Synovate, a world class research company

Here is a great survey company for anyone serious about participating in opinion research. 

Synovate is one of the largest marketing research firms in the world. Membership in our Global Opinion Panels provides you with many opportunities to voice your opinions on the products and services you and millions of other people across the globe use every day.

Here's the skinny straight from the Synovate website:

"What’s Involved?

Being a panel member is simple and provides rewards for your opinions. Once you join, you will be contacted by e-mail when a survey is available. This e-mail will contain instructions on how to access the survey and details about the rewards you will be eligible to earn. Participation for all surveys is voluntary, with no penalty if you choose not to participate.

Most surveys take 5-10 minutes to complete. You can even stop in the middle of a survey and return at a later time, picking up right where you left off. But, we ask that you try to complete them as soon as possible, since most surveys are only available for a limited time.

From time to time, we may invite you to test a product or participate in a research project conducted by telephone. Your participation in these studies as well is always voluntary.

 

Still Have Questions?

If you would like to know more, check out our frequently asked questions or contact us at marie@synovate.net"

I absolutely love this site and encourage you to sign up! By the way, I do not get a kick back for referring anyone to this site.

Here's a great idea for those poor, starving college students!

For all the college students out there, Valued Opinions, is looking for you. They are a legitimate survey company with a great reputation. You will not be spammed by them. They are owned by Research Now, a respected research organization used by well known companies to get your opinions. Many of their surveys are the kind of information a college student would know. They have numerous surveys on movies, movie going habits and such. Valued Opinions will send you survey invitations if one of their clients needs the views of someone who might live on the East Coast or has specific interests like going to the movies in their free time.

They also survey people on their electronic preferences, shopping habits, dvds and other items. The most important thing to do is to respond to their invitations in a timely manner. Once you start answering their surveys you will be invited to answer others that can be more profitable. They reward you based on a $20.00 system that entitles you to receive gift certificates like Visa Debit cards, Amazon.com cards, Blockbuster, Macy's cards, some book stores and other vendors . Most of the surveys are worth between $2 and $5. When you sign up you will be asked what your preferred reward is, just indicate that and when you reach the $20.00 goal they will use a pop up to let you know that you can redeem it.  Remember it may take up to 28 days to get the credit to your account after completing a survey. The reward is clearly stated at the beginning of the survey in the invitation. Most of the surveys will take you about 20 minutes to complete.

If you have any concerns about your personal data being shared don't worry. The business is based on two valuable concepts, trust and quality. They will never contact you to market something only to ask you your opinions for research purposes. If you only sign up for one survey company make it Valued Opinions! Plus, as a new joiner you will be automatically entered into the sweepstake contest to win an IPod touch.

Keep Your Options Open!

Once you get started taking surveys lots of opportunities to sign up for other offers start pouring in. Weigh each offer and sign up for the ones you find most interesting. I recently started with AC Neilsen's Homescan, a consumer panel that tracks what you purchase, and have found it very interesting.

The program requires you to sign up and then your name is put on a waiting list under the "Reserve Status Waiting List".  Homescan then randomly selects households to join. Once you are accepted you will get a handheld scanner (and a lot of other information about the program)  that you use to scan the barcodes from products you buy for your family. It doesn't matter what you purchase since the whole purpose is to track everyday consumers preferences.

Homescan is truly an easy way to share your opinions in the marketplace. As part of the program you accumulate points to spend on a variety of products from a special catalog Homescan provides you. The products or rewards include small appliances, children's items, electronics, recreation products, kitchen items and travel items to name a few. 

The program starts you with a 1000 points and you get additional points on a graduated scale for weekly, monthly, and yearly transmissions. You can also get points for answering surveys and joining their online panel. (Mac users beware: the online panel is only for PC users)!