Create online surveys with confidence

Data can have a huge impact on the decision-making process in 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 points in mind:

• Identify your purpose : From design to distribution, your 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 questions to include, who to reach out to, and how to connect.

• Create awareness : No matter how amazing your survey creator is, getting the word out is 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 life, spread the news! Plus, be sure to highlight any additional incentives for participation, like coupons or promotions.

• Plan for perfect timing : Timing is everything. What else is going on that might impact your survey? Consider the big picture first. Avoid holidays and other common vacation breaks, of course, but don’t forget to tune into other internal scheduling priorities as well like 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 reminders to those who don’t respond. Plus, track participation trends to find out what will work best next time.

• Keep it short : Nobody has extra time to spend answering irrelevant questions. Cut down your survey to the need-to-know minimum. Longer surveys lead to survey fatigue and hike up the abandonment rate, giving you less actionable data. Use advanced options like survey skip logic, data pre-population, and more 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 attention and one that’s ignored as junk email. Use captivating imagery, simple language, and be sure to proofread! 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 best practices to increase participation. Make each invitation personal, customized, and engaging.