Micro Surveys: The Ultimate Guide to Creating Effective Surveys
Kate Williams
Last Updated: 17 August 2024
8 min read
Micro surveys are small surveys that can have a huge impact!
Remember those long surveys that lay abandoned in your inbox only because you can’t find the time to complete them? Do you know why that’s the case? Because today, human beings have the attention span of a goldfish! (Let alone memory!)
Key Takeaways:
- Micro surveys are quick and focused surveys that typically have two or three questions and aim to get targeted feedback from the audience.
- The completion rate of a micro survey is 60% higher than that of a long traditional survey!
- They are used in cases where you need instant feedback, such as post-event responses that must be carried out without the risk of survey fatigue.
Oh, and, I have added a free survey template if you want to try it out!
So, let’s start with…
What are Micro Surveys?
Micro surveys are short, focused surveys that can be completed within a few seconds. They are context-specific, target-oriented, and best used for a quick pulse check or instant feedback.
Studies show that the response rates for email surveys vary between 5% and 25%. Well, that’s because people don’t have the time to open their emails unless its is for something official.
The chances of high-reaping results are pretty low, right? However, micro surveys can fetch a 60% higher response rate, owing to their short and quick nature!
This aspect makes them useful for measuring satisfaction, whether it is your customers or employees.
But again, even a micro survey will not yield the required results if the questions are robotic and lifeless. Here’s where a conversational approach comes in! A chat-like survey will keep your audience hooked, leading to a higher completion rate and a much happier audience!
But creating questionnaires or surveys isn’t really that fun, huh? Hold up! What if I tell you there’s an even easier option?
With SurveySparrow, you can create a survey in seconds with the AI builder! All you need to do is jot out a simple prompt and hit send. Imagine the amount of time you can save!
Try it out for free now!
Want something even better? There are 1000+ customizable pre-designed survey templates!
Now, there’s one thing we need to figure out before we go ahead…
Micro Surveys vs Traditional Surveys
Parameter | Micro Surveys | Traditional Surveys |
---|---|---|
Length | Very short and focused | Often lengthy |
Format | In-app pop-ups | Email/SMS links |
Response Rate | High | Lower (25%-30%) |
Feedback Type | Specific interactions | Broad Topics |
Deployment Timing | Immediate action | Post-event delay |
Data Collection Speed | Fast analysis | Slow analysis |
User Experience | Non-intrusive | Can interrupt |
Target Audience | Targeted segments | Broad audience |
So, let’s jot down the reasons why you should use micro surveys…
Benefits of Using Micro Surveys
1. High Response Rates
As mentioned above, micro surveys have the capacity to grab your audience’s attention. This is mainly because of their compact nature and targeted approach. No beating around the bush here!
The clarity of the survey draws the majority of the people to quickly take a few seconds off their busy schedules. Moreover, they are a great way to loop the feedback mechanism, especially for customer-oriented organizations.
2. Saves a Ton of Time
It is effortless for both the survey maker and the respondents. The best part about them is the limited number of questions–there won’t be more than five, which saves you a ton of time!
The total duration of the surveys would be much less compared to that of traditional surveys. So, if you’re short on time but need valuable data, you know what to do!
3. Instant Analysis
Fewer questions leave you with fewer answers to analyze. This is perfect when you have to make instant decisions and don’t have much time.
Since the respondents can take the survey literally anywhere, anytime, you get real-time insights into the opinions and preferences of your audience. This will help you get a quick pulse check before starting on any new endeavors.
4. Cost Effectiveness
Let’s admit it! Traditional offline surveys cost a lot of money. A quick micro survey removes that hurdle from your research. Also, the process can be operated by you alone which will save you from hiring personnel to handle it.
You can create a survey for free with SurveySparrow for that matter!
Here’s a sample template you can use right now! Customize it- add the questions you want, remove the ones you feel don’t fit the bit, edit the pre-filled options, or entirely change its look- the choice is yours! (We’ll get into how to customize it in a bit)
Follow Up Survey Template
Use This TemplateNow, let’s look at the…
Use Cases of Micro Surveys
Micro surveys are perfect for measuring customer or employee experience and satisfaction. Let’s look at a few areas where they might be useful!
