Table of Contents
Introduction
Did you know that you can get paid to review products and services and still keep these products for free? Have you ever wondered how companies around the world are able to predict consumer needs? There are hundreds, if not thousands, of market research companies around the world that work on behalf of brands to help them predict consumer needs and meet the demand. The product testing industry helps companies and individual brands to get useful feedback on products or services before pushing it to the market. This feedback is important because it helps them tailor their product to fit the needs of the consumers.
There are three options through which most product and service testers are paid:
- Cash
- Free Merchandise
- Amazon Gift Cards
- Other gift cards
It is important to note that most service testing companies pay in cash while most product testing companies pay through free merchandise and gift cards. As such, if you are more interested in creating passive income from this kind of opportunity then you should apply for service testing companies; and if you are looking to get some gift cards and merchandise then you can sign up for the product testing companies. You can also choose to sign up to both of these kinds of companies to increase your passive income and also get free goods and gift cards. To be able to benefit from such companies, you should have a fundamental understanding of the industry.
Why do brands need to test their products and Services?
All commercial companies create products and services with an intention of generating profits and solving a problem for their consumers. To be able to achieve these objectives the product or service needs to fit or meet the demands of the consumer. As such, having consumer insight on the new service or product helps the company save time and money in product design and marketing. This also helps consumers get a product that meets all the needs without compromising on some features. Think of this as a double-ended opportunity where you get to help the company know how to meet your demands and also help ensure that all consumers have access to a product or service that is able to satisfy a need.
How Does Product and Service Testing Work?
Product testing works through a simple and tested procedure. Consumers sign up to a website usually syndicated to provide access to a variety of testing opportunities. Once you sign up, these sites will often ask you to fill in a marketing form that looks at your personal details including your age and lifestyle choices. This will enable the company to decide if you fit the profile of the consumer that the product testing organization is looking for. You will then get regular updates on available opportunities that fit your demographic. Once you are eligible for the product you will be asked for your address where the product would be mailed to and given a time limit to submit your evaluation.
For instance, let’s say during your initial survey you are asked if you use makeup and you answer in the affirmative. If a cosmetic production company looks for consumers like yourself you will be considered eligible for this position and asked to send your address so that they can mail the products for your evaluation. It is important that you are always honest when you are filling in the survey to ensure that you get products that you are able to provide a review on.
Service testing works in a similar way but comes with a wider range of opportunities. Most of these tests are often conducted on websites since a significant number of businesses have online presence. You will sign up to one of these user testing companies where you will be asked to fill in your demographic information including things such as your age and gender. Once opportunities are available that fit your demographic you will be declared eligible and send a list of instructions on how to access the website on which you will be conducting your evaluation.
A significant percentage of the service testing websites often test the usability or simplicity of our websites or software user interface. As such, you will be asked to use a device such as a laptop, mobile or tablet that the company wants to test on. Once you complete your evaluation, your payment will be credited to your account and paid based on the company’s policy on user payments. These payments are often made through popular platforms like PayPal and Payoneer. As such, you should sign up on these platforms before you sign up to these websites.
How much Can you Make as a Product or Service Tester?
Some product companies often pay the testers in addition to letting them keep the products. This is a win-win situation as you are able to gain something for free and also get paid for your opinion. Realistically speaking, these product testing companies can pay anywhere ranging from $1 to $500 depending on their product. Product testing companies often pay lower remuneration in comparison to service testing companies. This is because most service testing companies pay anything between $2 and $1000 depending on the complexity of the review with an average of $50 per evaluation. The key to making more money is signing up for many survey companies and completing several surveys during a payment period.
That being said, here are some of the most popular product and service testing companies that will help you earn a passive income, get free merchandise or earn gift cards online.
Toluna
This site offers free products in exchange for your views with an extensive list of approximately 200 to 500 products to test at any given time. All you have to do is sign up and watch out for their product testing email invites as they fill up quickly. The most common goods on offer include shower gels to save and cosmetics.
Vindale Research
This company is best known for paying its users to take product surveys and also offers the option to earn money by testing these products. The company also offers the option to get paid by watching videos, reading promotional emails, finding reward codes, and referring friends. All you need to do is sign up as a product tester to get access to the opportunities. It is estimated that the average pay per survey is $50 which makes it one of the higher paying product testing services online.
