Are you looking for more ways to gather data and insights from your customers? If so, you should consider using surveys.
Surveys can give you valuable feedback on a variety of topics, such as customer satisfaction, product preferences, and more.
There are a variety of survey types that businesses can use to their advantage. Keep reading to learn about different types of surveys and see examples of each.
We’ll also provide examples of each type of survey.
Let’s get started!
Collect feedback with JustFeedback
JustFeedback helps your business increase profits and reduce risk by improving your customer experience
Essential Types of Surveys
In order to collect accurate data, it is important to choose the right survey method. That’s because depending on the research question, different survey methods may be more or less appropriate.
Here are five essential types of survey methods:
1. Customer Satisfaction Surveys
Customer satisfaction surveys measure how happy or satisfied your customers are with your product or service.
They usually include questions about the quality of the product or service, whether the customer would recommend it to others, and how likely they are to continue using it.
Also, they will likely include open-ended questions about what the customer liked or didn’t like about the product or service.
Tip: Ensure your customer satisfaction survey is short, sweet, and to the point. The last thing you want is for your customers to get bogged down in a long survey they’re not motivated to finish.
For Example:
Assume you own a small business that makes and sells artisanal cheese. You could include the following questions in your customer satisfaction survey:
- How satisfied are you with the quality of the cheese?
- How likely are you to continue buying our cheese?
- What did you like/dislike about the cheese?
Also, if you want to collect more qualitative data from your customers be sure to ask open-ended questions as opposed to only including closed-ended questions.
These surveys allow companies to get unfiltered positive or negative feedback about the service customers receive. The detailed data can be extremely useful for improving products and services.
2. Net Promoter Score (NPS) Surveys
Net Promoter Score surveys measure how likely your customers are to recommend your product or service to others. They usually include a question that rates this likelihood on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being the most likely.
NPS surveys are a great way to measure customer satisfaction and loyalty over time. They can also help you identify your biggest fans (known as “promoters”) as well as your most unhappy customers (known as “detractors”).
For Example:
Assume you own a small business that sells health supplements. You could include the following question in your NPS survey:
- On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely are you to recommend our supplements to a friend or family member?
NPS score allows businesses to compare the quality of their customer service against their competitors.
By understanding where they lie on the NPS scale, businesses can work to improve problem areas and create a better overall experience for their customers.
Additionally, monitoring NPS scores over time can help businesses spot loyalty trends and identify opportunities for growth through referrals and upsells.
3. Customer Effort Score (CES) Surveys
Customer Effort Score (CES) refers to a customer’s level of difficulty or ease when interacting with a company. It can measure how much effort is required to make a purchase, return a product, resolve an issue, or get a question answered.
CES surveys typically contain one question: “How much effort did you personally have to put forth to handle your request?” Customers answer on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being “very difficult” and 1 being “very easy.”
For Example:
Assume you own a small business that provides IT support to other businesses. You could include the following question in your CES survey:
How much effort did you personally have to put forth to get your issue resolved?
By understanding how much effort your customers have to put into resolving their issues, you can make changes to improve the overall experience.
Also, surveying customers after interacting with your company, you can learn how to deflect future customer service issues.
4. Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) Survey
The Employee Net Promoter Score survey is a great way to gauge employee satisfaction and engagement. An employee’s intentions are often measured as a direct correlation to how engaged and loyal an employee is to a business.
eNPS is part of a larger study that looks at employee satisfaction. By measuring eNPS, businesses can better understand which employees are likelier to stick around and continue working for the company.
eNPS surveys ask employees how likely they are to recommend their employer to others on a scale from 0-10. The results of the survey are then broken down into three categories:
- Promoters (score 9-10): Employees who are satisfied with their job are likely to continue working for the company and refer others to it.
- Passives (score 7-8): Employees who are not particularly satisfied or dissatisfied with their job. They may be open to new opportunities but are not actively seeking them.
- Detractors (score 0-6): Employees who are unhappy with their job are likely to leave the company and discourage others from working there.
For Example:
There are a few different ways to ask the eNPS question, but all versions essentially boil down to this:
- How likely are you to recommend [Company Name] as a place to work?
5. Dissatisfaction (DSAT) Analysis
One approach to analyzing customer satisfaction is known as DSAT, or Dissatisfaction Analysis. This approach focuses on understanding why customers are dissatisfied with a product or service, and then taking steps to address the root cause of the problem.
For example, let’s say that a customer service survey reveals that a high percentage of customers are unhappy with the speed of service. In response, the company might take steps to improve the efficiency of its call center operations.
By taking the time to identify and address the true root cause of customer dissatisfaction, businesses can make more effective decisions that lead to lasting improvements in customer satisfaction levels.
For Example:
Some examples of DSAT analysis questions include:
- What was your overall experience with the product/service?
- What did you like/dislike about the product/service?
- What could we have done better?
- What did you think of our customer service?
- Was there anything that you found confusing or difficult to use?
6. Product Surveys
Product surveys are incredibly important for any business selling physical products through brick-and-mortar stores or online.
By constantly collecting customer feedback on their shopping experience, you can change your product lineup, store layout, and customer service to improve the overall experience and increase sales.
Also, surveying customers after they’ve made a purchase can identify areas where there may be potential issues with the product.
This feedback can then be used to improve future iterations of the product or, in some cases, issue refunds or replacements for defective items.
For Example:
If you’re a retailer, you could survey customers after they’ve purchased to find out what they thought of the product, the packaging, and the overall experience.
