How to Make Money Online Doing Surveys [Step-by-Step]

Online surveys are considered one of the easiest ways to make money online. But is this claim a fact? Can you actually make money online doing surveys?

The short answer is Yes. You can make money by doing paid online surveys. Since there are several survey websites, it can be challenging to determine which ones are genuine and which are not. However, there are several platforms that make it easy to take paid surveys and earn money in your spare time. 

Survey sites work with brands that need insight into new ideas or products before they hit the market. You can help businesses improve what they have developed by conducting surveys on high-paying survey sites. 

So, can you really make money from surveys? If you are interested in making extra cash apart from your full-time job, you must consider taking online surveys. This post will guide you through all the essential details of paid survey sites and make money online.

Why Do Companies Pay People to Take Surveys?

There are several reasons why market research companies pay people to take surveys. Some of them are as follows:

1. Brands want to know what consumers think about their products and services. Surveys can help them get a better understanding of what customers are looking for in a product or service.
2. Businesses use surveys as a way to gather customers’ reviews. They use this feedback to improve the quality of their products or services and the overall customer experience.
3. Online paid surveys are the best way to collect data for market research purposes.

How Much Money Can You Make by Taking Online Surveys?

The amount of money you can make online doing surveys depends on several factors. Some are the length & complexity of the survey, the incentive offered, and the number of surveys you complete.

Generally, you can expect to make between $0.5 and $15 per survey. However, there are some ways to maximize your earnings. For example, sign up for multiple survey sites to receive more opportunities to take surveys.

In addition, choose surveys that offer higher rewards, such as Amazon gift cards or PayPal cash. Finally, be sure to complete the entire survey to receive your incentives. Overall, you can make a considerable amount by taking more and more online paid surveys. 

How Much Survey Sites Pay – Make Money Online Doing Surveys

Some survey sites offer points that can be redeemed for cash, while others offer entries into sweepstakes. There are still some that provide gift cards or other incentives. It is essential to read the terms and conditions of each survey site before signing up. It will help you understand the basic rules and how you will be paid for your efforts. Let’s continue reading for more details:

Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie is one of the best survey sites to make money for conducting online surveys. You can earn anywhere between $0.50 to $3.00 per hour on this platform. The amount you can make depends on the length and complexity of the survey. However, the average hourly rate for Survey Junkie members is $1.50.

Most of the surveys are for different types of consumer goods. You may have to spend anywhere from 2 minutes to 30 minutes to complete a survey. So, if you are ready to dedicate at least one hour a day to taking surveys, you could potentially make $3.00. This can eventually lead you to add a minimum of $90 per month to your pocket. 

To receive rewards, you must have a minimum of $5 or 500 points in your account. Once you reach 500 points, you can withdraw them through PayPal or Dwolla (bank transfer). You can even redeem your earnings for e-gift cards. 

Ipsos i-Say

Ipsos i-Say is one of the oldest and most well-known online survey sites. This portal offers a variety of ways to be compensated for completing surveys. They pay out in points, which you can redeem for rewards of your choice. The points can vary depending on the length and complexity of a survey. 

If we talk about the amount you can make through Ipsos i-Say, there’s no definitive answer as it depends on various factors. However, on average, Ipsos i-Say members can earn around 45 points per survey (100 points are equivalent to $1.00). So, if you complete two surveys each day, you can expect to make $0.90 or 90 points. 

That means Ipsos iSay members will not be able to make big money from paid surveys. But they can definitely earn a bunch of fun rewards for their efforts. Additionally, you can redeem your accumulated points for e-gift cards. If you’re new to Ipsos iSay, you will have to wait 96 hours from the registration date to withdraw rewards. 

See Related: How to Make Money Selling Collectibles Online

Swagbucks

Swagbucks offers SB points to users for every survey they complete. Each SB point is worth a penny, and 100 SB points are equivalent to $1. You can typically make between $0.50 and $2.50 for a completed survey on this survey website.  

Online surveys usually take between 3 and 20 minutes to complete. Those looking to make extra cash should take at least two surveys daily on this site. Your final earnings depend on the survey type and the points you earn. 

Additionally, you can redeem Swagbucks points by converting them into PayPal cash or e-gift cards from top brands, including Starbucks and Amazon. Join today, take paid surveys on the go, and make some additional cash every month. 

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InboxDollars

InboxDollars typically pays between $0.50 and $5 per survey. You can even earn $10 to $20 for some surveys. But, to qualify for high-paying polls, you need to match the criteria of the demographic profiles they are looking for.

