When I was young I was a bit on the talkative side. Okay, scratch that. I was a lot talkative. My parents had to pay me to shut up a lot of times. Now, I do more writing than talking, and hopefully, people read what I have to say more than they cared to listen (I’m sounding dramatic here but I mean it; I like writing more than talking now that I’m older).
Maybe that’s why I’ve been doing a lot of surveys on the side. Imagine “answering back” to a lot of questions and getting compensated for it, too. I know it may seem like I’m being simplistic about how paid survey sites work, but in all honesty, I do get a kick out of getting my opinions taken seriously and being paid for my views...AKA the grown-up version of not being told to shut up.
I decided to write this YouGov review because I got intrigued by the company’s premise (which resonated with my ramblings above) - "YouGov is a global market research and data company built on a simple idea: The more people participate in the decisions made by the institutions that serve them, the better those decisions will be."
Great statement, but does that make them a legit site, or one that’s potentially a scam?
First things first - what is YouGov?
As they say in their About page, they believe in the power of participation in their market research. YouGov surveys are both the raw material and finished product of a global community of survey panelists whose views help shape brands, products, services, and even political, cultural, and commercial organizations all over the world. These panelists are you and me, and other users who sign up to complete surveys.
The YouGov site itself is not a straightforward paid survey site like others you might be familiar with. Instead, you will get taken to a website that shows the fruit of the collected public opinion gathered by the company. There are news and statistics and infographics and trivia vying for your attention. I personally think it’s great how I can see my views manifested right there on the site, spread out across hundreds of topics.
How long has it been around?
Founded in 2000 as a London-based online market research company, YouGov now has 6 million members worldwide (I love the black and white illustration depicting worldwide membership of people with different nationalities). It’s been around long enough to catch the attention of media and nonprofits, at any rate. Scrolling down, I read a couple of testimonies from an impressive array of journalism and data resources: The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Financial Times, and The Washington Post, among others.
Is registration free?
Yes, it’s free. You only need an email and password to sign up, after which you’re going to complete your first survey on the site. This survey is worth 2000 points and is for your Panel Membership Profile, which becomes the basis for the kind of surveys you will be offered to complete down the line.
Does it pay well?
So now to the nitty-gritty. YouGov points are pretty similar to the kind of earnings you will expect from other paid survey sites. Under their FAQ, the site estimates around 400 points for a 10-15 minute survey. Accumulated points can be redeemed for rewards (at this point, I am not too sure if the rewards stay consistent with all countries in the YouGov list): as cashouts via PayPal, gift cards to retail establishments, and even as a donation to charity.
The minimum redemption threshold is 5000 YouGov points. PayPal cashouts are transferred to your account within 30 business days of a payout request. Points do not expire.
How do I start earning extra income from YouGov?
You can start earning as soon as you fill out your Panel Membership Profile. Surveys are emailed as soon as they are available, and panelists can access the survey straight from their email. There is also a referral system where you can earn 4000 points once someone you referred finishes 3 YouGov surveys.
The verdict?
Perhaps what makes YouGov legit is its sleek, navigable site that actually offers the fruit of its survey panelists’ labor. I know I should be concentrating more on how big the earnings can be made with this site, but I’m really liking how YouGov puts the results of these surveys right there on their website for both members and non-members to learn from (or be entertained). Usually, the surveys I’ve completed in other GPT sites go somewhere mysterious afterwards, with equally mystifying results for private organizations to make sense of.
That being said, if you’re on the lookout for paid survey sites that will actually bring money to your pockets at least semi-regularly, then YouGov might not be for you.
YouGov Screenshots
Click to Zoom
Your turn!
Do you think you will be at a point where getting your opinions heard and be counted, and having an impact on society is more important than having a passive income? Would you consider being a panelist for YouGov if that were the case? Tell us what you think about this site!
Link: https://today.yougov.com/find-solutions/
iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/ph/app/yougov/id1154082222?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yougov.mobile.online&hl=en
Last edited:
