I am somewhat of an expert in focus groups, having reviewed and participated in dozens of them in the past years.
So, when I stumbled upon a research company called Focus Groups, I immediately grabbed my magnifying glass to see this website up close.
Join me as I figure out whether or not FocusGroups.Org is another one of those money-making websites for side hustlers like us.
Let’s get started.
The Rating
4/5
A well-designed online service with exceptional care towards its members. Browsing through hundreds of studies available every month is very convenient with this site. I would have given it a 5-star rating had the studies been available in Canada. Nonetheless, FocusGroups.Org offers decent payouts for US citizens looking for online side hustles.
What is FocusGroups.Org?
Their main office is at 300 Lenora St. #1221, Seattle, Washington, but their services are available in over 200 locations, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York.
On the other hand, you can also contact them through their website if you have questions about their services.
Is FocusGroups.Org Legit?
Everything about FocusGroups.Org’s website tells me it’s legit. The main page looks very professional, showing you the most important qualities you need to know about the company.
The main page also includes testimonials from users who have participated in focus groups, surveys, trials, and testing, with some posted as recent as hours prior.
However, I can see why interested participants will see these testimonials as something sketchy.
They display first names only, no photos, and are overwhelmingly positive.
Nonetheless, if you want to ensure you know what you’re getting into, you can browse their paid focus groups and available studies before signing up.
That’s a major green flag since FocusGroups.Org isn’t just gathering your personal information. It’s willing to display available studies to let you gauge whether these are the studies you’re interested in.
Still, I want to cover all bases and ensure we don’t fall victim to another scam. So, I searched online for reviews or testimonials about the website.
The first place I checked was Reddit, and I found one thread talking about FocusGroup.Org specifically.
Here’s what one user has to say about the website,
“They are legit, I’ve made money off their posts. Basically I’ve stopped doing surveys for pay and instead do a lot of focus group screeners so I can do a focus group or two per week. It’s pretty awesome.” (u/deportado686)
The same user shared a noteworthy experience with FocusGroups.Org. It’s quite long, so I’ll summarize it.
The host asked him to be on standby in case one of the participants backed out of the focus group, which ended up happening.
He entered the Zoom meeting, but the host eventually left him in the waiting room. After ten minutes, the host called and told him the participant had joined the call, albeit a few minutes late.
He still received payment for his time despite being unable to participate in the study. That, to me, is a pretty good example of survey sites that care about their participants.
I also signed up through the form on their site and tried applying for several research studies.
After just a few days, I received a couple of invitations from them asking me to be part of online focus groups.
Considering all of this, I don’t think FocusGroups.Org is a scam. If you’re a good fit, you might qualify for numerous interesting studies regularly and earn extra cash from your home.
How Does FocusGroups.Org Work?
Here comes one of the most important questions we need to answer. How does FocusGroups.Org work, and how do you become a member?
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you out.
Sign Up
As with most market research websites, you first need to sign up and be part of their database.
You can find the form as soon as you open their webpage.
One of the things I appreciate about FocusGroups.Org is they show you the number of available studies at the top-right corner of the screen.
The sign-up process is relatively easy too. They just need your email, zip code, and your chosen password.
Unfortunately, most studies are only available for a US audience. If you’re from a different location, the homepage will immediately indicate you’re not qualified.
If you are from the US or if there are studies you can access from your country, the homepage will load just fine.
You can also click the “Get Started” button at the top of the page if the registration form isn’t working. It will redirect you to another page where you must fill out your name, zip code, birth year, and gender.
Browse
After submitting all the necessary information above, you will gain access to your dashboard where you can browse all the studies you can participate in.
You can click the “View” button beside the particular study you’re interested in to learn more about it.
Here’s an example.
The study page also indicates the age range of qualified participants, the cities where it’s available, the company conducting the research, qualified genders, and when the study will expire.
Make sure that you read all the details before applying, especially with clinical trials. Some studies are in-person focus groups, so they might not be what you’re looking for if you simply want to earn extra money over the internet.
Apply
Once you find a study you want to join, click the “Apply” button on the same page.
It will redirect you to the website of the company conducting the research. More often than not, the linking page will also ask for additional information.
Wait
After sending your application, the next step is to wait. Sometimes, you can expect an email in just a day or two.
But you need to remember that the screening and qualification process depends on the companies, not FocusGroups.Org.
Ergo, how long you must wait varies from one study to another.
Get Paid
The invitation will most likely indicate all the instructions for participating. Just follow the steps and get paid! It’s as easy as that.
The payment method will also depend on the company or business conducting the study. This can range from PayPal cash and checks to Visa Gift Cards.
You can also click the three horizontal bars on the left side of the screen to filter through different studies or keep track of your earnings.
How to Earn Money with FocusGroups.Org
One thing that separates FocusGroups.Org from many survey sites is that it doesn’t focus on a single type of market research study.
Instead, you can earn money through your opinions as long as you qualify. Here are your options.
Focus Groups
If you’re a frequent visitor to my website, you already know what focus groups are. This research method gathers several participants to answer surveys or questionnaires.
