Day 250 1:55PM

The Focus Group. If properly used it can be an excellent resource for some quick cash and maybe a little amusement. By following some simple advice you can soon find yourself in a room full of opinionated people that will annoy you for two hours for $150 in cash.

"But Dave," you may ask, "As a Marketing Professional and upstanding member of the business community don't you think it's unethical to teach people to trick Focus Groups for a quick buck?"

To this I reply: "Are you going to finish the rest of that sandwich?"

Do take liberties when filling out the form to see if you qualify for a focus group. Click off all the boxes even if they are asking if you've had beer, wine, liquor, mixed drinks, Zima, Everclear, or bathtub gin in the past week. This may lead to your presence at some strange focus groups - I've made a collage at a pro Free Trade coffee group (I didn't know what Free Trade was before), been forced to watch the pilot of Dirty, Sexy Money (because I said I watched Desperate Housewives, which I didn't, I swear. Stop judging me!), and chugged Heinekens with unemployed meatheads (because I checked off all the boxes on the above question) - but it'll increase your chances of getting in.
Do not answer in the affirmative to any of the questions on the page that asks you whether you work in marketing or advertising, or work for whatever industry the group is for. Furthermore, do not answer that you are Unemployed. Honesty and pride aren't going to work for you here, like a first date.
Do show up 30 minutes early so you can take advantage of the snacks and beverages available for participants.
Do not fill your backpack with the Sun Chips, Arrowhead Water, and Splenda. Apparently this is frowned upon.
Do have an opinion about what is being discussed. If you don't have anything to say it is unlikely you'll be asked back.Be intelligent and concise.
Do not have a strong opposing opinion. Contrary to what you believe, you are probably not shaping the future of the product you are reviewing; most likely you are only validating what they have created. The market research folks want to know they did good, so let them know it. Hence Dirty, Sexy Money made it to air.
Do fill out the forms on sites such as Alpha Buzz, Great Opinions, and Recruit & Field in order to get invited to groups.
Do not attend focus groups at places like Bob's Focus Groups and Aluminum Siding, Bruce's Apartment on 18th and 9th Buzzer #3A, and The Domination Basement.

If you have other suggestions please feel free to post them in the comments section. Thanks and good luck!