As Mystery Shopping becomes more popular as a tool employed by companies to assess the quality of their product and service offering, an increasing number of Mystery Shopping ads are now available both online and in newspapers.

Mystery Shopping is a great way to earn some extra cash, but there are some things that you should know before you decide to get into it.

Firstly, you need to have spare time and/or a flexible schedule if you want to earn an income from mystery or secret shopping. That is why a large number of mystery shoppers tend to be stay-at-home mums or students who have the time to perform the shops. This also means that you stand a good chance of being assigned shops that are 'emergencies' or 'urgent', especially when you first start out as a mystery shopper.

Seriously evaluate your skills when deciding to be a mystery shopper. Internet access is a must, as is access to a fax machine or digital scanner to send the receipts of your shops to the company you're working for. In addition, you will be required to submit clearly written reports of your observations. These observations will have to be made without taking notes while conducting your shop. A key to being a good mystery shopper is the ability to blend in and look like the average customer. You need to be careful not to blow your cover.

Read all the postings and advertisements well. Nearly all of the shops you perform will require you to pay out of your own pocket and wait to be reimbursed for the expenses. If you're required to purchase a big item and don't have the cash to do it, don't respond. There's nothing that will hurt your chances of getting an assignment more than by being seen as unreliable. Reimbursements are usually paid out the following month and can take up to 45 days to reach you.

Once you do decide to become a mystery shopper, read all the 'help' that the company offers before you respond to an assignment. The better companies actually require online training that is usually a simulation of the types of assignments that you have to complete before you're allowed to go on a shop.

Research the companies that you are interested in shopping for, and this information should be readily available on the Internet for free. One of the things that you will clearly need to understand is how to fill out the surveys or questionnaires properly. This is usually completed online in addition to the scanning of receipts and the input of notes. Be aware that if you don't fill out the form correctly, your entire report can be rejected and you won't get paid or reimbursed for the shop you did.

When you first begin your mystery shopping, don't be sucked in by the hype. You have to be realistic about the amount of money you might potentially earn, especially if you live in a sparsely populated area. Depending on where you live and the company you work though, you might only get one or two assignments a month. So, persevere and stick with it and work your way up to performing several shops a day - the longer you work with a company and prove yourself to be reliable and articulate, the more money you will earn.

Once you get comfortable with mystery or secret shopping, it is a fun way of earning some extra cash, so start your Mystery Shopping career now.