Indiefield - the name of this company tells you absolutely nothing about what they do or who they are! But their opening slogan "Opinions That Count" start to make you realise they are some type of consumer directory/survey/marketing company.
So what exactly is Indiefield?
Indiefield who do market research of behalf of a range of clients. On behalf of their clients they pay consumers for participating in market research/surveys.
How do I join?
To join Indiefield it's as simple as joining their Consumer Directory at www.indiefield.net
What do I need to tell them?
As little or as much as you wish to. Generally it's the basics - age, marital status, employment status, sex, location, contact details etc
There are 3 levels or account types with Indiefield, and each account type has a minimum level of information required. The higher the account level, the more chance you have of being selected to participate in surveys and market research.
Standard account
Entry level account. Name and contact details only
Verified account
Mid level account. Name and contact details, plus a verified postal address. This type of account will mean you may be asked to participate in "face to face" surveys
Premier account
Highest account. Same information for the above accounts, but you are also required to post a photograph of yourself. Indiefield claim this gives their clients more security.
How easy is it to navigate the website?
The website is set out in a very user friendly manner. All the information pertaining to your account and your details are held in the "My Profile" section on the left of screen.
This is further broken down into 6 key areas:
** My Account: Your name, email address, contact preferences, password etc
** My Address: Address details (and confirmed if you verify with the pin they send you as part of Verified account), contact phone numbers
** My Details: Photo (if you choose Premier Account), sex, DOB, martial status, house/flat details, household income bracket, marital status, banking/financial products
** My Car: Make, model, type, age etc plus a section for a second car
** My Work: Employment status, job title, personal income bracket
** My Leisure: TV and media (what do you watch and read), Technology (phone provider, key websites you use/visit), Miscellaneous (travel and pets)
There is also a called "My Invitations" where any surveys or research that is available will be listed, and you select to request to join.
And finally there is a section called "My History", where any money you have been paid is shown.
How do you get selected for the surveys?
Once you have joined and completed the information required about yourself, Indiefield will send you invitations to ask you to participate in paid market research either face to face, in groups, online or over the phone. The "reward", generally a cash payment, varies depending on the type of survey, ie face to face pays more than over the phone; the length of the survey - some group interviews are for 2 hours; the product they are reviewing.
The invitation details the type and nature of the survey, where it is being held, how long you will need to attend, date and time and how much it will pay.
To be selected for their market research you must follow the link to complete a short survey online and then you will have a phone interview to ensure you are suitable.
If you are selected, you will be sent an email confirming all the details including payment and time/location.
The survey payouts range from £5 to £60 depending on the effort required etc.
My experience!
My boyfriend and I have been members of Indiefield for more than 2 years now. In that time between the 2 of us, we've probably made over £120.
We've been invited to participate in many more surveys, but they are often held during business hours which make it impractical to attend.
I attended one face to face market research for a drug company on my perception of Japanese encephalitis which paid £60 for 45 min. They video taped me whilst asking my questions relating to travel and my knowledge and understanding of Japanese encephalitis. It wasn't too bad and the reward was worth it.
My boyfriend attended one face to face interview when there were some really bad storms on in London and their survey population was dwindling, so they doubled the cash reward as incentive to attend!!!
Most recently I've been invited to, but unable to attend, a survey based on British tourists who will be in Paris over certain weeks in July!
We've also done the odd phone interview or 2 where we've been sent cheques as rewards for participating
So does it pay?
The good thing about Indiefield is you can choose to participate or not. They invite you to participate - which you can choose to do or not, and then they will screen you to take you to the next level.
I don't waste their time or mine doing the survey screener questions for surveys I know I can't attend or participate in, eg a survey on cars at 10am on a Tuesday in Liverpool.
I always read their invitations to see if I'm eligible and take it from there. It's another way of earning some extra cash!!!
Now for the not so good stuff!
I will say however, that I've noticed less surveys are being posted on their site and they are coming more through email. There also haven't been as many surveys in the last 6 months - signs of the economic times?
They do have a referral system - if you aren't eligible you can give the details of someone who is, and if they are selected to participate then you are rewarded with £10. I did refer one or two people, but can't say I ever saw the reward.
I've also never had the "My History" pages updated to show the surveys I have attended/particpated in.
A word of warning - as with any market research surveys, they seem to have an automatic exclusion from the survey if you have recently completed similar market research for another company in the past 6 months!
Overall
I've found it worth participating in the surveys that Indiefield offer. It's a great way to make some extra cash - and you never know you may learn something!! I certainly knew nothing about Japanese encephalitis until I did the survey!!
Summary: Another way to earn some extra pennies!!! Have I just shared my secret?
Also on dooyoo under the same username