(Real cash, straight to PayPal, not coupons, reward points, or magical make-believe discounts)
I like money. Not for the sake of money alone, but for the things I can do with it. I work hard at my job(s) and scrimp and save every where I can in order to have money available to do the things I like…. Travel to new and exciting places (I am going to Scotland for the first time this year!), finding and buying the latest and greatest technology gadget, or just investing in some cool new crypto project that has caught my eye.
So I am always looking to up my side hustle game and find new ways to earn money. One that has turned into a literal gold mine for me has been surveys/research studies. Not the old ones from back in the day where you would answer a bunch of click throughs and get 50 ‘points’ and could only cash out your points after you did x number of surveys and then you would receive a check for a whopping $2 off at the local Burger Palace. No, real money. Straight to PayPal in days. No strings. No gimmicks.
I have scoured the web through the hundreds of options out there and found the THREE MOST LUCRATIVE groups to work with. In no particular order:
Respondent:
Caters to both professionals and non-professionals but has a lot more options available if you have a work email associated with it. There are consumer branding studies on things like the latest paper towel or hand lotion, to studies requiring you to journal your daily tasks in caring for a loved one that is dealing with an illness. On the professional/work side of it there are studies to evaluate websites, or asking sales professionals for feedback on new prospecting tools, etc. The pay per study ranges from $5 — $500 with an average being around $75. I made over $750 in my very first month with this one platform alone as I had one big study for a $250 reward that month. I now apply to 3 studies per day and average being accepted to 3–5 per month with an average income of around $500. It ebbs and flows.
Here is the link to sign up and get started:
https://app.respondent.io/r/jesseharper-d9d481286052
Focus Group by Schlesinger:
More medically focused. This one asks about your medical history and looks to pair you with studies and surveys related to your health profile. As an example — I have high blood pressure and recently did a 1 hour web call regarding this and a journaling exercise for the study. This paid me $175. This one is a bit more hit and miss as it is based on your personal health history but I have averaged 1 study every 6 weeks or so. All of them have been $150–250.
Here is the link to sign up and get started:
https://www.focusgroup.com/Account/Join?ref=pU8KnMpUxhH9zHdtdhEAlg==&aid=16
MindSwarms:
The easiest of the 3 but also pays the least. This one pays $50 per survey and they are on a wide range of consumer based subjects. I have done some on “what type of internet and tv provider I use and why”, to “what do I look for when shopping for car insurance”. These are a little different in that they are not moderated. I sit in front of my phone or webcam and record answers to the question prompts. I then hit submit and I get the $50 sent to PayPal within a couple of days. Super simple.
Here is the link to sign up and get started:
Here are a few tips and tricks to consider when looking to get selected for research studies and increase your chances at earning more:
· Be selective: Opt-in to research studies that you think you are a good fit for based on work experience, skills, and lifestyle.
· Be consistent: Search and opt-in often. If you only apply once every once in a while, you will barely ever be selected. It is a number game. So, identify your targets and then take a lot of shots.
· Accept quickly: Did you know that actively accepting invitations and participating in research studies increases your chances of being selected for future projects? It does.
· Set up a strong profile: Each of these platforms gives you a section to tell the researchers about you. Leverage that opportunity.
· Boost your social validation: Some of the platforms let you link your social media profile sites. This will increase the probability that you are selected as they can see you are 1) not a bot, and 2) work in the field you present yourself to be in
· Add a profile pic
· Mix it up: High-paying research projects are more popular than lower-paying research projects. Apply to a mix of low and high paying projects to increase your win percentage.
Finally, be honest. While this is a huge money-making opportunity for you it is also adding real world value to the research teams that are compensating you.
Keep grinding!
