What is Market Research?
Market research is the activity of gathering information about consumers' needs and preferences. The opinions and information gathered are used by organisations to shape their products and services.
What is Crowdology?
Crowdology is the fastest growing online panel, where members complete paid surveys for market research. Market researchers from businesses, agencies, education, media and government contact us to gather information and opinions from our panelists, who represent the diverse demographics of the population.
Will I be sent lots of invites for surveys that are not completely relevant to me?
We try to avoid inviting you to surveys that aren’t suitable for you. You can help us by keeping your profile up to date, allowing us to send targeted survey invites, bespoke to you.
How can I take part in more surveys?
The more profile information you provide, the more likely you are to receive survey invites relevant to your demographic. We aim to match the number of surveys given to you with your level of interest in completing them.
Do I have to participate in every survey I am invited to do?
Not at all, you have full control over which market research you take part in. We aim to invite members to participate in surveys that are relevant to their interests based on their profile information.
What kinds of questions will I have to answer when taking a survey?
Market research subject matter can vary, but we try to ensure our surveys are quick and fun to complete. Many of our studies focus on everyday topics, products and popular issues which go on to get coverage in leading journals, magazines and other media.
How long is a typical survey?
The length of a survey depends on the subject matter and type of survey you are completing. Most of our surveys take between 5 and 10 minutes - perfect for a coffee break, between meetings or the bus ride home.
Are paid surveys worth it?
This really depends on what 'it' is and what you're looking for. You shouldn't expect to get rich quick from taking paid surveys - they're a quick, flexible way to make a little extra cash when you have some time to spare and could do with some extra pocket money to treat yourself.
What is the idea behind online surveys?
Most companies want genuine feedback on their products and services which will help review and improve them. Thus, offering paid surveys is a highly effective method of market research for them. The idea is: consumers provide them the information they're looking for and, in turn, receive an appropriate reward, typically in the form of cash or gift vouchers.
How can I benefit from online surveys?
Paid surveys are a great way to earn a little extra cash if and when you have the time. Filling out a paid survey on your phone before a catch up over coffee with a friend could foot your bill, or you could do a survey whilst waiting at the school gate, and treat the kids to an ice cream on the way home.
How much money can I make from online surveys?
You’re not going to earn a fortune. If you commit a lot of time to filling out paid surveys and take every one that you’re eligible for, then you can hope to save for a nice meal out or perhaps something you wouldn’t normally buy. Otherwise, you’ll be earning pocket money to help justify some of life's little treats.
How much time do I have to spend taking surveys to make it worth it?
This is completely up to you, and comes back to what you consider to be ‘worth it’. The main advantage of taking paid surveys is that you can earn money when you have the time to spare, and don’t have to take them when you’re too busy. Inevitably, the more time you spend filling out surveys, the more cash you’ll earn.
Are paid survey sites legitimate?
Sadly, there are some websites out there, claiming to offer paid surveys, which are actually scams. There are, however, also genuine paid survey sites. No genuine site will ask you to pay to register, so avoid these at all costs. It’s also worth looking at how the site will pay you and how long you could have to wait.
Who are paid surveys for?
Paid surveys are for anyone who wants to earn a little extra cash, with minimum effort, in their spare time. They are especially well-suited to people who enjoy sharing their views and reviewing products. When signing up to a paid survey site you will be asked for some information about yourself so that you’re sent surveys that are relevant to your demographic.
Where and when can I do paid surveys?
Anywhere, anytime! From the train during your morning commute, to the park bench as you watch your kids play - you can fill out these surveys literally anywhere with an internet
connection. Flexibility is a huge advantage of paid surveys: earn a little extra cash during your lunch hour or bag yourself some pocket money whilst your dinner is in the oven.
Are paid surveys a reliable source of income?
Honestly, no. Don’t go counting on paid surveys to pay your bills. The idea is that they provide a little supplementary income which will allow you that extra glass of wine on Friday or fund your weekend brunch. Paid surveys should help you to treat yourself to the finer things occasionally, but can’t be relied on to cover the basics.
