Most survey sites pay you to answer surveys. But did you know that you can also earn by creating them?
Creating surveys is actually a legit way to earn extra cash if you know where to start. However, it’s not as easy as you might think.
In this guide, you’ll learn how creating surveys works, which platforms actually pay, and what you can realistically expect to earn. We’ll also cover who this side hustle is best for, what to watch out for, and whether it’s worth your time compared to other online earning options.
And at the end of this guide, I’ll also give you a bonus tip on how to get started in this kind of side hustle.
What to expect?
I’ve seen many videos online claiming that you can quickly earn a substantial amount of money by creating surveys. Well, based on my experience, that isn’t exactly true. Yes, you can potentially earn a good amount from creating surveys, but it’s not the quickest way to earn extra cash.
The video below explains exactly how this type of side hustle works. You can also read the full details below the video.
As implied above, it will take time and a lot of practice to earn good money from creating surveys. You’ll need to build up your skills, and in one of the methods, you’ll also need to build up your reputation (more on this later).
So, it’s a gradual build-up, which means you’ll have to be patient. A good way to get started is to answer surveys from paid survey sites. Then, when you answer surveys, you can take note of things like the format of the survey, the questions being asked, what kind of style or questions will make you stop answering surveys, and more.
Taking note of these things is the best way to figure out what works and what doesn’t. To help you get started, you can check out the best survey sites in your country. This list will show you the best survey sites you can join, so you can see what good surveys are like. Then, you can use what you’ve learned to design surveys for your clients later on.
Plus, the good thing about this is that you’ll also earn a bit of extra cash along the way.
How to get paid for creating surveys?
Now that you know what to expect from this kind of side hustle, it’s time we discuss how you can actually earn by creating surveys. These are methods I’ve discovered after years of trying out various online side hustles.
I will keep updating this guide if I discover more ways to earn by creating surveys, so make sure to bookmark this page and check on it from time to time for new methods.
Option 1 – Freelancing Platforms
The most realistic way to earn by creating surveys is to join freelancing platforms like Fiverr or Upwork. If you go to Fiverr and search for “creating surveys”, you’ll see many freelancers listing their survey creation services (refer to the image below).
Once you sign up as a freelancer, you can list your survey creation services. It’s up to you if you want to charge per hour or per project. Of course, you have to figure out the proper rates by doing some research.
In my experience, if you are just starting, you can set a lower rate, so you can land more clients that can help build your reputation as a survey creator. It’s not ideal to set a high rate immediately, especially if you don’t have a portfolio to back it up.
So, your goal when starting is to just get some clients to help build your portfolio. Once you’ve established your reputation, you can increase your rates. I’ve seen freelancers charge up to $100 or more per hour for this kind of service, but they usually already have extensive experience and a portfolio to back up their offer.
This is why it’s a good idea to start small and work your way up to a higher rate. At least, that’s how successful survey creators have done it, based on my experience.
The good thing about this method is that you don’t have to stick to one freelancing platform. You can list your services on various platforms at the same time to increase your chances of getting clients.
For a list of great freelancing platforms you can join, check out this list of the best freelance sites to join.
Option 2 – Selling Survey Templates
Working one-on-one with a client is one way to earn by creating surveys. But, there’s actually another angle that a lot of people don’t think about, and that is by selling survey templates.
Instead of working for a client, you can create a survey template once and sell it over and over again to generate extra income. It’s not the most lucrative way to earn by creating surveys, but it’s a good way to potentially generate a semi-passive income, in my opinion.
A good example of a site where you can sell survey templates is Etsy. If you do a quick search on the website, you’ll find many survey templates being offered for a certain price.
These are survey templates that can be downloaded by users for a certain price. The good thing about this method is that it requires minimal effort compared to working as a freelancer. Of course, you must keep in mind that you’ll need to build some traction and market your templates to increase your chances of getting sales.
Just like with the freelancing method, it’s not a magical way to earn extra income. You’ll need a lot of time and effort to build up your reputation and portfolio to start earning.
What’s great about this method is that there are also micro-task websites you can join that might offer opportunities to earn by creating survey templates. A good example is Amazon MTurk. It’s basically a marketplace for small tasks.
You might find tasks that will ask you to create survey templates. You won’t earn a lot from these tasks, but it’s a good way to practice making survey templates.
Bonus tip on how to get started
If you want to practice creating surveys or you want to start building your portfolio, you don’t need to pay for expensive software. Instead, you can use Google Forms, which is a free tool you can use to create survey forms.
It’s easy to use and a good platform to create professional-looking surveys. You can use this to create samples for your listings on freelance platforms.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, it’s definitely possible to earn extra income by creating surveys online. But, as explained above, it’s not a magical way to earn money. If you want to succeed, you’ll need to invest a lot of time and effort to build up your skills as a survey creator/designer.
Once you’ve learned the skills you need for this kind of side hustle, you’ll have to be extra patient because the methods I’ve discussed above don’t offer a guaranteed way to earn. You’ll still need to market yourself (so to speak) or get enough experience to become a successful survey creator/designer.
If you have any comments, questions, or experience with creating surveys online to earn extra cash, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.