surveymasteronline

2005-08-31T09:10:00.000-07:00

With thousands of people trying to find a way to make some extra money online everyday, paid online survey sites are popping up everywhere. With so many out there (some good, some - well, not so good) it's hard to determine what to believe. In an attempt to clarify the ins and outs, and the myths and realities of paid online surveys, I've composed a series of questions and answers to help you sort everything out. We'll start with the basics and then get into the nitty gritty.

Question: Is this for real? Why would someone pay me to take online surveys?
Answer: Yes, this is for real. There are literally hundreds of legitimate market research companies out there who offer incentives for your opinion. Companies have come to these firms to get public opinions on their products or services and are willing to pay them to find out what you think. They then pass some of that payment onto you.

Question: What are the surveys about?
Answer: Just about anything that you can think of. You may be asked to review a movie trailer for a new movie, what kind of peanut butter you like, what restaurants you frequent, you name it. From barbeque grills to medical questions to appliances to what you had for dinner last night. There are sites for specific age groups, professions, hobbies and interests. The surveys are generally very interesting and these companies are looking for your opinion on how to shape their products.

Question: How does it work?
Answer: Each company works a bit differently, but here are the basics of online surveys. You will sign-up for a paid survey site. You will enter some basic demographic information (age, gender, etc�), and when they have a survey available in which they are looking for someone who fits your profile, they will send you an invitation to take a survey. The invitation will usually contain a link directly to the survey and the incentive they are offering for you to take the survey. Just click on the link and take the survey to qualify for the reward.

Question: What kinds of incentives are offered?
Answer: The incentives vary for each site, but generally the incentives take the following forms: cash, gift certificates (Amazon gift certificates being the most popular), merchandise (DVDs, small appliances, electronic gadgets, cookware, etc�), and charity donations. Each survey site will offer one or several of the above incentives for your participation in their surveys. Some will offer these straight out, for example "get paid $5.00 to take this survey", some offer these in the form of a drawing and others have a point system in which accumulated points can be "cashed in" for the items above.

Question: Will you get spammed by signing up for paid survey sites?
Answer: No, but you do have to be careful. There are some sites out there that are simply advertising firms posing as paid online survey sites. Here's my advise on how to tell the difference. First, if they offer you a chance at a fantastic prize for signing up, such as a car or a boat, I would be a bit weary and do some more research before you sign-up. Second, if the survey to sign-up for the site consists of a lot of questions as to whether or not you want more information on other products, walk away, you're certain to get spammed. Just remember that a legitimate market research firm will not endorse a product or service, they are supposed to be unbiased. Third, read the privacy policy if you have any concerns. The majority of the sites out there are legitimate and will only email you if there is a survey available or if there is important information they need to notify you of.

Question: Should you pay for a database of paid survey sites?
Answer: No. There are several reasons why you shouldn't pay a dime to take online surveys. First, with a little effort you'll be able to find all of the sites yourself - free. There are a lot of free sites that have pretty good lists and also a few really good free sites out there that have comprehensive free paid survey directories with hundreds of listings. Secondly, market research firms are actually prohibited from charging people to participate in surveys and frown upon anyone who does.

Question: Can I get rich just by taking online surveys?
Answer: I've had so many people ask me if there are going to be able to retire by taking online surveys. Well, that's just not going to happen. Where it is possible to make a decent amount of money by making referrals or by running a survey related website, you're just not going to be making a full-time salary by simply taking surveys. There are a lot of sites out there advertising that you can make thousands of dollars per week or make $45 dollars and hour for taking online surveys (you can actually make $45 dollars an hour for a particular survey, but you won't always make that much and it may only be a 10 minute survey).

Question: How much can I make?
Answer: That's really hard to say. It really depends on a number of factors. How many sites did you sign-up with? How often do you take the surveys you are invited to take? What is your demographic? Etc� But I won't just leave you hanging at that. I would say, if you sign-up for a number of survey sites, take the majority of the surveys you are invited to and are not limited in life experience, you could make perhaps $1,000 to $2,000 a year in cash or something equivalent. Mostly you will get smaller payments ($1.00 to $10.00) for a survey but I've seen them pay as much as $200. Treat this as extra cash, not a career. You can easily make enough to take the family out for dinner, buy a few extras, get a few nice things for around the house or save it all for your Christmas shopping.

Question: So, is it worth it?
Answer: Yes, I think so. Whereas, it's not going to make you filthy rich, it's certainly an easy and fun way to make a few extra bucks. I find the surveys to be enjoyable to participate in and for the time spent, the compensation is pretty good.

That wraps up this question and answer session. Hopefully this article has shed some light on the world of paid online surveys. If you cut through the hype and know what to look for, online surveys can be an enjoyable way to make some extra money. You'll get to see new products before they come out, give your opinion on how to make existing products better and get paid to do so. Not too bad for a few minutes of your time.

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Chris Ohlson is the owner of Free Paid Surveys.net,
www.freepaidsurveys.net With a comprehensive listing
of over 300 paid online survey sites and dedicated to
providing straight-forward and honest information on paid
online surveys.

This article brought to you by: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-31T02:52:00.000-07:00

In a word �yes. The amount of money you make, however, is dependant upon you.

Making more money simply means you have to fill more surveys � as many as you can. This also means time and effort on your part. However, it is money that you can make at home at your own pace, on your own time.

There are survey and market research companies out there that are more than willing to pay you for your thoughts on any given topic.

Not only do they pay you for filling out these easy surveys online, but they love handing you the cash as well!

