Discussion on:

Would you participate in focus groups and surveys - for $$$

Re the original blog piece:

http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/helpdesk/?p=375

I know a lot of people might be quick to dismiss such things, but if you're ever faced with one yourself, you might want to give it some consideration. After all, it's really no more than participating in a company's market research project, and not only could it earn some extra cash for you, but your opinion just might steer their products towards your real needs.

Or perhaps you have participated in such things. Take the poll, and leave your comments

And please leave your thoughts and comments in the following discussion - either good or bad.

As an after thought, in times that might be financially challenging to a lot of user support professionals, doing an Internet search for paid focus groups might give you some ideas on how you, too, can earn a few dollars by simply sharing your opinion.

What I have found from years of experience is that some focus groups are more like prospecting sessions. Instead of picking your brain on what the industry needs, they want to see how much you might need their new hot product. I'm not ok with that, so I am fairly careful. Having worked at one time in the survey/opinion research field, I can smell the bad ones.

But I have no issue providing opinions for the purposes of pure market research. In fact I sometimes conduct such research for my own company.

James

Would you mind sharing some insight on how we might identify the bad ones?

That thought ceossed my mind when I wrote the piece, and I was hoping someone might be able to share some insight in that regard.

Thanks

Is - are you making any purchasing decisions in the next 6 months. Thats a sign that someone is looking for leads.

The questions about whether you are a decision maker or an influencer can also be an indicator.

I never ever ask those questions when I am doing research. I am looking for opinion, and I recognize that buying decisions are usually a process that involves a number of people, not the perogative of one person.

James

You provided some good information.

I view surveys with the same suspicions - but without any prior knowledge of the field I reject them all - especially if money is involved. I am already paid for my time and feel an obligation to do company work with that time.

In a complex intercommunication environment, surveys are a great service and barometer to find out what the real people think about a specific topic, product, service, etc. To get paid for your opinion makes it that much more important, because it give you the incentive to be honest about your response.

Amado Puentes.

I go to focus groups fairly regularly. But the thing is: they don't like it when you attend too many of them in a year. If you're on more than one data research roster, and they find out you've been to too many focus groups, they'll cut you off completely.

Which is likely what happened in your case.

My wife signed us up for a gig with Red Robin recently. We were called and asked to participate in a focus group for some new burgers they were coming out with. We got to try a quarter of 6 burgers (a total of 1 1/2 burgers, enough for a full meal), all of which were very good. We answered a few questions about each burger, discussing what we liked, would we order it, or what would we change about the burger. In the end, we each were given $25 gift card.

My wife and I got a free meal plus $50 in gift cards to Red Robin.

I would participate in more focus groups if they paid or if I could get something out of it. I don't have a problem giving my opinion on products or services.

There are many kinds of surveys. Some start as low as $5 or nothing but a free burger. If you think that nobody would be interested in getting $5 or less you might be mistaken. There still is competition and there are always hungry people. Surveys cover anything from food, cell phones, companies, to IT. Just always read the fine print before you take up a survey and agree to the compensation. Think about the time involved. If it's worth your time and effort I would say I'd do it. But beware if it's too good to be true it's usually a scam such as big rewards or products give-away, unless you have participated in surveys done by the same survey company before, so you have a track record of their payment practices and reputability. Some survey companies don't want you to participate in too many surveys because of tax complications such as to have to give you a 1099 and all that if you're paid more than a certain amount. And somehow these survey companies have their own information circle or database where they can get information as to who they can use and are eligible for what kind of survey. Also beware of scams that go through the net wanting you to do money transfer surveys. Anything that requires you to put up money don't do it. I've done surveys of all kinds and would do them if the surveys are reasonable, worthwhile and legit.

Take a look at the sponsored links all around the reply's page. A share of these are scammers looking for valid email adresses to sell to the spammers. I have responded to the emails promising a free laptop or a free Xbox 360. They lead you on a maze of surveys, trying to entice you to buy unnecessary items along the way. In the end you never get the promised item(s).