Aren’t paid surveys a waste of time?
It’s a common objection to paid surveys that the income isn’t worth the time they require, again this all comes down to expectations. The advantage is that paid surveys can be a really positive use of your free time, helping you to secure a little more money while helping companies improve their products and services.
Is answering paid surveys a good use of my time?
It really depends what else you would be doing. If you’re thinking of giving up the day job to fill out surveys full time - don’t. If you’re spending time doing things which could allow for multitasking, such as commuting, watching TV or supervising your kids at the park, then filling out paid surveys could be a very effective use of your time.
Are all paid surveys scams?
No. It’s a shame that some are, as most are exactly what they say on the tin. Genuine paid survey sites don’t claim to dish out thousands of pounds, they simply offer a little bonus cash for your honest thoughts on the products and services they’re reviewing.
At Crowdology™ we believe in keeping our rewards simple and our payment process straightforward. Each survey has a cash incentive stated at the beginning, along with the estimated time to complete the survey. You can cash out your rewards to PayPal from as little as £4, or if you prefer, as a £10 Amazon Gift Certificate.
How much can I expect to earn for completing surveys?
We want to be realistic and we know that taking paid online surveys is not going to make you a millionaire (or us - we’re not sitting in the Bahamas writing this!). Our aim is to provide an enjoyable way for our panelists to earn a little bit extra whilst shaping the products and services of the future.
Rewards vary depending on the length of the survey you complete. Our longest studies pay up to £10, while the majority of our quick, coffee-break surveys pay from 24p to £2. These are more frequent, enabling you to quickly build your balance.
Will I be rewarded for every survey I complete?
Yes, every survey you fully complete will earn a cash reward. Our regular surveys are relevant to most Crowdology™ panellists; however, sometimes a specific profile is needed and not everyone will fit the criteria. You will not be paid for answering the quick screening questions (e.g. what brand of mobile phone do you own?), and this information will not be used as part of the research.
When will the rewards be credited to my account?
Rewards are instant for most surveys and you will see them added to your balance upon completion. However, some survey providers pay rewards after completing a quality assurance process. For these surveys, the rewards can take up to four weeks to appear in your account. If you successfully completed a survey and the reward has not been credited within four weeks please contact our support team at: support@crowdology.uk
How do I check my balance and transaction history?
Simple, follow these easy steps to check your rewards balance and transaction history:
- Login to your account dashboard as normal
- Click on “Rewards” to view your balance
- Click the “View your transaction history” link underneath your balance to see a list of recent transactions
- Use the drop down box to select how many rows to view per page
- Click on the column headers to sort your transaction list by date, type of transaction, cash amount, or status (for payments)
How do I redeem my rewards?
Rewards are redeemed in cash via PayPal or as Amazon Gift Certificates, simply follow these steps:
- Login to your account dashboard as normal
- Click on “Rewards” to view your balance
- Select “Amazon” or “PayPal” to redeem your rewards via your preferred method
Payments are sent to the email address you use to receive surveys. Amazon gift certificates are sent directly to your inbox (please check your junk email folder too). PayPal transactions are sent to the PayPal account registered with your email address.
If your PayPal account uses a different email address, you will need to link your Crowdology email in the PayPal account settings menu. PayPal allows multiple email addresses to pay into the same account.
How long will it take to receive my rewards?
PayPal transfers appear in your account within 2 business days of the request being made. During busy periods it can take up to 4 business days to process payments to PayPal. This may seem long, but this is due to extra security measures in our systems to protect you from fraud and ensure rewards are paid to the correct people.
Amazon Gift Certificates take up to four weeks to arrive in your email inbox.
You will have the option to cash out your rewards for payment when you have a minimum of £4 in your account (up to a maximum of £7.92 per transaction).
If you redeem with Amazon vouchers you will need a minimum of £10 in your account.
Can rewards be paid by check?
No – the reason we exclusively use PayPal is because it is efficient, popular and well respected. It also allows us to keep administration costs lower so that we can pay our members more rewards.
Do I need a PayPal account?
