Have you heard of paid market research? Have you got any idea what it actually involves? You might have lots of questions about paid market research, but some of the most common questions that we get asked by participants are usually what is it? and what are the next steps? Put simply, it’s a way for companies and brands to find out how the general public feel and think about a particular product, and it’s so valuable to them that they’re very prepared to make it worth your while! Read on to find out everything you need to know and more.
But how does it work?
As humans we are subjected to new experiences every day, from your morning macchiato to your train journey to work, have been thoroughly researched. It is vital for companies to understand how their customers think and feel about new products, and they are constantly trying to make tweaks and improvements to old favourites. And this is where you come in! There are loads of different types of paid market research, like focus groups, surveys, online communities and telephone interviews (to name just a few!), so you can pick and choose the way that suits you and your lifestyle best.
That sounds great, but is it legitimate?
Paid market research is a legitimate service, but some of the companies that claim to offer it are not, so it’s important that you do your research and make sure you’re working with a proper company and not a scam site as sometimes paid market research can seem too good to be true. Check out our blog to learn how to tell if a research company is legit.
We are a well-established company based in Cheltenham with years of experience behind us, and we’re members of well-known market research organisations such as the Market Research Society (MRS), AQR and ESOMAR, which means we have a set of strict rules to stick to. Take a moment to check out each company’s website before signing up, as any market research outfit worth their salt will have a professional and information packed internet presence (like ours!).
I’m worried about my personal information – what do you do with it?
Selling personal data is big business nowadays, so we understand your concerns, but don’t worry: we know how important your privacy is and we do everything we possibly can to keep your information safe. As we said just now, we are members of the MRS and we are an absolute goody two shoes about following their code of conduct, which includes the Data Protection Act 1998. We can also guarantee that we won’t pass on or sell your information to third parties. We love it when people return to our company, again and again, so we want to keep you happy!
You haven’t selected me to take part – how come?
You won’t get selected to take part every time you apply for paid market research – but there’s no need to worry! It’s often the case that a client is looking for particular people that fit within a certain bracket such as age range, gender, job or location. If you’re really keen you can keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter pages for any opportunities that you are just the ticket for, plus we’ll email you invitations to studies that we think might be a good fit. We have loads of studies happening all the time, so one will soon come up that is perfect for you.
What’s in it for me?
There are lots of brilliant things about taking part in paid market research! One of the best things is that you’ll be given the chance to give your opinion on a product or service and make a very real and important contribution to its development, which is especially satisfying when it’s something you’re passionate about. Depending on the study, you may get to test a new product, which is especially fun for techies who may get to play with the latest gadgets before anyone else such as the Amazon Echo or the Pixel Phone! And of course, for most paid market research you will receive a thank you for your time, which will come in the form of cash, cheque, bank transfer or a gift card.
Does that answer all your questions? Sign up now and get started!
