Are you looking to max out your paid survey earnings? If so, it’s critical to make sure valuable survey invites don’t slip through the cracks of a poorly managed email inbox.
Obviously, you already get more email each day than you know what to do with, so you’re gonna need some Ninja email skills to make sure you’re staying on top of things.
To help you get ready for combat, here some tips to help you set up and manage your email like a real paid survey pro. Er, Ninja.
1. Set Up an Email Account For Each Survey Site
From survey invites to reward updates to basic account info, every paid survey site will email you regularly. Some sites email three or more times a day, so even if you only join a handful of sites your primary email can quickly get overwhelmed.
To combat the deluge of incoming emails, the best thing you can do is set up a dedicated email address for every survey site you join. It sounds like a pain, but it only takes a few minutes, and if you use Gmail (see below for more on that) it’s really easy.
Here are a few examples of how you might set up your email accounts for some of the top paid survey sites:
- JoeSwagbucks@gmail.com
- JoePineCone@gmail.com
- JoeMintvine@gmail.com
Of course you may need something more specific than your first name to ensure the address is available, but the principle is the same. If you only follow one tip in this guide, this should be it.
2. Create a Routine for Checking Email
There’s a good chance you already check your email a few times a day, but if you’re going to take paid surveys seriously, you should get in the habit of checking your email even more often.
Walking the dog? Check your survey emails. Waiting for your turn in Words with Friends? Check your survey emails. Sitting on the can… well, you get the idea.
One good trick is pick 6 times a day that you set aside to sift through your new emails for about 5 minutes, or a total of 30 minutes. This way it becomes routine without taking over your life.
3. Set Up Email “Filters” to Help Avoid Clutter
In this day and age, it is virtually impossible for your email program to cut out all the spam, so it becomes a challenge to only get the emails you want. If there are emails you don’t want to miss, there are easy ways to break these emails away from the clutter.
If you are a Mac user, the native Mail program has recently been upgraded with a VIP section. In order to utilize this great tool, simply add the mail accounts which send your paid survey emails to your VIP list. These emails will get starred and be easy to find.
If you use Gmail, you can set up simple “filters” to have email from selected senders get sorted out. All you need to do is find the sender’s email address and have any mail coming from these addresses placed into a separate folder that you easily check a few times a day for new survey invites.
4. Forward the “Best” Stuff Your Primary Email
Be sure to set up mail forwards to your primary email address. If you know there are certain paid survey sites that only email you when a high-paying study is available, make sure these notifications get sent right to your main email.
It could be something as simple as a word in a subject line or mail from a certain sender that you know always means big bucks. This way, you won’t have to bother sorting through other clutter, you will only get the email that matters. Think of this as a sort of “super filter”
5. Use Gmail For Paid Surveys
Please say you’re not still using AOL, Hotmail, or Yahoo! Get with the times and try Gmail. Here’s why:
- Fast and free, with access from pretty much any device
- Super easy to stay logged in and switch among accounts
- Killer spam filtering to keep your inbox clean
- Great rules & forwarding so you don’t miss important emails
Sorry to be so gushing, but Gmail really is fantastic.
Closing Thoughts
Since most paid survey sites email you as soon as new surveys open up, it’s important to stay on top of things. Follow these suggestions for keeping your inboxes organized and you’ll be on your way to maximizing your paid survey income.
Written By
Robert Fleming
Robert Fleming
Robert Fleming is a 20-year veteran of the market research industry and now serves as co-CEO of Paid Survey Update which he co-founded in 2015. He resides in Myrtle Beach.