Create online surveys with confidence

Data can (and certainly should) have a huge impact on the decision-making process of every organization. Better data can lead to better decisions. That’s why it’s critical to create a survey that asks the right questions, engages participants, and encourages higher response rates. Make sure your next survey delivers authentic, actionable results by keeping these key points in mind:

• Identify your purpose: From design to distribution, your survey decisions should be based on your goals. Without a clear purpose in mind, your question will be vague, and the answers even more so. Understand your core aim and use this focus to guide decisions about what type of questions to include, who to target, and how to best connect with them.

• Create awareness: No matter how amazing your survey creator is, getting the word out is still a crucial first step. If participants never hear about your survey, they won’t take the time to read or respond to anything you share. Build on your existing communication strategies and let your target audience know why they should care about this survey. From social media to real world interactions, spread the news! Plus, be sure to highlight any additional incentives for participation, such as coupons or promotions.

• Plan for perfect timing: Timing is everything. What else is going on in the world that might impact your survey? Think about the big picture first. Avoid holidays and other common vacation breaks, of course, but don’t forget to consider other internal scheduling priorities, as well, such as budget cycles, grading deadlines, and performance evaluation cycles. Also, pay attention to the little details, like what day and time will best suit your participants. Create surveys that grab their attention, and send follow-up reminders to those who don’t respond. And while you’re at it, track participation trends to find out what distribution strategy will work best next time.

• Keep it short: Nobody has extra time to spend answering irrelevant questions. Cut your survey down to the need-to-know minimum. Longer surveys lead to survey fatigue and hike up the abandonment rate, providing you with less actionable data. Use advanced options like survey skip logic, data pre-population, and more survey maker online features to enhance engagement, keep participants involved, and improve your response volume and quality.

• Create quality content: It’s not just what you say, but how you say it that makes the difference between an invitation that captures someone’s attention and one that’s ignored as junk email. Use captivating imagery, simple and succinct language, and be sure to proofread everything! Also, while enthusiasm is great, too much of it can be distracting. For surveys, avoid using language that may be confusing or easily misinterpreted. For email invitations, consider the subject line and the content itself, and follow email writing best practices to increase participation. Make each invitation personal, customized, and engaging.