Because of the fast growing success of the online survey and market research business, it's going to be around for quite some time. Here�s why:

Online marketing research is the way to go for companies -

Paid surveys online is a new venture for marketing researchers and they're planning on using it more and more. There are now so many people on the internet that companies can get a good sample of opinions for their research.

Researchers are willing to pay you more money directly when you sign up via the internet because it costs them less money in overhead, employee costs and corporate "middle-men".

You get paid to help companies figure out how the public views their new or current products, services or policies - your opinion is worth money.

Companies want to know how people perceive their products or services so that they can refine their goods and keep their competitive edge. They learn what needs to be done to provide better products and services. They are willing to pay you to find out how they can make their products better.

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Claudia Brown is currently the owner and developer
of http://www.surveymasteronline.com and is also
a home business owner.
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This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

Did you know that doing online paid surveys is a great way to start your own home-based business?

For starters, you can work when you want and how long you want, in your pajamas if you desire, all in the luxury of your own home. It doesn't matter what facet of life you are in - whether you are tired of the nine-to-five routine, you are an at-home mom, a college student or just want to make extra money in your spare time. Online paid surveys allows you total flexibility over your schedule.

You are responsible for your own goals. You must decide how much money you want to make in what time frame and how many hours per day or per week you are willing to devote to that goal. Write your goals down so that you can refer to them and use them as a guideline for your day to day efforts.

If you never worked your own home business before, you probably don't know that you can write any and all business expenses off your taxes. This means that you can write off your survey membership, office supplies (pens, pencils,
paper, etc.) and even your computer if you bought it for your business.

How do you make the most out of your online paid survey business?
      1) Register with as many survey sites as you can. This will ensure a
      constant stream of opportunities for surveys and focus groups (a select
      group of people all discussing one topic, generally over the phone or in
      chat rooms), as well as various other offerings such as Mystery Shopper
      and driving a free car (!) so your monthly income will be fairly steady.
      2) Fill out as much information as you can in the surveys in order to
      qualify you for more surveys and more invites.
      3) Concentrate on your business daily. Your business will only grow
      based on how much effort you put into it, so keep your goals in mind as
      you have fun with filling out the surveys.

Having a home business can be fun! With paid online surveys, there is little that you have to keep track of, unlike other home-based businesses. You just have to look for sureys in your email, fill them out and get paid. Therefore, it is a great business to start as your first home business.

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Claudia Brown is currently the owner and developer
of http://www.surveymasteronline.com and is also
a home business owner.
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This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-30T15:40:00.000-07:00

Every year, companies in the United States spend over 250 Billion dollars a year trying to convince consumers to buy their products and services, and that's JUST in the U.S.!

Although the lion's share of that money is spent on advertising, a huge amount is devoted to market research.

Understanding how we as consumers think and why we choose certain products over others, enables companies to improve their goods and services. The better they understand us as consumers, the more money they make.

Because it PAYS them to know what we like and want, companies are willing to PAY us for our opinions.

It makes perfect business sense. Using the Internet as a direct channel to ordinary people like you and me, paying for online surveys is a cheap, efficient and very effective way of gathering quality and highly targeted market research.

There are companies that will pay you up to:

$ 99 per online survey
$ 250 per hour to participate in focus groups
$ 150 per hour to take phone surveys
$4-25 per hour to view movie trailers

Online surveys are general forms generated by marketing research companies, to get information on a particular product or services. They perform detailed investigation on the feedback they get from you and pass it on to top companies.

Focus groups are meetings wherein the attendees express their opinions on a particular particular topic. They are generally conducted by phone or in chat rooms.

In other cases you can get paid to:

Be a Mystery Shopper
Shop and read emails!
Drive a free car

As a Mystery Shopper you are sent to a designated retail or commercial area to buy a product or service. You then evaluate and comment on your overall buying experience with that establishment.

Some companies and advertisers pay cash for every email you read about their products. I've read about some who doing this and making between $1,000 to $1,800 a month, no gimmicks.

No doubt you want to know about the fr*ee car! These cars have advertisements on them. Drive them, and you won't pay insurance or monthly installments. The companies providing these vehicles earn their money from the advertising on the vehicle.

Payment is made in different ways. Some companies pay instantly via PayPal, whereas others will mail you a check.

In lieu of cash, some companies pay with:

Napster Music Downloads
Buy.com Gift Certificates

Other companies will enter you into drawings for large cash prizes, let you earn points that can be used to buy products, or redeem these points for cash.

Whatever the method of payment, you will be provided with the exact compensation details before you decide to participate.

Finding paid surveys online can be a time-consuming process, and there are number of scam operators in the business.

Fortunately for us, a few smart entrepreneurs have developed big databases of reputable companies that are paying for online surveys.

They themselves use those databases to earn all or part of their incomes.

The various databases that I researched list between 300 and up to almost 700 resources.

To gain access to these databases costs a one-time membership fee of between $29.95 and $37. However, just one hour online can pay for your membership!

Most accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Euro card, and Visa-Debit, MasterCard-Debit, and Novus cards, Pay Pal and online checks.

You have nothing to lose either. If you're not satisfied, each company offers a money-back guarantee of between 60 and 90 days.

Most of these listing companies offer incentives to join such as:

E-books
250 free business cards
Automation Software
2 free airline tickets
3 day 2 night vacation

Your membership will entitle you to the latest industry news and you will be generally notified when new companies join the database.

Generally, the surveys are between 10 and 15 minutes in length, and although you can make up to $100 by completing one survey, $10 to $25 is far more typical.

