Focus Groups & Taste Test Studies

When I first became a mom about 7 years ago, my good friend Ruth introduced me to focus groups.  At first I was skeptical about them.  It seemed too good to be true.  I could get paid $100-200 just to sit somewhere for a few hours and tell them my opinions.  Ruth is the Queen of focus groups and could probably right a book about all the various topics that she has encountered.  I go through seasons of participating in them. 

Before Caleb was born, I did them fairly frequently.  I went to studies about diapers, juice, bacon packaging (proving that I can talk about ANYTHING for two hours), TV shows, snacks, internet usage and many more.  I've also participated in taste tests on ice cream, turkey, starburst, 7up and more.  By the way, taste testing thirty samples of the same, but slightly different product is the fastest way to guarantee that you won't want to eat it anytime soon.  I also turned down a study on tuna salad.  While I occasionally eat tuna salad, I couldn't stomach the thought of a room full of tuna salad samples and tasting it over and over for an hour.  Even I have limits to what I'll do to earn $50. 

I've just started back up with doing focus groups again.  There are multiple reasons.  One being we have four children and any extra money is always appreciated.  The second is that its kinda fun to get out of the house.  Third is that the twins are in school and its much easier to find a friend willing to watch two children than four (my goal is to try to go to the groups without having to pay for babysitting and cutting into my "profits).

This week has been a jackpot week as far as focus groups go, I'm participating in an at-home diaper study for Caleb, a candy study for the rest of us, and I completed a focus group on dry-erase markers.  The candy study only pays $40 but it only involved stopping at the company for five minutes, eating candy at home, and filling out a survey online.  The diaper study is more involved, but pays $125.  I'll be testing four diapers a day, filling out studies and then returning the diapers to the company (yep, returning used diapers).  The dry erase marker one was my favorite.  They paid me $25 to do homework where I described my favorite dry erase markers and accessories, made a collage and took pictures of where dry erase boards hang in my home.  Then I was paid $125 to talk about this with 4 other women for about an hour.  They also let us pick out new packs of fancy dry erase markers to take home and keep.  Since its something I use and hate spending money on, I was happy.  All in all, not a bad week of earnings for this stay-at-home mom.

I've had several people ask me how to get involved.  First, you need to find your local focus group companies.  They all have websites where you can sign up to join their database.  When you sign up, be sure to fill in all the possible areas that apply to you (pets owned, hobbies enjoyed, children) because that data will be what they use to decide who qualifies.  They also have different locations where they do studies (some in the city, some in the suburb).  I always check that I'm interested in all locations, so that I get called more often, but if you're never going to drive into the city to do one, then say so.  If you do go downtown, just make sure that your parking is validated.  I'd hate to pay $20 for parking out of my earnings. 

Secondly, you should "like" the company on your fb page.  They will often post studies that they are trying to fill on facebook, so it is a way to apply to be involved in a study. 

Third, you should expect to get phone calls and emails with "screeners" (short questionaires) for you to complete.  In order to book you into a focus group, they will need to know a lot of information.  Sometimes the phone calls can take 15-20 minutes as they have to have certain criteria met based on what the focus group is trying to accomplish.  Some of the recruiters will tell you what they are looking for (to make it easier for you to qualify) and others will just want you to answer it however you would.  Also, expect to answer one cheesy question like "If you were a drink, what drink would it be and why?" or "If you could be an animal, what would it be and why?"  These are basically tests to see if you're capable of talking and describing reasons why you chose something.  This is important because that is what you'll be doing in a focus group.  They don't care what your answer is to the question, just that you can think of something and back it up.  Thankfully, you'll never see the person you are telling the answer to, so you can be as cheesy and cliche as you want. 

The last place I use to find out about focus groups is craigslist.  In the Chicago area, focus groups are often advertised on Craigslist.  They are under the "Jobs" forum and under the subcategory of "ETC."  This will also have jobs for donating your eggs, surrogacy and other part-time jobs.  I've participated in several focus groups by finding them on craigslist.  I do want to warn you though.  Use your judgement.  You should never have to give your social security number to participate in a focus group.  And you should never have to give bank account information to get paid.  I've always been paid in cash or with a check.  If it seems fishy, don't do it.

Here are some links to companies that I've participated in focus groups with in the Chicago area if you want to sign up with their database.  If there is a chance to say that I referred you, please do.  At least one company does a drawing each month and awards giftcards to both the referred and the referring person. 
Schlesinger Associates
Focuscope
Delve
Fieldwork
Tragon


Some of these companies have sites in other cities as well, but if you live somewhere else, you may want to google it to find other companies in your specific area.

I hope this is helpful for anyone wanting to participate in some focus groups.  Feel free to email me with any questions.