The business that doesn't talk to their customers is the business that will fail. The one who gets closest to the customer wins. So using automated online surveys is a big part of that process. 

This isn't just about ticking boxes on a screen; it's your golden ticket to unearthing precious insights without breaking a sweat. This blog post will show you everything from top-notch survey tools to understanding complex question types - and how automation is the star in this story. 

Understanding Automated Online Surveys

Automated online surveys are an integral part of modern businesses. They provide a quick and efficient way to collect data from respondents, be it customers or employees. Approximately 42% of organizations use online survey tools for market research. But it can take a lot of work to produce and share those surveys.  Online tools to the rescue: Automated online surveys can reduce data collection time by up to 75%!

The Role of Survey Automation Tools

Automation tools play a crucial role in creating, distributing, and analyzing these surveys. By streamlining the process with software like Alchemer, companies can focus more on interpreting results rather than handling logistics.

For instance, these tools let you use logic branching techniques to create personalized paths for survey respondents based on their answers. This not only improves respondent engagement but also increases response rates.

Survey Logic and Question Types

In any automated online survey, understanding question types is fundamental as they determine how well your questions will be answered by participants. 

There's multiple choice where users pick one option out of many. Then there's rating scale that measures opinion intensity. Or open-ended type which lets users freely express thoughts without restrictions - just to name a few.

"But why should I care about all this?", you might ask yourself. Well because better crafted questions lead to improved accuracy in responses. And that translates into valuable insights for your business strategies down the line.

Data Collection & Analysis with Automated Surveys

Collecting and analyzing data from automated online surveys is like to striking gold in the modern business world. These surveys, including typeform responses and surveybot responses, act as a direct line of communication between businesses and their customers.

But here's the catch: To extract valuable insights, you need to effectively manage your collected data. This is where automation shines. It can seamlessly transfer your spreadsheet rows into systems like HubSpot contacts without missing a beat. 

For example, if you use an automation tool like Magical, it allows for real-time syncing of response data with customer relationship management (CRM) platforms.

Integrating Survey Data with CRM Systems

Integration with CRM systems not only streamlines workflows but also enhances decision-making processes by providing holistic customer profiles. By linking each survey response to its corresponding profile in HubSpot or ActiveCampaign contacts, businesses get actionable insights at their fingertips.

Note: Magical does this beautifully.

Maximizing Insights Through Analysis

Analyzing collected responses can reveal patterns that were previously hidden beneath layers of raw numbers and text replies. By translating these findings into actionable tasks on Trello cards or Google Sheets spreadsheet rows, teams can prioritize efforts based on user feedback – improving services while saving precious time. 

How to Design Your Survey Questions (7 Steps)

Designing effective online survey questions is crucial for gathering meaningful and accurate data. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you design your survey questions:

Step 1: Know Your Audience & Define Your Objectives

Understand who will be taking the survey. This helps in framing questions that are relevant and understandable to your audience. Clearly define what you want to learn from the survey. Having clear objectives will guide the types of questions you need to ask.

Step 2: Choose the Right Questions & Keep Them Clear

Decide between open-ended questions, multiple-choice questions, Likert scales, etc., based on the kind of data you need. Multiple-choice questions are easier to analyze quantitatively, while open-ended questions can provide richer qualitative data.

Ensure your questions are straightforward and avoid jargon or complex language. The questions should be easily understood on the first reading.

Step 3: Avoid Leading or Biased Questions

Questions should be neutral and not lead respondents to a particular answer. Avoid any kind of wording that might bias their responses. Particularly for multiple-choice questions, options should not overlap and should cover all possible responses.

Step 4: Use a Logical Flow

Organize questions in a logical order. Start with general questions and gradually move to more specific ones. This makes it easier for respondents to follow and stay engaged. If you can, make it simple for people to answer the questions in the survey. 

Step 5: Test Your Survey & Make Revisions as Necessary

Before launching, test your survey with a small group similar to your target audience. This helps in identifying any confusing or problematic questions. Based on the feedback from your pilot test, make necessary revisions to your survey questions.

If demographic data is important for your analysis, include these questions at the end of the survey.

Step 6: Keep it Brief & Moving Along Smoothly

Respect the respondents' time. A shorter survey with focused questions is more likely to be completed. If your survey platform allows it, include a progress bar. It helps in keeping respondents engaged and reduces the drop-off rate. The ideal length of time for someone to complete a survey is 10 minutes or less. 

Step 7: Thank Respondents & Ensure Their Privacy

Conclude with a thank-you message, acknowledging and appreciating the time and effort of the respondents. If the responses are anonymous, clearly state this to your respondents. Assuring privacy can lead to more honest and accurate responses. 

Choosing the right survey tool can have a huge impact on your data gathering activities. Let's take a look at some leading options.