Although you probably won't get rich completing surveys, or participating in focus groups, you could make a tidy sum doing it either full or part-time. Basically, the more surveys that you complete, the more money you will make.
I rather prefer stacks of $10, 15 and $25 checks to the alternative - no checks at all! :-))

This great opportunity is well-suited to anyone who works from home, students, stay-at-home parents, retired people, and for those with special needs. And you can do it from anywhere in the world!

And it doesn't matter if you live outside the U.S. This opportunity is open to people the world-over. As long as you can cash a U.S. dollar check, you can be in business.

Below is a list of the best online databases of survey companies.
Note: Membership pricing and payouts may change!

Get Cash for Surveys
# of Companies Listed - 300+
Guarantee Terms - 90 days
Online Surveys ($5 to $150 for answering some simple questions!)
Online Focus Groups (as much as $250 for a one hour "chat"!)
Phone Surveys (up to $100 for a 30-minute survey!)
Product Testing (they mail you a product, and you get to keep it!)
and Automation software
One-time subscription fee - $37.00

Paid Online Surveys
# of Companies Listed - 275+
Guarantee Terms - 90 days
Paid Surveys Fee Range - $5 - $120
Focus Group Fee Range - up to $250/h
and Automation software
One-time subscription fee - $34.97

PaidSurveysOnline
# of Companies Listed - 300+
Guarantee Terms - 90 days
Paid Surveys Fee Range - $5 - $75
Focus Group Fee Range - $50 - $150
Other Services - $4 to $25
Get paid to try new products - keep the products and get paid too!
Bonus - 2 round trip airfares
One-time subscription fee - $34.95

Survey Junction
# of Companies Listed - approx. 700
Guarantee Terms - 90 days
Paid Surveys Fee Range - $25 - $99
Focus Group Fee Range - $30 - $200
Preview Movie Trailers Range - $5 - $50
Try New Products Range - $10 - $50
Bonus - 2 round trip airfares
One-time subscription fee - $32.95

Survey Scout
# of Companies Listed - 450+
Guarantee Terms - 90 days
Paid Surveys Fee Range - $5 - $120
Focus Group Fee Range - up to $200
Bonus - Automation software
One-time subscription fee - $34.95

Survey Platinum
# of Companies Listed - 450+
Guarantee Terms - 90 days
Paid Surveys Fee Range - $5 - $150
Focus Group Fee Range - up to $250
Other Services -
Bonus - ebooks, 250 business cards
One-time subscription fee - $34.95

WorkOnline4Pay
# of Companies Listed - 400
Guarantee Terms - 60 days
Paid Surveys Fee Range - $5 - $75
Focus Group Fee Range - $50 - $250
Other Services - $4 to $25
Bonus - 2 free airline tickets
One-time subscription fee - $29.95

Have your say, and help shape the products and services of the future.

Select one or more from the Internet Online Paid Survey Database companies listed above, and start collecting a steady, regular, monthly paycheck working from the comfort of home.

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About the Author: Article by Rosalind Gardner, best-selling author of the 'Super Affiliate Handbook: How I Made $436,797 Last Year Selling Other People's Products Online' and the "Net Profits Coach" ezine, a straightforward and entertaining guide to ebusiness. Learn from an expert. Go to: http://RosalindGardner.com
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This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-30T11:36:00.000-07:00

It�s true, this is a very viable approach to many stay at home moms, and dads, college students, retirees, and you name it. No one really believed you could actually earn a monthly income just from getting involved with survey companies and focus groups. It is a simple approach to earning an honest income at home. Most people who desire to work at home, don�t have 8 to 9 hours a day to devote to working, therefore filling in surveys and participating in focus groups is the perfect job. The reason for this is that you can accept whatever assignments you choose and work on them, whenever you choose.

The beauty of this job is that when you put your kids to bed at night, you can actually go sit down at your computer and fill out 2 to 3 surveys and earn about $80 to $100 for your time. To give you more assurance that this is a career you can have at home, take today for example, I got a phone call this morning to invite me to participate in a focus group � the pay is $85 for one hour, when I went to my email I had a consumer review survey, paying $15 for 30 minutes. I also had invites to 2 surveys that paid $5 for 10 minutes each of my time. So for one day, I made $110 for less than 2 hours� work. It is a beautiful thing!

Companies in United States and Canada spend an average of $250 billion in advertising. These companies need to know what the public wants and what they will buy. They also need to know which of their marketing campaigns would encourage consumers to purchase their products. This is where the survey fillers come in. These companies need your opinion and will pay you handsomely for it. It is imperative to their business to have an everyday persons� opinion on their products and services. For these companies and for the paid survey filler, it is a win-win situation. Think you would be interested in getting paid for your time, opinions and observations? Read on�

HOW DO YOU GET STARTED EARNING MONEY FILLING IN SURVEYS?

Let's get started with how to start an at home career by filling in surveys, to do this you need to follow these steps:

Step1: REGISTER WITH ALL THE COMPANIES: This can seem like a long task, but take our word for it, it will pay off. The more companies you register with the more invites to participate in surveys, and thus...more money for you. Even if a survey only gives prizes as rewards, register with them anyway. You would be amazed how many of our members have earned big rewards by winning those survey draws.

Step 2: BE HONEST IN YOUR OPINION: Companies are looking for individuals from all walks of life to fill surveys, there is not one mainstream demographic that they are searching for.

Step 3: CHECK COMPANIES FREQUENTLY: There are several companies that don't send out email invites to every survey, make sure to browse these companies often to see if there are any paid surveys to participate in.

