How to Get People to Take a Survey in 3 Easy Steps

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Consider creating a survey to learn more about your customers, but when you distribute it, you realize no one wants to take it. Sound familiar? Getting people to take your survey is just as important as creating a solid study in the first place. This guide will discuss the best methods for getting people to take your survey. In particular, we'll focus on how to use the best survey tools for small businesses to increase your response rates.

Survey tools like Notion Forms make creating visually appealing surveys that respond smoothly to your website’s or Notion’s theme easy. This way, when your target audience opens your survey, they won't be greeted with a boring-looking form that turns them off. They'll open a study that looks just like your website or Notion page, and they'll be more likely to complete it.

The Importance of Surveys and How They Work

Customer Insights

Surveys allow businesses to ask their customers about preferences, habits, and pain points. For example, a restaurant might use a study to determine which dishes are most popular or how customers feel about their service. These insights drive improvements that align with customer expectations.

Data-Driven Decisions

Organizations and researchers use survey data to inform their strategies. For instance, a company launching a new product might survey potential customers to understand demand and pricing sensitivity. This ensures decisions are not based on assumptions but on reliable data.

Increased Engagement

Surveys create a two-way communication channel. When people are asked for their opinions, they feel valued and are more likely to engage with the organization. This is particularly useful for building relationships with employees, customers, or community members.

Broad Applications

Surveys are not confined to businesses. Nonprofits, educational institutions, and governments use surveys to measure program effectiveness, understand public opinion, or gather feedback for improvements.

How Surveys Work

Surveys are typically structured questionnaires with questions aimed at gathering specific information. They can be conducted in various formats.

Online Surveys

It is hosted on platforms like Google Forms or SurveyMonkey for easy distribution and data collection.

Face-to-Face Surveys

Used in scenarios where personal interaction enhances trust or clarity.

Mobile Surveys

They are optimized for smartphones to ensure accessibility and convenience.

Surveys may include

Closed-Ended Questions

These have predefined answers, like multiple-choice or yes/no options, which are easy to analyze but may limit detailed responses.

Open-Ended Questions

Allow participants to elaborate on their thoughts, providing richer insights but requiring more effort to explore.

Keys to Effective Surveys

Clarity

Questions should be unambiguous and easy to understand.

Relevance

Only include questions that are essential to your objective.

Anonymity Options

Ensure anonymity when sensitive topics are addressed to encourage honesty.

Simplicity

Use straightforward language and avoid overly technical terms or jargon. Surveys bridge the gap between assumptions and real-world perspectives. Their importance lies in providing actionable insights that can guide meaningful decisions. By understanding their mechanics, organizations can harness their potential more effectively.

Types of Survey Methods

Market Research Surveys

Survey Automation

What Are Surveys

Conduct Surveys

What is a Panel Survey

Survey Data Collection

How to Increase Survey Response Rates

Challenges of Getting People to Complete Surveys

Lack of Time: Can’t I Just Text You My Answers?

Many potential respondents feel too busy to complete surveys, especially if they perceive the survey as time-consuming or irrelevant. Surveys that appear lengthy or complicated are more likely to be abandoned midway.

Perceived Irrelevance: What’s in It for Me?

Participants are less likely to engage if they don’t see how the survey relates to their lives or interests. For instance, sending a survey about advanced technical topics to a general audience may alienate respondents.

Survey Fatigue: Not Another Survey!

Overexposure to surveys can lead to fatigue, where individuals consciously or unconsciously avoid completing them. This is particularly common in industries or communities where surveys occur regularly.

Privacy Concerns: Who’s Getting My Data?

Some respondents may hesitate to share personal information, fearing that their data may be mishandled or used for purposes other than stated.

Lack of Incentive: Why Should I Care?

With a clear benefit or reward, people might see the value of taking time to complete a survey.

Technical Barriers: Why Is This Survey So Weird?

Poorly designed surveys that are not mobile-friendly, have confusing navigation or experience technical glitches can discourage participation.

Addressing the Challenges: How to Get People to Take a Survey

Design Surveys for Convenience

Keep surveys concise and straightforward. Highlight the estimated completion time (e.g., “This survey will take less than 3 minutes”).

Personalization

Tailor survey invitations to the recipient. Use their name and explain why their input is specifically valuable.

Emphasize Anonymity and Data Protection

Communicate how the collected data will be used and stored. To build trust, mention compliance with data protection laws (e.g., GDPR).

Provide Value or Incentives

Rewards, such as discounts, gift cards, or exclusive content, can significantly boost participation. However, even a heartfelt “thank you” or acknowledgment can motivate.

Ensure Accessibility

Optimize surveys for all devices and make sure they work seamlessly on mobile, desktop, and tablets. Accessibility options for people with disabilities are also vital.

Make Surveys Engaging

Use progress bars, visually appealing designs, or gamification techniques to interest respondents. Understanding these challenges is the first step toward overcoming them. By addressing the barriers strategically, you can increase your chances of getting meaningful and comprehensive responses.

