Are paid surveys for real? How much can I make doing paid surveys? Can I really make $100 an hour? Are there really hundreds of paid survey sites that actually pay? Should I pay a database for paid survey sites?... Our answers to these common questions, and the  truth you need to know about paid surveys.

1. Are paid surveys for real and How do they work?

Yes, Paid online surveys are for real! Like I said, there ARE a good number of legitimate marketing firms/paid survey companies that will pay you just for your time and opinion.

You sign up with a paid survey company, provide your personal information such as name, email, home address etc. When the survey company has a survey that fits your profile, they will send you an email inviting you to participate. if you qualify and complete the survey, you get paid.

2. Then why so many people think paid surveys are scams?

I think there are three main reasons:

First, there ARE scam sites - they "claim" to be paid survey companies and in-fact they just want to have your personal information and they then turn around and sell it, you will get tons of spam emails but no surveys.

The Second, there are many websites promoting those "scam" paid survey companies just for commission no matter what. Often it is difficult to tell what is real legitimate survey company/site and what is not for survey beginners.

The third, lot of survey starters do not realize that it takes a while to get paid. Two or three weeks after signing up and taking some surveys, you don't see the money coming in and you start questioning this paid surveys thing is just another online scam. Lot of people just give up this way because they don't know if they signed up with legitimate survey companies and completed surveys, they will get paid, however, it takes time- lot of survey companies have minimum payout requirement to cash out reward, and it certainly takes time to reach that requirement. Also, it takes average 2-3 weeks for surveys companies to process payment. 

3. How much can I make for taking paid surveys?

The answer really depends on several factors: 1).How many legitimate paid survey sites did you sign up with; 2). Your demographic profile which determines the number and types of surveys you get and qualify; 3). The amount of time you spend participating in surveys, focus groups, etc; 4). How lucky you are when it comes to drawings, rattles and sweepstakes.

I would say if you signed up a number of good survey sites and take the majority of the surveys you are invited, you could make $1000 to $2000 a year in cash, gift certificates and prize combined.  After over 3 years doing surveys, currently I personally make average $200 a month and spend about an hour a day taking online surveys.

Can you really make $100 an hour? - It is possible to make $100 for an one hour focus group discussion, but you won't have this kind of opportunity to fill a whole day's work.  The truth is, you are not going to get rich or make a full time salary by doing paid surveys.  However you certainly CAN make pretty good extra cash. 

4. Are there really 300 or 400 and even 500 paid survey sites that are actually pay?

Absolutely not! I have signed up with over 300 paid surveys sites. Over the course of 3 years, only about 80 paid survey companies have paid me. In fact, half of the sites never even send me a survey!  Even till today I have found a little more than 100 legitimate survey sites, but it is still far less than 300 sites!

If you see any websites (paid or free) that list hundreds of paid surveys sites, please be aware!  Lot of those websites just promote anything they can, no matter it is scam or spam. Remember, more is not always better!

5. Do I have to pay to take surveys and get paid?

Absolutely NOT! Legitimate surveys companies never ask you to pay to take surveys. They are always FREE to join, and it cost absolutely NOTHING to take surveys and get paid! Please be aware the difference between survey sites and Paid to Sign Up offer sites, the later pays you for signing up offers, and sometimes you might need to pay upfront a small amount to try the offers. 

6. Should I pay a database/directory/list for paid survey sites?