How to write a paid research invitation and follow-up

Tell the person who is asking, which part of their work you want to understand, and what the conversation involves. Make the time and payment clear. A specific request is easier to consider than “we would love your feedback.”

If you intend to demonstrate or sell a product, explain that purpose. AAPOR's research code rejects disguising sales activity as research.

A short message you can adapt

Here is an illustrative message for research on equipment rentals. In Instant Expert, choose a 15-minute call and adapt this text in Message to recipients:

I'm [name] at [company]. We're researching how rental businesses get returned equipment ready for the next customer. I'd like to speak with someone who personally checks returns or arranges repairs. Would you consider a paid 15-minute call about a recent return that needed work? We won't ask for customer names or confidential records.

Replace the brackets and change the topic to match your study. Keep only promises you can honor. The message field has a 500-character limit, so check the length after editing.

One message goes to the selected recipients. Describe the experience you are seeking in terms that fit that group; do not invent a personal connection or claim you have verified what each person does.

Ask about how the work happens, rather than why their current tools are bad. Payment is for their time, including an answer that your proposed product would not help.

Check the recipient's version before sending

Use Preview email beside the message box and select a recipient. Read the preview, including the call duration, payment and next step. Repeat for recipients with different prices.

The payment shown to the recipient differs from your buyer total, which includes the platform fee. Avoid copying your total into the message as their payment. You do not need to repeat the amount in your message. Prepare an Instant Expert request.

If you are sending an invitation through your own email instead, add a clear subject, the amount and currency the participant will receive, the payment method and timing, and a way to respond. A subject such as “Paid 15-minute research call about equipment returns” states the offer directly.

Follow up with a useful clarification

Instant Expert sends automatic reminders. It does not provide a buyer editor for those reminders or a button to resend them on demand. Use the unanswered-request guide to check delivery and available actions.

For an invitation you manage through an existing direct email conversation, a follow-up can explain something the first message left unclear. For example:

Hi [name], a clarification on the equipment-return research: we're interested in the person who dealt with the returned item, rather than only approving the repair bill. There is no preparation. Would that fit your work? No problem if it isn't relevant.

Use that wording only if those details are true. If someone has asked a question, answer it instead of sending the reminder. Asking about payment or the topic is not agreement to participate.

If they ask you to contact them on a particular date, respect it. If they decline or ask for no more contact, stop. An unanswered follow-up does not require a final “closing the loop” email or another attempt through a different channel.

Explain the session before it happens

Make clear how you will use the answers and whether anyone will observe or record the session. GOV.UK's consent guidance explains what participants need to know before taking part.

Describe the desired experience in the invitation. If it needs clarification, use an existing direct contact conversation or ask at the opening of the paid call.