How to Make Surveys Worth Your Time

In the previous post, I explored whether surveys are worth the time. I hope that a peek into my authentic experience with this ‘work’ helped you decide to give it a shot. I will write with the assumption that you need income and have more free time than money. Like me, for example, I am disabled, retired, and if I didn’t do this, I would just play games or watch Netflix all day. If your situation is different, I bet this post will still be helpful.

Tools

You don’t need much: a PC, broadband internet solid enough to watch YouTube, an email address that you check often, and a browser—Chrome is a solid choice for this. The only other thing you require is the time to spend on this activity. Let’s call it your project.

This isn’t really a tool, but you need to know where to create accounts and what sites are good. I hope to be one of your go-to sources. I promise, I dislike all the hype and outright lies that lead to unrealistic expectations.

Transition into Steps

Once you’ve got the basics set up, it’s time to dive into the process. Below, I outline the steps you can take to make surveys worth your time and effort. Each step builds on the last, so following through will set you up for success.

First Step

Sure, signing up is a kind of first step, but it’s not enough. Nearly all opportunity sites will want your detailed demographics so they can try to only show opportunities that you qualify for. For example, I chose male, so I don’t see surveys for makeup or women’s products. Had I been more thorough with this step, I would have earned more in the years that I have participated in survey sites.

You will need to provide your age, sex at birth, gender, sexuality, political leanings, religion, income, and much more. Yeah, they will ask you what feels like 100 questions—and it may actually be more! Just roll with it and get it done. Be honest, as thorough as possible, and don’t worry—this is all stuff Facebook probably already knows about you anyway.

Second Step

Find those links! Below are some of the best sites that I work with. Check irCurt’s often for updates. I have or will add reviews, warnings, and weekly direct links to higher-paying opportunities. Each link will include a blurb explaining why it’s worth following through, so you’ll have everything you need to get started effectively.

• Prolific.com This site is so good, I promote but don’t/can’t get paid for. I rarely get screened out, they do that before I see the surveys. I earn about 100-130 a month and have been since November 2024. There is a waiting list, so do this first.

The links below all include my affiliate or referral link. This simply means that if you earn money, we both win. Using my link or some other only affects who will earn when you do.

• Branded Surveys I get screened out a lot here, but I still can earn 5-20 per month depending on how patient I am.
• Prime Opinion I have gotten paid here, I would definitely give this one a shot.
• FreeCash This site is well rated, I need to make time to check it out more thoroughly.

Third Step

Follow through! I know, I know—work is a four-letter word. But hey, you signed up for it, so let’s get it done. No one’s watching, but those PayPal deposits won’t show up on their own! Most survey sites just send those automated emails, and no one cares if you click them other than you.

This step can be frustrating and sometimes rewarding. The frustration comes from qualifying for surveys and being screened out. It happens a lot to me because I am in the 10-24k income bracket, and I am not an ideal consumer. Your luck might be better if you are still working, a housewife that buys things, above 50k a year, etc.

The rewarding part is when you complete a survey and earn some change or a couple of bucks. Usually, the whole process takes about 20–30 minutes. However, I read slowly; you may do them faster. These small wins add up to $5 bills in your PayPal. YAY!

Some sites, like Prolific, are good about prescreening. In fact, on Prolific, where I earn more than $100 a month, I rarely get screened out! Most survey sites aren’t quite as slick, but some try.

Check the profile section of the places you work. They add new questions from their clients from time to time. Having revisited sites I worked with for many years, I have found updating my profile leads to good outcomes. Yes, I am emphasizing this point—it is important.

Next?

Other than cashing out and spending your wealth, you could explore other options. These two posts are pretty focused on surveys and survey sites. You can add additional income streams to your budget. I have tried microtasking and need to revisit that. Recently, I got into that $120 study (hope it works out). I tried some Fiverr gigs, and I am doing some affiliate marketing—i.e., this website. I will cover topics and offer guidance on all that I know, as down this road I will go!