There is so much mis-information regarding the arena of 'getting paid for surveys' online. I cannot even begin to imagine all of the things people believe about online surveys, but I'm here to clarify some common misconceptions. Getting paid for online surveys has been around most abundantly for the last 3 years online, often over-hyped to make it seem like you can make an actual income doing them.

IMPOSSIBLE CLAIMS, TAINT THE INDUSTRY

You cannot make an income doing 'online surveys', in fact some statements about taking surveys are so outrageous that some people don't even bother signing up for an online survey company, ever. Then they miss making some 'on-the-side' cash, because it makes them seem illegitimate and only there to harvest your email or spam you. The companies that usually make these claims, are not the survey companies themselves, it's a website in the business of promoting them for their own benefit, which is why they often deceive you with claims.

In fact, it's places that get paid to promote survey sites that get paid, when you sign up. To the tune of up to $3.00 per person (called a lead), now just because they make money from it isn't wrong. But what is, are the claims they make about them, like -- "Make $130/hr doing online surveys, click here to start today". This is so insanely outrageous that even if you think it's a scam, you'll still check it out. Because they know, nothing is as alluring as money.

THE TRUTH IS SHOWN TO DECEIVE YOU

If there is any truth at all about the outrageous claims, it's that if you consider the average time it takes to complete a survey and the average amount made taking a paid survey it can SEEM correct, you can make $20 for doing an online survey that takes 15 - 25 min. But they make it seem that you can do them constantly, which is not the case. What surveys you get, and what you qualify for, all depend on whether you fit a specific demographic or profile.

UNDERSTANDING WHAT QUALIFIES YOU TO PARTICIPATE

Let me take a bit to explain what a demographic is in terms of surveys. When qualifying for a survey it can depend on many different factors; ethnicity, income bracket, gender, whether your pregnant, own a car, you age, where you live, whether you have kids and what age your kids are, or even a combination of the above. They even have surveys that differ depending on what type of job you have, or whether your self-employed.

UNDERSTANDING THE SURVEY PROCESS

When you sign up for companies to take surveys, you can be rewarded with cash or prizes, but more often sweepstakes and draws. But before you can get any of these things, the company will send you an email, telling you there is a survey ready to be completed. These are usually screener surveys, these questions allow whoever the survey companies client is, to determine if your someone who fits into their target group (i.e. a person who's demographic they are looking for), so they ask questions in these screener surveys to see if you fit that profile. If you do, you are usually forwarded off to a partner site to complete the actual survey. Sometimes the screener surveys can be 10 minutes on their own, which is often frustrating, especially if you aren't given something for your time. If you don't qualify, you are 'screened out', and they will tell you that you didn't fit the profile.

When you receive these survey invitations they will usually tell you what type of compensation will be provided upon completion of the survey, or they will tell you on the first page of entering the survey screener. Very few companies pre-qualify you for surveys, so when you receive them you are always stuck wasting your time to figure out if you do qualify. I believe the industry could be helped, if the only survey invitations we received, were for ones we are already qualified to take.

WHERE'S MY MONEY?

Once you have complete a survey, for whatever reward, it's usually up to you to claim it. In some cases you earn points to redeem for prizes or rewards, or earn cash directly, and again, most often it's only a cash draw or sweeps. To claim a reward, you must find out how many points (whatever each company calls it) you will need to get your money or reward. You can do this by logging into whatever company you belong to, and check around, usually found in the member's area. Most places have a certain level you must obtain before cashing out or requesting a reward. This covers the question of where's my money, most people think the companies will automatically send them money that they have earned upon completion, again, not true.

SO IS THERE A POINT TO DOING ONLINE SURVEYS?

There is some fun, and some cash to be had doing surveys, and even some to be won. Yes, I won money from a survey company to the tune of $100 but that isn't to be expected all the time, and draws are a gamble. However, your odds are better in a draw where you have to take a survey to enter, because it takes time, and your competing with less people overall. There are a few quality sites, that pay you for doing surveys. Most often the cash amount isn't very large, and sometimes it may be hard to determine how much cash you'll earn, if they only tell you how many points you'll make (when they actually equal cash), but some surveys also reward you with trying products to test and evaluate, where you get to keep the product.

THE REALITY

I suppose my answer to all this, is that you have to be someone who enjoys taking surveys, seeing what will come to the market before anyone else, and knowing your privy to information the general public won't know about for some time, or maybe never at all. I think over the years doing surveys, I have earned about $150 - $300 per year, if this amount seems worth it to you, then I suggest you try and have some fun while your at it.

Just keep in mind, that the amount I get could be less or more then you would get, my demographic is a very different demographic from anyone elses. Your demographic can be in high demand, but then again, it might not.

Lisa Hallman, owner of Thrifty Canadian and publisher of many articles on Savings advice for Canadians.