Survey Money - How Much Can You Really Earn?

We have all seen the claims that you can make $150 per hour doing focus groups.  Likewise, the tale goes on that you can earn up to $75 a survey, too.  The truth is, you really can --  but what they do not tell you is that the money is not consistent.  So even though you can make great money each month, it is probably not going to allow you to quit your job or get rich.  Now that I have busted out the half-truths about what you can earn taking surveys, lets talk about how paid surveys can benefit you.

• You can work at your own convenience --  As long as you have your computer, you can make money anywhere.  On the road or at home, at  8am or at midnight...  virtually anytime you want to earn cash you can find an opportunity.
• You can choose which surveys to take and which ones not to take -- survey companies reward their panelists with varying compensation.  They may give you cash, points for cash, points for prizes or PayPal payments, or simply offer sweepstakes entries for larger prizes.  Some people skip over the panels that only offer sweepstakes entries for rewards -- but that is a mistake for one big reason.  Those same survey panels also contract for focus groups, product testing and actually pay cash now and then...  but if you are not registered for those companies you will never see those occasional invitations.  If you want to maximize your chance at coming across some great opportunities, you should be registered for all the survey panels.  When a company sends you a survey invite and you don't like the compensation, you can always delete the email.
• You may get called for focus groups -- Every so often you may be invited to participate in a focus group.  These can pay very well, but they are usually far an few between.  It is going to depend on your demographic information and random luck.  Some people qualify for them more often than other, and some never end up doing them.  Consider them a bonus.
• You can get free stuff -- Survey panels often send out products to test.  They always to a screener survey, so usually you end up testing stuff that you would normally buy anyway.  You normally get to keep the product, and they pay you for the follow up survey as well.

While you may not get rich taking surveys, you can easily make hundreds a month or more if you are proactive about answering your surveys in a timely manner.  Best of all, you are in total control of which surveys you want to take, and whether or not you want to take them.