Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is there any cost or membership fee when using MDX Research?
Using MDX Research is free; you will not be required to pay any membership fees ever.
2. Why do I get paid for sharing my opinion and filling out surveys?
Companies spend billions of dollars a year trying to convince consumers that their products are the best and to buy their products and services. They achieve this by getting an understanding how people think and shop. Knowing this, companies are willing to pay people (up to $100 an hour) for their opinions. Overall your valuable opinions help the companies to upgrade their products and services.
3. What are online surveys?
These are general forms generated by the market research companies, to get information on a particular product or services. They perform detail investigation on the feedback they get from you and pass it on to top companies.
4. I’m concerned about privacy issues. Should I be worried?
As long as you stick to the “legitimate” market research companies, such as MDX Research and our partners listed on our website, you will not have a problem in this regard.
Market research companies know that people like you are the foundation of their business. They are usually paid by large corporations to conduct surveys on their behalf, but without consumers like you to take their surveys they would be out of business very quickly.
For this reason, the market research companies take consumers’ privacy very seriously. If word got out that a certain market research company was misusing a consumer’s personal information or violating their privacy in other ways, they wouldn’t be in business very long.
Generally you’ll be asked to provide basic information about where you live, what you do for a living, etc. in order to build your personal “profile”. This is market research companies know which surveys to send you. But you never have to provide any information you are not comfortable giving out.
Each company has their own specific privacy policy, and if you are curious or concerned about a specific companies’ policy you can read it at their website. Here at MDX Research we will never give your personal information to anyone. For more information please see our Privacy Policy.
5. Once I sign up, when can I expect to receive my first survey?
Generally speaking you should receive your first paid survey within the first week or two. It really depends on your “profile” and the current needs of our clients. Sometimes you’ll receive your first paid survey within the first day or two of joining the survey company.
You’re not going to be eligible for every survey, because some surveys are targeted towards either men or women, or those of a certain age group, etc. For example, if you’re a man and the current survey is about women and their shopping habits, you won’t be invited to take that survey.
While you’re waiting for your first survey, we highly recommend that you also register with some of our partners. We have partnered with all of the top paying survey companies and once you register with all of them you’ll receive more paid surveys then you can handle.
6. How many surveys should I expect to receive on a monthly basis?
The short answer is that it depends. Sometimes you’ll go for a few weeks with no paid surveys, and the next week you might get 2 or 3. The average is around 2-4 paid surveys per month.
In order to make the most money possible, we highly recommend that you also register with some of our partners. We have partnered with all of the top paying survey companies and once you register with all of them you’ll receive more paid surveys then you can handle.
It will take a little bit of effort to register with them all, but a month from now you’ll be glad you did.
7. How much does each survey pay? How much money can I make?
Once again, the short answer is that “it depends” due to the ever-changing needs of the market research community. Sometimes you might receive a short survey that takes just a few minutes to fill out and pays $10, and a week later you might get invited to a 2-hour focus group/survey that pays $100.
The amount of money you make will also depend greatly on the number of market research companies you register with. If you register with most or all of survey companies that are listed on our survey page you will receive 20 times more paid surveys invitations and thus make a lot more money.
8. How will I get paid for taking a survey and who will pay me?
It depends, but the important thing is that you’ll know the exact details up front before taking a survey.
For example, sometimes you’ll be paid by the market research company who is conducting the survey on behalf of a client. Other times the company that developed the survey, the company that directly wants your opinions, will pay you.
Payment is usually in the form of a check that is mailed to you via postal mail, usually within a few weeks. But more and more companies are starting to use online payment processors such as PayPal or ProPay, which is great because it means that you’ll usually receive your reward within a few days.
Again, the important thing is that you’ll be presented with the details before each survey (details in the email) and you decide if you want to participate or not. If you do, you’ll provide your payment info as part of the survey process.
9. Why do some surveys reward me with prizes instead of cash?
Some companies will often want you to take a short “screener” survey when you first register with them. Unfortunately these are not usually paid surveys. You’ll usually be entered into a drawing, but the purpose of the screener survey is much more important than that …
The real purpose behind screener surveys is that it’s how some of the better market research companies get to know you. It’s how they determine which surveys you’re eligible for, and it’s the “secret” to getting invited to take the really good surveys in the future!
The funny thing is that because screener surveys don’t pay cash, many people don’t do them – so the odds of winning the prize being offered are a lot higher than you might think.
Do not be discouraged if you receive some screener surveys in the beginning, it’s really just their way of weeding out those that aren’t serious. More importantly, it’s your chance to show that you ARE serious and deserving of the really good paid surveys.
10. I don’t have a lot of time, can I do this whenever I want?
Yes! That is probably the best part about surveys and why it’s the easiest way for the average person to make some extra cash. It’s perfect for everyone because you decide when and how much you want to “work” at any given time. You can do it completely at your own pace.
Have an extra 30 minutes in the morning before heading off to work? Do you have a few hours available in the afternoon while the kids are out playing? Or maybe its one in the morning and for some reason you can’t sleep? These are all perfect times to jump online and do surveys and get paid!
On the other hand, maybe you get busy with other things and don’t have any time to do surveys for awhile. That’s perfectly fine! It’s not like there’s a boss breathing down your neck, or you have to worry about getting fired. You can do surveys when it’s convenient for you.
11. What about taxes on the money I make? How does that work?
If you’re a U.S. citizen, you’ll be considered an “independent contractor” for income tax purposes and no income or other taxes are withheld from the payments you receive.
At the end of the year, any survey company that has paid you $600 or more will send you an IRS Form 1099 and you’re supposed to include this as “miscellaneous income” on your tax return.
If you are not a U.S. citizen, you will need to ask an accountant or other tax professional for the answer to this question, and how it might apply to you in your location.
12. If I live outside the U.S. can I apply?
MDX Research services are currently available ONLY in the United States & Canada.
