Type the phrase paid surveys in Google, and you will see a countless list of paid survey web sites. Some claim $150/hr payment, others say its the perfect work at home job, while others say online paid surveys are just a scam. With all of these conflicting links, its hard to know what to believe. Are online paid surveys an Internet Jackpot, an online scam, or somewhere in between? Are you missing a great opportunity or should you stay away?
The first thing that you must understand is that market research is a real business. Market Research firms have been paying customers to take surveys and participate in focus groups long before the internet was a household commodity. Its just that with the increasing number of people online, the internet has become an effective and efficient way for marketing companies to collect data and test their advertisements. Also the internet gives these market research firms access to a wide demographic of users, which allows them to get a better idea of how their products will perform with people of different age, sex, nationality, etc.
Unfortunately, many questionable sites have popped up on the internet which has ruined...