Top tips for taking part in paid market research
People all over the county take part in and get paid for market research every day. If you’ve never done it before, however, the first time you take part in paid market research can be a bit daunting – but don’t let that put you off!
Market research is a very rewarding and fun thing to do, and you’ll be really glad you took the plunge when your session is over – not just because of the great incentive you’ll receive at the end, but because of all the lovely people you’ll get to meet and the positive difference you will make!
Don’t worry if you are a bit nervous; this guide contains some super-helpful tips and advice on what you can do to prepare for both face-to-face and online market research projects, and what you should bear in mind when you embark on your first paid market research experience – as well as what you can expect afterwards!
Before the session
When it comes to taking part in market research projects – whether face-to-face or online – a little bit of forward planning will go a long way.
With face-to-face sessions, this is because it’s important that you aren’t late for your session, and you’ll feel much more relaxed and ready to get stuck in if you arrive within plenty of time.
Make sure you have all the details of the session with you and plan your route well ahead of time, so you know exactly how to get there. It’s especially important that you aren’t late for focus groups as there will be other people there and you don’t want to keep them waiting!
Gather all the relevant documents together the night before, including photo ID, which you may need to collect your incentive. Remember to turn your phone to silent before you go into the session so that you and your fellow participants don’t get distracted if it goes off!
If you are taking part in an online market research project, make sure you have everything set up the day before the online session (where possible) so that when the time comes, you’re all set and ready to go off the bat.
This includes setting yourself up with links, downloading any apps, checking your network connection and so on. This way, if there are any technical hitches, you’ll also have plenty time to contact the moderator to get these straightened out before the project starts.
Also, be sure to find yourself a quiet and comfortable working area to sit in about 15 minutes before the session starts so that you can get settled before kick-off!
During the session
If you feel nervous during face-to-face sessions, just remind yourself that everyone else probably feels the same. Relaxing and building a rapport with the rest of the group will allow you to be yourself and give honest answers that really reflect how you feel about the product or service being researched. You never know, you may even make a few lifelong friends!
Your opinion is really valued when you take part in paid market research, so don’t be a shrinking violet; make sure your voice is heard! It’s important to try not to be influenced by other people’s opinions, and it’s absolutely fine to (politely!) disagree and explain your point of view. This will give research moderators much more material to work with – and remember it’s supposed to be fun!
The researcher will be trained to facilitate the discussion and ensure that everyone feels able to say what they think with confidence, so don’t be scared to be passionate about your opinions.
It’s a great opportunity to have a lively and interesting discussion and maybe even make some new friends.
Similarly, if you’re taking part in online market research, such as an online community, don’t be afraid to hold back on any ideas you may have. What might seem like a silly idea to you could be the perfect inspiration for the company you’re taking part in the research for, so be sure to get creative!
After the session
When the session is over, you’ll be able to collect your incentive (or will have this sent to you if you took part in research online), which could be anything from vouchers to a cash. Once you’ve completed the research, you might be contacted again by the research team.
This may be to give feedback about how the research team could make improvements, or they may like further information about a comment you made during the research session.
It’s also an opportunity for you to give your feedback about what it was like to take part in paid market research, and they could ask you if you would give a testimonial about your experience, or whether it is something that you would recommend to a friend.
You may even be offered the opportunity to get paid for market research projects that the company would like to conduct in the future, so making insightful and valuable contributions during your time in the study will be well worth it.
(H2) Does this sound like something you’d enjoy?
This blog only really scratches the surface of how fun taking part in market research can be – and really, the only way to know is by diving right in and participating!
Here at Angelfish, we work with lots of different brands throughout the year to provide them with friendly, open-minded participants for their research projects – whether those are in person or online – so that they can better understand their consumers and give people like you the opportunity to have your say on new products and services.
If you would like to get on board and get paid for market research participation, sign up to our panel, or have a browse of our current projects and see which ones pique your interest. Our team are always just at the end of the phone if you’d like any more information or if you have any questions!