Step 4: FILL IN THE ADDITIONAL PROFILES: There are several companies that urge you to fill in additional profiles (i.e.: what vehicle you drive, your spending habits online, etc.) I too, urge you to fill in these additional profiles, as they will qualify you for even more surveys, and you will get more invites.

STEP 5: WORK FOR YOURSELF: You are now working for your own income, and it is up to you how much you earn. Your effort in this process is what will pay off, be determined in your surveys, and you will see the benefits!!!

Nicole Boles is the creator of popularpay.com, small business-owner and author of many articles on at home employment, paid surveys, and mystery shopping. She is a professional on "at home employment" and also publishes a popular quarterly newsletter on working from home. For more information on surveys or more work at home opportunities, please visit us at: http://www.popularpay.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-30T07:25:00.000-07:00

Online surveys and focus groups might solve the toughest problems in market research. But can Internet users really speak for everyone?

When Tee Ann Hunter is asked to participate in a survey, she usually does. "I don't mind market research, as long as I can see or hear the person I'm talking to," she says. She spends $50 on takeout food and $150 on groceries every week, plus about $200 a month on clothes for her three children, so her opinion is valuable to marketers. Yet she may never surf the Net, which could ultimately make her less visible to market researchers.

Hunter has a professional job and computers at work and home, but they aren't hooked up to the Internet or an online service. "The kids can go online at school, but I don't allow it at home because it's too hard to control. There's so much garbage out there," she says. "Myself, I have no need for it. I like to go out and do things. I don't understand people who 'surf' the Internet and send little messages back and forth. Maybe they don't have enough to do."

Meanwhile, millions of Americans discover the online world every year. About 23 percent of people aged 16 and older in the U.S. and Canada have used the Internet in the last month and have access today, according to the January 1997 wave of an ongoing survey by CommerceNet and Nielsen Media Research. In the fall of 1995, only 10 percent had used the Internet in the three months prior to the survey.

As the number of Internet users grows, their demographic profile becomes more similar to that of the average American. About 58 percent of current Internet users are men, compared with 66 percent in fall 1995. About 39 percent of users hold professional or managerial jobs, down from 50 percent in 1995. On the whole, though, Internet users are still an elite group. Fewer than 18 percent of all Americans aged 16 and older hold professional or managerial jobs, for example.

Despite their current bias toward the young, the male, and the affluent, Internet users are seen as a godsend in the troubled field of market research. About 17 percent of marketers surveyed who work in some of the 2,000 largest U.S. companies have used data from online surveys, according to an October 1996 study by the Council of American Survey Research Organizations (CASRO). Most of those who have used online surveys expect to use more of them in the future, and 42 percent of marketers who have not conducted research online expect to try it within five years. "As a researcher, I am agog at the potential for this new tool," says Nick Tortorello, a senior vice president at Roper Starch Worldwide, Inc. and CASRO committee chairman.

Believers in online market research say it is usually less expensive than a survey taken by phone, mail, or personal interview. It can deliver results from a large number of respondents literally overnight. It can find hard-to-reach groups, such as the owners of specific models of products, with relative ease. Almost every form of market research has now been tried online, from the simplest demographic surveys to the most complex focus groups and new-product research.

As firms rush to master this new marketing tool, the opinions of wired Americans are likely to affect more marketing decisions. But can Internet users really speak for everyone? And if they do, who is going to pay attention to people like Tee Ann Hunter?

WHY RESEARCHERS LOVE ONLINE

The quiet crisis in market research is that most Americans now refuse to be surveyed. About two-thirds of households have a telephone answering machine, and about half of householders sometimes use their answering machine to screen their calls, according to a 1995 study by CASRO. When they are contacted by telephone, about six in ten Americans refuse to answer survey questions. This problem is getting worse in a hurry. In a 1988 study, the refusal rate for telephone research was about four in ten. The situation is also grave for surveys taken face-to-face or by mail. The Census Bureau assumes that about four in ten U.S. households that receive a 2000 census form won't fill it out, even though they are legally required to do so.

Online research sidesteps the non-cooperation problem because all responses are voluntary and filled out by respondents at their leisure. There's no need to hire and train interviewers, and no chance that an interviewer's mistake will taint the results. No one's dinner is interrupted by an unwelcome phone call. In fact, the best times to collect online responses include late evenings and holidays. "We put up a study on Good Friday and had 2,400 completed forms on Monday morning," says Steve Cook, senior vice president for Greenfield Online Research Center in Westport, Connecticut. "People go home over the weekend, relax, and return their e-mail."

Greenfield Online has a "panel" of about 200,000 online users. Members fill out a short survey on their demographic characteristics, product use, and computer use; the company draws survey samples from this pool and offers participants cash or the chance to win a prize. "Our panel members are usually research virgins," says Cook. "They refuse other forms of research but participate in online research because it's not intrusive. They feel good about participating. We don't get a lot of pattern answers, which indicates that people take the time to think about the questions. And we get incredible open-ended comments."

One reason why marketers love online research is because they themselves are comfortable in the wired world. More than nine in ten marketers surveyed by CASRO were "very" or "somewhat" familiar with the Internet. Moreover, marketers report spending a lot of time--an average of ten hours a week--using online services for work-related purposes. "I'm in the business, but I don't have time to answer telephone surveys," says Maria Cheung, senior manager of market research for American Express. "But I will answer an online survey in a spare moment. I think it's still a novelty to many people."