It may take you around 3 minutes to 25 minutes to complete surveys on InboxDollars. The site checks each member’s profile to provide them with the best-paid survey opportunities. You can attempt polls online right from your phone and computer.

Being an active member of InboxDollars, you can earn extra money by taking multiple surveys and sharing your opinions. Whatever you make for online surveys on InboxDollars, you can withdraw for PayPal, cash, or e-gift cards. Sign up for free on this survey site, confirm your email address, and start making money by filling out online surveys and completing polls.

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Pinecone Research

Pinecone Research is one of the leading online market research firms. They offer paid surveys on various topics, and you can earn up to $3 per survey through a point system. 

Surveys on Pinecone Research last around 10 to 20 minutes. The site allows members to attempt multiple surveys each month for points. Being an active member, you can withdraw your points upon reaching the redemption level. You can even let your points grow for greater rewards. 

Survey takers can join Pinecone Research for free. The site sends notifications to registered members when survey opportunities are available. 

Additionally, if you’re new to this portal (30 days of being an active member), you can withdraw your points only via bank transfer to verify your rewards account. After the first payment, you can redeem available points for any reward on the catalog. 

See Related: Ways to Get Paid to Take Surveys by Check

Opinion Outpost

Opinion Outpost offers reward points for completing surveys. You will get notifications about rewards for each poll on the Surveys tab or in your email. This site typically pays between $0.50 and $5 per completed survey. However, this amount varies depending on the types of surveys one takes.

Opinion Outpost credits points automatically to the accounts of prospective members when they submit surveys successfully. Some rewards may take up to six weeks to reflect. Also, the minimum redemption threshold to withdraw points is $50. You can redeem your earnings once the account hits the minimum range. 

Once you sign up, you will be asked several questions to confirm your identity and identify if you are the right fit for a survey. If you want to know more, read the Opinion Outpost review on how to earn money on this platform. With a little effort, you can make some extra money by completing surveys on Opinion Outpost.

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YouGov

YouGov is another online market research firm that offers paid online surveys. This portal allows you to make an average of 50 points per survey, and each poll lasts around 8 to 10 minutes. 100 YouGov points are worth £10. 

YouGov does not guarantee multiple surveys a week. You can expect to receive one per week and earn 25 to 50 points. The minimum withdrawal limit of this survey site is 5,000 points. You can redeem your points via PayPal and expect to receive the money in your account within 1 to 3 business days. You can even use those points as donations for MSF (Medicins Sans Frontiers).

YouGov is a good option if you’re looking for a variety of fun surveys to take. They offer surveys on different topics, enabling you to make a decent amount of money by taking them.

Branded Surveys

Like many other survey sites, Branded Surveys provides users with some points for completed surveys. 1 point is equivalent to 1 cent, which means 100 points make $1. Though the income may vary from survey to survey, it usually ranges between 50 cents and $2 per survey.

The minimal withdrawal limit of this paid survey portal is 500 points or $5. Survey takers can cash out their earnings through Branded Pay and PayPal. They can even redeem those points for e-gift cards from different retailers and restaurants.

Additionally, Branded Surveys is simple to use. All you have to do is sign up for a free account, complete your profile by answering some demographic questions, and start taking paid surveys. The site offers 50 points to new users upon creating an account and another 50 for taking the first survey.

LifePoints

LifePoints is another online survey portal that provides users with 50 to 100 points per poll, and 100 points are worth $1. The site offers a range of surveys, product tests, and polls on various topics, including health, politics, and leisure.

Surveys on LifePoints can take around 10 to 20 minutes to finish. You can take at least 3 surveys daily in your spare time and expect to make a minimum of $2, eventually $60 a month.

Also, you will be paid for each survey you attempt and complete. Once you hit the redemption level, you can exchange those points for PayPal cash and e-gift cards. You can even donate your earnings to charity.

Create your account and become an active member of LifePoints. Once you do so, you will see a range of paid surveys in your personalized survey dashboard.

See Related: Get Paid to Write Reviews on Amazon

Toluna

Toluna is one of the best survey panels, with multiple daily online surveys. Users can make anywhere between $0.70 and $10 per completed survey, with an average hourly rate of $3.43. Toluna members earn Toluna Points for each survey they complete. You can generally receive between 15 to 50,000 points, based on the length of a poll.

Toluna provides 500 sign-up points to welcome new users to the site. The minimum cash-out value is 30,000 points and $10. You may redeem your points for various rewards, including vouchers from top brands and cash payments.

