There’s an App for That!

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Once upon a time (like, two years ago!) “apps” were the fried mozzarella sticks you ate while you were waiting for your dinner at Friday’s.  Well, no more. Today apps (for application software) are the hot convenience item, thanks to the explosion of smartphones.  Personally, your humble author has music, movies, maps, job search, games and weather apps clogging up his smartphone – but there are a million more out there.  As the popular tagline  goes, whatever you need to make your daily life a little more convenient – “there’s an app for that!”

According to mobile app developer ShoutEm.com…

  • 5 billion apps were downloaded in 2010. By 2013, it will be over 20 billion!
  • The average smartphone user spends over 11 hours a month using apps.
  • iPhone and Android owners use an average of 15 apps
  • Blackberry owners use an average of 8 apps
  • The top categories of mobile apps include social networking (Facebook, etc.) with 60 million users and maps with 40 million users.
  • The highest rated apps are Angry Birds (game) and Google Maps. Seriously, do you know any Angry Birds addicts? They are CONSUMED!

What do you think? Are you an app freak? Which ones are your favorites? Which ones are a waste of time? Anyway, for more fun app facts, and a look at future trends, check out ShoutEm’s infographic here.

New and Improved Survey Invitations!

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UPDATE! A happy MindField Online panelist has given a thumbs-up to the new email invitation. Check it out at the bottom of the post!

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Original post:

Hey gang: MindField Online has refreshed and re-formatted our email survey invitations! This cleaner, more concise invitation emphasizes the information you ARE interested in, without making you wade through the information you usually skip over anyway!

So, here’s a sneak peek at the top section of the new invitation, along with some explanations of the new look:

A: Right off the bat, this is your quick participation link to the survey. Just click and you’re on your way!

B: No guessing about your time commitment… here’s a quick estimate! If you qualify and complete, this is how long we expect the survey to take using standard systems.

C: How much money? THIS much money!

D: Your cashout progress. If you need $5 to cashout, and you have a balance of $4…that’s 80%!

We hope you like the new invitation, and find it informative and easy to use. If you have suggestions for further improvements, let us know!

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We just received an early review on the new email format! Jim in California says:

“…it is absolutely excellent!   Giving real time member status info is a great feature, as is the layout of info describing the study available and the “what’s new” corner.  Moreover, being able to reply directly to the email, as I am now doing, simplifies communication by 100%.  Others require having to login and hunt around for particular page where any inquiry must be entered.  Thank you for all of that.”

Thanks Jim – we think the rest of the MindField Online family will like it, too!

Fabulous Facebook Fans Update!

Hey guys: After 6 months and almost 6800 fans, our post celebrating MindField Online Internet Panels’ fabulous Facebook fans has graduated from “post” into a top-navigation “page!” From now on, “Panelist Reviews” will sit at the top of the page just waiting to be admired. We will keep updating it periodically, and we’ll let you know. Here is the link. And thanks again to the best Facebook fans in the world!!

Happy Birthday Jay!

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This is a special note celebrating the birthday of McMillion Research Vice President Jay Mace, who turns 42 this week.

Now, 42 is not a milestone or anything, but we didn’t have a Facebook page when he hit the big 4-0! So please indulge us for a moment.

Jay has been with McMillion Research/MindField Online since 1992. He has been a key player in the growth and development of the company, helping us to become one the most successful consumer research firms. Jay wears a lot of hats, but much of his job is about troubleshooting the process, doing what he can to make it smooth and satisfying for members like you.

A married father of two boys, Jay plays indoor soccer, listens to Elvis and is downright obnoxious about his beloved Steelers. And in the course of 20 years, Gary and Sandy McMillion say that Jay has become like a son to them.

Please help McMillion Research and MindField Online wish Jay Mace a very happy birthday!

Take the MindField Online Nickel Tour!

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Over at the MindField Online Facebook page, we commonly hear, “I’m new—how does this whole thing work?”  That’s a pretty broad question, so we usually answer, “There’s plenty of info to be found at our website, www.mindfieldonline.com -check it out!”

But exactly what you will find has been a mystery, wrapped in a riddle, wrapped in an internet – until now!  So, keep your hands and feet inside the tram as we take an informative, exciting (but mostly informative) tour of the MindField Online Internet Panels website!

Home Page

What kinds of people make good MindField Online Internet Panels members? Awesome people, for sure, but for more specifics, click HERE.

How it Works

Would you like a simple, easy to understand explanation of how the whole MindField Online thing works? Sure you would. Here’s THIS instead!

IQD

Other than farm fresh ingredients, what steps does MindField Online Internet Panels take to ensure the quality of our data? Find out HERE.

