How Long Should A Survey Be Open

Creating the perfect survey is an art form. You want to gather valuable insights, but you also don’t want to overwhelm your respondents with a questionnaire marathon. Striking the right balance between comprehensiveness and brevity is crucial. But then comes another question: how long should you keep your survey open?

Just like the ideal survey length, the optimal timeframe for gathering responses depends on several factors.

This page explores the different elements that influence how long your survey should be open so you get the most out of your research efforts.

The Respondent Factor: Who You’re Asking Matters

Target Audience

Consider the demographics and online habits of your target audience. Busy professionals might be more likely to respond during their lunch break, while students might have more time on weekends. Similarly, younger audiences might respond quicker, whereas older respondents might take a little while.

Case in point: tailor your survey window based on their typical schedules. Consider the following:

• Accessibility: How easily can your audience access and complete the survey?
• Availability: Are they typically busy professionals, or do they have more flexible schedules?
• Size: Is your target audience large or small?

RELATED READING: How To Define And Reach The Target Audience For Survey

Incentive Structure

Offering incentives like discounts or gift cards can encourage participation and speedier responses. A limited-time offer on the incentive might entice people to complete the survey sooner rather than later.

If you need more ideas on incentives and how you can use them to boost sales, this guide will come handy.

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The Survey Itself: Content is King (and Time)

Survey Length

So, all things considered, how long should a survey be?

Studies show a clear correlation between survey length and completion rates. As a rule of thumb, the longer and more complex your survey is, the longer you should keep it open, as it’ll take more time to complete.

• Complex questions may need more thought, leading to delayed responses.
• Respondents might need to gather information before answering certain questions.

Therefore, the aim is to conduct surveys that take under 10 minutes to complete. Research indicates a significant drop in completion rates for surveys exceeding 8 minutes. For longer surveys, consider breaking them down into smaller, more manageable chunks.

Question Complexity

Complex questions with multiple scales or open-ended responses take longer to answer. If your survey relies heavily on these, adjust the open window accordingly. Tools like SurveySparrow’s branching logic can help streamline the experience and minimize response time for some users.

Factor in The Urgency Factor: When Does Time Matter Most?

Time-Sensitive Topics

If your survey revolves around a current event or product launch, a shorter timeframe (a week or two) might be more appropriate to capture immediate feedback.

Longitudinal Studies

For research tracking trends over time, consider a longer window with reminders at set intervals. SurveySparrow allows for easy scheduling of reminder emails, keeping your survey top-of-mind for participants.

Don’t overlook Following-Up

Research by SurveyMonkey reveals some interesting insights into response patterns. It’s always the early bird that gets the worm — a whopping 41% of responses are collected within the first day of sending out an invitation! This highlights the importance of crafting a compelling introduction and call to action for your survey.

Response Rate

Monitor your response rate throughout the open period. If it’s lagging, consider sending out polite reminder emails with a clear deadline extension (if applicable).

ALSO READ: 10 Smart Hacks to Increase Survey Response Rate

Engagement Efforts

Social media posts or targeted email blasts can be used to re-energize interest in the survey. SurveySparrow offers social sharing buttons for easy dissemination.

So, How Can One Strike The Perfect Balance?

While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, here’s a general guideline to get you started:

• Short Surveys (under 5 minutes): 1-2 weeks open window.
• Medium Surveys (5-10 minutes): 2-3 weeks open window.
• Long Surveys (over 10 minutes): 3-4 weeks open window, with clear communication about the time commitment involved.

These are just starting points, of course. It’s vital to monitor your response rate and adjust as needed. Tools like SurveySparrow offer valuable analytics dashboards that can help you track progress and make informed decisions.

Pro Tip: Use SurveySparrow for Optimal Survey Timing

SurveySparrow goes beyond just creating beautiful and engaging surveys. Our advanced features can significantly impact your survey’s reach and response rates:

• Targeted Distribution: Reach your ideal audience through various channels like email, social media, and website embeds.
• Personalized Invitations: Craft customized emails with clear deadlines and compelling CTAs.
• Progress Bars: Motivate respondents by showing them how far they’ve progressed through the survey.
• Logic Jumps and Skip Logic: Streamline the experience by skipping irrelevant questions based on previous answers.
• Automated Reminders: Schedule follow-up emails to gently nudge non-respondents.
• Comprehensive Analytics: Track response rates and completion times and identify areas for improvement.

This guide would be helpful if you’re looking for a guide on how to set a time limit for a survey (created with SurveySparrow) once the link is opened.

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