Are you struggling to get enough survey responses? You’re not alone. Getting enough survey responses is one of the top three most challenging aspects of survey research.
In this article, we’ll look at the 10 best practices for increasing response rates in surveys. Use these tips to get more of the feedback you need from your target audience.
1. Ask one question at a time
It’s tempting to ask lots of questions at the same time. But, if you do, you’ll likely see a drop in your response rates.
Why?
It’s simple.
People are busy and don’t have the time or inclination to answer 20 questions.
So, keep your survey short.
2. Ask questions with measurable answers
When writing your survey questions, be sure to include questions with measurable answers (i.e., multiple choice, rating scale, etc.).
These types of questions can be answered quickly and easily, and they don’t require a lot of thought. This is a great way to keep your response rates high.
3. Keep your surveys short
The longer your survey is, the less likely people are to take it.
The ideal length for a survey is about 3-5 minutes. That’s long enough to get some valuable information, but short enough to keep people’s attention.
If you have a lot of questions you want to ask, consider breaking your survey up into multiple shorter surveys. You can always ask people to take more than one survey at the end of the first one.
4. Use the right question type
The question type you choose can have a big impact on the quality of the responses you receive.
For example, if you ask an open-ended question, like “What are your thoughts on this product?” you may get a lot of responses, but they may not be very detailed or useful. On the other hand, if you ask a multiple choice question, you may get more concise responses, but you may miss out on important details.
The best approach is to use a mix of question types. This will help you get a variety of responses and make it easier for people to answer your questions.
5. Make your surveys look good
There’s a reason why design is so important in marketing. Aesthetically pleasing content is more engaging, and your surveys are no exception.
Your survey should be easy to read and navigate. Use a mix of multiple-choice questions, rating scales, and open-ended questions to keep things interesting.
You can also add images, videos, and other multimedia content to your surveys to make them more visually appealing. Just be sure that any additional content you include is relevant to your questions and doesn’t distract from the main purpose of your survey.
With SurveyMonkey, you can choose from a variety of survey templates and customize the design to match your brand. We also offer a library of over 1 million stock images and videos that you can use in your surveys.
6. Personalize your surveys
Personalization is another great way to show your customers that you value their time and feedback.
Personalization can mean a few different things. You can use your customer’s name in the survey, or you can use data from your CRM to ask questions that are relevant to them.
For example, if you’re a SaaS company and you know that a customer is using your product for project management, you can ask them questions about that specific use case. If you’re a retailer, you can ask customers about their favorite products or categories.
The more personalized your surveys are, the more likely you are to get a high response rate.
7. Send reminders
Sometimes people just need a little nudge to complete a survey.
Send a reminder email to those who haven’t completed your survey. You can also send a thank you email to those who have completed it.
Just make sure you don’t go overboard with the reminders and thank you emails.
8. Share results
Your respondents are taking time out of their day to help you, so it’s only fair that you share the results with them.
Not only does this show them that you value their input, but it also helps to build trust and rapport.
You can share the results in a number of ways, including:
• Sending a follow-up email with a summary of the results
• Publishing a report on your website
• Sharing the results on social media
• Hosting a webinar or live Q&A
9. Ask for feedback
Sometimes, the most effective way to get someone to do something is to ask. If you want your respondents to take the survey, then ask them to.
If you’re sending out a survey to your email list, then add a personal note at the top of the email. If you’re sending the survey to a customer after they’ve made a purchase, then ask them to take the survey in your thank you message.
The more specific you can be when you ask for feedback, the better. Let your audience know that you value their time and that you want to make sure that you’re providing them with the best experience possible.
10. Test your surveys
Even if you follow every best practice in the book, there’s no guarantee your surveys will get a good response rate. That’s why it’s important to test your surveys before you send them out.
You can do this by sending your survey to a small group of people and asking for their feedback. This will help you identify any issues with the survey and make sure it’s easy to understand and complete.
Testing your surveys is also a great way to get a sense of how long it will take people to complete the survey. This will help you set expectations with your audience and increase the likelihood that they’ll take the time to respond.
Conclusion
Surveys are a great way to collect data and feedback from your audience. In order to get the most information possible, it’s important to boost your response rate. By following the best practices above, you can ensure that your survey will be taken by many and will be taken seriously.
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