Surveys are an important part of any business. By collecting feedback from individuals through surveys, your company can make important changes, plans or improvements that will have huge impacts on your bottom line. If, however, your survey response rate is taking a nosedive, or if it hasn’t gotten off the ground at all, it’s probably time to tweak your surveys. In addition to some shiny new survey software, here’s how to improve your survey response rates:
1. Encourage them to click.
Surveys sent via email have a potentially short lifespan. To avoid bin death or spam confusion, recipients need to know who and what they’re dealing with.
- Use an easily recognizable “From” name; your company’s name is a good start.
- Write a clear, inviting subject line, ideally 35 characters or less. Do not use the words “free,” “important message” or any other phrases that could set off an email’s spam filter. Avoid exclamation marks and all caps too.
- Share information about your survey, such as how the information will be used. Always thank recipients for their time.
- Survey software can help organize responses and receive them in varying formats. Smaller businesses especially should look into procuring good survey software.
2. Make it worth their while.
The old adage “time is money” isn’t just for tightfisted executives anymore; time is a valuable asset to everyone, and nothing is more irritating to survey takers than feeling they’ve wasted theirs.
- Point out the ways in which participating in the survey will benefit the recipient. Will it reduce costs? Improve service? Provide more products pertaining to their interests?
- Throw in a coupon. Coupons are huge incentives for participating in a survey, and can boost revenue and exposure and increase response rates.
- Tell them how long the survey will take, and try to keep that estimate low.
With these tips in mind, your survey response rates should perk up in no time.