FAQ

Check out the answers to some frequently asked questions HERE. Then, take a moment to realize “So THAT’S what FAQ stands for!”

About

Because corporate histories are so darn exciting, click HERE to learn more about MindField Online and parent company McMillion Research.

Register

Want to find out more about becoming a panelist for MindField Online Internet Panels? HERE is the place to find it!

Privacy

Concerned about your privacy online? Hey who isn’t? Check out all the ways MindField Online goes about protecting your personal info HERE.

Sweepstakes

SWEEPSTAKES! Who is eligible? How do you enter? What are the rules? What’s all that fine print say?

And that brings us back to the lobby. We hope you have enjoyed your tour of the MindField Online Internet Panels website! Thanks for your attention. Please exit through the giftshop…

Lost in the Mail?

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Attention MindField Online Users:  Stand by for some highly technical yak having to do with email providers.  Do you use any of the following email providers?

@aim.com

@alltel.net

@aol.com

@bellsouth.net

If so, keep reading…

Some email providers tend to “rate limit” our emails frequently due to a number of reasons. This is in spite of our “white listing” provisions and your “double opt-in requirement.”  This means our emails to you are often delayed and sometimes never received.

What’s this mean to you? It means you miss survey opportunities and/or come into a study late – which makes your opportunity of qualifying more difficult.  If you are an email user of one the providers listed above and you ALSO have a secondary email, we would like to encourage you to log into your account and provide a different email for your MindField Account.  This will allow you to avoid any delays that may be created while they censor our sends.

Meet the Panelists: Molly

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Molly

Molly lives in Florida and has been a member of MindField Online since 2004. As she puts it: “It’s been a great experience. I love completing MindField surveys and, over the years, I have been able to voice my opinion and thoughts about all kinds of products!  It’s exciting – almost like being in on a big secret!”

Molly is a stay-at-home wife with a disability that keeps her from working and driving. But she’s no shut-in – she’s fully wired and web-savvy! She’s got the time and a real enthusiasm for surveys.  And she LOVES to hear the UPS truck rumbling down her street bringing the latest test product from MindField Online!

What does Molly like about MindField Online? Obviously, she likes qualifying. And when she doesn’t, “it’s disappointing, but I know that I will be entered into a sweepstakes nonetheless for my time and effort. It’s never a waste of time!”

As for compensation, she likes MindField’s low payout threshold. “But I like to let my account build into a nice fat check. And the checks ALWAYS come, very promptly and without fail.”

Molly was also excited to learn that MindField Online had started a blog and Facebook page, and “friended” us right away. This automatically registered her for our December Apple drawing, and led to a big Christmas surprise: winning an iPhone 3G! “I was shocked! It took years, but I FINALLY won one of the famous MindField Online sweepstakes! ALL of my friends and family are envious!”

Well, thanks for your years of loyalty, Molly – and your incredible enthusiasm. Enjoy your iPhone, and keep spreading the word about MindField Online Internet Panels!

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Hey folks, do YOU have a fun MindField Online story like Molly’s? Leave us a note in the comment section below!

Year-end Apple Drawing Winners (Finally!)

Maybe it’s the time of year, but it took FOREVER to track down our latest batch of Apple winners for the MindField Online December drawing! Truth be told, we are STILL waiting to hear from a couple.  But we didn’t want to keep you guys waiting any longer, so we decided to post and do an update when we hear from the stragglers.

So, without further ado, meet your MindField Online December Apple drawing winners!

Amanda Chandler

Amanda Chandler of Douglasville GA won an iPod Shuffle!

Michael Gallatin of Ann Arbor MI won an iPhone!

Molly Block

Molly Block of Lake City FL won an iPhone 3G!

Marissa Gold of Milwaukee WI won an iPod Touch!

Jennifer McNally of Asheville NC won an iPod Nano!

Shannon Story

Shannon Story of Aloha OR won an Apple TV!

Michelle Enzinger of Indianapolis IN won an iPod Shuffle!

Debi Fitzsimmons

Debi Fitzsimmons of Corpus Christi TX won an iPod Touch!

Bruce Wade of Round Rock TX won an iPod Shuffle!

Julie Gottlieb of Cincinnati OH won an iPad!

Meghan Gresick

Meghan Gresick of Baton Rouge LA won an Apple TV!

Congrats, Apple winners! Thanks again! And stay tuned for future cool drawings –

only from MindField Online Internet Panels!

The Best Facebook Fans in the World!

UPDATE:

2/16/11 OK, it’s been 5 months, and now over 6,200 fans! Now, to be like the entire REST of the internet, the new comments are on top. Enjoy!