Swagbucks
Swagbucks is one of the most popular product testing websites. There are two main ways through which you can make money on this site and they include answering online surveys and signing up to test products. The users earn points by signing up to receive promotional emails and reviewing products. Other ways through which you can earn money from this site include getting paid to surf the web, watching videos, and playing games. All users can redeem their points for gift cards or get paid through PayPal.
UserTesting
This is a service testing website that allows its users to test websites for money. New users have to sign and complete a review test. Once you pass this test you will have access to their portfolio of paying opportunities. You will then be sent emails from time to time with instructions on how to review the websites. Payment is made through PayPal. This site is relatively well-known and has more than 3 million members with positive user reviews. You are allowed to request for payment through PayPal or gift card once your balance reaches the $10 threshold.
Pinecone
Pinecone is a reputable and popular product testing site that pays its users to answer surveys. Most of the items available on the site include beauty products, food, drinks, and more. This site is often considered to have a more limited portfolio with a smaller community of reviewers than other sites. This means that you have higher chances of getting accepted as a reviewer.
Beta Testing
Beta testing is a website that helps its users make money by testing websites or apps and tech products for usability and other issues. Beta Testing proclaim that you should expect to receive at least five or more opportunities per month. To be able to get access to more opportunities you need to provide quality reviews and assessments as they pride themselves in collecting quality-feedback for the various product and service companies.
Clicks Research
This is another popular and reputable company that works with some of the big brands including Marks and Spencer and The Body Shop. Users are able to earn money through testing products and clicking surveys. You are able to get points for each survey that you answer which can be redeemed for cash. Once you obtain 2500 points you can exchange this for cash. This site operates on a frequency algorithm where the higher rating you get the more tests you are invited to partake in.
Ipsos
I-say by Ipsos is another reputable and popular product testing website where your get paid to tests products and review services. Users are often paid through cash, gift cards and prepaid debit cards with a range of high-paying product-testing opportunities averaging at least $100 and more.
Survey Junkie
Survey junkie pays you to leave a review on brands and products. You’ll often be invited to take a survey on a number of topics after you have completed your profile and it is selected as an eligible one based on your demographic information.
Opinion Outpost
As suggested by the name, Opinion Outpost is a product testing site that pays you for your opinion on brands and products. The average time to complete a survey on the site is 10 minutes and you are awarded points which can be redeemed through PayPal or as gift cards. All surveys or opportunities that you complete provide you with points that enter you into the quarterly prize competition that has a draw prize of $10000.
Atta Poll
Atta Poll is a product testing site that is available through a mobile app that promises to pay its users for their opinions. This site provides the reviewers with the option of getting paid for the surveys or donating their earnings to charities located across the world. They have a minimum cash redemption threshold of $3 which can be easily reached because of the frequency of opportunities made available to the users.
Inbox Dollars
Inbox Dollars is considered one of the largest product testing companies that allows you to make money by writing reviews. Users get paid by signing up for cash offers that will allow you to get free samples. You’re also paid by watching videos, playing online video games, referring friends and shopping online. Most of the videos available on this platform are TV commercials and you get to review them before they are aired. This is quite important considering the climate we live in where we have to be considerate about how we communicate with others because of our diversity. Inbox dollars pays its members through checks and once you become a gold member you have the option of getting paid through a visa prepaid card.
My Opinion
My Opinion is a market research panel where users get points for participating in the online surveys. These points can be redeemed for gift cards and PayPal cash once you attain their threshold for payments.
Branded Surveys
Branded surveys is a product testing site that offers its users the opportunity to earn cash and gift cards in exchange for their opinions on a range of products. The minimum threshold for redeeming gifts cards or cash is 1000 points.
CrowdVille
This is a UK best product testing company that has offices in Italy. This company offers unique opportunities into a product review as you are provided with the rare opportunity to test smartphone applications. The site comes with a step-by-step guide that shows you what they expect from you, and how to test the apps, including how to take screenshots, report bugs, and fill in surveys.
Alba Science
Alba science is a product testing website that often sends its users cosmetics to test and review. These products are often considered high quality and geared towards those who are interested in luxury cosmetics. The site also conducts regular paid clinical trials that can be attended at the main Edinburgh offices in the UK.
Survey Voices
Survey Voices is a product review site that is popular amongst those interested in making money for taking surveys, reviewing products, and watching videos. Most users from this site claim that a significant percentage of the offers are subscription-based where you are asked to subscribe to sweepstakes and other draws to compete for cash and other prizes. The site offers an extensive range of offers which means that you will always have access to paid surveys. However, you need to exercise some caution as some of the review sites that you might be redirected to look compromised.
