Frequently asked questions about paid surveys

Wherever you go online these days, you will see an ad offering to pay you for your opinion. 

In this article, we will review the most frequently asked questions about paid surveys.

What is a paid survey?

A paid survey, or "market research", is a series of questions that are presented to an individual or a group of individuals to see how they perceive and respond to certain products or services. Each person subscribes to a certain type of demography (segments of the human population broken down by age, sex, income, etc.) towards which certain products or services are marketed. For example, sports equipment can be marketed to a younger and physically active demographic group, while luxury cars can be marketed to a higher income demographic group. These online surveys are offered free of charge to better understand certain markets.

What is a discussion group?

A focus group is another type of survey where a group of people is asked to discuss a certain topic related to the company sponsoring the focus group. You may or may not know the purpose of the discussion and they are often hosted by a moderator who will guide the discussion. These focus groups can take place in a physical location or online and typically last between 30 minutes and 2 hours. Compensation can range from up to, depending on the subject and the time involved.

Why is my opinion so important?

Businesses spend hundreds of thousands, even millions, of dollars on advertising for new and / or existing products and services. These "advertising campaigns" can sometimes be a complete waste of time and money if the company is not looking for the market it is trying to conquer. So it makes sense for a business to see how its products or services are received by the public, before investing money and time in advertising. This is where the market research comes in, and this is why your opinion is so important.