Qualifying

Bringing Clarity to Online Survey Qualification

If you are a member of MindField Online Internet Panels – or any other reputable survey company – you know that it can be hard to qualify for surveys at times. Sometimes you respond to an invitation, begin to answer some of the background questions and, before you know it, the survey has “kicked you out.” That can be a bummer, and you have probably wondered why it happens. Today, we will try to explain.

Good Products Come from Good Surveys

To begin, take a look around your house. Is there a product in your home that you simply LOVE? It might be a snack food, children’s vitamin or stain remover that you couldn’t live without. Why did you fall in love with that product? Odds are, you probably tried many products like it, never satisfied, until you found the one that truly met your needs.

How did this “perfect” product come about? Through rigorous, detailed and expensive market research – much of it conducted by companies like MindField Online Internet Panels, gathering opinions from people like you.

So, let’s pick an imaginary brand of children’s vitamins. You would want it to be a medically safe and effective product, but you would also want it to have been tested by folks like you, namely, moms of young kids. Not single men, not retirees, not even moms whose kids are grown.

MindField Online’s Responsibility to Clients and Members

The point is that online surveys – reputable ones, anyway – are very selective. The client is making a product for a specific customer, and they need to know how that type of person truly feels about it so they can improve the product, the packaging or the sales pitch.

MindField Online’s responsibility to the client is to make sure – as best we can – that the right people are being surveyed. We also have a responsibility to our members to provide as many potential survey opportunities as we reasonably can. “Qualifying” is where those two interests meet. And it’s why many folks are invited but, unfortunately, fewer are actually chosen.

Going Beyond Your Profile Information

MindField Online Internet Panels has a large membership, and a large database. We can paint a rough picture of you for the client– in this example you’re a mom, age 30, three kids, income level, etc. If this describes you, or thereabouts, you’re probably going to get a survey invitation for kids’ vitamins.

But an online survey invitation is not a guarantee of completion, cash and prizes. Based on your profile info, you SEEM like a good candidate, which is why we sent the invite. But what we don’t know is how your profile info relates to (in this case) kids’ vitamins. Did you take them when you were growing up? Do you use them with your kids? Have you ever? Sometimes you buy them but sometimes you forget? Is there a brand you totally love or hate? Do you buy the little bottles at the market or the giant bottle at the club store? Do you even believe in vitamin pills, or do you think kids should just eat their vegetables?

At MindField Online Internet Panels – or any reputable survey company – your honest answers to questions like these may qualify or DISqualify you from the survey. We know – believe us, we read every comment on Facebook – that it’s a drag to be kicked out. But this process is how we get an honest sample, help assure the integrity of the survey and provide usable information for the client.

Can You Improve Your Odds of Qualifying?

Update your profile: So what can you do to avoid “wasting your time?” There’s no formula. But we always say to fill out your profile info completely, to paint as full a picture of yourself as you can. And revisit your profile from time to time and make any necessary updates. Had any new kids? Any left the nest? Have any of your household habits changed? Have you switched from fabric softener to dryer sheets? And so on.

Think about your answers: Carefully consider your answers as you are qualifying. You may be asked how many times you ordered pizza delivery in the last six months. You may say “three” right away. But you forgot that your husband ordered one, and you weren’t even aware that your teenager ordered two. So, instead of three you have six, and THAT may be the difference that qualifies you.

Act fast: Most online surveys have some form of demographic quota. As we said in our last blog post, whoever you are – sex, age, income, marital status, etc. – you represent a certain portion of the general population. The survey may only accept a certain number of folks like you, and after that you will be excluded. Answering the invitation as soon as you receive it will help improve your chance of qualifying for an online survey.

Maintaining Integrity

Finally, no matter what, whether you are completely happy or sometimes frustrated, please remain honest. The internet is full of “Tips and Tricks” to get more surveys, and none of them bear repeating. The entire system depends on solid, credible, honest information. It’s why our clients keep coming back, and it’s how we keep providing survey opportunities, money and prizes to you. MindField Online members are as honest as they come, and we’re grateful for that!

We hope we have been able to answer some of your questions about qualifying for surveys – and sometimes not. If you have further technical questions, or if you believe you are “never” getting surveys for some reason, you are always welcome to contact our member helpdesk at (800) 969-9235 or by email at [email protected].