Survey Suite Blog

Preparation:

Before we start building a survey we will create the outline with our customers first. This enables the project team to think carefully about each question any misinterpretations that may occur and what responses are likely to come back. Designing the structure of any survey is key to its usability, especially if we are using features like conditional questioning or branching.

Structure into logical bite size chunks:

Giving structure to the user is important, always open with a welcome page which instructs the user to the aim of the survey and instructions on its use. Breaking up your survey into sensible well-ordered pages helps group specific questions sets together, making the survey more user friendly and less likely to put off respondents. 

Survey length:

The longer your survey the less likely respondents will want to complete it. Ask the important questions that you really want answers to, and remove questions that are less likely to make an impact on your actions following the results 

Interactive questioning: 

Conditional logic/branching is when you ask a question or a set of questions, following the response to a previous question. For example, if you ask “do you own a car” and the respondent answers “Yes” you can move on and ask further questions like “what colour is your car?” if your respondent answers “No” in response to the question it’s unnecessary to display the car colour question 

Design and feedback:

When we design surveys using brand colours and logos are far more effective than cluttering the page with lots of imagery which will detract from the content on the page. Clear headers, easy to read fonts and as previously mentioned a well structured layout are all important. 

Remember your respondents are often not obliged to complete your survey. We recommend a clear and concise welcome page at the start of a survey that is brief, and explains the reasons for the survey and, possibly, where results will become available. If personal information is being gathered, give peace of mind as to your privacy policy. Include a thank-you message and if you are gathering email information for future communication, put a short opt-in to ensure they are prepared to take part.