10 Effective Methods to Send Out Surveys and Gather Valuable Feedback

Introduction

Gathering feedback from customers and clients is crucial for any business wanting to improve their products, services, or overall customer experience. It provides valuable insights and helps businesses make informed decisions. One popular and effective method of gathering feedback is through the use of surveys. Surveys not only allow businesses to gather quantitative and qualitative data but also give customers an opportunity to express their opinions and preferences. In this blog post, we will explore various methods to send out surveys and maximize their effectiveness.

Online Survey Platforms

Online survey platforms provide businesses with easy-to-use tools for creating, distributing, and analyzing surveys. These platforms offer a range of features and benefits to suit different survey needs. Some popular online survey platforms include SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, and Typeform.

SurveyMonkey: SurveyMonkey is one of the most widely-used online survey platforms. It offers a user-friendly interface, a variety of question types, customizable templates, and powerful data analysis capabilities. With SurveyMonkey, you can easily create professional-looking surveys and gather valuable insights.

Google Forms: Google Forms is a free survey platform offered by Google. It is a simple yet powerful tool that allows users to create surveys, collect responses, and analyze data using Google Sheets. Google Forms is a great option for businesses looking for an accessible and cost-effective survey solution.

Typeform: Typeform is known for its visually appealing and interactive survey designs. It provides a seamless user experience and allows businesses to create engaging surveys using features such as conditional logic and multimedia integrations. Typeform is a popular choice for businesses looking to create surveys that stand out.

Email Surveys

Email surveys are a convenient and cost-effective way to reach a large audience and gather feedback. Here are some steps to create and send effective email surveys:

Step 1: Define your objectives

Before creating an email survey, clearly define your objectives. Determine the specific information you want to gather and the goals you want to achieve through the survey.

Step 2: Choose a reliable email marketing tool

Select an email marketing tool that allows you to create and send surveys. Some popular options include MailChimp, Constant Contact, and SendinBlue. These tools offer survey-specific features and templates to help you get started.

Step 3: Design your survey

Create a visually appealing survey design that aligns with your brand. Use clear and concise language, and ensure that the survey is easy to navigate.

Step 4: Personalize your emails

Personalization is key to increasing response rates. Address your recipients by their name and customize the email content to make it relevant to the individual.

Step 5: Test your survey before sending

Before sending out your email survey, test it to ensure that everything is working as intended. Check for any formatting or technical issues and make necessary adjustments.

Step 6: Follow up

A follow-up email to non-responders can help improve your response rates. Politely remind them to complete the survey and highlight the importance of their feedback.

To maximize your response rates, consider implementing the following best practices:

• Keep the survey short and focused. Long surveys can be overwhelming and lead to drop-off.
• Offer incentives such as discounts, gift cards, or the chance to win prizes to encourage participation.
• Send reminders to those who haven’t responded after a certain period of time.
• Show appreciation by sending a thank-you email to participants, highlighting how their feedback will be used.

Social Media Surveys

Social media platforms provide an excellent opportunity to reach a wide audience and gather feedback through surveys. Here are some tips for creating engaging social media surveys:

Tip 1: Choose the right platform

Select social media platforms that align with your target audience. For example, if you are targeting a younger demographic, platforms like Instagram or TikTok might be more effective.

Tip 2: Use engaging visuals

Visual content tends to attract more attention on social media. Incorporate eye-catching images or videos into your survey to make it more appealing.

Tip 3: Keep it short and simple

Social media users have limited attention spans, so keep your surveys short and easy to understand. Use multiple-choice or simple rating scale questions to facilitate quick responses.

Tip 4: Encourage sharing

Add a share button or ask participants to tag their friends to increase the reach of your survey. Incentivize sharing by offering an additional entry into a prize draw for every share.

Tip 5: Monitor and analyze the feedback

Regularly monitor the responses and comments on your social media surveys. Engage with participants by responding to their feedback and addressing any concerns or questions.

Analyzing and interpreting survey data from social media can provide valuable insights into your target audience’s preferences and opinions.

Website Pop-up Surveys

Website pop-up surveys are an effective way to gather feedback from your website visitors. Here are some considerations for creating effective pop-up surveys:

Design and Placement Considerations

Design: Make sure that the design of your pop-up survey is visually appealing and consistent with your brand. Use colors and fonts that are easy on the eyes and ensure that the survey is mobile-friendly.

Timing and Placement: Determine the optimal timing and placement of your pop-up survey. Avoid interrupting the user experience and consider triggering the pop-up based on user behavior, such as time spent on a page or attempted exit.

Targeted Audience: Use targeting rules to display pop-up surveys to specific audience segments. For example, you can target new visitors, returning visitors, or visitors who have completed a specific action on your website.

Incentives: Offer incentives to encourage visitors to complete the survey. This could include discounts, freebies, or exclusive content.

In-person Surveys

In-person surveys provide a unique opportunity to interact directly with your target audience and gather valuable feedback. Here are some techniques for engaging participants and collecting meaningful feedback:

Technique 1: Select the right location

Choose a location that is convenient for your target audience. This could be a trade show, a conference, or a public gathering place.

Technique 2: Train your surveyors

Ensure that your surveyors are well-trained and equipped with the necessary tools to conduct surveys effectively. Train them on how to approach participants, ask relevant questions, and document responses accurately.

Technique 3: Use incentives

Incentives can motivate participants to take part in your survey. Offer small rewards such as promotional items, discounts, or vouchers.

Technique 4: Make it interactive

Engage participants by using interactive survey methods. This could include incorporating visual aids, demonstrations, or utilizing technology such as tablets or touchscreen devices.

