Top 5 tips on how to be a better mystery shopper

When it comes to mystery shopping we all want to get better at it. The more time you can save by becoming efficient then the more money you can earn. As far as mystery shopping companies are concerned they want you to get better too. More accurate reporting means that they don't have to get back in touch with you to clarify anything and they can get your report back to their clients as quickly as possible. Here are the top 5 ways that you can become a better mystery shopper.

5 - Use a stopwatch or smartphone to make sure your timings are accurate

The timings that you record are used to measure service times so they need to be totally accurate. In some mystery shops such as fast food outlets the timings are absolutely crucial. Make sure that you report these accurately by using s stopwatch of the stopwatch facility on your smartphone. If you don't include accurate timings then your report may be rejected and you may not get paid. Not a great thing for a mystery shopper!

4 - Think like a mystery shopper everywhere you go

I find that practice makes perfect. I think l like a mystery shopper whenever I'm out shopping or having something to eat. I look for name badges, record service times and think about the service I am being given. This all helps when it comes to the real mystery shops. Get into that frame of mind and it will help you to get better at mystery shopping!

3 - Ask the mystery shop company of there is anything you are not sure about

This is a simple rule that makes a big difference. If you read through all the mystery shop job notes and there is something you are still not sure about then ask. All mystery shopping companies have contact numbers or email addresses so you can contact them to clarify what you have to do. Never go in to a mystery shop unless you are certain you know what is required of you.

2 - Read your assignments notes thoroughly before you go

This may sound obvious but it can trip you up, especially if you are shopping a location or company that you have been to before. The notes and the questionnaire give you all the details you need when it comes to the mystery shop you have been assigned. Read the notes thoroughly at home and once again just before you go in to the location - making sure you are not seen.

It is by knowing what is expected of you when it comes to a mystery shop that you can deliver what is required.

1 - Write your reports in Word and spellcheck them before uploading and submitting

Your spelling and grammar need to be perfect when you send through your reports. The mystery shop company and the end client need to be able to read and understand what you have written.

We're not all great at these things all the time so writing in Word and using the spelling and grammar check is the top tip when it comes to getting better at being a mystery shopper.

If you are thinking of becoming a mystery shopper then my Amazon Kindle book is a great place to start. If gives a step by step guide on how to become a mystery shopper and how to get the most out of it.

Shopping is not the only mystery in my life

I am a serial mystery shopper to the point where I have written a book about it (more of that later) but shopping is not the only mystery in my life.

For a while now I have been writing and publishing non-fiction books for myself as well as ghostwriting both fiction and non-fiction books for other people. I have also extended this passion to writing novels. They are set in the North East of England and there is a growing series based on the story of a killer and the detective that is trying to catch that killer.

As it is my first full-length novel for myself I am looking for a bit of support. I have set up a Kickstarter campaign to rises a small amount of money to help me get it published. It will appear as an Amazon Kindle book initially but my hope is to get it published in print and turn it into a series.

In return for investment I am offering some great and unique things-

Name a character and give that character some physical or emotional characteristics

Get exclusive monthly updates on the book, the progress that is being made and what is happening to your character

Exclusive on-location photographs from Durham, England as I sit and write the book

This is a great chance to get your name in print as a character in a book.

If you are a mystery shopper or you are interested in becoming one then you can find my book on the Amazon Kindle store. It gives you great ideas on how to become a mystery shopper and make money from shopping.

The top 4 reasons to get out and mystery shop

Mystery shopping is fun. It gives you lots of things that you can benefit from. Here's the top 4 reasons to go out and mystery shop-

4 - Something to do

For some people mystery shopping is a great way of getting out of the house. It gives you the chance to travel around and visit new places. Mystery shopping got me around the area when I moved home. I credit it with me knowing so much about where I live. It took me to new towns, I found new attractions and learned about new places to eat and drink. It made a big difference to my life.

3 - The chance to meet people 

This links in to the previous thing. The mystery shopping you do will put you in contact with lots of new people. There are many people that I stand and chat to in certain shops now and I only know them from mystery shopping them several times. It's a great way to relieve loneliness and get you out and about talking to people.

2 - Free stuff

When you mystery shop there is usually a purchase that you have to make. In the vast majority of cases you get to keep whatever it is you have bought. When you mystery shop a restaurant or pub then this is a great free meal or drink! When you mystery shop in a retail outlet then you get to buy something that you might like or that would make a great gift. Clothing is a particular favourite!

1 - Money

For many people this is the reason they go out and mystery shop. On top of getting the cash to pay for whatever you buy you will also be paid a fee. Although it has to cover expenses such as fuel and parking the fees can add up - especially if you carry out a few mystery shops in the same location on the same day.

