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For respondents12 March 20266 min read

Get paid for your opinions: how paid market research really works

People taking part in an online focus group

Why companies pay for opinions

International clients make expensive decisions: which product to launch, how to price it, what message to use, which app feature is confusing, or how a service works in real homes. Guessing is risky. Speaking with the right people is cheaper than making the wrong decision.

That is why companies pay for structured research. They are not buying praise. They are paying for time, attention and honest feedback from people who match the audience they need to understand.

What can be discussed

A research session may cover everyday purchases, banking, healthcare experiences, food and drink, pets, travel, technology, work tools, public services, advertising, packaging, websites, mobile apps or specialist professional topics.

You do not need to be a professional speaker. A good participant is clear, honest and willing to explain how they make decisions in real life.

Focus groups and in-depth interviews

A focus group is a moderated discussion with several people. It often lasts 90 to 120 minutes. You hear other views, react to ideas and discuss products, services or communication in a group setting.

An in-depth interview is a one-to-one conversation with a moderator. It usually lasts 45 to 90 minutes, although expert interviews can be shorter or longer. The moderator asks follow-up questions so the client can understand why you think, choose or behave in a certain way.

How payment usually works

For paid market research, the amount depends on the country, topic, length and how rare the profile is. A short consumer call is different from a medical expert interview or a two-hour B2B discussion.

On public Interviewly pages, project cards are examples. After you register or log in, you can see the projects selected for you, with the current details available for your profile.

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