People ask me questions about it all the time. I want to be able to help as many of you earn extra money that I can so I am going to share some of the questions I get regularly and the answers that I have. Just keep in mind, these aren't answers to be taken lightly. I have worked my butt off for the last 7 years to get and maintain relationships with companies that I have.
I have been doing this for so long and have been successful at it that the questions and answers in this post are saving you years of research. I wish I would have had something like this to check out when I decided to make this step into being a work-from-home mom.
Do you have to be a blogger to make money online, at home?
Simply put, No. There are lots of jobs out there that don't require having a website at all to be able to make money from home. Check out Focus Group to earn extra cash as a side job. You can even do this part-time or as needed so you can still work a traditional job if that's what you want to do.
Do you make enough money to live on?
I make enough to be able to stay home. To me, that says a lot. Staying home doesn't mean sitting home either. I have a family, pets, bills (more than I would like to admit) and they are all paid.
Is it steady work?
It's not like punching a time clock. It's a lot of research, emailing, and finding companies that you feel good about working with and companies that want to work with you. I get a lot more no's than yes's but I get a lot of yes's. There isn't a set amount of projects that I have going at a time. Right now, this minute I have about 10 open projects maybe more but they are all different and it's very manageable. Sometimes I have 20-30 sometimes I have none. It's different for everyone,
Does working from home mean staying at home to do it?
Prior to the pandemic, we traveled a lot with my online work. There are jobs that have in-store opportunities. For example, shopping for specific brands to see how the store handles a specific product or brand, lodging at nice locations to share your experience with your friends, day trips to all paid theme parks to evaluate their properties. It's a lot of fun being able to take a full family of 6 on a whole vacation for free.
Is it a real job?
Well, it's a real business. I earn money by working with companies that need my services. I email companies letting them know I am available and they let me know when I am a good match for their project. Following up and staying current is very important.
How do you make it work?
Hard work and determination are what have been the most profitable for me. I don't do this as a side hustle. It is a full-time business for me. I am dedicated to it because I like the security of being at home and that means making sure I can make that happen.
Is there a specific place to start?
Just starting out, I would recommend finding companies that are looking for people like me. That would be a market research company. I have one that I would like to recommend for beginners as well as experienced work from home individuals.
Starting out is easy. Create your account with your personal information. Upload a picture of your photo ID. That way they can tell it's you not a robot or scammer and when it's time to get paid they are paying you directly, not a third party. I love this for security purposes.
When it comes time to fill out your personal information, be as specific on your profile as you are comfortable with. Brands look for very specific people sometimes and the more they can see about you upfront the more projects you will qualify for. I found this out the hard way.
What are some of the opportunities I can expect from Focus Group?
There are several opportunities available, it will all depend on how you qualify for these projects. Keep in mind when you are filling out your profile you can add as much or as little to your demographics as you would like. And, QUALIFIED respondents are ALWAYS PAID for their time and opinions. The more information about interests and demographics, the better we will be able to target what studies one might qualify for in the future.
- a health and beauty client testing out new scented lotions
- a baby formula manufacturer curious about the best packaging design to use
- a clothing brand gathering insight on style preferences
- a wine producer learning about potential consumer interest in a monthly wine delivery subscription service
- a tech company that wants feedback on a new app or website design
- an in-store shop-along where a client observes and gets feedback on what products the panelist is drawn to
How Do I Sign Up For Focus Group?
Signing up is very easy. Click to go to Focus Group and fill out your profile. You can be as honest as you want to be. You can share a little bit of information or all of your information and it is safe. They do in-person focus groups, shop-alongs, webcam and telephone interviews, online surveys, discussion boards, etc
Is it safe to share my personal information?
Very Safe. Schlesinger Group has been around for over 50 years and has a very strong reputation within the industry. They have no brand or product affiliation. Our study topics and clients are wide-ranging across the entire spectrum of consumer and healthcare-related products and services. And the best part, they do not sell respondent’s personal information.
How do I know if I have been chosen for a study?
I have already signed up for the Focus Group program. I want to make sure I am very clear on the process so I am pasting this right from the company. It is so simple!
When we do have a study that we think a panelist might be a good fit for, they would receive an email to go through a pre-screening process. If they pass that pre-screening process a recruiter will contact them to officially finish the process. If the respondent does indeed qualify after the recruiter has made contact, they will then be scheduled for the research with the actual client. Once they have completed the actual research with the client then they will receive payment. If the study is in person, our panelists are paid right away. If it’s an online or remote study, then we send a prepaid debit card in the mail.
I hope this helps you as much as it did for me. There are so many ways to earn money without having to punch a time clock. Be your own boss and be happy!
This post is brought to you by Amy & Aron's Real Life Reviews on behalf of Focus Group.
Very informative post, thanks for sharing! I would love to be able to make extra money on the side. I am a stay at home mom but I also homeschooling my children and help my husband with his business.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading Lauryn. That's exactly why I like Focus Group. No need to sit on the site all day and collect points, they email you when there is something you match up with. I got my first match in less than 48 hours!
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