Survey Best Practices: Maximize Success
Overview
Surveys are a core earning method on Reward XP. Success depends on qualifying for surveys and completing them properly. This guide shares expert strategies to maximize your survey earnings.
Understanding How Surveys Work
The Matching Process
When you start a survey:
- You answer screening questions
- Your answers are compared to target demographics
- If you match → continue to full survey
- If you don't match → disqualified
Why Targeting Exists
Survey clients pay to reach specific people:
- "We need opinions from parents with children under 5"
- "We want responses from IT professionals"
- "We need people who purchased a car this year"
If you're not in their target group, you can't participate.
Profile Optimization
Complete Your Profile Fully
Incomplete profiles = fewer survey matches.
Include:
- Accurate age and gender
- Location details
- Employment status and industry
- Household income range
- Education level
- Marital/family status
- Purchase behaviors
- Interests and hobbies
Keep Profile Current
Update when things change:
- New job or industry
- Moved to new location
- Household changes
- New purchases (car, home, etc.)
Be Accurate
Your profile should reflect reality:
- Don't inflate income
- Don't claim expertise you don't have
- Don't misrepresent household size
Mismatches between profile and survey answers cause disqualifications.
Answering Screening Questions
The Golden Rule
Answer honestly and consistently.
Survey systems track your responses across surveys. Inconsistent answers (claiming 35 one day, 42 another) flag your account.
Common Screening Topics
| Question Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Age/Gender | Basic targeting |
| Location | Regional targeting |
| Employment | B2B research |
| Income | Consumer research |
| Purchase behavior | Product research |
| Brand awareness | Market research |
Disqualification Is Normal
Even with perfect answers, disqualification happens because:
- Survey quota filled
- Looking for specific demographics
- Random selection reached capacity
Don't take it personally.
During the Survey
Read Questions Carefully
Rushed reading leads to:
- Wrong answers
- Failed attention checks
- Inconsistent responses
Take time to understand each question.
Attention Checks
Surveys include hidden quality checks:
Types:
- "Select 'Strongly Agree' for this question"
- Questions with obvious answers
- Repeated questions checking consistency
- Timer checks (too fast = bot behavior)
Why they matter:
- Failed checks = disqualification or chargeback
- Protect survey quality
- Ensure real human responses
Response Quality
Good responses:
- Thoughtful and relevant
- Appropriate length for open-ended
- Consistent with previous answers
- Based on actual opinions/experiences
Poor responses (trigger chargebacks):
- Random clicking
- "asdfasdf" in text fields
- Contradictory answers
- Completing 30-minute survey in 3 minutes
Timing
Don't rush:
- Abnormally fast completion flags fraud
- Take reasonable time per question
- It's okay to pause and think
Don't go too slow:
- Sessions can time out
- Complete in reasonable timeframe
- Don't walk away mid-survey
Maximizing Earnings
Use All Survey Routers
Each router has different inventory:
See Survey Router Comparison for details.
Check Throughout the Day
Survey inventory refreshes:
- New surveys added continuously
- Different availability at different times
- Don't assume "no surveys" means none coming
Balance Effort vs. Pay
| Survey Type | Time | Pay | Worth It? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 min for $0.20 | 2 min | $0.20 | Yes ($6/hr rate) |
| 20 min for $1.00 | 20 min | $1.00 | Maybe ($3/hr rate) |
| 30 min for $0.50 | 30 min | $0.50 | Usually no ($1/hr rate) |
Consider the time-to-pay ratio when choosing surveys.
Track Your Best Routers
Note which routers work best for you:
- Higher qualification rate
- Better pay rates
- More available surveys
- Fewer disqualifications
Your experience may differ from others based on demographics.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Lying About Demographics
Why people do it: Think it gets more surveys
What happens:
- Inconsistent answers cause disqualifications
- Accounts get flagged
- Surveys reversed (chargebacks)
Solution: Always be truthful
Mistake 2: Speeding Through
Why people do it: Want faster earnings
What happens:
- Failed attention checks
- Flagged as bot behavior
- Surveys reversed
Solution: Take appropriate time
Mistake 3: Ignoring Profile Updates
Why people do it: Set up once and forget
What happens:
- Outdated info causes mismatches
- Fewer survey opportunities
- Qualification issues
Solution: Update profile when life changes
Mistake 4: Only Using One Router
Why people do it: Habit or preference
What happens:
- Miss surveys on other routers
- Lower overall earnings
- More "no surveys available" downtime
Solution: Check all routers regularly
Dealing with Disqualifications
They're Normal
Even frequent survey takers get disqualified regularly. A 30-50% qualification rate is typical.
Minimize Frustration
Use inBrain.ai - They pay partial credit for disqualifications, making the experience less frustrating.
Don't Force It
If you're getting many disqualifications:
- Check back later (survey inventory changes)
- Try different routers
- Do offers instead temporarily
- Don't repeatedly attempt same survey
Learn from Patterns
If consistently disqualified:
- Are you in a less-common demographic?
- Is your profile complete?
- Are your answers consistent?
Adjust what you can control.
Protecting Your Earnings
Avoid Chargebacks
Survey chargebacks happen when:
- Responses flagged as low quality
- Failed attention checks
- Impossibly fast completion
- Obvious random answers
Quality Over Quantity
10 well-completed surveys beat 20 rushed surveys:
- Higher actual earnings (no chargebacks)
- Better account standing
- More sustainable long-term
Survey Earnings Expectations
Realistic Hourly Rates
Including disqualification time:
| User Type | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| Beginner | $2-4/hour |
| Average | $4-6/hour |
| Experienced | $6-8/hour |
| Premium demographics | $8-12/hour |
See How Much Do Surveys Pay? for details.
Surveys as Part of Strategy
Surveys work best combined with:
- Offer completions
- Referral earnings
- Other earning methods
Don't rely on surveys alone.
Summary Checklist
Before Starting
- Profile complete and current
- Multiple routers bookmarked
- Understanding of your demographics
During Surveys
- Read questions carefully
- Answer honestly and consistently
- Watch for attention checks
- Take appropriate time
Ongoing
- Check multiple routers
- Update profile when life changes
- Track which routers work best
- Combine with other earning methods
Related Articles
- Why Did I Get Disqualified? - Disqualification reasons
- How Much Do Surveys Pay? - Earnings expectations
- Survey Router Comparison - Compare routers
- How to Avoid Chargebacks - Protect earnings