In App Feedback
If you are an entrepreneur in the digital market space, your success lies in understanding how your customers perceive your brand.
You can use Micro surveys to measure in-app experience and create a journey map. You can also set alerts and triggers for them and position the surveys at crucial touchpoints. This will help you understand who used your products and what they feel about you.
Feature Deployment
Send a quick survey right before and after a new feature. This will help you mitigate potential risks that might be hiding in the corner.
Also, taking the opinions and preferences of your target audience will help you establish yourself as a customer-centric enterprise.
Measure Satisfaction
Micro surveys are not limited to your customers. Satisfied employees, just like loyal customers act as a strong foundation for the success of any organization.
You can measure satisfaction with a quick CSAT, NPS®, or CES survey. This will give you a detailed idea of your brand value and market positioning.
Support Interaction
These short surveys can be used to evaluate the customer support experience. They will improve engagement and, hence, the overall experience.
They can also be used to automate the initial interaction a customer has with your support team. This will help you streamline and channel your customer service.
Best Practices to Follow while Creating a Micro Survey
I’ll keep this list micro and simple…
- Ask the right questions. Don’t beat around the bush as it takes you miles away from the purpose of these surveys.
- Keep the language conversational and easy to understand. We needn't be Wordsmiths or Coleridges here. Your goal must be to be clear and precise. And, double-barrelled questions are a big no!
- Test the surveys before you send them to your audience. We don’t need minor errors to affect your response rates, do we?
- Make them available via multiple channels. Don’t restrict yourself to email surveys.
- Lastly, design mobile-friendly surveys. This is a must! Studies show that more than 30% of people prefer to scroll through the surveys on their smartphones.
Create Micro Surveys With SurveySparrow
Survey creation is a piece of cake with SurveySparrow’s drag-and-drop builder. It’s even easier with the AI Survey Builder, which can create them in just seconds!
The best part? It doesn’t leave you at creation. You can share via multiple platforms, collect and store the data in an executive dashboard, and analyze them with advanced tools.
Let’s take a look at how we can make a micro survey within no time!
Step 1: Log in
Enter the details and log in to your SurveySparrow account.
If you don’t have one, you can create one right here. You can get started with a 14-day free trial and switch to the forever free plan whenever you want. The paid plan starts at $19/month.
14-day free trial • Cancel Anytime • No Credit Card Required • No Strings Attached
Step 2: Create
Here, you can choose to either create a survey from scratch or customize a pre-designed template.
If you decide to create one on your own, click on (+) New survey and get started. The builder will guide you through the process which is self-explanatory- you won’t get lost there.
To customize a template, choose the Browse Classic Template button and choose the template of your choice.
Let’s say you choose the template attached above.
Step 3: Customize the Template
You can make them your own!
Add new questions, remove the ones you don’t like, or edit the pre-filled ones with the AI wing. You can expand, compress, rephrase, and reword them.
Did you think that was it? Nope! You can change the color, font, or background image and add a video, audio, or GIF to make it interesting.
Your survey is ready!!
Step 4: Integrate and Share
Connect the surveys with third-party integrations to streamline your workflow. You can choose Mailchimp, Zapier, Zendesk or any of the popular ones from the list.
Once that’s done, you can share them via SMS, WhatsApp, Slack, or any other social media channels. Depending on your target audience, you can embed them onto your website or send an email.
Step 5: Analyze
Next up, it is time to make informed decisions. When the responses start flowing in, collect them and visualize them on the dashboard.
You can use advanced analytics tools such as sentiment analysis or AI-powered text analytics to break down the feedback.
Wasn’t that easy? Feel free to reach out if you face any bottlenecks.
Wrap Up!
Phew! We made it!
By now you must have understood the meaning and benefits of using micro surveys.
The most crucial part is to hook your audience and keep them at the tip of their chairs while taking your surveys! (A bit too much, huh?) But yes, engagement is key!
So, what's the wait for? Go ahead and roll them out.
Happy Surveying!
Kate Williams
Content Marketer at SurveySparrow