BUSINESS
Creating successful email surveys
13-05-2010
by denise cox
Denise Cox of Newsweaver argues that you can tap into your readers' likes or dislikes by surveying them.
Have you ever considered surveying your newsletter readers? Surveys in email newsletters can provide insight into your readers’ interests, plus generate ideas for improving your publication. It's potentially a highly useful tool for data gathering.
Here are five ideas that can help you increase the survey responses that you receive.
- A clear, compelling call to action - Your proposition to readers should tell them the benefits of taking the survey; such as how long it will take to fill out and what will be done with the information.
- Offers an incentive - Offering something of value gets the best results. Ideas include a special discount on a product or service or access to high-value information relevant to your readers.
- Questions are not invasive - Let people know what you will do with the data and that it will not be identifiable by personal details. Questions should relevant to the aim of the survey
- It's short - The survey should take only a couple of minutes to complete. Anything over twelve questions can result in fewer completed surveys.
- Cross promote and send reminders – Run it through several cycles of your newsletter, mention it in your subject line. Consider sending an email reminder to subscribers who have *not* filled out the survey.
[source: denise cox, Newsweaver.ie]
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