Are you someone who enjoys taking paid surveys, but you really don’t feel that they pay enough to be worth the time? If so, then you may want to think about participating in some focus groups instead.
These are similar to paid surveys you may have taken, but they are usually a lot more in-depth and, most importantly, they pay a ton more money.
If you’re familiar with paid surveys, then you already know that in most cases, you shouldn’t expect more than a few bucks for your time. But with focus groups, you can sometimes earn anywhere from $50 to $100+ for your participation!
The exact amount you’ll earn will usually depend on the length of the focus group.
Are focus groups more exclusive than paid surveys?
Yes. Lots of times the market research company conducting the focus group will have a very specific demographic they need — even more specific than what you’ll find with paid surveys.
And this makes sense. If they’re going to pay out the big bucks, they need to know they’re getting opinions from the right people.
Can you do focus groups online just like paid surveys?
Sometimes this is possible via chat. But not all the time — in fact, a majority of focus groups require either in-person or telephone participation.
How does an in-person focus group work?
Obviously this will vary a little depending on the company, but if you’re asked to participate in an in-person focus group, you’ll most likely join a group of other people for a round-table discussion at a location in your local area.
There will be a moderator who will ask you very specific questions about the product or service they need feedback on. At the end of the discussion, you will be awarded the amount you were promised as thanks for your participation.
How can you tell if a focus group invitation is legitimate?
I’m going to give you a list at the end of this post of some legitimate companies that regularly conduct focus groups. But, if you decide to do some searching on your own via Craigslist or any other site, do your homework before giving any info.
There are scammers that try to collect sensitive information from people by pretending they have a high-dollar focus group you can participate in. So find out who the company is offering the focus group first, then confirm that they are in fact doing the focus group you found the ad for, and try to sign up directly through them if it’s possible.
Things to Keep In Mind
First off, some companies will only let you participate in one or two of their focus groups per year, regardless of how many they have open. This is why it’s important to be registered with more than one company if you want to be able to do these regularly.
Second, this definitely won’t be dependable income since you never know how often you’ll get to do it. So just be glad to get to participate when you can and enjoy whatever your incentive is.
Third, if you live in a rural area, you may not be able to participate as often. As mentioned above, if the compensation is enough, you may find it worth driving to participate. And sometimes you may luck out and find an online or telephone focus group you qualify for.
What are some legitimate companies that occasionally need focus group participants?
Here is the list I promised of reputable companies you may want to register with. If there is a focus group that they think you’d be a fit for, they’ll let you know if you’re registered.
Keep in mind that you’ll have to be “screened” first before being allowed to participate. This screening may involve answering some short survey questions online or via a brief telephone interview.
Note that some of these are location specific, but they still may have the occasional focus group that can be done online or over the phone where your location doesn’t matter.
- User Interviews – Offers well-paying research studies and focus groups on a wide range of topics. Payments usually range from $20 to $300.
- Respondent.io – Known for high-paying interviews with professionals and consumers. Payouts often range from $50 to $200+ via PayPal.
- FocusGroup.com – Run by Schlesinger Group, this site offers both in-person and online focus group opportunities. Pay varies by project.
- 20|20 Panel – Offers online studies, webcam interviews, and traditional focus groups with compensation typically ranging from $50 to $150.
- Fieldwork Panels – A market research company that frequently hosts online and in-person studies. Most projects pay $75 or more.
- Recruit & Field – Specializes in online focus groups and consumer research, often seeking a wide range of participants. Pay varies.
- Ipsos i-Say – Occasionally offers online focus groups in addition to standard surveys. You earn points that can be redeemed for gift cards.
- Prolific – While not strictly focus groups, they offer well-designed academic studies and short interviews with fair pay and low screen-out rates.
- PingPong – Focuses on user experience testing and one-on-one interviews with professionals and consumers. Pays via PayPal or Wise.
- Survey Feeds – A smaller site that offers pre-screened invites to online focus groups and market research studies.
- Inspired Opinions – Run by Schlesinger Group, this panel connects users to online studies and interviews. Compensation is typically in gift cards. It is a UK based site.
- FindFocusGroups.com – A listing site that aggregates online and in-person focus group opportunities across the U.S.
- TGM Panel – Offers occasional focus group invites in addition to paid surveys. Available in many countries.
- Limelight by Shugoll — They do focus groups and one-on-one interviews. Most studies last up to 90 minutes, and you are paid after participation.
- WatchLAB – A recruiting company that posts high-paying studies, often including Zoom focus groups or remote interviews.
- American Consumer Opinion – Sometimes offers higher-paying online studies and focus groups in addition to their standard survey panel.
- Product Report Card – Includes product testing, paid online surveys, and occasional remote focus group opportunities.
Good luck if you sign up to participate in any of the above!
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Anna Thurman is a work at home blogger and mom of two. She has been researching and reviewing remote jobs for over 14 years. Her findings are published weekly here at Real Ways to Earn.