Stay Organized-

There are so many great survey companies these days it can be hard to keep track of what companies you signed up with and all the survey invitations that come in. Here are two solutions to help you with that.

• Create a separate email address for surveys – You can use gmail, hotmail, yahoo or any other free email provider service to create another email address account. Check with your internet service provider, often times they provide you with the ability to make email sub-accounts.

• Create a separate folder to store your survey invites. – This is the option that works best for me. I’ve created a folder that holds all sign-up confirmations for the companies that I’ve signed up with. These hold my log-in information and help me remember which sites I’m already a member of.
  You can set MS Outlook so that all new emails from survey companies are directed straight to your survey folder. Periodically check the folder for new survey invites when you have the time to answer the surveys. Be careful though, some of the more popular surveys that pay a lot might fill up fast.

The List

This is not an all-inclusive list, but it should keep you busy for awhile. As I learn about other companies I’ll share them.

Esearch
Survey Savvy
Mindfield Online
Survey Spot
My Survey
Data Intelligence – Town Square
Stanford Graduate School Behavioral Lab
Noesis Noe-It-All
Say Nation
Baker Street Solutions
Focus Forward Online
WRatings
Team Look-Look
Yale School of Management (they don’t pay for surveys, although you are entered into a contest for payment)
My View

I’ve written quite a bit on taking surveys for a little extra cash. Here are some of my previous articles you might find helpful:

• Can I Make Money Taking Surveys Online?

• Taking Surveys For Money?

I’m continuing my “Getting Paid to Test Products” series. As I learn of new sites or companies to test with I’ll share them.

If you missed the first parts of my series here are Part I and Part II. Helpful tips are included if you are new to product testing. Remember, you won’t get rich from it, but it’s a great way to earn a little extra cash and get free products to use. All just for giving your opinion.

Cosmo’s Buzz Club’s “Test for the Best” Product Tester’s Panel
Kashi Taste Tester Panel
Mentadent Product Tester (If you are interested in getting coupons and joining the testing panel make sure you check yes for questions #2-4
El Monterey Product Testing
Soffe Fan Club Product Testing
All You Reality Checker
General Mills Advisory Panel
As Seen on TV product tester

Neito Research – Diaper Research Study
Call 1-888-412-5552 or email them at nietoresearch@yahoo.com
Priority is given to those who email.
They’ll need your name, phone number and child’s weight and diaper size.
If you call and get a voice mail leave a message and they will return your call.

Arquest – Diaper Study
Phone # is 1-888-342-7372 Dial Ext. 634 for boys and Ext. 646 for girls
They are looking for families with children in diaper sizes 3,4,5
Compensation is provided in the form of free diapers and cash.
Note: I called them yesterday and the studies are already full this month for boys in size 5 diapers. They were very friendly and said to call back next month.

image by lusi

One More Tip
When testing products for companies there is one more important thing you need to know. When you receive an email inviting you to take part in a product test; if you are interested reply as quickly as you can. Product tests for things like digital cameras and printers are popular and fill up very fast.

The List – Part II

Hewlett Packard (HP) Product Testing -
This is my absolute fave! VOC Online started out as Betasphere and now strictly tests products for HP. It was through this program that I was able to test and keep a scanner and a scanner/copier/printer combo.

BzzzAgent-
A bit different than normal product testing. You get a product, use it, and share the Buzz with others. (Buzz= tell them about it, share a sample that Bzzagent gives you to share with others, share coupons etc..) It’s fun and I’ve gotten some great stuff like a sonicare toothbrush and more.

Garb Online

In Home Product Testing

Mothers Know Best

Now, if you are interested in testing products I’ve been working on a list for my readers over the past few weeks. It’s not complete, I will publish part II of the list shortly. But for those looking to sign up with companies and start testing products, this should keep you busy for awhile

Some of the research panel groups are directly with a particular company (like New Balance or Johnson & Johnson), others are with a market research group that handles research for many companies.

Some things to keep in mind:

• It make take awhile before you get contacted for a program. When the company has a survey/product test that you fit the criteria for they will email you.

• When you get the product make sure to read the instructions that come with it. If they want you to fill out a survey relating to your experiences with the product; don’t forget to do that!

My Snack Works
Rapelle Research Panel
MetroMint Word of Mouth Program
Nesquik Breakers
Scholastic Advisor Panel
Parenting Magazine Mom Panel
Johnson & Johnson “Friends and Neighbors” program
Mahatma Rice Consumer Panel
New Balance Wear Test Program
Amazon Usability Study
She Speaks

If you know of any companies that are looking for applicants for their test panels please email me at contact at sharingmytwocents  dot com. I’ll include them in my next list. Thank-you!

Photo by Dominik Gwarek

One of my favorite entrepreneurial ideas is taking surveys. It’s a very simple thing to do that doesn’t take a lot of time. It’s a very easy way for moms or busy people to earn a little extra cash in their spare time.

