The Idea:
Make cash sharing your opinions with market researchers.
How it Works:
Marketing companies hire people to take part in focus groups where you go sample or look at a new product and share your opinions with the manufacturer. You might be asked to use a new type of cell phone or read a company's marketing materials for an hour and tell them what you think. Or you could be sampling a new beverage, watching a new tv show, commenting on how a handbag feels on your shoulder or discussing what types of cat food your feline prefers. There are focus groups for just about everything!
Be careful to only sign up for projects with legitimate companies- listings will tell you the market research company's name and contact info so you can do your own research before committing your time.
How Much Can You Make:
Most focus groups pay somewhere between $50-100 an hour. Focus group gigs aren't generally a full-time occupation, but they are a good way for students, moms or anyone with a little extra time to make some spare cash for very little work.
More Information:
Check out our job board Focus Group listings for more information.