Through FocusGroups.Org, you can either be part of an online or in-person focus group, depending on your preference. This also includes one on one interviews.
FocusGroups.Org publishes over 250 focus group studies monthly, and you can earn anywhere between $50 to $200 for participating.
Clinical Trials
FocusGroups.Org also partners with medical research companies in different parts of the world.
However, most people who qualify for this type of research suffer from specific illnesses. Nonetheless, you can earn up to $1,200 if you qualify.
App Installs
You can earn extra money through FocusGroups.Org for something as simple as installing an application on your phone.
Don’t worry. This is not a scam. They won’t hack your smartphone or gain access to your files.
The studies are mainly to understand consumers’ behavior towards advertisements. Some will require you to keep the app on your phone for at least 14 days.
The pay also varies, ranging from $50 to $1,000. However, because of how accessible the studies are, the slots are almost always limited, and the qualification process is difficult.
Online Surveys
If you want a quicker way to earn extra cash, try FocusGroup.Org’s online surveys.
These are simpler and more convenient since you can do them at home from your computer or smartphone.
However, as of this writing, there are no online surveys on the website.
Product Testing
The last option is testing products from different brands. It’s not unusual that you don’t receive cash payment for participating in this type of market research.
Instead, the company or business provides you with its existing products for free. They will also most likely cover the shipping costs.
Sample products in FocusGroups.Org include soaps, snacks, sweets, and more. Brands often conduct this type of market research to assess how the public will receive their goods.
This will also help them improve their products before mass-producing and releasing them.
Other Alternatives
If any of FocusGroups.Org’s qualities above discouraged you from participating in their studies, don’t worry.
I will always help you earn money online. Here are some alternatives you may want to try.
1. Branded Surveys
Branded Surveys is undoubtedly one of the most popular survey aggregators for US and Canadian residents.
Like FocusGroups.Org, Branded Surveys connects you to hundreds of survey sites and companies looking for participants.
Branded Surveys also use a point system. You earn points the more you participate in studies and redeem them as gift cards or convert them to cash through the site’s payment channels.
But what gives Branded Surveys the edge is its polls and daily challenges. By participating in these additional features, you get additional points in your account.
Click here to join Branded Surveys
2. Leger Opinion
One downside to FocusGroups.Org is availability. Most, if not all of its studies, are unavailable outside of the US.
If you’re from Canada, I strongly suggest you visit Leger Opinion or LEO. This is a Canadian-owned and Canada-based survey company that caters to both Canadian and US citizens.
Leger Opinion has been around for almost twenty years and caters to over 400,000 members in these two countries.
This site offers rewards or points to convert to gift cards, cash, or Air Miles®. Occasionally, Leger Opinion hosts site-wide contests to earn more points.
Contest winners earn additional monthly prizes, sometimes including a smart tablet.
Click here to join Leger Opinion
3. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is another survey aggregator with partners in numerous industries ranging from healthcare to food and beverage.
Signing up for this website is relatively easy too. You just need to fill out the registration form, which includes your name, age, gender, email, and location.
When you join a study, Survey Junkie rewards you with virtual points redeemable through PayPal or as e-Giftcards.
Most of the studies in Survey Junkie are also available in Canada, so this should also be on your list of websites to visit for making money online.
However, you need to build your profile before you can participate in their studies. This can take a while as the questions are very specific.
This ensures they can match you with online focus groups or studies more efficiently. You also earn virtual points by building your profile and still get rewards.
Click here to join Survey Junkie
4. Amazon
Surprisingly, your favorite online shop and the number-one retailer in the world might be what you’re looking for.
Amazon has a free product sampling program you can join if you’re mainly interested in product testing.
The online retailer offers two programs; Amazon Sampling Program and Amazon Prime Samples.
The latter is only available to Amazon Prime members, but anyone can join the Sampling Program.
To enroll your name, open your Amazon account and look for the “Sampling References” page.
It will then display different product categories ranging from food and beverage to baby products and household essentials.
Remember that there’s no guarantee that you’ll immediately be part of their mailing list, but there’s no harm in trying, right?
The Verdict
Availability aside, FocusGroups.Org is an excellent choice for US residents who want to earn extra cash online through market research studies.
I don’t believe that all studies pay $50 to $1,200. But with hundreds of available studies every month, I’m certain you’ll find one within your expected payout.
You might even find an interesting study and get paid to participate.
It’s also a must-visit site for online hustlers who want diversity. From online and in-person focus groups to surveys and product tests, FocusGroups.Org has got it all.
If you’re residing in Canada, maybe visit the site from time to time to see if studies are available in your region.
On the other hand, feel free to try some of the alternative websites I’ve mentioned above.
I am a father to a beautiful baby girl, a husband and a serial gigster 🙂 I live in Toronto, Canada. My claim to fame: I made thousands of dollars from focus groups and surveys over the last 15 years. Studied Marketing in Ryerson Univerity and worked in Marketing and Marketing Research for the last 14 years+ My mission is to educate others how to be successful with side hustles. You can contact my be email or on Facebook.
