Well y'all just another day in paradise. I did a $300 all-day focus group months ago and just the other day I did a 2-hr one for $150.
What's amazing? To me this is fun. You get to help shape the future of market research. Help companies know what products to sell.
So join as many free programs as you want. That way you can pick the opportunities that you like the best & that have the highest reward. Some in the form of physical checks, or gift cards to places like Amazon & Walmart, payments to your Paypal & so on. Online surveys, product testing, focus groups, paid-to-read emails, paid-to-search, and more. And getting people to join under you is helpful but not mandatory. Have fun. Help each other. Just do it.