We all get junk landing in our inboxes from time to time, spinning us stories about amazing deals that don’t really exist and trying to get us to reveal personal information in return for something that isn’t even real. It can be scary to receive these emails, especially when it’s so difficult to tell the difference between real, legitimate emails and fake ones, masquerading as real. And it’s not just via email anymore – scams and fake news are spreading everywhere on social media, too.
So, when it comes to taking part in market research, how can you spot the fact from the fiction? And how can you spot the legit market research companies from the fake? In this post, we’ll identify the ways in which you can assess the credibility of research agencies so that you can sign up to studies with confidence.
1. Look at reviews
When buying a new product or investing in a new service, how often do you check online reviews before parting with your hard earned money? You want reassurance that what you’re about to buy is going to be worth your time. You want back-up and reassurance from others who’ve previously purchased the item, who can give you information about their experience. Reviews, for the most part, give a good overview of a company. So, why act any differently before you sign up to market research? You won’t be parting with your money, but you will be signing over your contact information. So, have a browse for some online reviews from others who’ve taken part in research with that particular company before you go for it. Ensure you’re looking at reviews from people who have taken part in market research before and can give a well-rounded response.
2. Assess the claims
Some claims out there are posted by people who don’t have any evidence to support their comments, some aren’t always true, and some are just plain funny! You just have to trust your instinct and make a judgement call as to whether you think these claims are true – are lots of people saying the same things, or is it just a one-off comment?
3. Check out their social media profiles
Every company has social media profiles nowadays, connecting with others in the same industry to chat and share ideas. Angelfish Opinions is our participant facing side of our market research business. Angelfish Fieldwork is our client facing side of the business and you can check out our LinkedIn social media profile – yep, we really do love market research! If you find that the market research agency in question is not on social media, then this would be a red flag; agencies use social networks as one of the top ways to find respondents for their research.
Another thing to consider is their following. Accounts with just one or two followers, who claim to be top research agencies, are probably fake! Look closely at what they post or tweet about; a good market research agency will post about their upcoming studies and share engaging content to interact with respondents. Checking social media for legit market research companies will give you a good idea of whether or not you should trust them.
4. Check for a website and contact details
Does the company have a website? If not, it’s unlikely that they’re legitimate – are there any businesses out there that don’t have a website these days?! If they do have a website and their contact details available, assess their credibility. Are they local? Does the email address work? Another good tip is to look out for a FAQ page where you’ll be able to find answers to the most common queries the company gets, plus, it is a great place to learn more about what they do.
Open and honest research
At Angelfish Opinions, we take an open and honest approach to market research recruitment. If you ever have any questions about any of our studies, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our friendly team will be happy to answer your queries.
If you’d like to take part in market research and get your opinions heard by big brands, sign up to our panel. We’ll send you emails to the studies that are relevant to you. It’s a fantastic opportunity to express your thoughts, plus, you get to earn a bit of extra cash as you go!
Meet the Angelfish Opinions team…
From left to right: Molly, Jade, Sian, Kelly, Lisa
