Make Hundreds of Dollars by Participating in Focus Groups

If you've got some time, an opinion and, in some cases, reliable transportation, you can make a good deal of money participating in focus groups. Unlike the 5 to 20 dollars you'll collect for taking a traditional survey, these groups pay upwards of 50 to 200 dollars, and sometimes even more.

There are three different kinds of focus groups you can take part in: in person, online or over the phone.

In-person focus groups require some travel time and often daytime availability, which makes them perfect for stay at home moms and college students.

Online focus groups usually take the form of a live chat at a certain time of day or an interactive message board that can be accessed from any computer. That means you can participate in them from anywhere in the world.

Phone focus groups are usually conference calls involving people from all over the country, though not internationally. In rare cases, you chat one on one with the interviewer.

How to get started

Find a company to work with

There are several websites floating around that will give you links to sign up for market research companies in your area. (One is listed at the end of this article.) Once you sign up, you will be contacted when a focus group comes up that fits your profile.

If you live in the Washington, DC area, your big ones for in-person groups are Shugoll Research in Bethesda and Baltimore Research in Towson. Another big one is McCormick in Timonium, but they tend to pay less to have you come in for their product trials of new spices and condiments. Some of the bigger names in online and telephone focus groups are Focus Forward and 20/20 Research. You can often find online and phone studies by visiting deals boards or websites that feature classified ads.

Apply for a study

Once you register for a panel and get contacted by the company, or you find an ad for a study online, you will have to take a survey to see if you qualify for the study. This survey will take place either online or over the phone, with online surveys almost always followed up by a phone call.

In your initial survey, you could be asked only a couple of questions, or you could be drilled until your ears are ringing. It all depends on how narrow their target is for the research. Be sure to let the company know your availability before you answer all the questions. There's no point going through the hassle of the survey for a group you won't have the time to participate in. Also, be honest with your answers to the questions. If you aren't, you will screw up their focus group data. Plus, you'll probably forget what you said later and look a fool.

Wait

After you talk to a representative on the phone, he or she should be able to tell you right away if you fit what the company is looking for. If not, you will get a call back within a couple days if you qualify. If you don't hear anything back, you probably didn't fit their needs.

Once you're in, you will receive information in your e-mail or by mail such as driving directions, login information, topics you need to prepare in advance, etc. Then you just wait for the day of your group.

Participate in your group

For in-person groups, you drive to the facility, show a valid photo ID, are offered food and drink and are directed to take a seat at a table surrounded by your fellow groupees. You are then met by a moderator and probably someone representing the client and told to look at packaging, sample the product, brainstorm ideas for promotions, etc. They usually last about an hour.

For your online group, you will probably be sent directions on how to log on to a certain website, and you will receive detailed directions once you sign in. Make sure to use a computer with a reliable Internet connection so you stay logged on for the full session.

Obviously, for a telephone group, you will get a phone call. Or, on rare occasions, you will be asked to call a special number yourself at the start time. Again, make sure your connection is reliable, and don't call long distance from a friend's phone as you will be on a while.

Get paid

You should be paid in a very short amount of time. In-person group moderators pay you immediately after the study, and usually in cash. Online and phone group leaders send out a check within a few days if not the next day. Keep the moderator's contact information on hand just in case there is a problem.

That's it! Get out there and get started, and be sure to send me a cut of your earnings.