Can You Make Money with Surveys?

If you’ve been a visitor of Work-At-Home Success for some time, you’ll know that I’ve never been very optimistic about making a living doing surveys. But I get asked about them all the time, so I thought I’d post my thoughts to help answer questions. I’ve also posted a few survey companies you can check out if you’re interested in learning more about surveys.

What are surveys?

Companies need information and feedback on the products and services they sell. They get this feedback by asking consumers questions about the product specifically or their buying habits. Surveys are not new, but in the past they’d come in the mail.

Are surveys a scam?

No, at least not the legitimate ones. Like most everything else related to working at home, there are always a few bad apples trying to take advantage of others. Legitimate survey sites do not charge you money. I have found that some sites will charge money to access their database of survey sites. You have to decide for yourself whether this is worth it. In my experience a little research goes a long way. And some of these survey database sites sneak in free-to-try programs that can cost you money.

Can you work-at-home doing surveys?

This is a hard question to answer because you can make some money and get free stuff. But I haven’t yet anyone yet who supports their family on survey income. So if you need to pay the rent, I don’t think surveys are the best option. If you want mad money or less than a few hundred a month, then maybe it would be worth effort.

Do I have to give them all that information about me?

Yes, but within reason. The survey sites need to put you into a demographic (married, own a home, have 2 kids, etc) because companies survey specific demographic groups. But you always want to be careful about giving away information that could hurt you financially. The difficulty is that if you’re getting paid, the law requires the company issue a 1099 for which a social security is needed.  This is true of any paid work in the U.S. (Incidentally, you’re also supposed to claim prizes and winnings as income on your taxes).

What do I need to know that isn’t usually mentioned?

Most survey sites will tell you how you can make $5 to $75 per survey, but what they don’t tell you is that you may only qualify for one survey a week or less or maybe more, but you’re not going to do five $25 surveys a day seven days a week. Many don’t  pay per survey, but instead enter you to win money.  And some give you stuff instead of money. I’ve gotten a portable CD player (before there were MP3 players) and a Victoria Secret bra. I also got paid $5 once to do a week-long log of my TV watching habits. It was fun, but I didn’t earn much.

They also fail to mention the qualifying aspect. When companies survey consumers, they usually want a very specific group such as married moms with children under 10 years who own a home, a computer, a gaming system, and watch 20 hours of t.v. a week (this is just an example). Further you don’t know until you start the survey whether or not you’ll fit the demographic the company is looking for. Usually the first few questions are used to identify if you fit the target group.

The people I’ve met who seem to make the most from surveys and win a lot of free stuff tend to spend a lot of time at it and participate through more than one company. If you’d like to give it a try, you’re likely only to waste time (as opposed to money) and perhaps you’ll get a few bucks or free items. Remember though to never pay money to join a survey site and be skeptical about the free-trial offers that will bill you if you fail to cancel. Some survey database sites have those kind of offers as well.

Here are few survey sites you can try. The are free, BUT I cannot make any guarantees about their programs or your success in working with them. They are offered solely as information you can check out.

American Consumer Opinion
Consumer Views
FocusLine.com
Online Customer Surveys
Panda Research
Survey Savvy
Vindale

Upcoming Work-At-Home Seminars

I’ll be conducting a series of in-person seminars at Piedmont Virginia Community College this fall.

Create or Find a Work at Home Job Saturday, September 25   9:00am-noon

Companies are hiring virtual workers to keep productivity up while saving on costs. Learn which companies use telecommuters, what jobs are available now, how to identify your skills and how to protect yourself from scams. Includes worksheets, handouts and free access to an online directory of resources. Go to www.pvcc.edu/wfs or call 434.961.5354  to reserve your seat in these workshops which will be held in the Stultz Center at PVCC.

Earning Income Online Saturday, October 2    9:00am-noon     $49

Discover how to find work or launch a business online using your existing skills and interests. Identify the assets that are potential money-makers, determine the best way to make money from your ideas, use free and inexpensive online tools to generate income and develop a plan of action. Includes worksheets and handouts. Go to www.pvcc.edu/wfs or call 434.961.5354 to reserve your seat in these workshops which will be held in the Stultz Center at PVCC.

