Reader Survey

[mgv8]

Is this not just an easy way to get data on people to sell to other companies?
If so it seems a pity such a good site would allow this!

[Beano500]

There are always downsides with these things, I am sure. And, i class myself as at least as cynical as the next man.

But the point is that Ted can present information to advertisers and prospective advertisers and continue to make this place more wonderful for all our benefit. For that reason it is worth the support.....IMHO!

[alunr]

When you are sellig advertising on websites you need to be able to tell the advertiser what your demographic is. Pistonheads would attract a different type of advertising than Max Power but essentially they are both about cars. Product Differentiation is probably a good way to look at it - Plus its not compulsory.

[Agent006]

So if everyone puts down Kayaking and lemon growing as hobbies, we'll get adverts for spray decks, and fertiliser. Result

[PetrolTed]

Data about individuals is not used. I run the survey because it gives me some useful demographics about the readership of the site.

e.g. Male/Female breakdown, average earnings of readership, intent to buy a car in the next 12 months, type of work that most readers do.

This allows me to approach advertisers with some evidence to back up my claims that the readership is primarily male, aged 25-45, professional types with higher than average earnings etc.

It's been used in the past to good effect to source the advertisers that you see on the site now. There's nothing underhand about it.