Quick surveys are a great way to get customer feedback. We here at Digital Room get survey job orders either on business cards, direct postcard mailing or door hanger ads with rip cards. But no matter what format you’ll be using for your surveys, it’s important to write them well.

Your customers should be able to easily fill out your surveys. Your business should be able to get the info you need to serve your customers better. You can write effective surveys that do all these, and here’s how.

How to Write Surveys Effectively

Clear

Be clear about what your custom printing survey’s about from the start; title it. Use plain, relaxed English. Make your surveys hassle-free for your customers.

Go slow; ask one question at a time. Follow a clear train of thought, like from general to more specific questions. Then let the next questions flow naturally from there.

Balanced

Assume nothing about your customers. Avoid leading or forcing their answers.

Always make allowances so your customers can say what they want. If you have a set of multiple choice options for your questions, leaving an “Other” choice with a blank next to it can work great.

Focused

Stick to one topic. Choose the fewest, most important questions. Keep your questions short. Ask close-ended questions that won’t lead to ambiguous answers.

Think ahead about how you will collect and use the info you get from your survey. This will help you create more focused questions that will get you want you want to know.

Inviting

Start with the more interesting questions. Your customers may be concerned about keeping themselves anonymous, so make them at ease by giving them that option.

Remember to say thank you. Try giving gift certificates to the first hundred respondents, or something like it. Let them know you appreciate their time and input. Then use the variable data you get to better your business and make everyone happier!