Become a Virtual Assistant Saturday, October 16   9:00am-noon    $49

Do you have the skills to provide office and administrative support? If so, then a virtual assistant (VA) career may be right for you. Learn what a VA does and how to get started. Identify the skills you have and the services you can offer, who needs your services and how to get them to hire you. Gain business start-up basics and learn how to set your fees and get paid. Includes worksheets and handouts. Go to www.pvcc.edu/wfs or call 434.961.5354 to reserve your seat in these workshops which will be held in the Stultz Center at PVCC.

WAHS Podcast #106 Jill Hart from CWAHM.com

This week I interview Jill Hart from CWAHM.com and co-author of So You Want to Be a Work-At-Home Mom.

If you’d like to download any episode you’ll notice a new “Download MP3″ below the player. You can get the podcasts through iTunes as well.
Listen here:

You can also subscribe through iTunes.

Resources Mentioned On the Show

CWAHM.com
So You Want to Be a Work-At-Home Mom: A Christian’s Guide to Starting a Home-Based Business

Get Paid to Tweet – Review of Let’s Get Social

If you haven’t listened already, check out my interview with Kate Buck on being a social media manager. This is a fast growing job/business option. Businesses know they need a social presence, but they don’t have the time to create profiles, manage friends and comments, and other social media tasks.

Prior to interviewing Kate, I purchased her program, Let’s Get Social, which is a training program for people who’d like to become social media managers. Let’s Get Social offers video tutorials that takes you through the process of starting your own social media management services. The videos include:

Video One: An introduction that explains what social media management is and what you’ll do as a social media manager.

Video Two: Branding information that helps you set up your own professional looking social media profiles and business site.

Video Three: Tips to creating service packages including what to offer and what to charge.

Video Four: An overview of the daily activities of a social media manager with tips and tricks to using systems and tools to streamline the work.

Video Five: Finding clients and how to have clients coming to you.

Video Six: How to manage your business including billing, contracts and more.

Each video also comes with a printable outline to follow along and take notes as well as an mp3 audio version. Some videos come with additional resources such as videos on how to manage profiles on various social media outlets and sample forms.

The package includes resources such as tools and and how-to’s to set up your business and manage it efficiently. Plus it has a list of books Kate recommends to stay on top of the social media trends.

There are options for an additional price that  include coaching and access to the “insiders club”.

What I liked:
Overall I liked Let’s Get Social. I think the videos provide enough information without being overwhelming. The resources, profile set-up videos and client forms compliment the product well. While you’ll likely need to study social networking in more depth particularly if don’t currently use social networking in a business, you’ll get enough from Let’s Get Social to get started. Because social media changes quickly, you’ll need to study to keep up on current trends anyway.

What I really like about Let’s Get Social is that it fills a need in an area that is new and growing. I see jobs everyday for social media managers. These jobs are looking for people to help manage Twitter and Facebook accounts as well as blogs. Let’s Get Social gives you the information you need to get these jobs and/or build your own business. (Remember, you’ll make more per hour running your own social media management business than you will working a social media manager job.)

What I didn’t like:

I would have liked to have seen transcripts of the videos or audios (as opposed to just an outline). That’s a personal preference. I prefer to read informational products rather than watch videos.

Also, the sales page is a video and again I’d like the option of a sales letter so I can skim for the details and get to the buy button.

Learn more about or get your copy of Let’s Get Social.*

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*Disclosure

WAHS Podcast #99 Ask the Pajama Mama

This week I answer your questions about working at home.

If you’d like to download any episode you’ll notice a new “Download MP3″ below the player. You can get the podcasts through iTunes as well.
Listen here:

You can also subscribe through iTunes.

Resources Mentioned On the Show

Fantastic Transcripts
CTran
Jobs Online Toolkit

WAHS Podcast #98 Mobile Notary Business with Yvonne Shells-Colley

This week I interview Yvonne Shells-Colley about staring a mobile notary business.

If you’d like to download any episode you’ll notice a new “Download MP3″ below the player. You can get the podcasts through iTunes as well.
Listen here:

You can also subscribe through iTunes.

Resources Mentioned On the Show

Shells Office Etc, LLC

WAHS Podcast #96 Affiliate Programs

This week I talk about affiliate programs.

If you’d like to download any episode you’ll notice a new “Download MP3″ below the player. You can get the podcasts through iTunes as well.
Listen here:

You can also subscribe through iTunes.

Resources Mentioned On the Show

Commission Junction
Clickbank

Looking for a product to promote? How about the Jobs Online Toolkit? You’ll help others find a way to work at home, and get paid doing it!

