Selling You On SurveySpot

For the last year, on and off in binges, I have been using the free survey-taking service SurveySpot.com, which pays cash in return for users taking marketing research surveys (This isn’t a clone of Cash Crate, for example).

Survey Spot is different from other services in three areas. First, its site looks like it was created in 1997 and hasn’t received an update since (Note: Actually, as I’m writing this, they are rolling out a new design that truly looks, well, clean!).

The second difference is the means of distribution. While most services offer occasional email updates with most actions taken through the control panel, Survey Spot sends email updates about every new survey to the user’s email address. This can lead to spam, of course, so definitely sign up for a spare free email to use solely for surveys.

The final difference is the availability of focus groups. These alone make it worth a sign-up, because many services do not offer them. Focus groups don’t come often (maybe one low-dollar one per week and two high-value ones per month), but when they do, they go quickly, so be sure to watch your email like a hawk if you ever want to get one.

Survey Spot pays reliably (I can testify as I have received multiple checks from them) and somewhat promptly. Surveys generally take between two and six weeks to process, and then payment is an extra week with a few days added for mailing. Their minimum payout is only $5, which is between two and five average surveys or one if you are incredibly lucky the first time (I have seen some focus groups offering up to $20).

Survey Spot was the first service I joined, so perhaps it is just a first love and therefore impossible to get over. All I really know is that I think it is a great, reliable service with some adorable and, much like any person out there, flaws.