WHY THE BOSS LOVES ONLINE

The main reasons for the explosion in online research are its speed and low cost. You can ask people what they would think of a price increase for your product on Friday and get data on Tuesday, before you have to make a decision on Wednesday. Also, you can do it without hiring, training, or monitoring interviewers. "Other kinds of research can't compete with that," says Nick Tortorello. "Online levels the playing field for smaller businesses that can't afford big research bills."

Online surveys could change the way many businesses operate. For example, television producers often solicit viewers' opinions of a pilot episode before they give the green light to a television series. Today it's common for 200 people to be recruited to view the taping of the pilot and fill out a survey, or for telephone interviewers to call households at random until they find a few hundred who happened to see the show. Now imagine that the show had an online address and viewers were offered an incentive to respond. It's not unreasonable to expect that thousands of people would respond the evening the show aired on their cable system, so producers could see how the pilot appealed to different groups defined by demographics, attitudes, or product use.

The new medium also makes it possible to find highly specific research targets without screening a large random sample. "One of our clients was trying traditional methods to find owners of a specific brand and model of a home-office product, purchased over a short span of years," says Steve Cook. The survey was a complicated, multi-stage process where respondents would first fill out a questionnaire and then install a computer disk with additional questions. "In six months of telephoning, they spent thousands of dollars and found just a few people," says Cook. "Within a few weeks of searching online, we found several hundred at a fraction of the cost."

Cook's firm also holds online versions of focus groups, where participants type out their opinions after being screened and invited into a "chat room" by a moderator. "They aren't a replacement for traditional groups, because you can't see body language and other nonverbal responses," he says. "But they are a lower-cost way to supplement traditional focus groups. You can mix different kinds of people--men and women, white-collar and blue-collar, older and younger--in ways that wouldn't work in person." The cost and speed advantages of online research are encouraging clients to push its boundaries. Some firms have tested advertising images by loading them on Web pages and collecting reactions. Cook's firm recently asked a panel to view pictures of products on a grocery shelf, then point to the ones that appealed to them most and "buy" them with a click of the mouse. In the near future, record companies might send selections of songs and videos to teenagers, in an online battle of the bands.

Online research almost sounds too good to be true, and some argue that it is. Online users are not a randomly chosen sample of an entire population, they say, so the results of online surveys cannot be used to draw conclusions about broad markets. In many cases, it's difficult to keep people from answering an online survey more than once. Clients also worry that competitors could steal peeks at their online research. In their haste to get results and save a few bucks, businesses that ignore the limits of online research could make expensive mistakes.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR

All Internet surveys give an excellent profile of one target group: namely, the people who fill out the survey. For example, more than 1,000 people have filled out a short survey posted on the American Demographics Web site. Are they a good cross-section of our customers? No, because a large share of customers never go online. Are they a good cross-section of our Web site visitors? Probably not, because 70 percent of respondents say that it is their first visit to the site--and we have a lot of repeat visits.

Surveys of a small sample of any population accurately reflect the entire population only when the sample is "random." This means that any sample taken from the larger population must have the same probability as any other sample of being selected. To generate a random sample, you must first create a larger subset of the population that reflects, as closely as possible, the broad characteristics of the entire population. This larger subset is called the "sampling frame," and respondents are drawn from it at random. "Sampling bias" occurs when the sample is not perfectly random.

Some companies are trying to improve the situation. Burke, Inc. of Cincinnati, Ohio, offers an application that routes every nth Web site visitor to a survey section. While still not a true random sample, the program should provide a group that more closely resembles all the people who visit the site.

A few online surveys, such as those done by Greenfield, are drawn from a sampling frame. Greenfield's panel is large enough to provide some clients with good samples, especially if the target population is young, affluent, or male. But even then, clients must decide whether or not Internet users, as a group, have unique qualities and attitudes that add bias. "If you're trying to get the opinions of homemakers toward basic packaged goods, the Internet is not your vehicle," says Steve Cook. "We tell our clients that the results may not be projectible, and they need to be aware of the biases."

Another weakness of online surveys is the difficulty of verifying to whom you're talking. Stories abound of men who pretend to be women when they are online, or children who pretend to be adults. How do you tell? Some firms issue passwords to respondents once they are approved to participate in a survey, then require the password before the survey begins. "It's a problem now, but it will be solved soon," says Nick Tortorello. "Future computers will probably have the ability to read your fingerprint or your iris."

This "just-you-wait" optimism, so common to the Internet community, also describes marketers' views of online research. Marketers in the CASRO survey are aware that today's online surveys don't represent ordinary Americans. But most of them also say that online research in the future will be as reliable and accurate as mail, telephone, and in-person research.

It may also be possible to take advantage of online bias, because the attitudes of Internet users may predict the attitudes of the general public. Between 1993 and 1996, a sample of respondents to an online poll sponsored by Prodigy was drawn so that it was identical to the U.S. distribution for age, region, and sex. The online respondents' approval ratings for the President and Congress were compared with the general public's attitudes as measured by the Gallup Poll. "Prodigy tracked the general population's opinions almost exactly, and ran a little ahead of them," says Jan Werner, a Pittsfield, Massachusetts researcher who worked on the project.

Few samples of human populations escape from bias because some people are more likely than others to lie or refuse to cooperate. In the 1996 presidential election, for example, some studies found that Republicans were more likely than Democrats to refuse to answer exit polls. "Once the refusal rates in your sample become nonrandom, there is no way to project the results to the general population," says Werner. "Refusal rates are becoming so high that telephone surveys are using self-selected populations, just as online surveys do. Online may not be any worse.