My favorite places to take surveys are Survey Savvy and MySurvey.

So far with Survey Savvy I’ve made $215.00 and with MySurvey I’ve made $149.75.

Survey Savvy is run by Luth Research, which is based out of San Diego, California. Based on your location you may also get focus group invitations that pay $75+.

My Survey has been around since 1946. They also offer many opportunities to test products in your own home (that you get to keep afterwards). I can’t give specifics, but one of the products I was able to test this year was a baby product.

Both companies pay promptly (with Survey Savvy you can request a payment at any time. With My Survey you must have at least $10.00 in your account.)

Those are my “tried and true” money making monday ideas!

Why?

Because I can’t even give you a link to sign up!

PineCone Research is one of the best online market research companies, so much so, that the only way to join is by viewing one of their ad banners and clicking on it. Members risk having their account cancelled if they announce where a banner is. So even if I know where they had a banner at, I couldn’t tell.

I remember when I first heard about PineCone Research a few years ago. I kept an eye out for months while surfing the internet hoping to find the ever elusive PineCone banner. Eventually I found it and was able to join.

What are they?
PineCone Research is an online research panel. Panelists participate in online studies and test products.

How much do they pay?
$5.00 per survey, with varying amounts for additional studies.

How are panelists paid?
Either by check or paypal.

How often do they offer surveys?
1-2 times a month or more.

Good luck!

It’s been awhile since I’ve written a review of a survey site (and there are a lot of sites that I take surveys with).

Greenfield Online is a market research company that was started in 1994. They provide information and statistics to many research companies worldwide.

They offer members surveys for sweepstakes entries and cash payments. They have many surveys available to take, which ones you want to do is up to you. (Personally, I only do the ones that pay cash.)

How much do they pay?
It depends on the survey. Payment details are in the survey invitation you receive, or you can view them when you login to your account online.

How do I get paid?
Cash payments are made via check. Login to request your payment.

Who is Eligible?
Residents of the US and Canada.
Greenfield Online is currently searching for male applicants; but anyone is allowed to apply. If you are a female with a husband, boyfriend or brother; have them sign up!

Is there a fee to join?
No. And you should never pay a company for the chance to take surveys. They are supposed to pay you.

What kind of surveys can I expect to take?
There are a variety of surveys available. Anything from sports, food, electronics, groceries, products, entertainment and more.

Be sure to read my other reviews on My Survey and Survey Savvy; two other market research companies that offer paid surveys.

I get samples and free things in my mailbox almost everyday from doing this. It’s fun to see what comes in the mail. Today I got a pouch of tuna, pedometer, magnetic notepad, and coupons for free products.

When I first started signing up for freebies years ago I discovered Roboform. Roboform can save your name, address, email, and passwords. It can save all of that, or just your name. Whatever you feel comfortable having it save it will save. Then when you go to fill out a form, login or sign up for a freebie, just click “Fill” instead of having to retype your personal information over and over again. Saves a lot of time and wear and tear on your fingers too

Survey Savvy and NFO/My Survey are looking for a diverse range of members to complete surveys. Surveys and focus groups help their clients improve products and services. They are a great way to earn extra cash from home.

How long does it take to complete a survey?

It depends. When you receive an email with a request for you to participate in a survey; the email should indicate estimated time the survey will take you to complete along with the amount of compensation you will receive.

Are all companies legitimate?

No! Many have been taken in by companies that promise free product and lots of cash for completeing surveys. Instead of surveys they get nothing but spam in their email inbox. Be careful and do your research before you sign up.

When you sign up with NFO/My Survey and Survey Savvy you will only get survey and focus group invitations-no spam.

Are there any other companies?

Yes there are.

I’ve taken surveys with Greenfield Online and SurveySpot. A years ago I did receive a check for $7 from Survey Spot but have not received a paying survey since then. I’ve never qualified for a paying survey from Greenfield Online. I know people do, so maybe I don’t fit their their needed survey pool. Most of the surveys I receive from Greenfield Online only offer an entry into a sweepstakes. That’s not worth 15 or 30 minutes of my time filling out a survey. Your experience might be different.
Here are their websites if you are interested:

Greenfield Online

Survey Spot

There is one signup allowed per household. So sometimes the surveys you get might be for a spouse or child. They want to hear a wide variety of opinions!

You earn points for each referral that signs up and completes their first survey. So you want to make sure you find out if your friends and family are interested in taking surveys. You earn 150 points for each referral, and can cash out 1000 points for $10. So in essence, you earn $1.50 for each referral! Referrals are great, but they are not necessary to earn money from answering their surveys.

One good thing I like about My Survey is that you don’t get any spam when you give them your email address, only survey invitations!

To begin, simply click on My Survey , fill out the simple registration and then check your email. You will receive your first survey very shortly from “carol@mysurvey”, make sure to fill it out.