creating effective online surveys

Creating Effective Online Surveys

August 26, 2008

Webinar Conference Call: 866-740-1260; Code: 6339392

Creating Effective Online Surveys Facilitator: Kami Griffiths, TechSoupPresenter: Yann Toledano

Internet Marketing ConsultantHost, TechSoup Forum


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• This seminar will be available on the TechSoup website along with past webinar presentations:– http://www.techsoup.org/hsc/page9003.cfm

• You will receive a link to this presentation later today.

• After the webinar, you can ask any follow-up questions in the online forums:– http://tinyurl.com/564vhf



Facilitator: Kami Griffiths, TechSoupPresenter: Yann Toledano

Internet Marketing ConsultantHost, TechSoup Forum

Sponsored by:


Today’s Speakers

Volunteers Chris Peters & Malin Coleridge (TechSoup)

Kami Griffiths Yann Toledano


Survey Key Considerations

• Research Goal:What do I want to know?

• Target Audience:Who can give me this information?

• Questions:What information will give me the feedback I need from my respondents?


Web Survey Process Overview


Survey Design Best Practices: Defining Survey Objectives

• Are members satisfied with our programs/services?(Member Satisfaction Survey)

• Does our website meet visitor needs?(Website Evaluation Survey)

• Should our organization implement a costly new initiative?(Interest Survey)

• How can we improve employee satisfaction?(Employee Satisfaction Survey)


Survey Design Best Practices: Defining Survey Objectives

• A clearly defined goal:– Determines what information to collect– Identifies who is involved (participants)– Prepares you to write effective questions

Expert Tip: State your goal as a simple question you can investigate.


Survey Design Best Practices:

How to Create a Winning Questionnaire

• Introduce survey• Easy to understand questions/response options• Important questions first (“must-knows”)• End with demographic/profile questions (income,

age, gender, etc.)• Logical order (grouping)• Eliminate non-relevant questions



Survey Intro Example



Two Golden Rules

• Ask the right questions.

• Keep it short.



Effective Question Wording

• Clear, direct, brief

• Eliminate jargon/confusing language

• Ask one thing in each question

• Avoid bias

Expert Tip: Studies indicate that shorter surveys generate higher response rates.



Question Success Factors



Survey Question Example

What do you think?



Bad Question!



New and Improved Question


Survey Design Best Practices: Question Type: Multiple Choice

(choose one answer)


Survey Design Best Practices: Question Type: Rating Scale

(5-point scale)



Question Type: Checkboxes

(multiple selections allowed)



Question Type: Dropdown Menu



Question Type: Table/Matrix

(3-point rating scale: one answer per sub-question)


Survey Tools Overview


Survey Tools:

Comparing the Tools

• Pricing (free vs. paid plans)

• Basic vs. Advanced Features (e.g., Branching/Skip Logic, Piping)

• Cost-Feature Table


Survey Tools:

Question Branching/Skip Logic

1 3 4

6 5

2

Simple Branching Rule:If respondent answers “Yes” , skip to Q4.


Survey Tools:

Question Branching Example


Survey Tools:

Survey Launch & Best Practices

• Email invitations vs. Website deployment

• Pre-test survey internally:– Email subject line– Invitation text– Questions/instructions– Look and feel

Expert Tip: Test run your survey to identify and correct problem areas before deploying it externally.


Survey Tools:

Link to Survey for Participants


Survey Tools:

Survey Reporting & Analysis

• Real-time response collection

• Various reporting formats

• Advanced reporting features in paid plans


Survey Tools:

Survey Reporting Dashboard


Survey Tools:

Sample Report (Pie Chart)


Survey Tools:

Sample Report (Bar Graph)


Survey Tools:

Sample Report (Matrix)


Survey Tools:Survey Reporting/Analysis Best Practices

• Survey results tied to initial objectives

• Reports: summary of key findings + actionable recommendations

• Share the right data with the right people

Expert Tip: Remember to take action based on the results of your survey.


Get the Most Out of TechSoup

• At TechSoup, you’ll find a range of technology services to help your nonprofit:

– Read helpful articles in our Learning Center– Request donated software, hardware, and online

services– Join our community forums to learn from your

colleagues– Browse upcoming events and conferences


TechSoup Stock Vendor Partners

• Microsoft• Symantec• Adobe• eTapestry• Intuit

• Mailshell• Business Objects• Readytalk• Alpha Software• Atlas Business

Solutions


Continue the discussion…

• Additional questions can be answered by posting in our Web Building forum:– http://tinyurl.com/564vhf


Thank you to our Webinar Sponsor!


For More Information

Contact: Kami [email protected]

creating effective online surveys

Technology

survey objectives

survey design best practices

survey easy

survey question example

survey tools overview

survey reporting dashboard

website evaluation survey

employee satisfaction