Participating in a paid focus group is a great way to earn extra money for not a lot of work. It’s not uncommon to be paid $30-75 for an hour or two of your time. Companies contract with market research companies to learn what real consumers think about their products and services or more about how they make their decisions and their opinions on various matters. Depending on the study, focus group participants might try a new product, fill out a questionnaire or be interviewed individually or as part of a small group.
Doing an Internet search of “find focus groups” gives a lot of results, however you should approach any site with a wary eye as many have out of date information and are paid to recruit you to join mailing lists that turn out to be a waste of time.
Greenbook is a market research directory that will help you find firms that are in your area. From there, you can visit their website and find out how to join their database. You will fill out a questionnaire that will allow them to easily filter their list to find participants that meet the demographic qualifications set by the clients as well as provide contact information.
You will also sometimes find paid focus group opportunities advertised in the classified section of your local paper or Craigslist, however be aware that sometimes these are cleverly disguised attempts to get you to sign up for a mailing list or less lucrative survey site.
For the best chance of being selected for a group, do sign up with all agencies in your area. This should be looked at as an opportunity to earn extra cash and not as a reliable source of income. It can take several weeks or months to be contacted about participating in a group.
If your profile meets the general qualifications of the company, you will be called and asked questions to make sure that you are eligible for the survey. Answer honestly and don’t try to guess what the company is looking for. If you are determined to be eligible, you’ll make an appointment for the survey and given other details.
Do pay careful attention to what time they require that you arrive as most companies will not let you participate if you are late. In fact, most require that you be there at least twenty minutes before the focus group begins, to allow them a chance to adjust for any participants that do not show up. After the group ends, you will be paid, often in cash.
You can also look into participating in mock juries and paid medical and psychological research studies to earn extra cash in your spare time. These can be found by doing a web search of your area plus “paid medical study” or “mock jury”. You can also contact the psychology department of your local university to find out how to be considered for studies.
Again, do use caution about who you give your contact information to and whenever possible sign up directly with the companies or universities conducting the studies rather than sites that promise you lists of opportunities.
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There are punctuation errors in this article. I’m particularly distressed by the run-on sentences and commas splices. Somewhere, a Journalism 101 teacher is crying.