Large, well-established businesses are always looking to get a leg up on the competition. In our regulated market economy, competition is a phenomenon that should be encouraged. After all, it often leads to lower prices that benefit the consumer. From the standpoint of a large corporation, generating profit is the end-all concern. To do this, businesses recognize that they must learn to think like a customer.

Market research makes up a serious part of any conglomerate’s budget, and average Joes are often hired temporarily to participate in marketing studies, taste tests and focus groups. Companies have even taken these techniques to the Internet, where people get paid to take surveys online. The financial benefits to you aren’t huge by any stretch, but a consumer’s tastes and opinions are highly valuable to corporations.