Crikey

Have you ever wondered how cosmetic companies work out how to package their latest product? How film distributors determine how popular a new movie will be before it is released? How women’s magazines decide which celebrity will feature on their cover next month?

The answer to all these questions is market research. Companies spend enormous amounts of money on market research each year. And they pay people to take part. So how you can get a piece of the action?  And can you really make some moolah just by giving your opinions?

I started participating in market research a few years ago. I have completed surveys on the packaging of new yoghurt products, whether I feel under threat from bushfires, upcoming movies, women’s magazines and telecommunications brands, just to name a few. And I have taken part in online research communities and product trials for things such as cosmetics.

Most of the research I participate in is done online, and rarely takes up more than 10 minutes of my time at once. There are a range of organisations that specialise in finding research participants. My favourite site is Valued Opinions. It’s an Australian site and the surveys arrive in your inbox every few days. For the girls there is also All Women Talk.

But don’t give up your day job just yet. Most sites such as Valued Opinions operate with a system where the surveys you complete earn you specific dollar amounts, which then add up to gift vouchers. The surveys are valued according to their length: for a 10-minute survey you may earn $2; for a product trial the price is much higher, about $10. All Women Talk offers participants entries into monthly cash draws, as well as instant prize packs.

So you may not make big bucks by being a statistic for the companies to quote in their market research. But for all of us who procrastinate by surfing the net, you may as well get something out of it. Plus it’s kind of cool to be the first to know about new products entering the market and to have your say about what is happening in the world around you.

The details: To find out more, head to Valued Opinions or All Women Talk.