Wednesday, November 19, 2008

$70 for a Beer & Wine Focus Group

This week I attended a focus group on Beer & Wine and for about 1 hour of my time, some sampling and answering some questions I received $70 . I really enjoy these sessions and I pay no tax, completely legit, just cash in an envelope. The $70 came in very handy too because I wanted to buy my 6 year old a bike for christmas and this helped big time.

The invite to this focus group came about by being registered on the Light Speed Consumer Panel and if you are interested in getting invited to more of these then make sure you join the top 5 survey panels.

When these marketing research companies get a job like this one they will assemble a survey panel based around a set of demographics that their client is interested in as customers. Typically they will use the data that you have supplied in your profile to work out whether you fit the survey panel and then get in contact with you.

They rang me up while I was away in Adelaide last week and after a quick round of screening questions, I was locked in for the a session on the following Tuesday night.

When you show up to the venue they check off your name and with a group of other people you go into a room where there is a faciliatator and you discuss the product and give your opinion on it and the advertising /marketing for the product.

At the end of the session they give you an envelope with the cash in it, and you're away....

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Need Extra Cash? A part time job may not be the answer...

Joining a Survey Panel is a Really Easy Way to Make Extra Money...

Many Australians are feeling the pinch of higher prices. Groceries, fuel, mortgage payments, everything is getting more expensive. Plus the Australian economy for the first time in almost 20 years looks like it may go into recession. There is no better time to get some more money into your budget so you can pay those credit card bills, or just put some money aside for a nice Christmas. But if you are considering getting a part time job to make some extra money, then consider:
  • Every cent of extra pay you earn will be taxed at your maximum tax rate;
  • it'll probably mean extra time away from your family & loved ones;
  • longer hours may effect your performance in your full time job;

Thankfully there is a really easy way to make some extra money. Australian market research companies need people to test products and advertising campaigns. They pay you with cash, shopping vouchers and rewards. You DON'T pay any tax on the money you make.

Best of all its really easy, just join the Survey panels by entering your details and some demographic information and they send you surveys via email and sometimes call you to attend focus groups where you get paid for your attendance and feedback on products. Yes, you sometimes even get free products to try out!

I have been doing surveys and focus groups for over 5 years. I have learnt a few things over that time, and if you want to start making some money and receiving gift vouchers I have put together a list of the Top 5 Australian Paid Survey Panels to join RIGHT NOW !!