If you sell products online, you could send a follow-up email a few days after the product has been delivered, asking for feedback on the quality of the product, the packaging, and the website experience.
Some questions you might want to include in a product survey are:
- How satisfied are you with the product?
- How does this product compare to similar products on the market?
- What did you think of the packaging?
- Was the quality of the product what you were expecting?
7. Panel Surveys
A panel survey is a type of survey that is conducted over a period of time with the same group of people.
This allows researchers to track changes in opinions over time.
Panel surveys usually involve face-to-face interviews, but they can also be conducted by phone or online.
Panel surveys are a valuable tool for researchers as they provide insights into how attitudes and behaviors change over time. They can also be used to track trends in specific populations.
There are many different types of questions that can be asked in a panel survey.
For Example:
- How often do you [buy/use/read/watch] X?
- What are your thoughts on X?
- How important is X to you?
- What would you say is the biggest problem with X?
- What are the benefits of X?
- Do you think that X should be [regulated/ banned/ abolished]?
- Have your views on X changed in the past year? If so, how so?
Essentially regardless of the survey method you choose, be sure to pick one which assists in gathering data from your target audience.
This might mean using different market research surveys so you can test and figure out which one is best to gather data for your specific needs.
Survey Methods Should You Consider
To gather the most accurate and useful feedback from your survey, you’ll need to ask the right questions. That means knowing which survey method will work best for your research goals.
This is true regardless of whether you use online surveys or paper surveys. Whenever you conduct research, the data quality will always depend on picking the right focus group when conducting market research.
There are many ways to administer a survey, but the most common survey research methods are:
1. Online Surveys
To get started with online surveys, all you need is a computer and an internet connection. Online surveys are typically created using software like JustFeedback, which provide customizable templates and question options to help you get the most out of your research.
2. Paper Surveys
Paper surveys are the traditional method for collecting data, and can be an effective way to reach people who don’t have regular access to a computer or the internet. They can also be used in conjunction with other methods, like door-to-door surveys, to boost response rates.
3. Telephone Surveys
Telephone surveys are another common method for collecting data, and can be an effective way to reach a wide audience. However, they can be costly and time-consuming to administer.
4. In-Person Surveys
In-person surveys are a great way to collect data from a small focus groups of people, or when you need feedback in real-time. They can be conducted in person, or using video conferencing software like Zoom.
5. Mixed-Mode Surveys
Mixed-mode surveys are a combination of two or more survey methods, and can be a great way to reach a wide audience while still getting detailed feedback.
For example, you could send an email invitation to participate in an online survey, with a follow-up telephone call to those who don’t respond. Also, mail surveys are an option to research target audience.
No matter which survey method you choose for data collection, make sure to test your questions beforehand with a small group of people to ensure they are clear and easy to answer.
Use JustFeedback To Carry Out Your Surveys
Get setup in seconds, create unlimited surveys and website, and email and link surveys with quick analysis. JustFeedback will take care of automated data analysis, simple-to-understand results and export for deep dive analysis.
- Automatic Collection: Create a survey in seconds, and share it. We’ll take care of everything else for you.
- Quick Analysis: See your data in stunning visuals, to easily understand your feedback results.
- Actionable Insights: Get valuable feedback directly from your users to improve the user experience.
Collecting feedback is easy With JustFeedback, With our simple to use tools you can create survey questions that get responses and then distribute surveys quickly to your target population.
Sure there are many online survey tools, but we built JustFeedback to be the best alternative to traditional mail survey and paper survey research methods, so you can get meaningful insights fast from your focus group.
Conclusion
With all of these survey types in mind, it’s important to understand when to use them. Be sure to ask the right questions at the right time in order to get the most accurate and helpful responses.
Surveys are a valuable tool that can help you to understand your customers, employees, or do market research. Use them wisely, and you’ll be able to make better decisions for your business.
Start using surveys today to get the insights you need to make smarter decisions for your business. You’ll be glad you did!
Want To Know More? Check Our FAQ Below!
How Can I Create an Optimal Survey Experience for My Respondents?
To create an optimal survey experience for your respondents, start by considering what they need and want from the survey.
Ensure the questions are clear and concise and that the overall survey is short and to the point.
It would be best if you also considered offering incentives for completing the survey, such as coupons or discounts.
Are Online Survey Software the Best Way to Collect Survey Data?
There are a few different ways to collect survey data, but online survey software is often the best option.
This is because it’s quick and easy for respondents to complete, allowing you to reach many people with minimal effort.
Plus, you can collect data from people all over the world.
Is There a Limit to the Number of Questions I Can Ask in a Survey?
No, there is no limit to the number of questions you can ask in a survey.
However, you should only ask as many questions as necessary to get the information you need.
If you include too many questions, respondents may become discouraged and quit before finishing the survey.
How Can I Prevent Bias in My Survey?
There are a few ways to prevent bias in your survey. First, make sure the questions are clear and unbiased.
Also, randomize the order of the questions so that respondents can’t predict what you will ask next.
Allow respondents to skip questions that they don’t want to answer, and consider using a survey tool that allows respondents to remain anonymous.
How Do I Know if My Survey is Effective?
To know if your survey is effective, start by looking at the response rate.
If you have a low response rate, it may indicate that your survey isn’t compelling enough for people to take the time to complete it.
You should also look at the quality of the responses you’re getting. Are people taking the time to answer the questions thoughtfully, or are they just rushing through it?
Then, consider whether you’re getting the information you need from the survey. If not, you may need to revise your questions.