* Affiliate marketing is a real and viable way to make money at home; however, its not fast or automatic. Like any other legitimate work-at-home option, it requires learning the process, making a plan, and doing the work. Some great resources on how to make money with affiliate marketing include:

• Affiliatenaire
• SuperAffiliate Handbook
• The Niche Blogger

WAHS Podcast #94 Interview with Jane Pollak – Soul Proprietor

This week I interview Jane Pollak author of Soul Proprietor who got her started working at home by following her artistic passion in egg decorating.i

If you’d like to download any episode you’ll notice a new “Download MP3″ below the player. You can get the podcasts through iTunes as well.
Listen here:

You can also subscribe through iTunes.

Resources Mentioned On the Show

Jane Pollak’s Website

Five Reasons You Need to Start a Home Business

It used to be that going to work for forty years would provide you with enough income to support your family today and a nice pension to support your retirement tomorrow. Those days are gone. Financial gurus today are stressing the importance not relying on a job for your financial security. They are recommending that the best way to secure your family’s finances now and in the future is through a part-time home based business.

Here are five reasons you NEED to start a home business:

1)      Jobs are not secure or keeping up with the cost of living. More and more people are being laid off as work is outsourced to other countries or struggling industries are forced to cut back. Further, salaries have not kept pace with the cost of living which is making families poorer! Having a home-based business cannot only help fill this gap, but it can fund your retirement and even replace your income.

2)      Job related pensions and retirements are not secure and may not be enough to support you. Many companies are cutting back or eliminating their pension plans. Many don’t offer any sort of pension plan at all. With Social Security in financial trouble, you can’t expect to have the government or your boss secure your retirement. It’s up to you. A part-time home business can help you earn extra money that you can invest in your future.

3)      Tax benefits. Please note, I’m not a tax expert so you should always consult a tax professional on your taxes. However, as a home business owner you have many tax deductions available to you on expenses involved in running your business.

4)      Money savings. If you are able to bring your business home full-time, you can save huge on the costs related to working outside the home such as commuting, childcare, etc. In fact, many families are able to live better on less income by working from home.

5)      Improved well being. Stress, lack of sleep, no time for oneself much less a family are all the result of jobs that ask you to work more and more for less and less. The health implications for this kind of life are staggering with increased depression, heart disease, and more. Adding a side income from a home business can take the burden off of fears of losing a job because if you get laid off you have some income and savings to fall back on. But if you can replace your job with your business, you can set your hours, take time for yourself, spend more time with the family, and be able to take better care of you.

Get Paid to Help Others Work At Home!

Did you know that Work-At-Home Success has two affiliate products that you can use to make money while helping others find their own work-at-home path?

Affiliate programs are an easy low-cost way to make money online. In just three steps you can start earning money*:

1. Sign up for one or both of the programs.

2. Get your affiliate links.

3. Let others know about the great products you’ve found to help them work at home.

Jobs Online Toolkit

The Jobs Online Toolkit provides a complete step-by-step resource to not only teach people how to find legitimate jobs, but how to get hired as well. It includes tons of places to search for jobs worldwide plus a list of over 300 companies that are frequently hiring. The Jobs Online Toolkit pays 65% for every person referred who buys and comes with a host of marketing tools to help you promote it. The program is run through Clickbank, which is free. Visit the Jobs Online Toolkit Affiliate program to learn more and sign up.

The Work-At-Home Success Bible

Sign up for Amazon.com’s Associate’s program to help spread the word about The Work-At-Home Success Bible. Joining is free and easy.

1. Sign up for Amazon.com’s Associate’s program.
2. Log into your associate’s account.
3. Click on the “Links and Banners” tab at the top of the page.
4. Click on “Add Product Links now” from the first option.
5. Enter “Work-At-Home Success Bible” or ISBN “978-1-598969-916-6″
6. Click on “Get Link” next to the Work-At-Home Success Bible option.
7. Select your link type in box 1.  (Text/Graphic/Text&Graphic)
8. Customize the link if you want (optional) in box 2.
9. View the preview provided to see how your link will look.
10. Copy the code in box 3 and paste it on your web page or blog.

* Affiliate marketing is a real and viable way to make money at home; however, its not fast or automatic. Like any other legitimate work-at-home option, it requires learning the process, making a plan, and doing the work. Some great resources on how to make money with affiliate marketing include:

• Affiliatenaire
• SuperAffiliate Handbook
• The Niche Blogger

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