Surveys are one of the simplest yet most effective tools in the marketplace. Marketers use them to gain valuable insights into what motivates people and how they interact with products and content.
But just because they’re easy to set up and use doesn’t mean they’re without their challenges. Only a handful of companies can make money off of online surveys, so you might be missing out on important data if you don’t work with one of them.
Here, we’ll introduce you to the world of online survey companies and how to choose the right one for your needs. You’ll also learn some of the most lucrative survey opportunities available today.
The Downside Of Traditional Surveys
It’s no secret that people hate getting surveys. Between the endless chain of questions and the endless amounts of spam, getting the hang of it can feel more like a pain than a pleasure. Wouldn’t it be great if there were a way to get valuable insights without all the annoyance?
Fortunately, there is a better way. Companies like Survey Junkie and Swagbucks know how frustrating traditional surveys can be, so they’ve designed their platform to minimize the friction. Instead of forcing you to fill out long forms or get distracted by spam, they’ve created a searchable questionnaire that’s tailored to your demographics. Then, depending on how you answer their questions, they’ll present you with offers that they think will be of interest to you.
The idea behind this method is to cut out all the extra steps and avoid all the pitfalls that come with doing business with a traditional survey company. If you want to get insights into your target audience’s behavior, you can ask them relevant questions directly through their dedicated survey tools. Doing business with these companies is essentially like having a personal assistant who’s walking you through the process. And since you’re not dealing with an individual businessperson, but rather a faceless corporation, you might feel more comfortable voicing your concerns.
The downside to this method is that the questions you ask have to be relevant to your target audience. Otherwise, you’ll end up with useless data. For example, if you’re trying to find out about web usability from the perspective of a digital marketer, you might ask them about the design of their website. This might give you some useful information, but it’s not necessarily going to help you as a consumer. Ultimately, you’re better off just using a traditional survey company. At least then, you’ll have the comfort of knowing that you’re getting an objective view of the industry.
The Advantage Of Online Survey Companies
When you do business with an online survey company, you’re not limited to asking questions about digital marketing or web design. You can ask them about anything you want, as long as your target audience has a demographic that falls within their defined ranges. As a result, you’re guaranteed to get useful data that you can apply to your own business or brand.
The simplicity of their questionnaire forms and searches also makes them ideal for gaining insights on a limited budget. If you have a smaller budget, you can literally use them for free. Simply enter a valid email address and they’ll send you a link to the questionnaire. From there, you can complete it in 30 seconds or less. If you need a more formal survey for your Business Presentation Reel, you can purchase a more expensive option from a traditional survey company and avoid the hassle of building one yourself.
Top Survey Companies To Avoid
When selecting an online survey company, you want to make sure that they’re a reputable entity that can provide you with quality insights. To determine the trustworthiness of a survey company, you want to look at several key metrics, including the quality of their clients, their track record, and their customer service.
As a business owner, you might be hesitant to do business with a company you’ve never heard of. After all, you don’t want to end up with a bad experience that poisons your opinion of future business partners. To combat this, we’ve developed a list of top online survey companies that you should avoid. If you’re curious, you can jump directly to the full list below. Or, you can scroll to the next section to discover more about Survey Junkie.
Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is a well-known survey platform that was founded in 2007 and has since grown to a size that allows them to operate in over 200 countries. When it comes to customer service, Survey Junkie offers a completely localized experience, where you can contact a business representative in one of their local offices. The downside to this is that their fees can be a little higher than some of their competitors. Still, when you’re paying for such local engagement, it’s well worth it.
ICONIQ
ICONIQ is a popular survey platform that was founded in Singapore in 2001 and has since expanded to operate in over 120 countries. Like Survey Junkie, ICONIQ can also be a bit pricey. But, unlike Survey Junkie, their prices vary from country to country. So, if you’re in a country where their pricing is more expensive than usual, your best bet might be to search for a cheaper option.
Swagbucks
Swagbucks is a well-known survey and rewards platform that was co-founded in 2004 by Adam Venison and John Rogers. Since then, they’ve grown to a size that allows them to operate in over 200 countries. One of the biggest draws of Swagbucks is that they offer highly relevant and useful questions that can be applied to virtually any industry. Plus, you can earn money with them whether you’re sleeping or awake. There’s virtually no chance that you’ll get lost in surveys if you don’t want to. Unfortunately, like ICONIQ and Survey Junkie, Swagbucks is also a little pricey. The good news is that they offer a special group gift card that could be used for a discounted rate at one of their retail partners, like Starbucks or Amazon.
OneOpinion
OneOpinion is a global market research firm that was co-founded by former Deutsche Bankers and is now valued at over $10 billion. One of the things that makes them unique is that they utilize an online platform to conduct their research. Established in 2005 and based in Germany, OneOpinion combines proprietary technology with large-scale surveys to provide companies with the opinions of consumers across various demographic groups. They’ve also developed a tool called Answer Keys, which helps businesses understand the significance of opinions they’re receiving from their customers. This can help businesses avoid costly missteps and improve their service by adapting their approach to suit the public’s feedback.
OneOpinion is used by some of the biggest brands in the world, including Audi, BMW, and Puma, so you can bet that the quality of their research is good. But, like the other companies on this list, they can be a little pricey. Still, if you want to get quality feedback and don’t have the budget for a traditional survey, OneOpinion might be a good choice for you.
Future Inc.
Future Inc. is a market research firm that was co-founded by former McKinsey & Co. executives and is now valued at over $12 billion. One of their biggest selling points is that they have an extensive research base that they utilize to provide consumers with the opinions of businesses and marketers on a variety of topics, including web design, mobile marketing, and social media. They also offer market research reports ready to purchase, in addition to their platform. So, if you want to get your hands on some solid business information, Future Inc. is a good choice. Plus, they provide a money-back guarantee if you meet the right conditions. Although, like the other companies on this list, they can be a little pricey.
Vivid Market
Vivid Market is a market research firm that was co-founded by former Deutsche Bankers and is now valued at over $15.5 billion. One of the things that sets them apart is that they utilize an online platform to reach their expansive client base. Established in 1997, they have specialized in online market research and direct marketing, where they track consumer behavior and collect information through online surveys. They’ve also developed a software tool called Wistia, which helps businesses and marketers connect with customers through live videos.
As a business owner, you might be hesitant to do business with a company you’ve never heard of. After all, you don’t want to end up with a bad experience that poisons your opinion of future business partners. To combat this, we’ve developed a list of top online survey companies that you should avoid. If you’re curious, you can jump directly to the full list below. Or, you can scroll to the next section to discover more about Survey Junkie.