Skip ahead:<\/span> If you\u2019re new to online survey taking, you\u2019ll be interested to know that there are hundreds of online survey panels (websites where you can take surveys) run by legitimate market research companies who are always looking for people to take surveys. These surveys are commissioned by companies and government organizations who want to minimize the risk of making a bad decision, so they hire market research companies to survey the marketplace.<\/p>\n After you join a survey site and agree to take surveys, you will be emailed studies to participate in. The topic of the study, how long it will take you to complete, and the offered compensation will always be stated in the invitations you receive. It\u2019s always up to you whether you want to complete them.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve taken enough surveys, you can log back in to your survey site account to request a reward option. That could be in the form of money, a gift card, merchandise, etc. The survey site will then issue your reward and you can continue to repeat the process!<\/p>\n If you want to have the most success taking surveys and want to be able to actually collect the money you earn, it\u2019s critical you follow the guidelines above. Failing to do so can result in getting involved with the wrong websites\u2026websites who may sell your information, spam you, and whom you may never be able to collect a dime from.<\/p>\n Remember, there are plenty of legitimate survey sites operated by legitimate market research companies, but survey scams<\/a> continue to exist for a reason: people still fall for them! Don\u2019t let this be you. Before you join any website and part with your personal information, exercise caution \u2013 that\u2019s a recipe for survey taking success!<\/p>\n Different survey sites offer different cash payment options. Most common of all is PayPal, as it\u2019s available in over 200 countries, and in 25 different currencies. Some survey takers prefer to get their money via more traditional options like checks and bank transfers. If you\u2019re set on receiving your cash in a certain fashion, ensure that the survey sites you join offer their members your preferred payment option.<\/p>\n Sites that offer PayPal payments include:<\/u> » All top rated Paypal paying survey sites<\/a>\n Sites that offer check payments include:<\/u> » All top rated survey sites who pay by check<\/a>\n Sites that offer bank transfer payments include:<\/u> » All top rated survey sites that pay by bank transfer<\/a>\n Sites that offer Bitcoin payments:<\/u> » All survey sites who offer Tango cards (redeemable for Snapcards)<\/a>\n Most survey panels offer their members points for taking surveys which is convertible to cash. Although this seems like a nuisance (why not just offer surveys for cash, and pay in cash?), it\u2019s not quite so simple. Most survey sites have members from more than one country, which can make things tricky. Currencies fluctuate all the time, so if they offer all their members points (say, 200) for completing the same survey, they can ensure that their members are being rewarded the same across all countries (in this example, 200 points could be worth $2 in the USA, and \u00a31.5 in the UK, which works out to be the same).<\/p>\n As well, some countries may have employment laws related to providing straight cash for participating in activities. By offering points (even though they\u2019re convertible to cash anyway), this can avoid survey sites having to consider their members as employees. Similarly, rewards programs (like Starbucks Rewards, Marriott Rewards, etc.) also offer points which can be redeemed for things that have a cash value.<\/p>\n Suffice it to say then, that when a survey sites offers points that are redeemable for cash anyway, earning points really isn\u2019t much different from earning cash itself.<\/p>\n If you are adamant that you don’t want to participate in points systems, check out the article surveys without any points systems<\/a>.<\/p>\n Although this seems very attractive, remember that survey sites that take longer to pay aren’t necessarily any less legitimate than those that pay quickly. Not only this, but some of the faster-paying survey panels tend to be larger sites<\/a>, which may or may not be a good thing.<\/p>\n Sites that offer fast payments include:<\/u> Either way, if you’re curious as to who all the fast payers are in the industry, check out our article on Instant Paying Survey Sites<\/a>.<\/p>\n Most programs will pay somewhere around $1 for each friend you refer. This might not sound like a lot, but don\u2019t forget that all they need to do is fill out a form. They don\u2019t have to part with any of their hard-earned money \u2013 all they need to do is spend 2-5 minutes filling out a form. If you look at it this way, $1 for 5 minutes doesn\u2019t seem to shabby! If you have a reasonably popular website or blog, this becomes even easier.<\/p>\n » Find survey referral programs<\/a>\n GPT programs have existed for just about as long as online surveys, and have over 100 million users worldwide. These programs allow their members to earn cash not only by taking surveys, but also by shopping online (so earning what are essentially rebates), watching videos, doing internet searches, playing games, and signing up for special offers.<\/p>\n We here at SurveyPolice know of users who love these programs, and others who dislike them. They\u2019re not run by market research companies, so they don\u2019t have to abide by rules or guidelines set out by professional standards organizations. That said, they can prove to be a fun and profitable one-stop-shop for people who like variety in their online money making activities.<\/p>\n » Find top rated GPT programs<\/a>\n Although everyone loves cash, don\u2019t necessarily poo-pooh other reward options like gift cards, merchandise, and donations. Gift cards especially are something that\u2019s useful to most of us, despite not always appearing that way.