"Researchers in the United States have a fetish for random samples, but it's a false issue," he says. "What's really important is establishing track records." In other words, if online surveys consistently and accurately predict the direction of your sales, they're good surveys for the purpose.

"Every method of surveying has a bias," says Tom Miller, director of Find/SVP's Emerging Technologies Research Group. "If you tell me exactly how a given online survey is collected, I don't think it's rocket science to figure out its bias." Find/SVP is considering a greater role for online surveys in its own research; it is now trying to devise new statistical weights and measures that would, as Miller puts it, "wring out as much sampling bias as possible." The cost and difficulty of taking a statistically rigorous survey continues to rise. Marketers need alternatives, and an online survey is often the best one available. "I need to reach a representative group of people who will answer my questions, and I'll do it however I can," says Cheung of American Express.

As the years go by, online surveys are likely to overtake older forms of market research. "The Internet is going to become mainstream communication," says Tortorello. "Everyone who hears about it likes the idea." Everyone, that is, except Tee Ann Hunter and an unknown number of Americans who agree with her. "E-mail, shmee-mail," she says. "If you want to talk to me, ask me in person."

--Brad Edmondson

TAKING IT FURTHER

An overview of the 1997 survey of Internet users by Nielsen and CommerceNet is $195. For more information, contact Patrick Corman at CommerceNet in Palo Alto, California; telephone (415) 326-9648; or online at http://www.commerce.net. Some results of the 1996 and 1995 surveys are available online at no charge. CASRO's "Survey Research Quality Guidelines" gives some information on how online surveys should be conducted. For more information on this or CASRO surveys, contact executive director Diane Bowers at 3 Upper Devon, Port Jefferson, NY 11777; telephone (516) 928-6954; fax (516) 928-6041. Burke, Inc. can be reached at 805 Central Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45202; (800) 427-7057; Web site http://www.burke.com. Greenfield Online Research Center is part of The Greenfield Consulting Group, Inc., 274 Riverside Avenue, Westport, CT 06880; telephone (203) 221-0411; fax (203) 221-0791; e-mail dragon@greenfieldonline.com; Web page http://www.greenfieldonline.com. Jan Werner Data Processing is at 34 Williams Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201; telephone (413) 442-0416.

This article brought to you by: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-30T02:04:00.000-07:00

Companies want to know what their customers and people in general feel about their products or services so that they can make them better and sell more of them. Many companies ask their own customers through surveys, which are a list of questions that the company has made to find out how they feel about their products and services. They call their customers directly, send them the surveys to fill out or ask them to fill out the surveys online. This way the company can gauge whether their customers will buy from them again or how to make their product better so that their customers do buy from them again. Also, the company can find out how to sell more products or services similar to the ones they are already selling, thereby filling more needs and wants of customers.

Companies want to grow their business beyond their current customers and to do so, must find out how their products or services are perceived by those who are not currently their customers. They spend a lot of money to find out how to grow their business and they depend on the feedback they get from people to find out what it would take for someone to buy their products or what the perception of their product is in the market.

The way companies find out what people think of them is to develop surveys, which are a list of questions that they have about what people think about their products and what the demographics of these people are (for example, their ages, where they live, size of their family, likes and dislikes). They either send out surveys through the mail, set up online surveys or they set up offline and online focus groups. Focus groups are a group of people who have been specifically selected to get together and answer questions in more depth than the surveys can. The companies match answers to the survey questions with demographic information to fine-tune their products or services, making their products or services more appealing and therefore more saleable to people.

Companies spend a lot of money to find out what people think of their products or services because it not only helps them to make their products more saleable, it also helps them to get the edge on their competition. Your opinion is powerful to them.

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-29T22:03:00.000-07:00

This article brought to you by: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-29T17:46:00.000-07:00

In a word �yes. The amount of money you make, however, is dependant upon you.

There are survey and market research companies out there that are more than willing to pay you for your thoughts on any given topic.

Not only do they pay you for filling out these easy surveys online, but they love handing you the cash as well!

Because of the fast growing success of the online survey and market research business, it's going to be around for quite some time. Here�s why:

Online marketing research is the way to go for companies -

Researchers are willing to pay you more money directly when you sign up via the internet because it costs them less money in overhead, employee costs and corporate "middle-men".

You get paid to help companies figure out how the public views their new or current products, services or policies - your opinion is worth money.

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-29T13:32:00.000-07:00

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-29T09:14:00.000-07:00

$ 99 per online survey
$ 250 per hour to participate in focus groups
$ 150 per hour to take phone surveys
$4-25 per hour to view movie trailers

Be a Mystery Shopper
Shop and read emails!
Drive a free car

Napster Music Downloads
Buy.com Gift Certificates

E-books
250 free business cards
Automation Software
2 free airline tickets
3 day 2 night vacation

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-29T04:59:00.000-07:00

HOW DO YOU GET STARTED EARNING MONEY FILLING IN SURVEYS?

Let's get started with how to start an at home career by filling in surveys, to do this you need to follow these steps:

Step 2: BE HONEST IN YOUR OPINION: Companies are looking for individuals from all walks of life to fill surveys, there is not one mainstream demographic that they are searching for.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-29T00:53:00.000-07:00

Online surveys and focus groups might solve the toughest problems in market research. But can Internet users really speak for everyone?