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3 Easy Steps to Get People to Take Your Survey

1. Create an Irresistible Survey Invitation

The survey invitation is your first and often only chance to make a positive impression. A well-crafted invitation should be concise, engaging, and transparent about what you’re asking for and why it matters.

Personalization

Please address the recipient by name. Personal touches create a sense of connection and importance.

Example

“Hi [Name], we value your input on [specific topic]!”

Clarity

Clearly state the purpose of the survey and why the recipient’s feedback is vital. Avoid jargon or overly technical language.

Example

“We’re improving our services and would love your insights to help us serve you better.”

Highlight the Benefit

Let respondents know how their feedback will make a difference, whether influencing decisions, improving a product, or addressing concerns.

Example

“Your feedback will help shape our upcoming product features.”

Include a Call to Action

Use actionable and encouraging language. Keep it short but compelling.

Example

“Click here to share your thoughts in just 3 minutes!”

Timing and Channels

Send the invitation through platforms your audience frequents, such as email, SMS, or social media. Optimize the timing by considering when recipients will likely engage (e.g., avoiding weekends or early mornings).

2. Simplify the Survey Design

Once participants open your survey, the design and structure can make or break their experience. A cluttered, confusing, or overly lengthy survey can drive people away.

Start with an Engaging Introduction

Briefly explain the survey and how long it will take to complete.

Example

“Welcome! We value your opinion. This survey will take no more than 5 minutes.”

Use Simple and Direct Questions

Avoid leading or complex questions. Keep the language easy to understand.

Example

Replace “To what extent do you find our customer support effective?” with “How satisfied are you with our customer support?”

Limit the Number of Questions

Focus on essential information to avoid overwhelming participants. Ideally, the aim of most surveys should be 5–10 questions.

Incorporate Visual Cues

Use progress bars to show how much of the survey is left. This motivates respondents to complete it.

Mobile-Friendly Design

Ensure your survey is optimized for mobile devices, as many participants prefer to complete surveys on the go.

3. Offer Incentives and Follow-up

Incentives can provide the extra nudge needed to motivate participants, and thoughtful follow-up ensures higher completion rates.

Incentives That Work

Monetary Rewards

Gift cards, discounts, or small cash prizes often entice more respondents. For Example, “Complete this survey for a chance to win a $50 gift card!”

Non-Monetary Rewards

Offer exclusive access to content, webinars, or updates related to their interests. For Example, “As a thank you, you’ll receive early access to our new feature.”

Gamification

Turn surveys into fun activities by integrating challenges or rewards for completion.

4. Follow-Up Strategies

Reminder Emails

If someone hasn’t completed the survey, send a gentle reminder with a direct link. Example: “Hi [Name], just a friendly reminder to share your thoughts in our survey! It only takes 3 minutes.”

Thank You Notes

Once you have completed the survey, express your gratitude. This builds goodwill and encourages future participation.

Survey vs Questionnaire

How to Create an Effective Survey

Customer Satisfaction Survey Best Practices

Survey Design Best Practices

Survey Question Types

Survey Data Analysis

Employee Survey Tools

Customer Satisfaction Survey Software

Best Customer Feedback Tools

HIPAA Compliant Survey Tools

Survey Tools For Data Collection

Redcap vs Qualtrics

Survey Tools for Research

Tools and Integrations to Enhance Survey Distribution and Response Rates

To supercharge your surveys, leverage integrations and tools to streamline distribution and enhance response rates. For instance, NoteForms’s Notion forms builder takes Notion to the next level with seamless form creation that integrates directly with Notion databases. Start creating Notion forms today to enjoy unlimited forms, submissions, and customization options like logic, email integrations, and database views.

Strategies to Analyze Survey Data Effectively

Clean and Organize the Data

Before tackling the analysis itself, clean and organize the survey data to ensure accuracy. Raw data often contains errors, inconsistencies, or incomplete responses that can distort your analysis. Follow these steps to clean and organize your data:

Remove Incomplete Responses

Filter out respondents who didn’t answer enough questions to make their responses meaningful. For example, if a survey has multiple required fields and a participant leaves them blank, those responses should be discarded.

Check for Duplicates

If your survey has been shared via various channels or sent in multiple emails, you may end up with duplicate responses. Identifying and removing duplicates will help prevent skewed results.

Correct Data Entry Errors

Sometimes, respondents may enter data incorrectly (e.g., typing "25" instead of "35"). Review the data for mistakes and fix them where possible.

Categorize Open-Ended Responses

If your survey includes open-ended questions, categorize the responses into themes or topics. This organization will make it easier to analyze large volumes of textual data.

Summarize Results with Descriptive Statistics

Next, use descriptive statistics to summarize your survey data in a way that’s easy to interpret and communicate. Standard descriptive statistics include:

Mean (Average)

The mean is the sum of all responses divided by the number of responses. It helps understand the general trend of your data.