If you’re really into answering surveys, Toluna is a legit platform to take surveys and make good money out of them. Be active and take out at least an hour from your schedule for surveys.

These are some of the best legit survey sites that allow users to make money taking paid online surveys. As mentioned, these survey portals reward you differently when you complete surveys. Survey takers can convert their rewards into free gift cards or use them towards sweepstakes for bigger prizes.

See Related: How to Decide if a Survey Company is Legitimate

Tips for Earning the Most Money

There are several tips you can follow to make the most out of surveys when it comes to money. Some of them are as follows:

1. Stick with Your Trusted Paid Survey Site 

You don’t have to sign up with hundreds of paid survey sites to do online to earn some cash. Focus on the best, highest-paying survey portals when taking online surveys.

Many people look for an easy way to make extra cash and often end up joining the wrong survey sites. These platforms keep asking members the same questions, which is a complete waste of time. 

Instead, focus on only high-quality survey providers who pay you well. You can utilize your spare time in the best way possible by building your presence on the best-paying sites. 

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2. Complete Your Profile

Your profile on a survey site allows them to match you up with relevant offers from brands. If you want to receive high-paying surveys, it is suggested to have a complete profile on each legit survey portal.

Keep updating or adding new information after you come about any life change. A complete and updated profile can help you meet the best survey opportunities for money.

3. Track Time

The more time you spend completing online surveys, the higher will be your hourly rate. Try to attempt easy ones when you find time in between doing tasks like waiting for meetings to start or waiting in the billing queue in the grocery store. Conducting surveys in your free time is the best way to have a strong profile.

The great thing about online surveys is that they are easy and convenient. You can utilize your spare time to complete them. The more surveys you attempt, the more money you can make.

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4. Be Honest! Answer Questions Consistently

It is essential to take the time and read each question carefully before responding. Survey sites compare the answers from different members to determine the best fit for available surveys from various brands. They do so in an attempt to match users with services or products they are more likely into.

5. Get the Latest Freebies

One way to save money on survey sites is by checking for free offers. Some survey portals have a “free trials” or newsletter section. This section allows you to earn points if you sign up and provide information such as your name and age in exchange for extra cashback. You might also want to check out any social media groups related to polls because these could offer bonuses that are only available through those channels.

6. Choose the Highest-Paying Surveys First

If you want higher earnings each hour, you must check what online surveys pay before getting started. Paid survey sites may send out dozens of poll offers for different amounts. Check the expected income before attempting.

Is Doing Market Research Surveys Worth It?

Well, there are several pros and cons to doing surveys for companies. Let’s know:

Pros of Taking Online Surveys 

One of the best benefits is that you don’t need to spend much time on them. Most surveys usually last up to 5 minutes. Some polls may require much attention, but not that much. So don’t worry! 

No fixed working time. Survey sites offer the flexibility to work when you want without obligation. You can take surveys in whatever spare moments come up. It may be during your commute home from school or work each day. 

You can work on surveys while doing other things, like taking care of your kids or watching TV with friends. You can complete a survey in less than five minutes.

Questionnaires from survey companies are a fantastic hobby in which you have everything in your power when you need it most. You could work on your surveys and schedule them or integrate them into the existing program depending on your timetable. 

There are a lot of survey opportunities, like playing on the phone. You could also play games to earn points. 

Cons of Taking Surveys 

There are a lot of scams out there. Always double-check the company’s website and their surveys for money and see if they have been reported as fraudulent by other users.

Some people don’t prefer taking surveys as the pay is too low. In fact, there are survey sites that pay just a few cents to users for taking an hour out of their day and filling in and taking surveys.

The survey process is not for everyone. If you don’t qualify for taking surveys or get disqualified from a particular survey, it will be just like losing an opportunity in life.

How Can You Tell If A Survey Site Is A Scam?

Novice internet users or those trying to earn cash by taking surveys for the first time can fall into a survey scam. Even experienced survey takers can fall for the promise of making a lot of money in a short time just by doing surveys. If you’re wondering how to identify scam survey sites, you must consider the following tips:

1. Check the Website’s Domain Name

Paid survey sites might be a scam if it has an untrustworthy domain name. For instance, there are many scam survey sites with names that sound similar to legitimate companies (like “Walgreens”). Still, they’re not actually who you think they are. These domains are registered by scammers looking for ways into other people’s accounts online. 

2. Look for a Contact Number or Address on the Website

If you find a paid survey site with no contact information, there’s a high possibility that it is a scam. To know if online survey sites are legit branded surveys, you must look at what kind of email they provide and how often the sites update their pages or post new questions. Go through all these details before making an account. If you find any red flags about any survey site, delete them from your list instantly.

