How To Make Some Serious Extra Cash With Focus Groups

If you want to bring in extra money without making a long-term commitment, then you might want to look into participating in a consumer focus group.

Focus groups are a great way to earn extra cash while sharing your opinion or knowledge on various topics. Essentially, you get paid to give your honest and focused feedback on consumer products or services that require some extra tweaking before heading to market.

How To Make Money Through Focus Groups

• Find a company with an outlet in your area. The company I’ve worked with has offices here in Portland, Oregon, as well as Las Vegas and Seattle. Larger markets such as Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta will offer more opportunities than my own mid-size city, but you can find marketing companies almost anywhere through websites such as FocusGroups.org, PaidFocusGroups.com and FocusGroup.com.
• Click through your area’s focus group website to fill out a profile, then browse to see if you’re a good fit for any upcoming research. The key is to return to these websites every few weeks to check if any upcoming opportunities match your interests and demographics.
• Once you get placed in a focus group, make sure to show up on time and be ready to provide opinions on stuff you might normally not think that much about. Be truthful though, as these companies are paying for your thoughtful feedback.
• Get paid. It really is this simple.

Why It’s Worth Your Time

The best part of all this? You get paid, usually in cash, for just a couple of hours of your time. I’ve participated in three different consumer panels over the past few years, one about marinade labeling, another about a thermal cup design and a third about credit union branding. Each panel took approximately two hours of my evening, and I received between $100 – $150 for my opinions. (And to be honest, the sessions were actually fun.)

Let me paint a picture of what the experience is like. A group of 6-8 people sit around a conference table with a professional moderator who guides us through the research. There’s a two-way mirror along one wall, where marketing bigwigs hang on our every word. (Or more likely, a video camera.) Most of our feedback is verbal, although a small amount is written. There’s zero preparation required, so all you have to bring is your opinionated self. Also, there are snacks. Gotta love free food!

The opportunities are almost endless, and although most focus groups require you to attend in person, others are online. So really, there’s something for everyone!

Conclusion

Consumer opinion focus groups are a great way to bring in extra money without the commitment of a traditional job. They’re perfect for those who need to work from home or choose to limit their commitments. Market researchers need this consumer feedback before rolling out their products and services, so you’re helping to keep half-baked ideas from reaching the market. Plus, it’s a fun way to spend an evening adding money into your wallet instead of draining it.