WHY RESEARCHERS LOVE ONLINE

WHY THE BOSS LOVES ONLINE

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR

--Brad Edmondson

TAKING IT FURTHER

This article brought to you by: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-28T20:41:00.000-07:00

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-28T16:03:00.000-07:00

This article brought to you by: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-28T11:37:00.000-07:00

In a word �yes. The amount of money you make, however, is dependant upon you.

There are survey and market research companies out there that are more than willing to pay you for your thoughts on any given topic.

Not only do they pay you for filling out these easy surveys online, but they love handing you the cash as well!

Because of the fast growing success of the online survey and market research business, it's going to be around for quite some time. Here�s why:

Online marketing research is the way to go for companies -

Researchers are willing to pay you more money directly when you sign up via the internet because it costs them less money in overhead, employee costs and corporate "middle-men".

You get paid to help companies figure out how the public views their new or current products, services or policies - your opinion is worth money.

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-28T07:11:00.000-07:00

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-28T02:47:00.000-07:00

$ 99 per online survey
$ 250 per hour to participate in focus groups
$ 150 per hour to take phone surveys
$4-25 per hour to view movie trailers

Be a Mystery Shopper
Shop and read emails!
Drive a free car

Napster Music Downloads
Buy.com Gift Certificates

E-books
250 free business cards
Automation Software
2 free airline tickets
3 day 2 night vacation

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-27T21:39:00.000-07:00

HOW DO YOU GET STARTED EARNING MONEY FILLING IN SURVEYS?

Let's get started with how to start an at home career by filling in surveys, to do this you need to follow these steps:

Step 2: BE HONEST IN YOUR OPINION: Companies are looking for individuals from all walks of life to fill surveys, there is not one mainstream demographic that they are searching for.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-27T17:19:00.000-07:00

Online surveys and focus groups might solve the toughest problems in market research. But can Internet users really speak for everyone?

WHY RESEARCHERS LOVE ONLINE

WHY THE BOSS LOVES ONLINE

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR

--Brad Edmondson

TAKING IT FURTHER

This article brought to you by: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-27T13:14:00.000-07:00

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-27T09:09:00.000-07:00

This article brought to you by: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-27T04:40:00.000-07:00

In a word �yes. The amount of money you make, however, is dependant upon you.

There are survey and market research companies out there that are more than willing to pay you for your thoughts on any given topic.

Not only do they pay you for filling out these easy surveys online, but they love handing you the cash as well!

Because of the fast growing success of the online survey and market research business, it's going to be around for quite some time. Here�s why:

Online marketing research is the way to go for companies -

Researchers are willing to pay you more money directly when you sign up via the internet because it costs them less money in overhead, employee costs and corporate "middle-men".

You get paid to help companies figure out how the public views their new or current products, services or policies - your opinion is worth money.

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-27T00:15:00.000-07:00

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-26T19:50:00.000-07:00

$ 99 per online survey
$ 250 per hour to participate in focus groups
$ 150 per hour to take phone surveys
$4-25 per hour to view movie trailers

Be a Mystery Shopper
Shop and read emails!
Drive a free car

Napster Music Downloads
Buy.com Gift Certificates

E-books
250 free business cards
Automation Software
2 free airline tickets
3 day 2 night vacation

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-26T15:22:00.000-07:00

HOW DO YOU GET STARTED EARNING MONEY FILLING IN SURVEYS?

Let's get started with how to start an at home career by filling in surveys, to do this you need to follow these steps:

Step 2: BE HONEST IN YOUR OPINION: Companies are looking for individuals from all walks of life to fill surveys, there is not one mainstream demographic that they are searching for.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-26T10:43:00.000-07:00

Online surveys and focus groups might solve the toughest problems in market research. But can Internet users really speak for everyone?

WHY RESEARCHERS LOVE ONLINE

WHY THE BOSS LOVES ONLINE

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR

--Brad Edmondson

TAKING IT FURTHER

This article brought to you by: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-26T06:38:00.000-07:00

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-26T02:23:00.000-07:00

This article brought to you by: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-25T22:10:00.000-07:00

In a word �yes. The amount of money you make, however, is dependant upon you.

There are survey and market research companies out there that are more than willing to pay you for your thoughts on any given topic.

Not only do they pay you for filling out these easy surveys online, but they love handing you the cash as well!

Because of the fast growing success of the online survey and market research business, it's going to be around for quite some time. Here�s why:

Online marketing research is the way to go for companies -

Researchers are willing to pay you more money directly when you sign up via the internet because it costs them less money in overhead, employee costs and corporate "middle-men".

You get paid to help companies figure out how the public views their new or current products, services or policies - your opinion is worth money.

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-25T17:49:00.000-07:00

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-25T12:33:00.000-07:00

$ 99 per online survey
$ 250 per hour to participate in focus groups
$ 150 per hour to take phone surveys
$4-25 per hour to view movie trailers

Be a Mystery Shopper
Shop and read emails!
Drive a free car

Napster Music Downloads
Buy.com Gift Certificates

E-books
250 free business cards
Automation Software
2 free airline tickets
3 day 2 night vacation

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-25T08:18:00.000-07:00

HOW DO YOU GET STARTED EARNING MONEY FILLING IN SURVEYS?

Let's get started with how to start an at home career by filling in surveys, to do this you need to follow these steps:

Step 2: BE HONEST IN YOUR OPINION: Companies are looking for individuals from all walks of life to fill surveys, there is not one mainstream demographic that they are searching for.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-25T08:17:00.000-07:00

Online surveys and focus groups might solve the toughest problems in market research. But can Internet users really speak for everyone?

