***
HER: So, should I pay them to get access to these surveys?
ME: You mean you're going to pay them and then they'll give you a ton of leads to other survey sites? Like Survey Scout (that's my fave, by the way)?
HER: No. This is the company doing it. You pay them and you can take their surveys for money. Whaddya think?
ME: I think you're crazy. Why should you pay THEM? You're giving them opinion data. They should be paying you.
HER: They ARE going to pay me. I just have to plunk over the cash to get access the surveys.
ME: That's what I call a trip to Scam City. If this was a legit deal, you could sign up and get paid for doing the surveys. You should always get free membership for online surveys, so to speak.
HER: Then why did you tell me to sign up with that website (I turned her on to Survey Scout)?
ME: It's totally different. They aren't the research firms. They just do the legwork for us. They hunt down all the good leads, right? I mean, seriously, how long would it take you to find all of those paid surveys? That's why it's a good deal. You aren't paying them for the surveys, you're paying them for the research and expertise.
HER: Yeah, but this deal looks good. Even if I do have to pay.
ME: You are totally a sucker. Don't do it.
***
I think I talked her out of it.
I hope you get the idea, too.
Don't confuse "outsourcing" the tougher parts of making money with surveys (which is a way to INCREASE your overall profitability) with paying some schmuck for no good reason at all.
A re-pimp for Survey Scout:
