Signs That a Survey Website Is Legit

Many people love to engage in freelance work because they can earn supplemental income at home or even while on-the-go. Answering paid surveys online is one of the most straightforward tasks to do since it only requires an Internet-capable device and several minutes of your time.

However, there are also rogue sites that only want to phish for sensitive financial information. Some websites want to trick unknowing individuals into paying money to get access to “exclusive” paid surveys.

How Will Companies Use Data Collected From Paid Surveys

If you’re interested in answering paid surveys online, you need to understand first why companies need information from consumers. Market research is performed by companies, regardless of size, to understand their target market’s needs and preferences. They also conduct market research to analyze their competition and the environment they operate in.

Data collected from market research is used for:

Analyzing market demand and risks
Product (or service) development and improvement
Creating and implementing marketing initiatives
Maintaining competitiveness in the industry
Gain insight on customer opinions
Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of competitors

Unfortunately, not all online paid surveys pay out cash. Legit survey sites like Survey Junkie has a point system, and members can exchange earned points for cash. Consumers can also receive gift cards, vouchers, or PayPal credits. Some companies have sweepstakes where members can win money, electronics, and other goods and services.

Signs That You’re Signing Up With a Legit Survey Website

Good news: legitimate survey websites do exist. Here are signs that a survey website will pay you for your precious time.

1. Disclosure of Company Information

One of the things you should take into consideration when joining a survey website is the ‘About Us’ page. Mostly, if not all the time, scam websites don’t have sufficient company information displayed.

A legitimate survey site contains relevant company information, such as company history, address, contact information, and survey panel information. Avoid survey websites that don’t disclose company information. Consumers should also verify whether the company information is accurate since scammers can easily create websites that appear legit.

Make sure that you’re signing up with a company affiliated with organizations, such as the Council of American Survey Research Organisations (CASRO), European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR), and the Better Business Bureau.

2. Availability of Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

If you cannot find the privacy policy of the survey website that you want to join, consider it a red flag. Legitimate companies always display their privacy policy at the footer of their site.

The privacy policy includes the terms of use, so that survey takers understand what happens when they join the website. If the survey website lacks the terms of service agreement and the privacy policy, it’s best to move on and find a legitimate online survey provider.

3. No Credit Card Information Required

Many people are scammed into paying for ‘membership fees’ of rogue survey websites. Remember that a reputable market research company will not ask for any fees or payments.

Survey websites will compensate survey takers for their time and effort, not the other way around. One of the signs that a survey website is a scam is that it asks for your credit card or bank information.

4. Reasonable Compensation

Online surveys will not make you rich even if you use up all hours of your day to do them. Unfortunately, many consumers are still victimized by scam sites that offer too-good-to-be-true payouts.

Scam websites will entice potential members with their unrealistic compensation claims. In general, survey sites pay between $0.25 and up. So, if a survey site claims that you can earn hundreds of dollars every day by signing up with them, it’s a scam.

5. Professional- looking website

Have you encountered a survey site featuring a scantily clad lady on their homepage? Scam. Does the website contain outrageous cash benefits and expensive products as prizes? Not legit at all.

It’s often easy to distinguish a scam website from a legit one. Most scam survey sites have incorrect spellings and poor grammar. A reputable market research firm doesn’t want inappropriate images on their website. Legit survey websites invest in clean and professional-looking platforms.

Conclusion

You should always take time to do prior research before signing up on a survey website. Your personal information can be sold, and you can become a victim of phishing scams if you fall prey to a fake survey website.

You can have fun answering online surveys while being reasonably compensated by a reputable market research company.

Eileen Conant

Eileen Conant is a freelance business writer who also dabbles in painting on the side.

Signs That a Survey Website Is Legit

How Will Companies Use Data Collected From Paid Surveys