Median

The median is the middle value when the data is sorted in ascending or descending order. It is instrumental when the data contains outliers or skewed distributions, as it is less affected by extreme values.

Mode

The mode is the most frequent value in your dataset. It can help identify trends or preferences that are popular among respondents.

Standard Deviation

This measure indicates the variation in your data. A low standard deviation means that responses cluster around the mean, while a high standard deviation indicates more variability.

For example, if you're surveying customer satisfaction, you might calculate the mean satisfaction score to get an overall sense of how happy customers are with your product or service. Additionally, identifying the mode could highlight the most common satisfaction level.

Segment the Data for Deeper Insights

Segmenting survey data allows you to break down your responses into smaller, more manageable groups. You can gain detailed insights and better understand distinct groups' needs, preferences, or behaviors. Here’s how you can segment your data:

Demographic Segmentation

If your survey includes demographic questions, segment your data based on characteristics like age, gender, income level, or location. This approach helps identify trends or patterns in specific demographic groups.

Behavioral Segmentation

For surveys related to consumer behavior, segment respondents based on factors like purchase history, frequency of product use, or engagement with your brand.

Psychographic Segmentation

Segment based on attitudes, values, or lifestyle factors. This type of segmentation can help you understand deeper motivations and drivers behind responses.

Survey Response Behavior

Some respondents may consistently answer a certain way (e.g., mainly selecting "very satisfied"). Segmenting responses based on behavior can provide insights into respondent engagement and interest.

Segmenting the data helps you create a more personalized interpretation of the responses, which can be especially useful if your survey is part of a targeted marketing campaign or product development process.

Perform Cross-Tabulation for Deeper Insights

Cross-tabulation involves examining the relationship between two or more variables in your dataset. For example, suppose your survey asks respondents about their satisfaction with a product and their likelihood to recommend it. In that case, cross-tabulation can help you identify patterns in the data based on different segments, such as age or location.

Example

You could cross-tabulate satisfaction levels with age groups to see if younger people are more satisfied than older individuals or if satisfaction influences their likelihood to recommend the product.

Benefit

Cross-tabulation allows you to identify correlations between different sets of responses, providing more nuanced insights into how various factors influence survey outcomes. Most survey tools, such as SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, and Typeform, have built-in cross-tabulation features that allow you to quickly segment and compare different variables in your data.

Use Data Visualization to Present Findings

Data visualization is a powerful strategy for making your survey results more digestible and compelling. People process visual information more quickly and easily. Presenting your data in charts, graphs, and dashboards can significantly enhance understanding and communication of your findings.

Bar and Pie Charts

These are ideal for showing categorical data and comparing proportions, such as the percentage of respondents who prefer one option over another.

Line Graphs

Use line graphs to display trends, such as how customer satisfaction has changed month over month.

Heat Maps

Heat maps help show the intensity of responses across different categories, clearly representing where respondents are most concentrated in their answers.

Word Clouds

If your survey has open-ended responses, word clouds are an excellent way to visualize the most frequently mentioned words or phrases. Tools like Tableau, Power BI, and Excel can create visually engaging charts and graphs to make your survey data easy to present in reports or meetings.

Derive Actionable Insights from the Data

The final step is deriving actionable insights after cleaning, summarizing, and visualizing the data. The goal of your survey is not just to collect data but to understand what it means and how it can inform your decisions. To extract actionable insights:

Look for Patterns and Trends

Review your summary statistics and visualizations to identify patterns in the data. For instance, if a large percentage of respondents indicate dissatisfaction with a particular feature, that may point to an area that needs improvement.

Prioritize Key Findings

Focus on the most important findings that can directly impact your business, whether improving customer satisfaction, refining a product, or enhancing your marketing strategy.

Make Data-Driven Decisions

Use the insights to guide decisions. For example, suppose the survey reveals that a significant portion of your audience prefers a specific product feature. In that case, you may focus more on that feature in your next marketing campaign.

Translating raw data into clear, actionable steps helps you make informed decisions that align with your audience's needs and expectations.

Create a Form for Free Today with our Notion Forms Builder

NoteForms's Notion forms builder supercharges Notion by enabling seamless form creation that integrates directly with Notion databases. With NoteForms, you can create forms from existing Notion databases, store submissions in Notion databases, and enjoy unlimited forms and submissions. Highly customizable, you can create embeddable forms, use integrated email automation, and send submissions to other applications via Zapier.

NoteForms also supports Notion-specific columns, allowing you to write submissions to page bodies and database views as a sub-product. We cater to Notion power users, SaaS startups, and educators, solving challenges like inefficient data entry and administrative overload. NoteForms streamlines data collection, centralizes management, and simplifies workflows, boosting productivity while cutting costs for Notion enthusiasts. Create a form for free today with our Notion forms builder!