Technique 5: Thank participants and provide follow-up

Show appreciation to participants for their time and feedback. Provide them with a summary of the survey findings or inform them about any actions taken based on their feedback. This can help establish a positive relationship and encourage future participation.

Phone Surveys

While phone surveys may require more effort compared to other methods, they can provide valuable insights and a personal touch. Here are some tips for creating effective phone surveys:

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages:

• Allows for real-time interaction with participants, providing a more personal touch and the ability to ask follow-up questions.
• Can reach a broader demographic, including those without internet access or those who prefer verbal communication.
• Allows for probing into specific responses to gather more detailed information.

Disadvantages:

• Can be more time-consuming and labor-intensive compared to other survey methods.
• May encounter difficulties in reaching participants or dealing with language barriers.
• Requires skilled interviewers who can maintain a professional and unbiased approach.

Tips for Creating Effective Phone Surveys

• Keep the survey concise and focused on the main objectives to avoid participant fatigue.
• Create a script or guideline for interviewers to ensure consistency and standardization of the survey.
• Be polite and professional when contacting participants and obtain their consent for participation.
• Train interviewers to handle objections or difficult participants effectively and maintain a neutral tone.
• Consider offering small incentives to increase response rates and show appreciation for participants’ time.

Mail Surveys

Traditional mail surveys can still be effective for certain target audiences that may not have access to the internet or prefer to provide feedback via traditional methods. Here are some considerations for conducting mail surveys:

Process and Considerations

Process:

1. Design and print your survey materials, including the questionnaire, a cover letter explaining the purpose of the survey, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for participants to return their responses.
2. Acquire a mailing list of individuals or households that fit your target audience criteria. Consider purchasing a targeted mailing list or using your existing customer database.
3. Send out your survey materials, ensuring that they are properly addressed and postmarked.
4. Track the responses as they come in and use a systematic method to process and analyze the data.
5. Follow up with a reminder mailer to non-responders to boost response rates.

Considerations:

• Ensure that your mailing list is up-to-date and accurate to avoid wasted resources.
• Design your survey materials to be visually appealing and easy to understand. Use clear instructions and consider offering multiple response options.
• Include a deadline for responses to encourage timely participation.
• Consider offering incentives or a prize draw to increase response rates.
• Be prepared to handle a range of response formats, such as handwritten answers or missing information in participants’ responses.

SMS Surveys

SMS surveys leverage the widespread use of mobile phones to gather feedback from a fast-paced and mobile audience. Here are some tips for creating concise and effective SMS surveys:

Benefits of Using SMS Surveys

Convenience: SMS surveys reach participants directly on their mobile devices, making it convenient for them to respond anywhere and at any time.

High Open Rates: SMS messages have high open rates, ensuring a greater chance of your survey being seen and responded to.

Brevity: Because of character limitations, SMS surveys require you to keep your questions short and concise. This can lead to higher response rates and more focused feedback.

Tips for Creating SMS Surveys

• Keep your message clear and to the point. Use simple language and avoid complex or technical terms.
• Simplify response options by using numerical ratings or keywords. For example, ask participants to rate their experience on a scale of 1 to 5.
• Consider offering an incentive or reward to participants who complete the survey via SMS.
• Test your SMS survey before sending it out to ensure that it displays correctly on different mobile devices and platforms.
• Include a contact option for participants who may have additional feedback or require assistance.

Mobile App Surveys

With the increasing use of mobile apps, businesses can utilize them to distribute surveys and gather feedback from their app users. Here are some considerations for designing effective mobile app surveys:

Utilizing Mobile Apps for Survey Distribution

Benefits:

• Access to a captive audience: App users have already demonstrated interest in your brand, making them more likely to provide feedback.
• Seamless integration: Mobile app surveys can be integrated directly into the app, providing a smooth user experience and eliminating the need to redirect users to external platforms.
• Automation and personalization: Mobile app surveys can take advantage of app user data to personalize survey questions, making them more relevant to individual users.

Design and Functionality Considerations

Design:

• Ensure that your survey is visually appealing and consistent with your app’s design language.
• Adopt a mobile-friendly layout that optimizes the user experience on smaller screens.
• Use touch-friendly elements such as large buttons or swipe gestures to facilitate survey navigation.

Functionality:

• Implement a progress indicator to give users an idea of how much of the survey is remaining.
• Include skip logic or branching logic to tailor the survey flow based on user responses.
• Save and resume functionality can help users who may need to pause and complete the survey at a later time.
• Test the survey thoroughly on different mobile devices and platforms to ensure compatibility and usability.

Feedback Kiosks

Feedback kiosks offer a physical touchpoint for customers to provide their feedback. Here are some considerations for installing feedback kiosks in physical locations:

Installing Feedback Kiosks

Selecting the Right Location:

• Identify high-traffic areas within your physical locations, such as entrances, waiting areas, or checkout counters.
• Consider installing feedback kiosks near relevant products or services for targeted feedback.
• Ensure that the installation of kiosks does not disrupt the flow of customers or hinder their experience.

Design and User Experience Considerations:

• Create an intuitive and user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate and understand.
• Make the survey questions concise and visually appealing to encourage participation.
• Provide instant feedback or a confirmation message after each response to assure participants that their feedback has been received.
• Regularly maintain and update the kiosks to ensure they are functioning properly and aesthetically pleasing.

Conclusion

Surveys are a vital tool for gathering feedback and improving various aspects of your business. By utilizing a combination of survey methods, such as email surveys, social media surveys, website pop-up surveys, in-person surveys, phone surveys, mail surveys, SMS surveys, mobile app surveys, and feedback kiosks, you can gather feedback from a diverse range of audiences and collect valuable insights. However, it’s crucial to select the method that best suits your target audience and aligns with your goals. So, get started today and send out surveys to understand your customers better and enhance their experience.