Online surveys are nothing new. Brands have been using them since the internet became widely accessible to gain insights into their customers' wants, needs, desires and opinions. Yet it’s not just brands that benefit from this type of informational sourcing. Yes, the brand gets precious data to help them improve their company and marketing, but those taking the survey get a little something back for their time and effort too. In a nutshell, online surveys are a win-win situation.
The big question most people ask is whether taking these surveys for money is really worth their time. First, there are literally thousands of websites offering some form of quid pro quo on surveys, which can make it overwhelming for someone to get started. Many of these websites don’t pay out as well as they appear to promise when you sign up.
So, is it worth it? The short answer is yes. The long answer is, if you’re strategic in how you go about taking online surveys, you can turn this into a great side hustle that gives you extra spending money when you really need it.
3 Reasons To Take Online Surveys
The reason online surveys are becoming a good option for a side hustle is that they give you plenty of flexibility and freedom:
1. You Can Do Them In Your Spare Time
There are no set rules about how many surveys you need to take, when you need to take them, and how long you need to spend doing them. Once you’re signed up to the website of your choice, you can simply log in when you have some spare time and start taking surveys that are relevant to you.
It’s entirely up to you how much time and effort you want to dedicate to taking online surveys. There’s no rule that says you have to spend the same amount of time on the site each week.
2. You Can Choose The Rewards You Get
Online surveys can pay out in a range of different ways. You can build up your income and get a nice lump sum paid over via PayPal, or whichever online transaction platforms the site uses.
Others offer gift cards for a particular store or provide coupons for discounts at certain businesses. There are so many ways to make this side hustle work for your lifestyle.
3. It's A Low-Risk Income Generator
The best part is, you don’t have any risks when taking up this side hustle. You don’t have to outlay any cash to get started, buy a particular piece of software or product, or learn any new skills. All you need is a computer or mobile device, and an internet connection—which is something you probably already have—as well as some time to put into making your profile and taking those surveys.
3 Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your New Side Hustle
If you’re ready to get started with your online surveys side hustle, it’s important to make sure that you do it right. You need to set yourself up for success, otherwise you could waste a lot of time and not make any decent money out of it.
1. Pick Your sites Wisely
There are a myriad of survey sites that feature enticing rewards and make bold promises, but they don’t all match up. To make matters worse, a good number of them are untrustworthy, which sometimes makes it hard for the decent sites to keep their good reputation. That’s why it’s so important to do your research before you sign up.
Look for reviews and user comments to make sure the site is reputable. Take the time to go through the terms and conditions for each website to ensure you feel comfortable with how they operate, and the type of information you have to provide.
2. Pay Attention To The Pay Structure
Once you have a list of paid online survey sites you believe are worth signing up for, take some time to look at the rewards and payout options. There are many different options, and some will be a lot more useful to you than others.
For example, if a site offers gift cards and coupons to businesses you never use, then that site probably isn’t a good choice. Similarly, if the payment method is going to attract high commission or forex fees, it may not pay out the way you expect. Make sure the sites you sign up for have offerings you’ll get value from.
3. Get Used To How The Site Works
The next step is to work out how you can maximize your earnings by doing paid online surveys. This can take a bit of time and exploration as you go. Some surveys have different ratings and will earn you more or less money than others, while some take a lot more effort to complete than others. It’s important to look into the various methods of earning money to ensure that you get the most out of your time spent answering questions.
Some sites also work on a tier system, and you’ll unlock higher paying surveys when you’ve completed a set number of submissions. Respondents that are honest and provide in-depth answers to questions, rather than provide generic feedback, are more valuable too, and are often rewarded with access to surveys that pay more, or offer better perks.
4. Set Your Goals
Now that you have your profiles set up and understand the way your survey site works, you can start planning your goals for your side hustle. If you’re saving for something specific—a holiday or a big purchase—you can work out how long it will take you to earn that amount of money. Alternatively, if you need to make a certain amount of income to supplement your regular job, you can plan accordingly.
Pro tip: If you’re getting gift cards or coupons as payment, consider putting the monetary equivalent into a savings account, or invest it. This will help you save money and still make the most out of your online surveys side hustle.
