Four Things to Consider When Creating an Online Survey
April 13, 2010
1. Keep the survey as short as possible.
Ask only the questions you need to ask. Will the question give you information that you can act on? If not, consider omitting it.
By keeping the survey as brief and to the point as possible, you save time for the people being surveyed and for the people processing the replies.
2. Watch your language!
Make certain the language you use is as neutral as possible. You do not want to influence the answers.
3. Let participants know how long the survey will take.
Give participants some indication about how long it will take to complete the survey before the survey begins.
4. Ask about only one thing at a time.
Do not include two attributes in one question.
For example, “Are you satisfied with the reliability and quality of our services?” should be reworded into two questions: one measuring the reliability and the other measuring the quality.
Five-Link Friday: Usability
April 9, 2010
- Usability Basics
- 247 Web Usability Guidelines
- Usability News: Free Web Newsletter
- How to Observe the User and Tap into the Experience
- 5 Ways to Get Usability Testing on the Cheap
Think Like Your Customer
April 1, 2010
Whenever you are preparing communications geared toward your customers, try to put yourselves in their shoes.
If they are searching online for your goods or services, what words would they use? What language can you use to appeal to them? Are they familiar with the jargon you are using, or should you be using simpler, more common words?
Use a web analytics tool, such as Google Analytics (which is free!), to see what words and phrases your customers are using to find you. You can also look at your on-site search engine to get clues about what they are looking for.