Focus Groups Online: Make $300 Per Session

If you like to speak your mind, you could get paid for doing so by a focus group. The process is easy and straightforward.

These focus groups are organized by reputable companies such as Google, and they are willing to pay up to $350 for about two hours of your time. All you have to do is review products or services and give feedback.

Many people see their participation in a focus group not only as a way to earn extra cash but also as a way to help companies improve their products.

If you wish to get into the world of paid focus groups and perhaps turn it into a side hustle of sorts, keep reading. This article will discuss some of the more reputable focus groups and how to join them.

What Is A Focus Group?

A focus group is a group of people whose goal is to have educated discussions about a product or concept before revealing it to the public. A Focus Group can also provide essential feedback on multiple topics like television series, political campaigns, marketing plans, TV ads, etc.

Though members of focus groups are paid, they are also required to give their honest opinion.

By using a focus group, firms can polish their products or services before going public.

The process of joining these focus groups easy and straightforward. All you need is the internet on your laptop or smartphone to find market research companies that organize these focus groups.

For focus groups hosted entirely online, you might need a webcam and a microphone. In some cases, your computer microphone may suffice.

How much you get paid will depend on the market research company you join. Here are some of the best ones.

1. Google User Experience Research

Google User Experience Research is a way for Google to improve its products and services by collecting consumer data and getting feedback from focus group participants.

Participate can complete a Google survey in either one of its offices, research vans, or the web.

After completing one of Google’s surveys, participants are rewarded with either a gift card or a donation (in their name) to a charity of their choice. In any case, participants will know the reward amount before they start the survey.

2. Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie is a popular paid survey company. It is both a survey platform and a market research company that hosts online focus groups.

Visitors can sign up with the site to complete surveys or participate in market research activities, i.e., paid focus group activities.

On Survey Junkie, the more surveys or focus group activities you complete, the more points you will earn. You can then cash out those points for gift cards or direct payment to your Pay-pal account.

3. 20|20 Panel

According to 20|20, it has paid over 35 million dollars to its panelists since its inception in 1986.

To start earning on the platform, you first need to sign up. Once you sign up, you will get invitations via email to participate in studies and surveys.

Earnings for most surveys will range from $50-$300 and will be paid in gift cards.

4. Focus Forward (Survey Squad)

While Focus Forward is not among the most popular paid online focus groups, it distinguishes itself by offering an impressive compensation package to participants.

Every day Survey Squad, which is owned by Focus Forward, pays people just like you to participate in focus groups, phone interviews, online diaries, and other marketing research activities. You can complete most of the surveys from the comfort of your home on your own schedule.

Once you complete a survey, you get rewarded in points. If you accrue up to 20,000 points, you can cash out.

5. American Consumer Opinion (ACOP)

American Consumer Opinion (ACOP) is a popular market research company with over six million members worldwide.

The company pays people to participate in surveys and research projects.

Membership is free, and participants are rewarded with between 100 to 5000 points for each survey completed. Each point is equivalent to a penny. The amount of money you earn is limited only by the amount of survey or research projects you complete.

ACOP is an excellent way to earn some extra cash in your spare time.

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6. Respondent

Respondent is another market research company that recruits business professionals and regular people for research interviews.

Anybody aged 18 and above can join Respondent. The company is always looking for people from diverse backgrounds to participate in its research activities.

Regardless of where you live in the world, you can join Respondent. All you need is a PayPal account, and a Facebook or LinkedIn account.

The cash incentive for a particular research project is set by the company hiring Respondent. For example, General Electric can hire Respondent to conduct a research study with 100 participants, each paid $150.

If you are already a member of Respondent, you can apply to participate in the study. Afer the study is concluded, Respondent will pay you $150 less $1 or a 5% fulfillment fee, whichever is higher. In this case, the member will get $142.50 deposited into their PayPal account.

If the study had a payout of $10, there would be a $1 fulfillment fee, and the member will received $9.

Respondent members can also earn $50 for each referral they make.

7. WatchLab

Anybody can join WatchLab. Whether you live in San Francisco or Mexico, the platform is free to join.

Once you successfully register as a member of WatchLab, e-mail invitations will be sent to you whenever there’s a research opportunity that matches your profile.

The e-mail will contain the research topic, the incentive amount, and the research methodology (focus group, telephone interview, in-person interview, in-home interview, etc.).

All you have to do is click the link and complete the pre-qualifying survey.

8. Plaza Research

Founded in 1982, Plaza Research has been around for a long time.

Joining the platform is simple and straightforward. Most of the platform’s research is done in person at any one of its 14 locations around the United States.

Plaza Research recruits for many different types of research scenarios, including:

• One-on-one interviews
• Usability testing
• Telephone & web-based surveys
• Offsite/ethnographic recruiting
• On-site small or large groups
• Classroom style groups or mock juries
• Living room style focus groups or interviews

Visit the Plaza Research website to determine if the company has a branch of its office in your city. If it does, you can apply to join its platform.

READ: Best Survey Sites: 22 Legit Sites That Will Pay You To Take Surveys

9. LifePoints

As a Lifepoint member, your primary activity will be to complete surveys. However, you will also be called upon for focus group activities such as participating in mini polls, testing products, and other types of data collection.

Once you complete an activity on the platform, you get to earn points that can be cashed out for gift cards.

Joining LifePoint is easy and free. You don’t need any particular skill to join the platform. If you know how to fill a survey, you are good to go.

10. Recruit And Field

Recruit And Field is a market research company with headquarters in New York. The company specializes in the nationwide recruitment of research respondents.

If you’re interested in focus group activities, Recruit And Field is a great place to start your search. Most research participants make between $100 to $275 on the platform.

How To Make The Most Money With An Online Focus Group

There isn’t a unique or quick way to make more money with an online focus group. That’s because your earnings depend on the company and the type of study. However, the average pay rate for focus group studies ranges from $50 – $300 per hour. Knowledge of this information is useful in choosing the focus group to join.

Sometimes, a focus group company may provide you with samples of its products or services as partial compensation. However, if you wish to maximize your earnings, we recommend participating in numerous focus group studies with different companies.

Tips To Prevent Getting Scammed By A Fake Focus Group

Although focus group studies are a legitimate way to make extra cash, you need to beware of the fake focus groups. Many questionable sites might entice you to participate in focus group studies for easy money.

These scammers employ various tactics such as exaggerating the ease of the surveys and the remuneration.

Here are some tips on how to spot fraudulent focus groups and work-from-home scams.

• If They Ask For Personal Info Like Your Social Security Number

A legitimate survey site does not ask you to submit personal information like your social security number. If a platform does this, it may be a sign it is fraudulent.

• If They Use A Gmail Or Yahoo Email

An established business will use a professional email address to communicate with participants. If a focus group communicates with you using Gmail or Yahoo mail, it may be fraudulent.

• Check The Company Up With The Better Business Bureau

The Better Business Bureau is a great place to start your research if you suspect a market research company might be fraudulent.

• If They Ask For Credit Card Details

Focus group companies should be paying you for services rendered. If a market research company asks you for your credit card details, they may be a fraudulent company.

• If They Ask You To Buy Products Or Services

No legitimate online focus group will ask you to subscribe to a service (besides newsletters) or tell you to purchase any of its products. If a platform does that, it may be fraudulent.

Conclusion

Although joining focus groups and completing online surveys provide extra income, it is not a viable way to earn a living. Income from these sources can only handle minor expenses like your Netflix subscription, not your mortgage or student loan payments.

In your search for a reliable online focus group to join, make sure to avoid questionable third-party sites that request money and personal information. Legitimate focus groups and survey platforms will never ask you for money.

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