Lightspeed Consumer Panel Tips by Laura

Lightspeed (now MySurvey) was my first paying panel when I started in the world of online surveys, and I have steadily made money with them ever since.  Here are a few tips and suggestions to make your experience with Lightspeed enjoyable.

• Tip #1 – Be patient…because yes, sometimes you will screen out 10+ minutes into a survey.

One of the most common complaints many have about this panel is screening out after you’re 1/3rd or more into a survey.  This can be really frustrating, but I find the rate of this happening is still much lower than my rate for completions, so I’m still taking ‘the risk’ knowing I may occasionally waste a few minutes each month and disqualify.

• Tip #2 – Have a good internet connection and enough time.

Lightspeed is one of the survey panels that usually won’t restart surveys if you loose your connection or time-out on a page.  Since my home wireless network can be a little unreliable, I try to wait until I’m at work or elsewhere to attempt most surveys with them.  I also make sure I can allot the full time to a survey in one sitting – other panels I can usually get up and walk away from if I need to, but I’ve had several instances of timing-out with this one if I sit on one page too long.

• Tip #3 – Speaking of technical difficulties…

The “Contact Lauren” link on the survey pages is completely bogus –  I don’t think anyone has had any luck using that email for problems.  However, Lee has pointed out that dropping a line to costumer service at Perks.com (the company that manages Lightspeed’s payments) has been more productive for other users, so that’s something to consider if you do run into any technical issues.

• Tip #4 – Check the website.

I’ve noticed recently that Lightspeed is not always emailing me about all available surveys.  I’ll log in to take one and find two or three waiting!  So it might be worth your while to add Lightspeed to the same bookmark folder that you keep daily panels like Surveyhead and MyView in, and check it once a day for bonus chances to earn some cash.

• Tip #5 – And the usual:  fill out your screeners!

Lightspeed is a bit different from other panels in that they frequently rotates in new screeners and polls to their site, rather than just hosting a standard set of profiles.  Be sure to go in and fill out any new questionnaires that mention future “matching“ to surveys.  I have noticed a direct correlation between how often I answer the “sweepstakes-only” prescreeners and how many more surveys I receive, so it’s definitely not a waste of time.