Isurvey World
This is free to register product review site that pays its users cash to review products and some services. The site pays through PayPal and is provided on a range of platforms making it easier for its users to complete these surveys wherever they are. This program is often lauded for its simplicity as it employs a straightforward approach to product reviews. All you have to do is signup, qualify for product reviews and surveys, and get paid for completing them. The site also comes with a $5 signup bonus. This site is suitable for Latin American or Spanish-speaking users as it is run by Dale Inc. which is one of the largest marketing companies in Latin America.
Testing Time
Testing time is a product and service testing company that promises its users an average hourly remuneration of $50. The site allows its users to conduct remote testing using platforms like Skype and Zoom or from their central offices located in Manchester, UK. Registering for this program is free and the remuneration for the survey or review completed is made available 10 days after your submission. The site claims to host brands like Trivago and Doodle which contributes to its reputation. Typical studies take between 30 and 90 minutes to complete. This site is open to everyone regardless of age, race, gender or cultural affiliation as they are looking for a wide base of testers.
Opinion World
Opinion World is a market research panel where users are rewarded with points for their product reviews. This is one of the oldest survey sites on the internet with users located all over the world. The users can exchange their points for a range of rewards including PayPal Cash, gift cards, and visa prepaid debit card rewards. Users earn between 50 ($0.50) and 300 ($3) points for each survey that is completed depending on its complexity and length. You can then redeem these points once you have earned enough points equivalent to $10.
Nielsen
Nielsen is a reputable American data and insights company that promises to provide honest and invaluable information on consumer insights and demand. This reputable and popular review site provides users with the opportunity to earn passive income by completing surveys geared towards providing consumer insights. The global company provides what they refer to as “work at home” opportunities for its reviewers.
Survey Soda
Survey Soda is a product review site that pays its users for taking online surveys. One you have signed up on the site, you will get periodic notifications on available surveys which you might be qualified for based on your demographic information that you provided during the registration process. While the site is relatively new, it comes with some unique perks including access to a wider range of products that are not commonly found on other product review sites.
Inbox Pounds
Inbox Pounds is a UK-based data company that pays its users to complete a range of tasks including reading paid emails, completing product reviews and surveys, playing online video games, and shopping. The site pays its users by passing on the revenue generated by advertisers on their site.
Valued Opinions
Valued Opinions is a product review site with an impressive social media presence that promises to pay its users for completing surveys and product reviews. The company pays its users through gift cards, shopping vouchers, and rewards. The site claims that it has created an online forum where users can engage in lively debates on topical issues and get paid for their participation.
She Speaks
This site is geared towards women who are offered the chance to test products, share opinions and partner with brands that cater to women. They will often send you free products and ask you to give your candid opinion of each. This site does not offer the ability to cash in your reviews. However, you are able to enter giveaways for gift cards and other cash prizes.
Influenster
Influenster regards itself as a community of trendsetters , early adopters, product junkies, and story tellers. This product review site uses a unique approach to reviews as they allow users to provide reviews on a range of products from pet care to cosmetics. The users also earn chances to compete for the monthly Voxbox once they complete surveys. This box comes with full-size products that can be used in the house in exchange for honest opinions that can be shared both on social media and their review site.
Bzz Agent
This is a product review site where users get products once they sign up for their surveys. Once you complete one survey, your answers are reviewed and analyzed for compatibility to various product review descriptions. Once you are labeled eligible for the campaign, you will receive a BzzKit that comes with free products for you to try.
Homeschool
This site was designed for homeschooling families as it provides access to free homeschooling tools and resources in exchange for reviews. Product reviewers get access to these homeschooling products before they are shared with the community of homeschoolers. They do not have a defined criteria on the user they are targeting. However, it is free to register on their site to get access to books, printables, reports, and homeschooling kits that you can try and review.
Conclusion
Getting paid to review products and services is a viable and reliable way to earn regular and passive income online. The key to generating a significant amount of rewards is by signing up for many sites. This is because most of these sites do not have enough product or service reviews for all of their user demographic. Additionally, the competition associated with their large base of users means you have to stand out to get access to more reviews. You can achieve this by always providing your honest opinion, completing the reviews as soon as they become available, giving detailed and comprehensive reviews, and signing up with accurate and truthful information about yourself.
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