<\/p>\n Not only this, but consider that most of us already shop online, especially on sites like Amazon<\/a>, Best Buy<\/a>, Target<\/a>, and Walmart<\/a>. Rather than having to cash a check or move money from your PayPal account to your bank account, you can simply copy and paste a unique code from your e-gift card onto the payment page of an online retailer\u2019s website, and pay for your purchase, all without having to use actual cash.<\/p>\n Your opinions and feedback are valuable, and market research companies often offer money for sharing them. It\u2019s easy to get involved with survey taking and start earning your way to a bigger bank balance, or purchase you\u2019ve eyeing. Make sure to read reviews before signing up with any survey program, and only join sites that offer the reward options you want. After a few weeks, be sure to return to SurveyPolice to leave your own reviews<\/a> to help new survey takers decide which survey sites are the best ones to join!<\/p>\n
\n1. How taking surveys for money works<\/a>
\n2. 6 hard and fast rules<\/a>
\n3. How you\u2019ll get paid: PayPal<\/a>, check<\/a>, bank transfer<\/a>, Bitcoin<\/a>
\n4. Why survey sites use points systems<\/a>
\n5. Fast paying survey sites<\/a>
\n6. Why you should refer your friends<\/a>
\n7. GPT sites might work for you<\/a>
\n8. Consider other reward options<\/a><\/p>\nHow taking surveys for money works<\/h2>\n
6 hard and fast rules<\/h2>\n
![\"important\"](\"https:\/\/www.surveypolice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/important.png\")
\nHere are a few important rules to follow when you\u2019re looking to make money taking surveys:<\/p>\n\n
How you\u2019ll get paid<\/h2>\n
PayPal<\/h4>\n
![\"paypal\"](\"https:\/\/www.surveypolice.com\/files\/pickaperk\/paypal.png\")
As the internet\u2019s largest payment processor keeps growing, by now, most of us know what PayPal is and already have an account. This is the preferred payment method for most people online and it is an easy, safe, and secure way to receive cash payments. When you accrue a Paypal balance, you can spend your money online by paying for purchases using your PayPal balance, or you can choose to simply transfer your cash to your bank account.<\/p>\n
\nBranded Surveys<\/a>, Prime Opinion<\/a>, Tellwut<\/a>, PaidViewpoint<\/a><\/p>\nCheck<\/h4>\n
![\"check\"](\"https:\/\/www.surveypolice.com\/files\/pickaperk\/check.png\")
Although checks are starting to go the way of the dinosaur, there are still some survey sites who know that not everyone has a PayPal account, and that checks are something all of us can cash. Although there are extra processing times (someone must cut the check and it must then go through the postal system before it gets to you), there\u2019s something satisfying about being able to hold a tangible piece of paper that represents cash.<\/p>\n
\nLEO Surveys<\/a>, YouGov<\/a>, SurveySavvy<\/a><\/p>\nBy bank transfer<\/h4>\n
![\"bank](\"https:\/\/www.surveypolice.com\/files\/pickaperk\/bank-transfer.png\")
This is not a payment option of choice for most survey companies if you live in the USA for instance, but in Europe, it\u2019s much more prevalent and more common. After providing your bank account number, you will wired\/transferred the cash amounts you earn, directly to your bank account.<\/p>\n
\nBranded Surveys<\/a>, Prime Opinion<\/a>, 5 Surveys<\/a>, TopSurveys<\/a>.<\/p>\nBitcoin<\/h4>\n
![\"bitcoin\"](\"https:\/\/www.surveypolice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/snapcard.png\")
Bitcoin is probably the most modern and innovative payment option that a few survey sites offer. Although offering Bitcoin in itself is rare for survey panels, Tango cards are a pretty common reward option many sites offer. You can then easily redeem your Tango cards for bitcoins via Snapcard. Learn more about earning bitcoin for surveys<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nFreecash<\/a>, Rewarding Ways<\/a>, InstaGC<\/a><\/p>\nWhy most survey sites use points systems<\/h2>\n
Fast paying survey sites<\/h2>\n
![\"speedometer\"](\"https:\/\/www.surveypolice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/hotspeedometer.png\")
Everyone likes receiving the money their owed as quickly as possible. Although most survey sites take a few days or a couple weeks to issue payments, there are a few that pay much faster than this. These instant-paying survey sites as we call them, typically issue payments within 24 hours of members requesting payments.<\/p>\n
\nBranded Surveys<\/a>, PrizeRebel<\/a>, and Survey Junkie<\/a><\/p>\nWhy you should refer your friends<\/h2>\n
![\"referrals\"](\"https:\/\/www.surveypolice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/referrals.png\")
There are dozens of survey sites whom you can make extra money with by referring your friends. After becoming a member of their website, you can simply log into your account to grab a unique link that you can post on your website, blog, Facebook page, or in an email to your friends and extended family.<\/p>\nGPT sites might work for you<\/h2>\n
![\"gpt](\"https:\/\/www.surveypolice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/gptprogramtasks.png\")
\nSome people get tired of online surveys, and want the option of being able to earn money doing other activities. If this sounds like you, you might wish to explore the world of GPT, or Get-Paid-To programs.<\/p>\nConsider other reward options<\/h2>\n
![\"gift](\"https:\/\/www.surveypolice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/giftcardsangled.png\")
Most survey sites issue e-gift cards instead of physical gift cards which cuts down reward processing times. Gift cards also tend to have lower \u201ccashout\u201d minimums (the amount required in your account before being able to claim a reward) than PayPal. For instance, PointClub<\/a>, has a $25 (25,000 points) minimum for gift card redemptions, versus a $50 (50,000 points) minimum for PayPal payments.<\/p>\nIn conclusion<\/h2>\n