Greenfield and NPD are two reputable companies that offer surveys for $$ or entries into there monthly prize drawings. One needs to be aware of the suggested time to take the survey, some are very lengthy.(20 minutes or more)

I used to take all of those surveys the mags would send you, plus the phone call, plus the email, etc. Then, I thought about it. These guys are making money off of information I am providing for free!! DUH So, I when I receive a survey call, right after they say it will only take xx minutes, my response is "how much will I be paid for my time and information?". About 1 out of 10 will offer some sort of honorarium.

I have several now that I regularly participate in. 2 online, 1 via mail (product testing), and an intermittently in person focus group.

Hey, it's interesting, you meet different types of people, and a few bucks for your effort.

If I could find enough per month to make $5 for a 10 minute questionnaire, I'd be happy to sit home all day in my shorts and do it.

I'm curious why you put so much detail about the subject of the surveys and focus group you participated in. I'm a member of a few select panels and they are very strict about what you are allowed to talk about. It seems to me this is standard. You aren't supposed to post anything online, email anyone or talk to anyone in regards to the subject matter that is discussed.
It seems you violated that in your article?

As for my opinion about these types of things, I find them very rewarding. I realize I am giving a company my time and opinions for "free" but I have no problem with that. The panels I am part of are very upfront about that and they gear their surveys to make your experience as entertaining and interesting as possible. In return they give points which you can redeem for rewards and entries into draws for bigger substantial prizes. Some of them provide valuable coupons and samples of products and some of them do provide small cash honorariums.
My opinion is that, for the most part, these companies work to make the experience interesting for you if you are the right kind of person for this type of thing. The more you participate and the better of a panelist you are, the better your rewards.

In the one I described, I had no such agreement to not discuss it. But I included the detail because some people might be interested to know.

I, too, find them worthy of my time.

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

What no links Joe. I need to do something to supplement an income. I just might have to look into it.

......doing an Internet search for paid focus groups might give you some ideas on how you, too, can earn a few dollars by simply sharing your opinion.

Sorry, I can't endorse or recommend anyone. Besides, they've always contacted me, not the other way around.

But I have done these in the past and will again.

More for the way that they help you evaluate the way you currently do things as this isn't always th best way forward. It's none the less good to have a multitude of possible ways to proceed forward.

Though I must add I don't do it for the Money and have volunteered my time freely previously and will no doubt do it again but getting some payment is nice.

Col

They are often fun, they give you money and usually free booze as well. You get to see a great cross-section of people on differing topics. In the "pre-ring" days I even got a couple of dates out of them.

If they are easy to get to, and there is no hassle parking, and you have nothing else on .. why not?

Wont this fake the Survey Results?

After all who is concerned about the results..

Cheers,
Kathiravan Manoharan
http://kathyravan.blogspot.com
http://paisamechanic.blogspot.com

James brought up a good point; in stating that if they are asking you about when you're looking to purchase, you've gone from a true research survey to a prospecting pitch. In that case, a time share presentation becomes more palatable!!

However, I have done quite a few surveys. Usually, they seem to center on the viability of a certain product in a given segment (when I worked for a health care firm, I received more calls than at any other time...lots of HIPAA and Hospital-ergonomic related surveys).

Also, there is a site called eRewards that does online surveys. At first, I thought it was total bunk...but the questions seem reasonably legit, and the rewards are valid (usually enough to take care of all my FTD needs for the yea, at least).

I took one for the $100 "honorarium" and never recieved payment. I would not trust Forrester Research. I e-mailed the person who initially contacted me and got no reply. I guess I was not in their target group.

If I was offered one that actually worked. Why not?

http://techjumpoff.com

the most surveys are scams and they don't pay. It is waste of time.

As I do participate in surveys/discussion groups and yes sometimes it are paid ones. I get more selective on the items that are discussed.
So my vote for (other, please explain) this is just to give a more insight info on the what and why.
In fact my vote should count at the "yes and would again" item.

I believe surveys are really scams, why? I've been offered several times to take a survey and recieve a free laptop. Every time I start a survey, you answer some personal questions, then the next page you have to pick and purchase at least 1 of their sponsors, next page you have pick and purchase at least 2 of their sponsors, then the next page requires you to pick and purchase at least 3 of their sponsors. Then all of a suddens your answering questions again, then it starts all over, you have to pick and purchase at least 3 of their sponsors. It's a never ending survey, I did this for 2 hours to recieve a New Dell Laptop and Never Recieved my Laptop. I was scammed into purchasing the Survey Websites Sponsorship Ads and never recieved the product being offered for taking the Survey! Three weeks later I spend several hours cancelling over $1,000.00 worth of orders from the Survey's Sponsors. I WAS SCAMMED INTO THINKING I WOULD GET A FREE LAPTOP!

