• Oct 7

    Market research online is a major growth sector and you can use it to your advantage to make money from home.
    Paid surveys are great way to make extra income online from home and there are endless options to choose from. Just type “paid survey” into Google and you will be confronted with more than two million web pages to look at.
    So before you plunge in, you need to decide on the criteria you will use to determine which survey opportunities to participate in.
    There are four key questions to ask yourself: will I have to pay to participate: is this a legitimate research company; will I be interested in the subject, and how much can I expect to be paid?
    Will I have to pay to participate?
    A bone fide survey or market research company will not require you to pay to participate in the research program. You are giving them valuable information and feedback so it is reasonable that they reimburse you for your time. So if you are asked to make a payment before you begin, you should look at another option instead.
    Is this a legitimate research company?
    It is sometimes difficult to tell straight off if a company is on the level, just from looking at the website. As mentioned above, one of the major warning signs that all is not well is that you are required to pay to sign up. A positive sign to look is the existence of a “refer a friend” scheme. Most of the trustworthy research companies will encourage you to invite your friends to join in and they will compensate you when you make a suitable referral.
    Will I be interested in the subject?
    Companies planning to develop new products need information on genuine consumer wants and needs. Therefore they are prepared to invest heavily in market research to ensure that their new product stands the best chance in the marketplace. To ensure they gather the correct and necessary information, the survey questionnaires are designed to explore a wide range of issues. As a result they can be time consuming to complete. Therefore, if you choose to make money from paid surveys, you must be prepared to invest a considerable amount of time and it therefore will help if you are interested in the subject.
    Indeed many research projects will require that you complete questionnaires on a regular basis over a period of time and if you enjoy the subject this will be a major benefit. So don’t rush in and choose the first survey you find, but take some time to find the right one for you.
    How much can I expect to be paid?
    Read the fine print before you start a survey to check how much you will be paid. Survey organizations will often compensate you with “points” or “credits” which you can convert to cash or a Visa gift card, when you reach a certain number of points. This can be attractive, but ensure that you know the number of points you will be awarded in order to assess if it is a lucrative opportunity.
    In some cases though, you may be awarded points which must be “spent” on a selection of gift items chosen by the company. This too can work for some people, but it can be quite restrictive.
    The most attractive option is to work with research agencies that pay cash. You will need to check how much they will pay as this can vary enormously between companies. In the case of a very short survey of under five minutes a fee of around $2 is fairly standard. However, look out for more detailed surveys and focus group projects where fees are much higher with $40 to $75 an hour being achievable. So choose your surveys carefully to make sure you get the best income.
    To make the task of locating the best paid survey opportunities foolproof, there are a number of great membership sites on the Internet which screen out the legitimate opportunities, so that you can be assured of fair treatment when you participate in a survey . The modest membership fee charged by these sites is normally a one time payment and for less than the price of a pizza and beer for two, you have lifetime access to a great selection of lucrative online opportunities that will pay top dollar.
    Taking part in paid surveys online can be a great way to make money from home, as long as you know how to avoid the scams. Team up with the right membership site and you will not look back.

  • Sep 8

    The Internet has completely changed the way many people approach employment and the opportunities to make money from home are now endless.

    This is because the Internet has made it not only possible, but desirable, for companies to outsource areas of work that traditionally were carried out in-house. The company can save a huge amount of money by not having to employ full time staff members and provide them with office space and equipment.

    Outsourcing of data entry and typing jobs has become known as ‘telecommuting’. To carry out the job, a successful telecommuter needs only to have a computer with an Internet connection (together with suitable software and computer skills). It is in ideal job for many people who have decided to stay at home or for people who have no choice but to do so. Many mothers with young children find it an ideal way to make money from home because they can fit in the work around their family commitments.

    However, telecommuting is not a way to make a lot of money at home without a lot of effort. To be successful in any job or occupation, commitment and effort are required.

    So, let’s look at some of the most important aspects of making telecommuting , or online jobs, successful. Set Out Your Schedule and Stick To It Don’t pay any attention to those lame television commercials professing that you can sleep until noon, work for an hour or two in the afternoon and still make mega bucks. Working from home is not about working at your leisure. It is about working without travel and overhead expenses. Haphazard, lazy schedules are extremely self-defeating. You cannot regard a telecommuting job as a “goofing off” opportunity. It does give you the flexibility though to work in the evening if you are not at your best in the morning. But whether you are a night lark or a morning bird, draw up your schedule and stick to it. Success will soon follow. Designate a Specific Work Area Don’t try to do your telecommuting work lying in bed with your laptop on your chest. This is a big “no-no” because it really cuts into your ability to be efficient. Instead, set up a room or a particular section of the house as a work area. This will provide the cohesion and organization needed to make the workday effective. Dress for Success As with having your workspace properly set up, it is also important not to dress too casually when working form home. Remember, anytime you are too leisurely in your approach , your ability to be efficient will be limited. You don’t have to wear a suit and tie or a power outfit, but you should wear something conducive to a professional approach to your work – you do feel more business like if you are dressed accordingly. Make The Most of Tax Deductions If you are employed on contract as opposed as an employee, be sure to take those special deductions related to working from home. For example, you can deduct a percentage of your rent or mortgage based on the amount of space your work area takes up. Other expense deductions can also add up so be sure to keep detailed records on what you spend related to your work. Telecommuting is still a relatively new way to make money from home but done correctly, it can be your key to financial freedom.