3. If You’re Asked to Pay Money, It Might be a Scam

The best way to get free paid surveys is by signing up for sites that don’t charge you to join. You can check whether or not a survey site is legitimate by going through its membership criteria. Sites that ask users to pay for membership might be a scam. It is because most reputable survey portals don’t charge anything from users interested in paid surveys. After all, isn’t that defeating the purpose of you earning money?

Also, it would be best to read the instructions and policies of a survey site carefully before attempting surveys. It can help you not to make any mistakes along the way.

4. Read Customer Reviews

The second step is to examine how this survey site found you or how you found them. If you come across a survey platform through spam emails, they’re almost assuredly fraudulent. 

On the other hand, if you find a survey website with a high rating on Work From Home Reviews, you can consider them relevant for paid surveys. Sign up on that site for free and get ready to earn extra cash each day.

5. Use Secure Websites Only

Online fraudsters are operating in the background of many online highest-paying survey platforms. They can take advantage of your ignorance to phish for personal information like bank account details and passwords. Make sure you know how they operate so that it doesn’t happen to you.

Also, ensure the online survey site is secure and has trusted SSL certificates (https://). An SSL certificate eliminates the chances of cyber spies getting into a system. Never enter your personal or bank details unless they get verified through emails or phone calls.

6. Make Thousands Per Survey

If survey sites claim they can help you make thousands in your first week, you might want to turn around immediately. But don’t forget that you can’t just make big bucks for a few surveys on any paid site. If survey sites say so, they are mostly trying to trick users. Falling for fraudulent survey portals can get you scammed out of your own money. 

To protect yourself from these survey frauds, you must use the Work From Home Reviews rating scale. This can help you find the top survey portals that fit you the best. 

7. Cash in When You Reach the Limit

You can make hundreds of points for free by taking surveys on survey sites. However, there is always the risk that survey websites might change their rules and restrictions at any time. Therefore, it is best not to wait too long to redeem your accumulated points. You can withdraw them for cash or other rewards.

Overall, here are the best survey sites found on the internet. These websites provide you with an opportunity for free money! If any new or old ones show up that deserve mention, please let us know in the comments below so we can add them as well. 

When to Avoid an Online Survey Site?

It is easy to get sucked into paid survey sites. But there are things you should know before taking the bait. For beginners:

• The best time to avoid a survey site is when they ask you for your personal information. This may include your name, email address, phone number, and most importantly, your bank account information. Entering your confidential details into fraudulent sites could lead you into danger if it gets into the wrong hands. For instance, they could apply for new loans or credit cards. Fraudsters can collect hundreds of dollars for every stolen identity.
  
• Some survey sites may promise free prizes or gifts in exchange for personal information. However, these offers don’t come with real benefits and can damage one’s reputation to a great extent. They might sell your confidential details to spammers.

How Can You Find Legit Survey Sites?

There are several different ways to find legitimate online survey sites. Some of them are as follows:

• You can search for online survey portals in a search engine such as Google or Bing.
• You can find lists of legitimate survey companies on websites that provide reviews of survey sites.
• You can ask your family and friends if they know of any legitimate online survey sites.

How Do You Get Started with Taking Online Surveys?

To get started with paid survey websites, you first need to sign up and create your account on each site. Once you have your account, you will typically be asked to complete a profile survey. This survey will ask questions about your demographics, such as your age, gender, and location.

After you complete your profile, you can start applying for surveys. You will usually be notified of new surveys on your registered email address or log into your account to check for available surveys.

What Are the Benefits of Taking Online Surveys?

There are several benefits of online surveys for survey takers and brands. Some of them are as follows:

• Online surveys can be a fun and easy way to pass the time.
• You can earn extra money by conducting paid online surveys. 
• You can voice your opinion on various topics and have the feeling of being an influencer.
• Online surveys are flexible – you can work anytime from anywhere. 
• There are no specific rules for conducting surveys, regardless of the survey site. The brands will send you samples of new products for testing and ask you to provide honest feedback. You don’t have to follow any rules or regulations. 

Final Thoughts

So, there’s no doubt you can make good money each month by completing multiple polls on different survey sites. But before directly signing up on any site, make sure they are legal by checking their credibility online. Once you find a legit survey site, create your account, and be ready to answer surveys for money. All survey sites have different payouts. However, sites that pay less also take less time to complete surveys.

FAQs

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