Paid Surveys - A Students Solution to Earning Extra Money

Students everywhere need extra cash, yet they do not have the time or schedule flexibility to actually get a job - even if they could find one. One often overlooked solution to the problem is taking paid surveys online. Here is exactly how you can get started:

1. Find a Paid Survey Companies List -- there are many websites out there that offer a list of paid survey companies and research panels, and they are happy to take a fee from you for providing it. You do not have to pay for a list, you should be able to find a good one for free.

2. Set Up a New Email Address -- you will want to set up an email address specifically for your survey registrations. You will be getting a lot of email, and it makes it a lot easier just to have an email set aside so you do not accidentally delete a great opportunity by thinking it is spam.

3. Register for Survey Companies/Research Panels -- register for as many survey companies as you can because it is the best way to secure a steady flow of survey opportunities in your email inbox. Surveys with individual panels are not always consistent, as they are dependent on what their clients ("big business") need and request. Registering for as many as you can gives you the best opportunity to earn.

4. Complete the Profiles -- the hardest part about getting involved with paid surveys is the registration process. Once you have completed the initial registration, the survey companies will want you to complete the information in their databases by having you fill out profiles. It is kind of a pain, but it worth your time in the long run. By completing your information with individual research panels, they can better sort which opportunities are best for your demographic. This way you will not go through as many pre-qualifications, and you will not waste your time unnecessarily when you are not a match for the survey.

5. Reap the Rewards - All you have to do is register, fill out profiles and reap the rewards of your efforts. You will find that different survey companies have different ways of compensating you for your time. It is best to register for them all, and then filter out the opportunities after they come to you in your email inbox. Compensation comes in the form of cash, points for cash and prizes, free products and sweepstakes entries. You will learn to filter out what is personally best for you.

Important Bonus Tip: Be Careful with "Pay to Play" - what this means is that you will find some companies offering significant compensation for product trials and product reviews... as long as you register with your credit card. This can be very lucrative but it is not the same as regular product testing. If you choose to participate in these you must always read your terms and conditions of the offers before you commit to them. You may find they are either not worth your effort, or you may forget to cancel the free trial and get charged more than you are getting paid. True and legitimate "regular" product testing opportunities pay you to review their product, but require no credit card or payment up front.

For any student who needs extra cash, paid surveys are an awesome way to make money at your own convenience. You may even find that you are having fun too!

Source: Ezine