UPDATE:

1/12/11   Well, it’s been 4 months, and now over 5,000 fans! We thought we’d keep this post active and drop in the nice comments we get from time to time. New comments are at the bottom. Thanks again for your membership, your support and your kind words! XOXOX

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Original Post:

MindField Online Internet Panels has been on Facebook for a little over three months. In that time we have grown from zero fans to (any minute now) 4,000 fans!

We took a moment to look back on some of our user comments to pull up some of the nice things our fans have had to say about MindField Online. Remember, these are actual comments, and you can look them up right on our Facebook page!

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Debra says: I love your site!! You have great surveys and once in a while I get to actually try some of these products in my home. I like to give my opinion and I say it like I see it. Keep up the good work – you have a faithful survey taker in me!!

Buck says: I love Mindfield! They pay good!

Kayla says: Thanks for all the awesome surveys! As an encouragement to new pollers, it really is pretty nice when you get to cash out into Paypal or via check 🙂 Good night-out-with-the-spouse money!

Carol says: I’m a newbee…I just signed up and thought I would check out the facebook page. I like that Mindfield actually answers all the posts!

Rebecca says: I have been doing this since 2006. I have made some decent cash from these surveys. I have done three that paid $25 or more. Others are a buck here and there – they add up! It’s legitimate, and you do earn money – no bs:)

Mariela says: This is a legit site! Great product testing and good surveys! I’ve been a member since 2009 =)

Martha says: MindField Online you have been nothing but a godsend to me! God bless you all! Keep up the good work!

Cecelia says: MindField Online Internet Panel is the best survey site I have EVER been a part of! Keep up the great work! If anyone needs some extra cash in their pocket, they need to join this really wonderful, and exceptionally easy survey site,

Ann says: Love, love, LOVE MindField surveys!! You have the best surveys of all the survey companies that I have dealt with – just wish you would send me more of them…. so keep ’em coming

Elizabeth says: I like MindField. They pay quick, and they keep track of what you do…what more can you ask for?

Vera says: Greetings, friends. Mindfield Online is a good company to participate as a survey opinion member. You have the opportunity to share your opinion about various products before they hit the market (or even after they are already on the shelves). You also get paid to share your opinions. Now you won’t get rich this way or earn enough to feed the family or pay the electric bill, but you will see a few extra dollars come your way. Enjoy.

Kristi says: I have been a member for a long time and I really like taking there surveys and rewards. Thanks MindField!

Sandy says: I just love taking surveys for MindField Online Internet Panels!!!! Thanks guys!!!

Melissa says: I love MindField surveys! They are fun and I’ve made some cash too! Thanks!!!

Kelli says: This is a very good site. I have been with them for a long time and they always pay!!

Laura says: Thank you MindField!!! Can’t believe I’ve been with your group over a year now! So nice to get rewarded for sharing your opinions! Love my groups!!! 🙂

Sarah says: I love MINDFIELD ONLINE !!! They pay quick and the surveys are easy!!!

Mary says: I’ve been with MindField for a very long time and I love you guys. You just keep on coming with new and interesting surveys. Welcome to Facebook, and thanks again.

Jack says: Thanks for the opportunity to voice my opinion. MindField, you offer relevant panels with great rewards…KUDOS

Marie says: My husband just cashed out for $27 dollars! They always pay too so never fear MindField Online Internet Panels DO PAY! MindField totally rocks!

Jennifer says: MindField is awesome. I have made 35.00 and have received more products to try out than I can count. Thank you for the opportunity to let my voice be heard and let me try out the new products. The money is nice to stash for x-mas in these tough times 🙂

Martha says: MindField Online you are awesome! Best online survey group that has ever happened to me! Happy holidays guys – keep the faith and good work! Love ya all!

Sarah says: I love you guys!! I had a question about money that was pending on my account and I called you and you answered my questions and took care of it right away. You guys and gals are great!! Thank you.

Melanie says: I have been a member for over 3 years. I love this site. Surveys come regularly, easy to complete and payouts are easy.

Judith says: MindField is a legit, professional survey company.  They always pay – and pay promptly!

Timmie says: This is a great survey company that actually pays! And no hoops to jump through!

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So there’s a sampling of some our Facebook fan comments. We know that not EVERY MindField Online member is this happy. Depending on a lot of factors, different people have different levels of satisfaction. But please know that we read EVERY SINGLE COMMENT on our Facebook page. We look into complaints and problems, and we are always trying to make it a better online consumer panel experience for you!

Bringing Clarity to Online Survey Qualification

If you are a member of MindField Online Internet Panels – or any other reputable online 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.

Actually we are making it a permanent page here on the MindField Online Internet Panels WordPress site. To continue reading this epic (that means LONG) piece, click HERE.