We’ve all heard of the telemarketer who calls us during dinner and the girl with the clipboard at our local mall. Both are being paid to collect our thoughts and opinions…a task that has grown much simpler in the Internet age. Paid survey sites have quite a loyal following, and can be addictive for some. After all, getting cash rewards and new, free products in trade for your point of view isn’t a bad deal. Here’s what you should consider before taking an online survey:

• Paid vs. Free-Many legitimate paid survey sites do charge a fee for membership, but there are plenty of freebies as well. Survey Club, for example, is complimentary and even sends surveys directly to your inbox.
• Demographics-Many paid survey sites are partnered with market research companies in order to gain insight on who buys what in the marketplace. You may not qualify for all surveys depending on which demographics are in demand—they’re vital to businesses who truly want to sell profitable products.
• Survey Diversity-You might want to choose a paid survey site that gives you the opportunity to participate in focus groups, product testing, or even secret shopping. Survey Scout is one such site that offers some of the latter.
• Making Money-While you may make some extra cash from giving your opinion, it’s unlikely that amount will be enough to replace your current day job. Be aware of sites claiming you’ll ‘never have to work again’ or similar scenarios.

Online paid surveys are a great hobby for those somewhat familiar with the Web. There are legitimate ways to earn a few bucks here and there while helping shape what products make it into stores. You might even get to keep a new product you get chosen to try out!