OK, let me take this to a different level. I have taken surveys, usually online and occasionally by phone and I have always refused to answer specific questions about my network, phone system, etc. The two times I have been offered money resulted in me refusing the money the first time. The second time was interesting in that they gave me a web link to donate to a charity. I gave the link to one of my employees as a thank you for a particular task he had performed above and beyond. I will not give out info about my network because I do not want to make it any easier for someone planning an attack. Maybe I'm too paranoid but I have not been able to see why specific info on my network will "help" the survey company determine how their product will work better.

I work for a bank and I don't answer any of those type of questions, either. In general, I don't take any surveys with exception of those sent out by a few vendors about support calls we have made and the like. Like you said, there is nothing about our network setup that I could see helping them make there product better...at least not the detailed setup. Security through obscurity may not be fail safe, but it is one layer of defense.

What you did wasn't a survey at all, but a scam. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. And if they want to you purchase anything, then you should know it's not a real survey.

Awww...c'mon...you are a grownup, aren't you? A laptop for a 'survey'? Oh well...

I did one a few months back, the guy said he would send me $50.00 if I would take the survey. It took maybe 3 or 4 minutes answered about ten questions. Then about three weeks later I got this check in the mail. I took it to the bank and asked if it was real. The teller left and came back and handed me 2 twenties and a ten. SWEEEEETTT!!!

I'll do it again! For $50.00 I'll do almost anything... LOL ALMOST!! LOL

I had a friend who ran these focus group studies back around 2002 - 2004. I probably made nearly $1000 a year extra doing these things. They were great! I participated in focus groups ranging from steaks to mp3 players. However, what made it easy for me was knowing somebody who I trusted being involved on the other end. Plus it was on my way home and they typically paid well. I really enjoyed the experiences. I also do online surveys that accrue points that I can redeem for gift cards. I do enough to get one gift card a quarter to a game store. I won't do them for free, my time is too valuable

Have participated in a number of focus groups in Chicago. Worth doing these for 3 primary reasons:

1) Learning about new and upcoming technology (had blade servers while still being developed, SAAS products)

2) Networking with other IS/IT pros

3) A couple hundred extra $$ never hurts!

I've been paid as much as $150 for less than 2 hours of my time. So has my wife. I find them interesting, because I like looking for flaws in their methodologies when they are trying to figure out what I am thinking or want.

Also, I like the idea of directly influencing products and services. I'd like to think I've been involved in killing some really stupid ideas, as well as encouraging some that I'd really like.

Anything that makes you examine what and how you do things versus how others do them is of value. Cash in the pocket can't hurt either.

I had similar experiences to yours, not getting called for paid focus groups for a long time, and then recently when I have been called up for them they're invariably in downtown chicago, quite a ways from home - and definitely not worth it. If it was near my home as yours was, I'd probably do it.

Being suspicious by nature however, and with info security being part of my job, I would be very concerned about the focus of the questions. I would not feel comfortable revealing in too much detail about how my office configures our networks, backups, security, firewalls, and etc. Am I just paranoid? Be curious to hear others' thoughts.

I was invited to a number of paid focus groups - dealing with flat panel displays, useability of a new web page designs, best person photo to go with advertising text, etc. They were very interesting, and I felt that the group's input really did help the sponsor (sometimes you could decipher who it was, but most of the time you couldn't). The pay was as much as $100, and if invited again, I'd accept.

ABSOLUTELY! I was 'on a list' in the mid '90's and did four or five of these. They were always fun, interesting, and lucrative. (Two of them were the 30 minutes for $200 type) I would love to get on another 'list', every one was well worth using up some personal time for! Highly Recommended!

No, I wouldn't participate in any of these surveys for any amount of money.

I've found focus groups to be worthwhile despite the annoyance factors such as scheduling time and the travel. I have feeling vendors are going to rely more heavily on them in the near future as their fear factor increases with the tough economic climate.

Me too,I never got paid but if it is a subject of interest, I might make an exception.