Today I earned the sixty five dollars you see above simply for giving my opinion.  Don’t I feel special?  Absolutely!  You can earn money and feel special too by participating in market research panels and focus groups.  Companies pay big bucks to get in the mind of consumers like you and me.

I recommend first searching on GreenBook.org.  GreenBook is the quickest way to find marketing research opportunities in your area. It is the most comprehensive list of  market research opportunities on the Net.

Ads for paid market research studies and focus groups also occasionally appear in the help wanted section of the newspaper.

I also suggest checking out the malls in your area to see if there are any research companies located inside.  You know those creepy people with the clipboards who always try to bug you when you are shopping.  Sometimes, it is actually worth it to give them a chance.  One time I said yes and had to give my opinion on displays and packaging for several different salad dressings.  About twenty minutes later, I was presented with a crisp five dollar bill.  Now, I know, that isn’t much money at all, ringing in only just above the $10/hour mark.  However, it was easy, fun, and I didn’t have to drive anywhere to get it.  And, it paid for my delicious pretzel with cheese.

These types of opportunities are more abundant in larger metropolitan areas such as Chicago, Los Angeles, San Fransisco, Miami, and my current town, Dallas.  If you are close to a major metropolitan area, chances are you will find a decent selection of market research companies to work with.

A few things to remember:

• Never trust a company that claims to be a market research company but tries to sell you something.  They pay you, not the other way around.

• Be available when they call.  This is a big one for me to learn myself since I don’t answer calls from numbers I don’t know.  However, these coveted opportunities come up fast and you don’t want to miss out just because you didn’t answer your phone.  Often times, they will return your call but you risk the chance of missing out because they called the next person on their list and that person answered!

• Sign up with as many different companies as possible to increase your odds of being selected.

• Be patient.  Whether you are earning money as a mock juror, taking surveys, or from market research, patience is a must.  You might have to wait a while for an opportunity to come your way but it eventually will.

If you have participated in a market research study, I’d love to hear about it.  Did you enjoy the experience?  How did you hear about it?  Leave a comment and share!

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