It seems that these days, many of my conversations with family and friends gravitate towards ways to generate more income. Yet, there are some opportunities you have probably never considered. As a college student and young adult, I found many unconventional jobs and new ways to bring in extra cash. One of the more lucrative side hustles I found was by participating in market research. I would wager that most people don’t know that you can earn money by joining focus groups.
If this is the first time hearing about them, here’s what you need to know about focus groups and how you can get paid for your opinions.
What Exactly is a Focus Group?
For those of us who haven’t taken a marketing or advertising class, let’s start with a basic definition of what a focus group is. In essence, it is a small group of people who are asked pointed questions by a moderator.
Market researchers use focus groups to gather information from the general population. Sometimes, they select participants from a specific demographic while others are completely random. The facilitator, usually representing a company or specific interest, asks questions to collect qualitative data and gain insights into the company’s products, services, and potential marketing campaigns.
How Do Focus Groups Work?
Focus groups are a common data-collecting tool. They create an interactive setting with anywhere from 4 to 10 participants and a moderator to facilitate the discussion. Depending on the kind of information they are looking for, they will ask the group a series of questions about the company, its products and services, and market appeal. Rather than telling them what you think they want to hear, moderators ask you to share your genuine thoughts and feelings about what they are testing.
In my experience, these interactions usually take place in a private conference room and last between 1 and 2 hours. However, lively discussion can make them go longer. Sometimes they take place in an open forum where the company executives can interact with the group through the moderator. Other times, they simply observe or record sessions for later analysis.
Nowadays, there are also virtual alternatives to traditional focus groups. Online focus groups allow you to participate from the comfort of your own home. Although some still require a webcam for real-time interactions with a group of people, others offer one-on-one interviews or survey questions via email to keep you completely anonymous.
How Do You Earn Money by Joining Focus Groups?
Believe it or not, many businesses are willing to pay you for this information. It is invaluable to their marketing team since it helps them improve their strategy and make it more effective. Therefore, they actually encourage you to share your true thoughts and opinions. Focus groups provide honest feedback from the public and help companies better understand their customers and the people they are trying to appeal to.
Since your feedback is driving the entire study, businesses will happily compensate you for your input. Normally, you can expect to earn $30-$150 per focus group. However, the way you earn money by joining focus groups varies by company. The first focus groups I participated in paid cash upon completion. Today, there are so many more options and payment methods.
There are companies that will still issue you cash or check once you complete the session with your focus group. Many will also offer digital payment options through PayPal, Venmo, or other cash apps. However, it is more common to receive prepaid gift cards for your time. In this case, you usually get a choice between a prepaid credit card or gift cards to national and online retailers.
The most recent site I joined issued their rewards based on a points system. For each survey, questionnaire, and activity you do, you receive a set amount of points. Then, you can redeem your rewards once you earn enough points. The value of the prize depends on how many points you accrue.
Where Do You Find Paid Focus Groups?
While there are survey sites where you can begin earning points towards rewards right away, those who pay money require you to go through a screening process. The questionnaires are simple enough. However, consumer and market researchers must review all the profiles, and sometimes look for very specific interests. Unfortunately, you won’t qualify for every paid opportunity.
Your best chance to earn money by joining focus groups is to sign-up with as many companies as possible. You will maximize your exposure and the likelihood of a call-back. However, you’ll need to be wary of scams and fake companies trying to steal your information. According to the latest data, these are among the most popular companies with the highest pay and best rewards.
Online Focus Groups
- YouGov
- Survey Junkie
- American Consumer Opinion
- Ipsos i-Say
- Opinion Outpost
In-Person Focus Groups
- FocusGroups.Org
- 20/20 Panel
- Brand Institute
- FindFocusGroups
- User Interviews
- Respondent
- Fieldwork
- Mindswarms
- WatchLab
- Craigslist
Keep in mind, this is not intended to be a complete list. However, it will give you some places to start looking for ways to make money from focus groups.
Things to Consider
Before you sign up for every paying focus group out there, here are a few things you should consider.
- Make sure you’re working with a legitimate company. Do your research on the company to make sure it is a real employment opportunity. You can start by looking them up on indeed.com or social media. What better way is there to learn about a company than by reading their employee reviews or following them on social media?
- Choose how you want to be compensated. If you decide how you want to get paid, then you can narrow the search and look for groups that offer your preferred payment method. Not only does it limit the number of possible employers, but it also makes it easier to find a focus group.
- What is your time worth? Before you begin, you should know how much time you want to dedicate to focus groups. And, you should also think about what you hope to get out of them. Whether you are just looking to make extra cash or have more ambitious savings goals, you don’t want to waste time pursuing less-than-profitable pursuits.
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Jenny Smedra is an avid world traveler, ESL teacher, former archaeologist, and freelance writer. Choosing a life abroad had strengthened her commitment to finding ways to bring people together across language and cultural barriers. While most of her time is dedicated to either working with children, she also enjoys good friends, good food, and new adventures.
