Data is not only a growing currency, but also a staple needed for today’s businesses. With growing privacy concerns, companies are very interested in enticing you to share your data. What do they want? Everything! Marketers today want to know where you spend your money, how often and how much. They want business names, addresses, cities, and they want to know all about the peaks and valleys of your spending. Other data companies are interested in your viewing habits on social media sites, as well as “how, what and where” you view video and TV. Dozens of companies are offering money, points for merchandise or gift cards to keep the data flowing.

Paying people to take surveys and answer questions has been a source of data for Nielsen for many years. Nielsen continues to offer this with its app as the company looks to gain – and share – insights into the websites you visit and the videos you view. Signing up for their mobile panel could earn you up to $50 per year just for using your phone like you normally do. Google also offers something similar with their Google Opinion Rewards program. Both services vet their applicants with a qualifying survey, but after the initial setup the involvement from users is pretty passive.

Some services offer rewards for taking surveys, trying new products, sharing receipts or leaving reviews. Some of the more popular companies are: ShopTracker, Swagbucks and InboxDollars®.

Sharing your data is a personal decision, and you should evaluate the pros and cons of each before signing up. Most all services tout privacy and inclusion of data that is encrypted and anonymous, but don’t sign up blindly. Read reviews, read the fine print and then if it sounds like something you can live with – sign up and earn yourself some rewards.

Nielsen Mobile Panel
Google Opinion Rewards
ShopTracker
Swagbucks
InboxDollars