How To Create An Online Survey: 7 Proven Steps for Success

Introduction

How To Create An Online Survey

Creating an online survey sounds easy, right? Click, type, send! But hold on a second, if you want meaningful feedback that leads to actionable results, there’s a bit more to it. Online surveys are a powerful tool for gathering insights, improving services, and making data-driven decisions. Whether you're a small business owner, educator, marketer, or researcher, knowing how to create an online survey can transform your outreach efforts.

The Rising Importance of Online Surveys

In today’s digital age, surveys have become more than just questionnaires, they're conversation starters. They help organizations listen to their audience, fine-tune their strategies, and build stronger relationships. Moreover, with so many free and affordable survey tools available, creating one has never been easier.

Understanding Online Surveys

What Is an Online Survey?

An online survey is a digital method of collecting data from respondents over the internet. Typically, it consists of a series of questions designed to gather specific information about opinions, behaviors, or experiences.

Benefits of Using Online Surveys

The perks of online surveys are endless. They are cost-effective, scalable, and fast to deploy. Plus, responses can be collected and analyzed in real-time, offering immediate insights into customer satisfaction, employee engagement, or market trends.

When Should You Use an Online Survey?

Online surveys are perfect for various situations, including:

If you need quick, honest, and measurable feedback, an online survey should be your go-to tool.

Planning Your Survey

Defining Your Survey Objectives

Before jumping into survey creation, ask yourself: What do I want to learn? Clear objectives help shape your questions and determine the best analysis methods.

Identifying Your Target Audience

Your audience matters. Are you surveying customers, employees, students, or website visitors? Tailoring your language and questions to fit your audience will improve your response rate and data quality.

Selecting the Right Survey Type

Different objectives require different survey types:

Choosing the Best Distribution Method

You can distribute your online survey via:

Choosing the right channel ensures your survey reaches the right people.

Designing Your Survey

How To Structure Your Survey Questions

Start with easy, engaging questions before diving into more complex topics. Always group related questions together to maintain flow and coherence.

Types of Questions to Include

The question format should align with your survey objectives.

Using Skip Logic and Branching

Skip logic lets respondents skip irrelevant sections based on their answers. This creates a more personalized experience and reduces survey fatigue.

Making Your Survey Mobile-Friendly

More than half of survey respondents complete surveys on mobile devices. Ensure your survey platform supports responsive design and quick load times.

Keeping the Survey Short and Focused

Lengthy surveys turn people off. Aim for 5-10 minutes max. Shorter surveys improve completion rates.

Using Online Survey Tools

Best Free and Paid Online Survey Tools

Let's explore some popular tools:

Google Forms: Quick and Easy Surveys

Google Forms offers a straightforward way to build surveys at no cost. However, it falls short when you need advanced skip logic or branded customization.

SurveyMonkey: Versatile but Pricey

SurveyMonkey is packed with features but gets expensive quickly. Most advanced options require a premium subscription.

Typeform: Beautiful but Limited Free Plan

If you want gorgeous surveys with a conversational feel, Typeform is a strong contender. Just be prepared for strict limits on free users.

Microsoft Forms: Simple Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem

Microsoft Forms is ideal for schools and businesses using Office 365. However, design customization is minimal.

Bruma Surveys: Affordable and User-Friendly Option

Here’s where Bruma Surveys shines! With a feature-rich Free Tier and a Premium Plan at just €9.99/month, Bruma offers embeddability, AI-powered features, and detailed analytics without breaking the bank.

Maximizing Engagement

Tips to Increase Survey Response Rates

Here’s how to boost participation:

For more strategies on timing your survey for maximum engagement, see The Art of Timing: When’s the Best Time to Send a Survey?.

The Power of Incentives

Offering something small like a coupon or entry into a prize draw can double your response rate. People love rewards, even small ones!

Best Days and Times to Send Surveys

Studies show that Tuesday and Thursday mornings yield the highest response rates. Avoid weekends when engagement tends to dip.

Crafting an Effective Invitation Email

Subject lines matter! Use something like: "We’d love your opinion! Quick 2-minute survey inside." Keep the body short and highlight the benefit of participating.

Analyzing and Acting on Survey Results

How To Interpret Survey Data

Once responses roll in, look for trends and patterns. Use charts and graphs to visualize your data. Bruma Surveys offers great analytics and chart features to help you understand your results.

Exporting Results for Deeper Analysis

Download your data in Excel or CSV formats for more detailed analysis using tools like Excel, Google Sheets, or even Tableau.

Turning Insights Into Action

Act on what you learn! Whether it’s improving customer service or adjusting your product roadmap, make sure to implement changes based on feedback.

Sharing Results with Your Audience

Close the feedback loop. Let respondents know how their input helped shape decisions. This builds trust and encourages future participation.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Top Survey Design Mistakes

Watch out for these pitfalls:

If you want to avoid common mistakes that can ruin your response rate, check out 10 Survey Question Mistakes That Are Ruining Your Response Rate.

Pitfalls in Question Wording

Always aim for neutral language. For example, don’t ask: "Don’t you love our new website?" Instead, ask: "How would you rate our new website?"

Ignoring Mobile Optimization

Surveys that don’t load well on mobile devices risk high drop-off rates. Always test your survey on multiple devices before launching.

Final Recommendations

Why Bruma Surveys Is a Smart Choice

After reviewing multiple tools, Bruma Surveys stands out for its:

Bruma’s Free Tier and Affordable Premium Plan

Whether you’re a startup, freelancer, teacher, or small business owner, Bruma Surveys gives you professional survey features at a fraction of the cost of competitors.

Conclusion

Unlock the Power of Online Surveys with Bruma Surveys

In summary, learning how to create an online survey can drastically improve how you collect and act on feedback. While several tools offer great features, Bruma Surveys delivers the perfect balance between affordability and usability. Start with their free tier and upgrade only if you need to.