the surveys, and have a little patience.
For this reason, it's important to understand it's not quick cash. Yet it's nice extra income, provided you consistently fill out the surveys, and have a little patience.
DO spend gift vouchers ASAP
If you have a choice, opt to get paid in cash. If you do get paid
in gift vouchers, spend them ASAP. That way the retailer can't go bust
on you, invalidating them. Plus you can't lose them or forget them
until they go out of date. Full info on this in Gift Voucher Warning.
DON'T tell porkies
Be honest. When a survey pops up that's clearly aimed at a certain
group, it's temping to say, "Yes, I am a 41-year-old, tobacco-chewing
dentist from north Manchester who was a middle child." Yet, in the
long run, you'll lose out. Companies often corroborate previous
answers, and will uncover any fibs.
A few forumites have amassed £40 over a year, only for the website to accuse them of fraudulent answers and wipe the balance. Rare, but worth knowing.
Likewise, don't sign up with two different email addresses to double the income - sites kick people out for this too.
A few forumites have amassed £40 over a year, only for the website to accuse them of fraudulent answers and wipe the balance. Rare, but worth knowing.
Likewise, don't sign up with two different email addresses to double the income - sites kick people out for this too.
DOn't forget to check your emails
The key is logging in often, because surveys close once enough
people have responded. If your boss doesn't mind, check surveys in
your lunch hour with a cuppa.
DO keep a log
Some sites are better than others at tracking which surveys you've
completed. To avoid wasting 20 minutes, keep a record of all surveys
filled out, jotting down the title and the promised payment. Take a
screenshot and make a note of any reference numbers.
Missing some cash? Chase the sites up, asking them to give you the correct points. Survey sites are often happy to add them to your account.
Missing some cash? Chase the sites up, asking them to give you the correct points. Survey sites are often happy to add them to your account.
DON'T forget tax
Before you start counting the dosh, don't forget some of it
belongs to the taxman. For most people it'll be around a third. Survey
earnings are unlikely to push non-taxpayers over the threshold,
however.
As any sources of extra income need to be declared; ensure you're upfront with HM Revenue and Customs. Survey earnings are self-employed income, which means registering with the HMRC Helpline for the Newly Self-Employed on 08459 15 45 15 by the end of the third calendar month after you've started – or you could face an automatic £100 penalty.
For full information, read HMRC's self-employment leaflet.
As any sources of extra income need to be declared; ensure you're upfront with HM Revenue and Customs. Survey earnings are self-employed income, which means registering with the HMRC Helpline for the Newly Self-Employed on 08459 15 45 15 by the end of the third calendar month after you've started – or you could face an automatic £100 penalty.
For full information, read HMRC's self-employment leaflet.
DO complain via Facebook and Twitter
If you've complained about problems to no avail, try using social media such as Facebook and Twitter to voice your issue.
MoneySavers report survey sites are swift to respond to complaints on their social media pages, as they want to manage their reputation.
MoneySavers report survey sites are swift to respond to complaints on their social media pages, as they want to manage their reputation.
DON'T pay to join
There's a glut of survey sites on the internet charging up
to £80 to register, promising to pay £100s after you've coughed up.
Never pay to register with a survey site.
DO refer a friend
Most survey sites require you to earn a certain amount before you
can withdraw your cash, for example £25. Trouble is, people often find
themselves stuck 20p below the threshold, waiting for that one survey
email to push them over.
If you're left in limbo, try referring friends. Many pay you 50p for referring a mate - handy if your survey emails mysteriously dry up with a few pence to go.
If you're left in limbo, try referring friends. Many pay you 50p for referring a mate - handy if your survey emails mysteriously dry up with a few pence to go.
DON'T worry too much about screenouts
Some survey companies have a cheeky habit of asking several questions, then suddenly announcing that you don't qualify. Fine if it's only a few secs, but frustrating if you've donated 10 minutes of your time for nowt.The list of top survey sites below notes the worst offenders, but in the long run, most people qualify for enough other polls to make up for it.