1. Survey Monkey

Survey Monkey is one of the leading survey software companies specializing in different types of surveys from customer surveys and polls to employee feedback polls. They offer both surveys and forms with a vast number of different templates and features to choose from. 

In a G2 review, Claude H. shares:

I like how SurveyMonkey allows me to create and distribute various types of surveys, such as customer satisfaction, employee engagement, market research, and more. It is really easy to use, with a very low learning curve. It has a lot of templates, question types, and design options to choose from. It also has powerful features, such as logic, branching, and piping, that help me customize my surveys and make them more relevant and engaging for my respondents. I also like how SurveyMonkey integrates with many other apps and tools that I use, such as CRM, marketing automation, collaboration, and analytics. This helps me streamline my workflows, sync my data, and get more insights from my feedback.

2. Qualtrics

Qualtrics uses some of the best in class analytics to create everything from surveys to deep customer research. They specialize in helping companies use the data they gather and forming conclusions that help them make better marketing decisions. Qualtrics offers many design options to create the right survey for your tasks.

In a G2 review, user Indrayani J.notes:

Qualtrics is very dynamic in a way that allows different kinds of survey styles and attachments that make it versatile and it's usability wide. It allows to make changes to the survey at any point in time and records important details of the systems used and date/time of completion.

3. Mopinion

Mopinion is a powerful market research software designed for capturing customer feedback through automated online surveys. Mopinion offers an intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to design, distribute, and analyze surveys. 

With its drag-and-drop editor, you can create customized survey forms without any technical expertise. The platform also supports multiple languages which broadens your reach to global customers.

In a G2 review, one user says:

Mopinion is relatively simple to implement on your website, especially if you have Google Tag Manager (GTM) already set up on your website. Mopinion also has a decent set of form building options, however, some areas of the builder are limited.

4. Google Forms

Google Forms is a free-to-use platform offers a myriad of features designed to streamline your survey creation and data collection process. Let's delve into some of its key benefits.

Google Forms boasts an intuitive interface that allows you to create professional-looking surveys without any technical expertise. It provides various customization options such as changing themes, colors, and fonts according to your brand identity or personal preference.

In a G2 review, user Nyjil says,

The flexibility to use Google Workspace on any platform be it Windows, MacOS, Linux or Android. Our entire team including development, testing, sales and HR use Google Workspace on daily basis. No additional effort was required for implementation as it was fully online. We use almost all features including Sheets, Docs, Calendar, Presentation, Forms, Meet etc. Google workspace integrates with our other software like Slack, Zoho CRM etc. Their customer service team is very dependable and has they also have an exhaustive FAQ section.

5. Zoho Survey

Zoho Survey is a powerful survey software offers a variety of functionalities to help businesses conduct customer research more effectively.

Zoho Survey comes with an array of pre-built templates. These can be easily customized to suit your specific business needs. You can choose from various question types, such as multiple-choice, matrix type or open-ended questions.

The platform also supports multilingual surveys which allow you to reach a global audience effortlessly. With over 30 languages supported, you can cater to customers around the world without language barriers hampering your research efforts.

In a G2 review, Ved J. says:

The intuitive drag-and-drop editor, pre-built templates, and customization options simplify the survey creation process. Zoho Survey seamlessly integrates with other Zoho applications, such as Zoho CRM, Zoho Analytics, and Zoho Campaigns. This integration allows users to streamline their survey data and incorporate it into their existing workflows, making it convenient for businesses already using Zoho Suite.

Best Practices for Creating Automated Online Surveys

Creating effective online surveys can be a magic wand that lets you tap into the minds of your respondents. But it's not as simple as waving around some questions and hoping for useful responses.

Customization Options in Survey Tools

A standout feature of top survey software is their customization options, allowing users to easily create unique, engaging surveys. By tailoring each question based on respondent's answers, you make sure every completed survey feels personalized.

For example, adding images or videos could give your survey a live copy feel while keeping respondents engaged longer. And remember - variety is key. Mix up multiple choice with open-ended questions to keep things interesting and obtain richer data.

Leveraging Logic Branching in Surveys

Logic branching or 'skip logic' takes personalization further by creating different paths through the survey based on how questions are answered. It's like opening hidden doors only when certain keys (answers) are used.

Automated tools such as Typeform, offer this option which helps avoid irrelevant questions reaching participants, thus improving response rates significantly.

Conclusion

Mastering automated online surveys isn't rocket science, it's all about using the right tools and techniques. From designing engaging questionnaires to analyzing insightful data, you'll have everything you need to get insights that grow your business.

Make sure you choose the right tools for your needs. There's many tools (including the tools mentioned above) that offer free trials and low cost options that fit any budget.