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Market Research Paid Focus Groups: User Interviews

Want another great way to make money online? I’ve looked at many different market research paid focus groups. Based on my experience, User Interviews is one of the best paid focus group platforms. Let’s take a look at what paid focus groups are, what the User Interviews platform is, and find out how you can shape companies’ products and services. Participate in market research paid focus groups online and make extra money while doing it!

What Are Paid Focus Groups?

When it comes to making money online, participating in a paid focus group is a great way to make extra cash. Companies are looking for people just like you to shape future products and services. It costs companies a lot of money on production and marketing to relaunch a previously unsuccessful product or service.

Rather than spending more time and money to modify or change a product they’ve already worked on, these companies would much rather prefer to invest the money upfront, get feedback on what their products should look like, and make the products based on user opinions. Companies are always innovating by creating new products and services – or simply updating existing ones. This means that there are always new opportunities to get paid for market research studies!

What Is User Interviews?

User Interviews is a platform where companies interview everyday people like you about products and services they are working on over Skype or Zoom. Market research paid focus groups enable companies to interview people from all around the world. On the participants’ side, everyday people can generate extra income while helping companies shape future products and services that they already use. Paid market research opportunities are diverse and span many different industries. Whether you work in marketing, IT or education, companies in these fields need your help!

Study sessions consist of a researcher or group of researchers who interview you about a product or service that they are currently working on. They may also ask for feedback on an existing product so they can improve it. Additionally, researchers may ask you to share your screen and do a live demo of the product they are working on. Researchers want you to voice your opinion out loud. There are no right or wrong answers, just your honest thoughts!

Companies also want to see your reactions while you experience testing out their products. Researchers will sometimes ask you to share your screen and walk through testing the product. During the walk-through, researchers will take notes about how you’re feeling or performing during the tasks you complete. Additionally, the researchers typically record the session (with your permission) so they can reference it later. Overall, their goal is to improve the user experience for the product or service they’re working on.

How Does User Interviews Work?

First, go onto the User Interviews website to sign up. Next, sign up using Facebook, LinkedIn, or an email address, then add your password and phone number. If you choose to verify your account using email, validate your account using the text message sent to your phone number.

Fill in your demographic details, including work experience and skills. Be sure to fill out your profile as thoroughly as possible. Why? Researchers will use answers you’ve given to determine whether or not you qualify for a study.

Once you’ve signed up on the platform, use the filter tools on the left hand corner. Check the relevant boxes to sort through which studies apply to you. If you only want online studies, uncheck the ‘In Person’ filter.

User Interviews page showing a list of user research studies currently available.
User Interviews Available Studies Page

What Types of Paid Market Research Online Studies Are Available?

User Interviews offers several types of studies:

  • One-on-One Interviews: the most common type of paid study. Researchers will talk to you over the phone and will ask you questions. As mentioned before, depending on the study, you may also be asked to share your screen with researchers. Additionally, researchers may ask you to walk through a prototype while sharing your honest feedback in real time.
  • Multi-Day Studies: interviewers will host you for 2, 3 or more video sessions.
  • Focus Groups: while less common than one-on-one interviews, User Interviews sometimes offers studies where you’ll be on a Zoom or Google call with 3-8 other participants. Similar to one-on-one interviews, companies will ask for feedback. This time, you’ll be taking turns with other participants, so you may spend less time speaking.
  • Unmoderated tasks: User Interviews offers short, 5-20 minute tasks and surveys that pay $10-25 USD each. These are a great way to make extra money on your own time. Apply for the study, complete the task by the deadline, and pocket some extra cash!

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How Can I Get More Study Opportunities?

To get the most study opportunities, spend 15-30 minutes 3 times a day (at different times of the day, such as morning, at lunch and after dinner) checking what studies are available. For the highest chance of being consistent, set aside a specific time in your calendar to apply to studies. Make it a recurring an appointment in your calendar. For example, you could book 30 minutes at 9am, 12pm and 7pm every day as designated time to apply to studies.

When you apply for studies consistently multiple times a day, you’ll ensure that you’re always applying to fresh studies. There are a limited amount of study slots available. If you are one of the first to apply, it’s more likely that the researcher will review your profile.

Another important step you’ll want to take is to connect your LinkedIn and Facebook profiles. Why do this? Researchers verify your work history and determine if you’re a good fit for the study. Provide your work history details so you’ll have a higher chance of being verified and selected for studies. Be sure to be honest – companies will check to see if your profile matches what they are looking for! When you get paid for focus groups, you’re providing feedback companies take seriously. Organizations spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours in company time to improve their products and services, so they want to ensure they’re getting honest feedback from real people.

Image showing section on the User Interviews site where one can add their LinkedIn and Facebook profiles to participate in market research paid focus groups.
For a higher chance of being selected for a study, add your social media handles to your User Interviews profile.

Is User Interviews Safe?

One crucial question I cannot leave out: is the User Interviews platform safe? Absolutely – User Interviews is very safe. The User Interviews website has undergone third party audits and has a robust data encryption policy. Additionally, this platform has an automated monitoring system and conducts regular security checks. Your data is safe and protected from being compromised. This section on their website has an entire page on what they do to protect your data. You will often sign NDAs to ensure companies’ products and services are protected, so data security and privacy goes both ways.

How Much Can I Make from User Interviews?

Studies generally pay very well (sometimes from $100 USD up to $300 USD for an hour of your time). Generally, studies in more niche or high-paying industries like IT pay the most. Since companies operate on different time zones and are located all over the world, you can be sure to find a study that aligns with your schedule.

After completing the study, researchers will release the payment. When the reward is ready, you’ll receive an email with instructions and a link to claim the reward. Reward options include a variety of gift cards, PayPal cash, checks or Visa cards. Payment can sometimes take a couple of days, so be patient!

Sample email notifying the participant when their User Interviews payment is ready to be redeemed.
Sample User Interviews reward notification email

Conclusion – Market Research Paid Focus Groups with User Interviews

If you’re looking for a fun way to make extra money while you’re at home and already at your laptop or computer, User Interviews is a great way to make extra cash. If you have some spare time, a computer or laptop with a video camera, a solid internet connection and a helpful attitude, you’ll be a perfect fit for User Interviews studies. By participating in market research studies, you’ll help others and will also help yourself through making some extra income!

Those who work in niche or higher-paying industries will generally have the most paid research study opportunities. However, even if you aren’t in a specific field, don’t let that stop you from applying! There are many studies coming out all the time on User Interviews, and it’s still a great side hustle to make some extra cash.

Alongside paid research studies online, there are other great side hustles you can participate in to make extra cash including other platforms like the Respondent platform and the UserTesting website.

Start making money by signing up here.

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Janita is a frugal living expert and owner of Frugal Fun Finance. With over five years of personal experience finding and trying out the best ways to make and save more money, she's eager to share her knowledge. Janita's strategies have helped her save thousands of dollars for funding investments and traveling to over 20 countries.

Janita completed training in personal finance at The University of Western Ontario and McGill University, two prestigious Canadian universities. Her expertise has been shared on GoBankingRates, Yahoo Finance, and NASDAQ.com.