Unless you are incredibly dedicated and live somewhere that there are loads of mystery shop opportunities then you probably can't quit your day job but there is plenty of money to be earned.

If you are interested in mystery shopping then my Amazon Kindle book is a great place to find out all you need to know. It takes you through the process of becoming a mystery shopper step by step.

Beware of mystery shopping scams - they are out there

The BBC website reports that a woman who was arrested for theft claims she was "working undercover" for a company that called itself Mystery Shopping UK.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/36576170/dont-get-tricked-into-being-a-personal-shoplifter-this-summer

This is an incredible story and just goes to show that there are unscrupulous companies out there that want to exploit people. All of the mystery shop companies that I feature in my blog and my book are legitimate companies that I have been able to check out.

If you are ever in any doubt about what you have been asked to do then do some background research and find out about what the company is and if they have any online reviews. Some websites like Trustpilot are a great way to see if the company you are dealing with has been marked down by other users in the past.

If you have any questions about any of the mystery shopping companies that you use then please get in touch using the comments section here or ask me on Twitter. I'll be glad to help.

My book on mystery shopping is available on the Amazon Kindle store and can really help anyone who is looking to become a mystery shopper. It is full of the steps you will need to take to become a success in this area.

The six things you need to know when applying to be a mystery shopper

Mystery shopping is a great way to earn some extra money. It feels really satisfying to go out and spend someone else's money knowing that you are being paid a fee as well got the privilege. But mystery shopping is a serious business. It helps companies to train and monitor their teams and gives vital feedback to help the customer experience. Because of this mystery shopping companies want to know that you can fit their criteria before trey sign you up and let you ship for them. Here are the six things you need to know when applying to be a mystery shopper-

6- You need good written English

The reports that go back to the clients are used for staff training so they need to be ably to understand what it is you are saying. Most mystery shop companies have a spellcheck facility so don't worry too much about it. Just let them know that you can write a great report.

5- You must be consistent

The mystery shop company want your reports to be as fair on one visit as the next. It isn't the fault of the company you are assessing if you are having a bad day, so don't take it out in them! Consistency is really important so let the mystery shopping company know that you can do this for them.

4- You must be reliable

Mystery shops are designed to measure certain things at certain times in certain days. If you commit to doing a mystery shop then make sure you turn up and that you turn up on time. Every mystery shop company wants to know on your application that you will be a reliable shopper for them.

3- You must be accurate

Mystery shopping is all about reporting back exactly what happened. A mystery shop company wants to know when you apply that you are accurate in what you do. Inaccurate reporting means questions may need to be asked and your payment may be delayed. Nobody wants that!

2- You need to be objective

You need to put any other thoughts about the brand you are assessing to one side. The mystery shop company wants to know that you can assess the situation in front of you in an objective way. You are there to measure specific things so don't lose focus and think about times when you may have shopped there in the past.

1- You need a good attention to detail

Mystery shopping is all about seeing what is going on in a given sotuation and reporting this back. You may need to remember details such as the name and description of the person who served you or the cleanliness levels where you have shopped. This is why this is the most important thing that the mystery shop company wants to know you have in your skill set.

If you want to know more about mystery shopping then you can find my book on the Amazon Kindle store-

The top 5 UK mystery shopping companies to sign up for

My blog on mystery shopping has become more popular as time goes on and I get many questions relating to all aspects of mystery shopping. One question I am often asked is which mystery shopping companies to sign up for. I don't have a definitive answer but here are my favourite five-

5- Aba-i

Their website is a breeze to use with these guys. I love to carry out mystery shopping with aba-i because their reports are simple to follow as well. It's easy one-click answers followed by some description. This is a great place to start your mystery shopping career.

4- React Surveys

They are one of the mystery shop companies that use the Sassie system for their job search and results entering. React Surveys are really specific on what they want from you and this helps the first time mystery shopper to get up and running when they first start. Try them out.

3- Grass Roots

These are a mystery shopping company that likes to keep you informed. You get an email whenever there is a job in your area so you never miss out. Their reporting system guides you through question by question so you know exactly what is required from you. Great stuff Grass Roots!

2- Retail Active

Although they have changed their website recently (I absolutely loved the old one) Retail Active are a great mystery shopping company. They have a great range of clients and their assignments are always interesting. You get to try out your role play skills with these guys!

1- Market Force

For me these are the best mystery shopping company. You can set out your own search areas on a map and it brings up the mystery shops that match your requirements. They have a great choice of clients and the reports are easy to follow. What's more the guys on the office are brilliant too. These are a must to sign up with.

If you want to know more about mystery shopping then check out my book on the Amazon Kindle store today.