Money Tree 4 Moms

One of the most common questions I’ve gotten from people trying to make money online is whether you can really make money by doing online surveys. For me, the answer to this has been unequivocally “Yes!” However, in order to get the best results, a little research is required.

Paid online surveys are actually one of the most reliable ways I’ve found to make money online, and it fits perfectly into my lifestyle. If I have a whole morning available while my kids are in school, I will complete a longer, more time-consuming survey (that will also pay quite well). If I only have a few minutes before I need to start dinner, I can choose a shorter survey, and still earn $5-$10 in twenty minutes or less.

In the past 2-3 years, the number of online survey sites has simply exploded, to the point where you need to be very cautious about where you sign up. Some sites are free to join, and some charge a membership fee. I’ve tried virtually all of them and, truthfully, I’ve found that the old adage about “getting what you pay for” is very true when it comes to these online survey sites.

You see, the sites you join are not actually the ones conducting the surveys. These membership sites provide information about different surveys and market research opportunities that are available for you to participate in. They provide a service to you by organizing the details on hundreds of companies that will reward you for sharing your thoughts and opinions. In my experience, the sites that charge a fee to join are much better organized, their information is more accurate, and they offer better opportunities than the free sites. And I would much rather spend my precious time actually filling out surveys and earning money than I would tracking down all the online research opportunities myself, or worse yet, wasting time with inaccurate information and broken links on the free sites.

So if online surveys sound like an opportunity you’d like to pursue, how do you know where to begin? Below I’ve listed my favorite paid survey sites. You may wish to start slow and try out one of two of them, but I’ve found it advantageous to sign up with a handful of different sites. They all have certain listings that are unique just to them, and investing in the one-time membership fee at each site has given me the most flexibility to choose the surveys that work best for me.

• Work from Home by Typing Online
  These folks do all the work for you. Rather than getting scammed, the site administrator researches a large number of companies and then compiles a large list that is available to all members. Simply join as many as possible, complete their surveys, and watch the checks roll in. I highly recommend this company… I believe they are the best, most reputable survey company online!
• Unlimited Access to Hundreds of Paid Survey Companies!
  Much like the previous company, these people research the companies they work with. Their database is continually updated in order to give its members the most current information available in order to maximize your profits. This is another awesome company to work with.
• Make Money Taking Online Surveys
  This is another organization that thoroughly researches the companies they work with and only works with reliable, reputable firms. They also pride themselves in protecting your privacy, and will only work with companies that will keep your personal information (name, address, phone number, and e-mail address, etc.) strictly confidential. Another business that I highly recommend!

And now, for those of you who really don’t want to pay anything to get started, I have two recommendations for you.

• American Consumer Opinion Surveys
  This is a very reputable company. They do not keep an online database of opportunities — instead you provide demographic information when you register, and every now and then they will send you a “screener” survey (a short questionnaire) to see if you qualify to participate in the full survey. Rewards are always paid via check, and they range in value from $4 to $50, depending on the length of time it takes to complete the survey. Since they offer you a chance to participate so infrequently, you will not make much money doing this. However, I’ve found them very pleasant to work with, and they have no minimum payment amount, so they mail you a check very quickly for each survey you complete.
• CashCrate
  I have mixed feelings about this one, and I don’t use it very often. However, I know some people have been very successful making money through CashCrate, so I’ve included it here. I found that the payment for most surveys is very minimal — generally fifty cents to a dollar — and you need to get a little “tricky” to actually get credited for the surveys you complete. For example, they recommend techniques like using several different e-mail addresses and clearing your cookies after every survey, but even following all their hints, I still found that I was only successfully paid for about 20% of the surveys I completed. But give it a try if you are interested… as they say, your mileage may vary!