Article provided by our guest author Nia Sowden author of Survival Wytch

Online Surveys

I wish I received a dollar for every time I heard a colleague complain, “I want to be at home with my kids, I want to be able to enjoy their sports days with them and attend concerts and assemblies. But how can I do that and hold down a job?”

I felt the same when I was stuck working for someone else

One answer is – become a survey panel member.

What’s Involved

I was looking around the internet and came across some information on survey panels from a website on there. So I joined up and have since become a member of the ‘recommended survey panels’. After the initial sign up with each site the surveys come thick and fast and since joining I have been receiving a couple of surveys to complete every day.

Sometimes the surveys are simple questionnaires about candy or insurance or cars and sometimes they are more involved. I have watched videos, listened to recordings and filled in forms.

On one site I became so engrossed in what they had to offer and I ended up posting recipes and travel articles. I liked the simple format of their newsletter and the accessibility and the lure of 200 points to get published in the newsletter!

What are the Rewards?

Some sites pay you for your opinion in points and others pay in dollars so you’ll need to set up a pay pal account.

The surveys take between 5 and 25 minutes to complete. And when you build up enough points you can bid on prizes, like an eBay auction or go into a draw for prizes every time you complete a survey. I find it fun and exiting and I get paid to be at home with my littlies.

It isn’t the grand overnight money train but I have pocket money for extras and gifts for the family that I wouldn’t normally have purchased. The really wonderful thing is that I am at home with the kids, not stuck in an office looking out a window at the sun in the distance and thinking about how someone else is enjoying my child’s formative years instead of me.

Raising Awareness

Doing the surveys has made me more aware of what I buy, what we eat, and I am more conscious of why I buy things. I had never examined my motives for buying things before and I now have the skills to determine what elements are needed to get me to part with my money.

I feel that I am playing a vital role in the success of some advertising campaigns. Because that is what survey panels are for. Members are invited to critique advertising campaigns and give feedback to companies who pay for those opinions.

Valued opinions, survey pro, survey advice, global test market these are just some of the companies that can introduce you to a more leisurely approach to earning money.

Staying Focussed

Just remember though working from home requires more discipline than going to the office.

I complete my surveys when the children are involved in an activity that doesn’t require me to supervise them too closely because sometimes the surveys require concentration. For instance the ideal time is when it is play dough play time or they are dressing up playing their make believe games, whereas when and the kids are having water play I need to give them my full attention rather than complete a survey.

Am I Enjoying This Form of Work From Home?

I certainly am!!! My experience so far has been a very fulfilling one. I have extra income, the time to enjoy my family and the pleasure of being able to work from home. I get to play games play on the computer, answer a myriad of questions, get a first look at lots of ideas for advertising and have the opportunity to inform advertisers what works for me and what doesn’t – and the best part is that as I am a valued customer they pay me!

Now to put that time at home to good use, the children and I are off to a Wiggles performance tell the CEO I said hi….

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!