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Paid Market Research Focus Groups: Respondent Platform

How can you share your opinion and get paid up to $200/hour? While there are so many online research studies and focus groups, one of the best paid survey platforms to earn money online is Respondent. Paid market research focus groups are one of my favorite ways to make extra money online. Why? Easy – when you participate in these studies, you’ll not only get paid, but you’ll shape companies’ future products and services!

Respondent platform home page, a website where you can participate in paid market research focus groups.
Respondent home page

Are Paid Focus Groups Legitimate?

‘Are paid focus groups legitimate?’ A valid question – there are many scams out there. In short, the answer is that paid focus groups are completely real and legitimate!

Thousands of companies ranging from small businesses, government departments and large software corporations register with Respondent. Businesses want feedback on their upcoming and current products and services so they can continually improve, minimize costs after producing the items and maximize sales. Since they want to avoid making mistakes with products and services, they are willing to invest money upfront by hosting paid online focus groups and paid online research studies. Paid research studies online are convenient for both the host and participant. Participate in studies anywhere in the world regardless of your geographic location.

Participate in Respondent interviews and make money shaping future products and services

Companies do extensive research and testing before releasing their products and services to the market. Aside from creating and testing their products, they want to talk to people to get their honest feedback on their newest designs to see if consumers will actually buy and use them. When you participate in a paid focus group, you’re contributing to companies by helping them improve their products and services.

Respondent Platform – One of the Best Platforms for Paid Market Research Focus Groups

Respondent is a platform where people just like you participate in paid market research online, share their opinion and shape future products and services. This website connects market researchers, UX testers and product managers with everyday people like you to do paid market research focus groups. Companies want to receive feedback on current and upcoming products and services so they know how to improve them.

If you’re looking for extra income, the Respondent platform is worth looking at. If you’re looking for the highest paying survey site, according to my research, Respondent tops the list, alongside the User Interviews platform. On average, compensation ranges from anywhere between $100 to $500 per hour with paid market research focus groups. Respondent hosts mostly online studies. Occasionally, they also offer in-person studies as well. Make extra income from the comfort of your own home – no need to get in your car and commute to an office across the city to make extra cash! You can participate in a paid focus group right at home. Even on the low end, studies pay $25-50 USD for 30 minutes up to an hour of your time – not bad at all!

Respondent logo from the website.
Respondent logo and slogan

How Do Paid Market Research Focus Groups on Respondent Work?

Respondent offers a variety of studies with many study topics to choose from. Topics range from products you use in your everyday life, home improvement, shopping and cleaning. For higher-paying studies, you’ll generally need to be in a specific area of expertise, such as software development or IT. Additionally, higher-paid studies require you to verify your work email to ensure you are being honest about your employment experience. Even if a study isn’t suitable for you, if you refer someone, you’ll get a $20 bonus if they sign up. You’ll even receive another $50 if they complete the study!

In addition to focus group and research study opportunities, Respondent also offers unmoderated studies that typically pay around $10 USD or more per study. During these surveys, you’ll provide feedback about specific products and services.

Sign up for these studies the same way you apply to the research studies. Fill out a survey screener to see if you qualify for the survey. If you qualify, the researcher will send you an invite to the survey link via email. Complete the survey as thoroughly and honestly as possible.

In my experience, these studies take around 5 to 10 minutes to complete. They’re a great way to earn money in just a few minutes. No need to turn your camera on and speak with a researcher. You can do these studies anywhere – in a coffee shop, in your backyard, or at the airport!

How Do I Get Started on Respondent?

How do you get started with paid online research studies on Respondent? First, sign up with on the platform with your name and email address. Next, verify your email and contact details.

Additionally, you’ll need to fill in some demographic information such as your current employment situation, age and interests. After you follow the simple process of registering and creating an account on Respondent, look through the studies currently available.

As mentioned earlier, you’ll need to verify your work email address for industry-specific paid market research focus groups that typically pay higher than general-population studies. Additionally, you can create a personal video introduction, but this is not mandatory to receive study invites.

Example list of available Respondent studies to apply for.
Sample page displaying available Respondent studies

If you see a study you believe you’ll qualify for, simply complete the quick screener survey to apply. Researchers will review your application. If you’re selected, you’ll receive an email from researchers. Studies fill up on a first-come, first-serve basis, so be sure to check your email regularly! In my experience, interviews and surveys take about 2-5 minutes to apply to. I’ve qualified for 1-2 out of every 10 studies. While there is some effort involved with continually filling out screeners, keep applying and checking your email or phone for a study invitation. After a while, you’ll be sure to get an offer or two soon enough! just remember to be consistent with applying to studies. Quick tip: ensure you’re consistently applying by creating a recurring event in your calendar. When you have a regular reminder, it’s a lot harder to forget!

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How Do Paid Research Studies on Respondent Work?

Once you’ve received an invitation to a research study, you’ll see a calendar with a list of available dates and times. Sign up for a time when you’ll have access to a quiet space for a video call with the researcher. Organizations are located all over the world, which means that time zones will vary. If you don’t want to get up in the middle of the night for a study, be sure to check what time you’ll need to participate in the study by comparing the host’s time to your time zone.

Once the study is confirmed, researchers will send you an invitation with a link to a Zoom call or another platform of the researcher’s choosing. Additionally, the researcher will send you details on what the study will entail. Additionally, you’ll receive deails on:

  • What feedback researchers are looking for
  • What questions they’ll ask
  • The interview length
  • Whether or not you need your video camera on or not
  • If you need to do a live demo of a product in addition to an interview

Be sure to test your audio and video, test your internet connection and join the call at least 5 minutes before the study. To give useful and thorough feedback, you’ll need a fully functioning camera and strong internet connection!

What Happens During a Respondent Study?

Researchers may spend the duration of the study chatting with you about your experiences, or they may also want you to do a live demo of their product by sharing your screen. Typically, you’ll spend at least 5-10 minutes introducing yourself to the researcher. Then, you’ll spend time talking about your work experiences and telling the researcher about your experiences with the product or service they’re looking for feedback on.

Alongside focus groups and research studies, Respondent sometimes offers short surveys. Respondent usually pays around $10 USD to answer a 5-15 minute survey. This is a great way to make an extra $10 or $20 here and there in addition to the higher-paid studies.

How Much Money Can You Make from Respondent Surveys?

Once the study is complete, the researcher will confirm your attendance. Respondent typically releases payment 8-10 business days later. Since Respondent pays out via PayPal, you’ll need to link your accounts. While there are many studies where you can get paid up to $200/hour for your opinion, many others pay less. Depending on compensation you can decide for yourself whether or not an opportunity is worth your time. Be sure to browse through all currently available opportunities.

Conclusion

Respondent is one of the best ways to make money online. Studies pay well, you can do them on your own time, and there are so many different ones you can participate in. If you’re in an industry-specific niche that’s in demand such as IT, you’re more likely to receive even more study invites if you keep applying. When you participate in market research, you help researchers improve their services and products – all while getting paid for research studies you complete!

In addition to Respondent, there are so many other great ways to make extra money online in 2023. Check here to find ideas for other awesome side hustles so you can earn extra cash. An extra $100 or $300 each month may not seem like much, but if you consistently invest your extra cash, you can easily increase your future net worth but thousands of dollars.

To get started as a participant on Respondent, sign 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.