Types of Surveys to Earn Extra Money
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There are many types of surveys out there in the world. Some are outdated and not in use anymore, but some are still in full swing, and you may even be able to earn some money doing them. Here, we will discuss all the different types of surveys and how you can get the most out of them.
In this article
Online survey sites
We get it, really — the online survey sites always look a little too good to be true. But fortunately for us, a lot of them are very much legit ways to supplement your income. While they won’t be enough to classify as a second job, they will be enough to give you a little extra money for when you need it.
As with everything that promises you easy money online, it is imperative that you do your due diligence and make sure that what you are signing up for is not a scam.
Now, let’s look at some survey sites that can help you with the cost of living.
Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a survey site that caters to a worldwide audience. After you sign up, you can immediately earn points by verifying your email address. Then, you can take your first survey so that Swagbucks can get to know you and your preferences. After that, you will get recommendations for what the site thinks is good for you, or you can explore and search for surveys on your own.
There are also other things you can do on this site to earn points, like play games, so you can have fun while earning money. Upon completing enough surveys or activities, you can use your points to get rewards. With enough points, you can get anything from Amazon gift cards to Payoneer or PayPal payouts.
Read more: Swagbucks Review
- Get paid to answer surveys. Anytime. Anywhere.
- Share your opinions by completing online surveys to earn extra cash. From single-question polls to 30-minute market research questionnaires, there's always time to earn Swagbucks.
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Survey Junkie
With Survey Junkie, you are going to get paid by taking surveys or participating in focus groups. You also get a choice to be part of only the Survey Junkie side of it — their Survey Junkie community, as they call it on their website. It’s also possible to join their Surf To Earn community, where you will have opportunities to participate in behavioral market research.
Read more: Survey Junkie Review
Email surveys
As the name says, email surveys are sent directly to your inbox. They are highly targeted, which makes them the most optimal approach for taking surveys for businesses and individuals. For companies, sending out an email survey to their customers means that they will be able to get information about anything they need to know, like spending habits, needs for products or services, level of satisfaction with said products or services, and so on.
Individuals who send out email surveys are more or less the same as businesses. However, it depends on their profession — maybe they are a content creator, and they want to survey their audience about what sort of content they would like to see, or an author looking to find out what their dedicated readers would like to read in their next book, etc.
Either way, email surveys are the best way to reach a demographic you care about and learn about them. Email surveys work wonders because of their targeted nature, especially if you know how to use them without being too spammy.
How to Make Money: Respond to targeted surveys sent to your email.
Typical Pay: $1 to $10 per survey, depending on the sender and survey depth.
Read also: Survey Apps for Beginners
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Market research surveys
Market research surveys are tools businesses use to gather information, data, and insights from their target audience. This is a quick and easy method of gathering information on customers’ demographics, purchasing habits, opinions, desires, and intentions. Much like email surveys, these are meant to help you know what your customers want and what you can provide for them.
How to Make Money: Participate in surveys about consumer behavior, purchasing habits, etc.
Typical Pay: $10 to $100 per survey, depending on the length and specificity.
Paper surveys
These surveys are distributed to schools, universities, colleges, or places that lack digital access. They are used for the same reason as the market research and email surveys.
How to Make Money: Complete surveys distributed in specific locations (schools, offline venues).
Typical Pay: $1 to $20 per survey, often paid in cash or gift cards.
Phone surveys
At one point in time, phone surveys were very popular and widely used. However, they’ve fallen out of favor in the last decade mostly because people no longer have landlines that those conducting phone surveys can easily find. Still, these are very valid and efficient because of the real-time answers — even though most of us would rather not answer the phone when it is an unknown number calling.
How to Make Money: Answer questions over the phone.
Typical Pay: $5 to $50 per survey, depending on the length.
Focus groups
An honorable mention goes to focus groups, as they are more involved than regular surveys. These include a small group of people rather than just a one-on-one interview. Focus groups are usually made up of a diverse group of people, and it is their reactions to specific topics that are later studied. Many are held in person, but there are also online focus groups that you can do and earn a little money along the way.
How to Make Money: Join a group discussion about a product or service.
Typical Pay: $50 to $200 per session, depending on the group duration and subject.
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In-App Surveys
Many companies now use mobile apps to gather customer feedback. These surveys often appear after certain interactions within an app, such as after a purchase or using a service. Some apps even offer rewards or discounts for completing them, and for people interested in earning money, some apps will give monetary rewards or gift cards for participation.
How to Make Money: Complete surveys within mobile apps.
Typical Pay: $0.50 to $3 per survey, often paid in app credits or gift cards.
Product testing surveys
In these surveys, participants are sent a product to use for a set period, and then they provide feedback through a survey. This is popular in industries like cosmetics, food, and consumer electronics. Participants can often keep the product or get paid for their time.
How to Make Money: Test a product and provide feedback via a survey.
Typical Pay: $5 to $50 per product, plus you often keep the product.
Website feedback surveys
Similar to in-app surveys, these are small pop-up surveys on websites asking for user feedback. Website feedback surveys are often quick and easy to fill out, and some websites offer rewards in the form of points or gift cards.
How to Make Money: Provide feedback about website usability.
Typical Pay: $0.50 to $5 per survey, sometimes paid in gift cards.
Mystery shopper surveys
Mystery shopper surveys involve participants going to stores or restaurants and then answering questions about their experience. The feedback helps companies improve their customer service or product offerings, and participants are often paid for their time or reimbursed for their purchases.
How to Make Money: Visit stores or restaurants, report on your experience.
Typical Pay: $10 to $50 per shop, plus reimbursement for purchases.
Panel surveys
Panel surveys involve signing up to participate in multiple surveys over time as part of a research panel. These surveys are often more detailed, and participants may be invited to take part in special studies, focus groups, or even longer-term projects. These types of surveys typically offer higher payouts.
How to Make Money: Regular participation in ongoing surveys.
Typical Pay: $1 to $10 per survey, with higher pay for special studies.
Gamified surveys
Some survey platforms have turned the process of answering surveys into a more engaging experience by adding game elements. These surveys can make the process more fun while allowing participants to earn points or rewards. Platforms like PrizeRebel offer these kinds of experiences.
How to Make Money: Earn points or rewards by completing interactive surveys.
Typical Pay: $0.50 to $3 per survey, usually in points or gift cards.
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Consumer satisfaction surveys
Many companies conduct consumer satisfaction surveys after you make a purchase or interact with customer service. While these surveys are primarily aimed at improving services, some companies offer rewards like discounts or sweepstake entries for participating.
How to Make Money: Provide feedback after making a purchase or using a service.
Typical Pay: $1 to $5 per survey, often paid as discounts or rewards.
Diary surveys
These surveys require participants to keep a journal or diary of their activities or experiences over time. For example, a participant might be asked to record their eating habits, shopping behavior, or media consumption for a week and then submit their entries as part of a survey.
How to Make Money: Keep a diary of specific behaviors and submit reports.
Typical Pay: $20 to $100 per diary, depending on the length of the study.
Loyalty program surveys
Many loyalty programs, such as those run by airlines, hotels, or retail stores, offer points or other incentives for filling out surveys about your experiences. While not traditional survey sites, these programs offer an easy way to earn rewards by providing feedback.
How to Make Money: Earn loyalty points by filling out surveys.
Typical Pay: Varies; typically rewarded with loyalty points or gift cards worth $1 to $10.
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