WHY RESEARCHERS LOVE ONLINE

WHY THE BOSS LOVES ONLINE

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR

--Brad Edmondson

TAKING IT FURTHER

This article brought to you by: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-25T04:12:00.000-07:00

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-24T23:48:00.000-07:00

This article brought to you by: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-24T19:34:00.000-07:00

In a word �yes. The amount of money you make, however, is dependant upon you.

There are survey and market research companies out there that are more than willing to pay you for your thoughts on any given topic.

Not only do they pay you for filling out these easy surveys online, but they love handing you the cash as well!

Because of the fast growing success of the online survey and market research business, it's going to be around for quite some time. Here�s why:

Online marketing research is the way to go for companies -

Researchers are willing to pay you more money directly when you sign up via the internet because it costs them less money in overhead, employee costs and corporate "middle-men".

You get paid to help companies figure out how the public views their new or current products, services or policies - your opinion is worth money.

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-24T15:25:00.000-07:00

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-24T11:08:00.000-07:00

$ 99 per online survey
$ 250 per hour to participate in focus groups
$ 150 per hour to take phone surveys
$4-25 per hour to view movie trailers

Be a Mystery Shopper
Shop and read emails!
Drive a free car

Napster Music Downloads
Buy.com Gift Certificates

E-books
250 free business cards
Automation Software
2 free airline tickets
3 day 2 night vacation

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-24T06:48:00.000-07:00

HOW DO YOU GET STARTED EARNING MONEY FILLING IN SURVEYS?

Let's get started with how to start an at home career by filling in surveys, to do this you need to follow these steps:

Step 2: BE HONEST IN YOUR OPINION: Companies are looking for individuals from all walks of life to fill surveys, there is not one mainstream demographic that they are searching for.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-24T02:20:00.000-07:00

Online surveys and focus groups might solve the toughest problems in market research. But can Internet users really speak for everyone?

WHY RESEARCHERS LOVE ONLINE

WHY THE BOSS LOVES ONLINE

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR

--Brad Edmondson

TAKING IT FURTHER

This article brought to you by: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-23T22:10:00.000-07:00

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-23T18:00:00.000-07:00

This article brought to you by: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-23T12:58:00.000-07:00

In a word �yes. The amount of money you make, however, is dependant upon you.

There are survey and market research companies out there that are more than willing to pay you for your thoughts on any given topic.

Not only do they pay you for filling out these easy surveys online, but they love handing you the cash as well!

Because of the fast growing success of the online survey and market research business, it's going to be around for quite some time. Here�s why:

Online marketing research is the way to go for companies -

Researchers are willing to pay you more money directly when you sign up via the internet because it costs them less money in overhead, employee costs and corporate "middle-men".

You get paid to help companies figure out how the public views their new or current products, services or policies - your opinion is worth money.

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-23T08:46:00.000-07:00

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-23T03:39:00.000-07:00

$ 99 per online survey
$ 250 per hour to participate in focus groups
$ 150 per hour to take phone surveys
$4-25 per hour to view movie trailers

Be a Mystery Shopper
Shop and read emails!
Drive a free car

Napster Music Downloads
Buy.com Gift Certificates

E-books
250 free business cards
Automation Software
2 free airline tickets
3 day 2 night vacation

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-22T23:33:00.000-07:00

HOW DO YOU GET STARTED EARNING MONEY FILLING IN SURVEYS?

Let's get started with how to start an at home career by filling in surveys, to do this you need to follow these steps:

Step 2: BE HONEST IN YOUR OPINION: Companies are looking for individuals from all walks of life to fill surveys, there is not one mainstream demographic that they are searching for.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-22T18:56:00.000-07:00

Online surveys and focus groups might solve the toughest problems in market research. But can Internet users really speak for everyone?

WHY RESEARCHERS LOVE ONLINE

WHY THE BOSS LOVES ONLINE

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR

--Brad Edmondson

TAKING IT FURTHER

This article brought to you by: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-22T13:51:00.000-07:00

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-21T23:55:00.000-07:00

This article brought to you by: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-21T18:17:00.000-07:00

In a word �yes. The amount of money you make, however, is dependant upon you.

There are survey and market research companies out there that are more than willing to pay you for your thoughts on any given topic.

Not only do they pay you for filling out these easy surveys online, but they love handing you the cash as well!

Because of the fast growing success of the online survey and market research business, it's going to be around for quite some time. Here�s why:

Online marketing research is the way to go for companies -

Researchers are willing to pay you more money directly when you sign up via the internet because it costs them less money in overhead, employee costs and corporate "middle-men".

You get paid to help companies figure out how the public views their new or current products, services or policies - your opinion is worth money.

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-21T14:10:00.000-07:00

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-21T07:15:00.000-07:00

$ 99 per online survey
$ 250 per hour to participate in focus groups
$ 150 per hour to take phone surveys
$4-25 per hour to view movie trailers

Be a Mystery Shopper
Shop and read emails!
Drive a free car

Napster Music Downloads
Buy.com Gift Certificates

E-books
250 free business cards
Automation Software
2 free airline tickets
3 day 2 night vacation

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html

2005-08-21T03:06:00.000-07:00

HOW DO YOU GET STARTED EARNING MONEY FILLING IN SURVEYS?

Let's get started with how to start an at home career by filling in surveys, to do this you need to follow these steps:

Step 2: BE HONEST IN YOUR OPINION: Companies are looking for individuals from all walks of life to fill surveys, there is not one mainstream demographic that they are searching for.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

This Article Brought To You By: http://www.surveymasteronline.com/survey-resources/survey-success.html