From the panelists (the person who fills in the surveys) point of view:

First of all you have to register to a survey site with your correct details.

Most surveys will then require you to fill in a personal profile. Some sites just need to know a few demographic things while other go more into detail when asking for hobbies, travel, technologie, pets, etc ...

After that you just have to wait for email invitations for surveys. MOST market research companies do it that way! However there are a few who require you to login to their site and check regulary.

After receiving the survey invitation you will have to click on a link that brings you directly to your survey. Most surveys will once again ask you for some personal information first (Age, Gender, Location, Household Income, Children, ...). This is to get the right target group to fill out their survey. After that you will either be directed to the rest of the survey or receive a message that you are not qualified / in the target group.

After that it usually takes a couple of weeks for your account to be credited with the reward. But that totally depends on the company. Some credit you instantly after completing the survey.

Surveys differ in their reward systems, these are the basic differencet rewards:
- Vouchers (Amazon, Online foto prints, electrical suppliers, ...)
- Cash via cheque, paypal (or similar) or points redeemabl to cash later
- pize draws entries

For the maximum outcome you will have to register with as many market research companies as possible. Here are a few good ones to get started:

1. Globaltestmarket: http://globaltestmarket.com
(3-120 Marketpoints per survey / 1000 Marketpoints = $50)

2. Test and Vote: http://www.testandvote.com/con tenu_en/body/inscription_en.ph p?affil=269396&k=7ddc39fcc 31ce1c1f7b83dd5eadf2bd6
(Pays in Amazon vouchers or others + Product tests, so far received £5 Amazon voucher, another £10 under way)

3. Ciao!: http://www.ciao.co.uk/reg.php? FriendId=5729170
(£0.50 to £1.50 pro survey so far)

4. Brand Institute: http://www2.brandinst.com/surv eys/
(Last one paid a $10 cheque)

5. Ipsos: http://www.ipsosresearch.com/
(10-200 points per survey exchangeable for vouchers on several partnersites)

Learn more about this author, Maria Ax.
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