We exclusively use PayPal because it’s efficient, popular and well-respected. This keeps administration costs low, so we can pay our members more.
If you want to withdraw via PayPal you will need a personal PayPal account. It’s free and simple to set up – please visit the PayPal website for more information.
Don’t worry if you’ve already cashed out without creating an account, PayPal will contact you with instructions on how to receive your payment.
Can I have a different email address than the Crowdology™ one for my PayPal account?
Your Crowdology™ and PayPal email addresses need to be the same. If your PayPal account uses a different email address, you will need to link your Crowdology email in the PayPal account settings menu. PayPal allows multiple email addresses to pay into the same account.
Will I be charged for using PayPal?
PayPal charges a 2% handling fee, which will be deducted from the total you receive.
Our utmost concern is protecting the privacy of our community. The best way we can build trust and protect the privacy of our panelists is by ensuring security of the information shared with us. We do this in several ways.
How is my data protected?
Crowdology™ follows the Data Protection Act 1998 and current personal privacy legislation, so you can rest assured that your information will not be abused in any way. In addition, we are a division of MIG Global Ltd. Registered in Scotland. Company No.: SC281352. Registered Office: Biteda Limited, 111 Bell Street, Glasgow, G4 0TQ. – a Market Research Society Company Partner which undertakes all research in accordance with the Market Research Society Code of Conduct and ESOMAR guidelines. MIG Global Ltd. is also registered with the Data Protection Agency – registration number Z9612525.
Will I receive emails from third parties?
We will never pass your contact details to third parties. By registering with us, you are only agreeing to participate in legitimate market research surveys for Crowdology™ and our parent company MIG Global Ltd.
What information do you need to collect on me as a panel member?
When registering with Crowdology™ we ask for basic demographic information to be able to send targeted, suitable surveys. If you choose, you will be able to provide more detailed information, such as whether you drive a car, have children or own a property.
The more profiling information you complete, the more surveys you are likely to receive which suit your circumstances or interests. For more specialist surveys, we may ask additional screening information to determine your eligibility.
Can I cancel my membership of the Crowdology online community?
We hope you stay with us, but if you no longer wish to participate then you are free to deactivate your account at any time. Each survey invite includes a cancellation link at the footer of the email. Alternatively, you can contact our support team at support@crowdology.uk.
Please note that once you deactivate your account, we will not be able to pay you any outstanding rewards that you have accumulated. Re-joining Crowdology™ at a later date will not reinstate previously accumulated rewards. These rewards cannot be carried forward into a new account.
Who can join Crowdology?
Anyone can join Crowdology™, providing you are 18 and have access to the internet. Since we are a UK-based community you will also need to be currently resident of the United Kingdom with a valid UK postcode. Other than that, all we ask is that you enjoy taking part in opinion surveys and that you give open, honest answers.
Does it cost to join?
There is no cost to join. In fact it’s the other way round – Crowdology™ pay members for taking part in our opinion surveys.
How does the registration process work?
Simply complete the short registration form and you will be sent an activation email to the email address you provided. The activation email will contain a validation link that you must click on in order to finalise the creation of your account.
You’ll then be able to login and complete your personal profile.
How do I enter my postcode?
We just need your district area – this is the first three or four digits of your postcode
Do I need to complete my personal profile?
You may still complete surveys even if you haven’t completed your full profile. However, a completed profile means you are more likely to be sent surveys that are relevant to you.
Can I create more than one Crowdology account to earn extra money?
Having more than one Crowdology account would damage survey results and we trust you understand this is not allowed. We reward our members fairly for taking part in market research, providing they are honest with their responses. Our advanced systems are able to identify multiple account entries and prevent duplicate participation in surveys.
We also undertake quality checks of completed surveys before allocating rewards. Members who don’t abide by these rules run the risk of having their accounts deleted and forfeiting their reward. This is made clear in our Terms & Conditions, which you accept on registration.
How do I change my email address after registering?
To change the email associated with your account, please contact our support team at support@crowdology.com indicating the new email address you would like to use for your account.
