There are many online survey sites that pay you in some way for participating in market research surveys. That payment can be actual money or points to redeem in online shops. Here are some things you should know about answering surveys online.

Can I make a living off paid online surveys?

Let’s answer this question right at the beginning since it’s such a simple one: No. Participating in online surveys can give you some extra bucks and some nice gifts, but you should not consider it a job.

How much you get in return for your participation varies, but often it is just a few cents per survey. Answering surveys online is something you do in your free time, not something to count on financially.

How many surveys will I get?

There are different models of online survey sites out there. Some companies will send you loads of surveys every day, but you might only get a few cents per survey. If you have enough time to answer all of them and are patient, that can be totally fine for you, but often people only participate in a few surveys.

Other online platforms, like Nicequest, strive to form a strong community of people who make up a representative group and who the research company can count on. That often means that you won’t get surveys every day but you will often get more points in return and the threshold to redeem your first gift is lower.

How do I know if my data is protected?

Be sure to check if the online survey platform you are joining explains how they will use your information. An essential requirement is always to separate the information you give in the surveys from the personal information in your account. When signing up for an online survey site, read their privacy policy. The information about data protection should be easy to find and clear to understand.

What are the benefits of joining an online survey site?

There are two reasons for joining an online survey community. First of all: the opportunity to earn some money or gifts online. Nicequest, for example, offers gifts in 11 different categories, ranging from electronics to gifts for your pet and interesting ebooks.

The second reason to participate in online surveys is market research itself. Are people generally happy with their work-life-balance? How do they feel about new technological advances? Is the price of a product more important or the quality?

There are many companies and institutions who need the answer to these question.  The results of a survey you participate in might help to create new products and improve existing ones.

To sum up: Answering online surveys is not a job, but it can be fun and you can get yourself some nice gifts. What are some of your experiences with online survey sites? Do you have more tips to share? Let us know in the comments!