We all know how valuable data can be, shaping the way our world operates, develops products, and communicates. One of the most effective ways to gather data is in the form of online surveys.
Surveys provide valuable insights, whether you're a small business owner, a market researcher, or an educator. They help you understand your audience, make informed decisions, and drive your strategy forward. Surveys are commonplace in our everyday lives, and you likely have one sitting in your email inbox right now.
But how does one set up their own survey, and with so many survey tools available, how do you choose the right one?
In this article, we'll look into the features, usability, and benefits of four popular survey tools: Survey Monkey, Survey Sparrow, Google Forms, and IFTTT. Whether you're conducting academic research or seeking customer feedback, we'll guide you towards the best survey tool for your needs.
Survey tools and their importance
Survey tools are digital platforms designed to create, distribute, and analyze surveys. A survey, is a form that a person can fill out with responses to questions. Traditionally, surveys were laid out in paper and distributed by hand, but today, almost every survey is done digitally for convenience. Since crafting a personalized survey online is trickier than writing one down on paper, survey tools were created to help you with this process.
Survey tools are essential for collecting data from a specific or wide group of people. These tools offer a range of features, from customizable templates to advanced analytics. They allow you to tailor your surveys to your audience and objectives, providing a snapshot of people's opinions, behaviors, and preferences at a given time.
In essence, survey tools are a bridge between you and your audience. They facilitate communication and help you understand your audience better.
What makes a survey tool stand out?
Not all survey tools are created equal. The best ones stand out through a combination of features, usability, and value for money. Here are couple examples of important features you should look for in a survey tool:
- Customization options
A good survey tool allows for deep customization. This includes the ability to brand the survey with your logo, adjust colors and fonts, and tailor the question types to fit your needs. Customizable templates also save time and make it easier to maintain a professional look.
- Advanced question logic
Also known as "branching" or "skip logic," this feature lets you guide respondents through different paths based on their answers. It creates a more personalized experience, ensures relevance, and helps avoid asking unnecessary questions.
- Mobile-friendly and responsive design
With so many respondents accessing surveys via smartphones and tablets, having a mobile-friendly design is critical. Responsive survey tools adapt seamlessly to different screen sizes, providing a smooth experience regardless of the device used.
- Data security and compliance
With growing concerns over data privacy, ensuring that the survey tool complies with regulations like GDPR or CCPA is essential. Features like encryption, password protection, and anonymization options make sure your data is secure and compliant with the latest standards.
Explore survey tools
SurveyMonkey
SurveyMonkey offers the widest range of pre-designed templates for various survey types, including customer feedback and employee engagement. The tool allows you to monitor responses in real time, create custom charts, and compare data with industry benchmarks. Survey Monkey also supports multiple channels for survey distribution, including email and web links.
Pros
Comprehensive analytics: Provides detailed data analysis tools and industry comparison features.
Ease of use: Intuitive interface with a large library of templates.
Custom branding: Advanced plans allow custom logos, colors, and survey URLs.
Cons
Limited free plan: The Basic plan lacks advanced features like data exports and custom branding.
Cost for advanced features: Advanced features, including export options and in-depth analytics, require a paid plan.
Price
Free Plan: Limited features.
Paid Plans: Start at $25/month, with higher tiers offering more customization and advanced analytics.
SurveySparrow
One of the best features of SurveySparrow is the conversational interface: Surveys are presented in a chat-like format, making them more engaging for respondents. Surveys can be shared via email, social media, or SMS for broader reach.
SurveySparrow's customizable options include logo placement, color customization, and personalized survey URLs.
Pros
Engaging user experience: The conversational format leads to higher response rates by making surveys feel more interactive.
Customization options: Offers strong customization capabilities for branding and user experience.
Omnichannel sharing: Flexibility to distribute surveys across multiple channels.
Cons
Limited advanced analytics: Analytics features are robust but not as advanced as those offered by SurveyMonkey.
Fewer industry comparisons: Lacks detailed benchmark comparisons for industry-specific insights.
Price
Free Plan: Limited functionality.
Paid Plans: Pricing starts at $19/month, with higher tiers offering additional features like advanced customization and analytics.
Google Forms
Google Forms is known for simple survey creation, making it one of the best survey tools for small businesses. A Drag-and-drop functionality makes creating surveys easy and quick. There is basic customization options such as allowing users to change color schemes and add media, such as images or videos.
The best part about Google Forms is the seamless Google integration, where you can automatically collect responses in Google Sheets for easy data management and analysis.
Pros
Free to use: No cost, making it ideal for simple projects or educational purposes.
Google integration: Works seamlessly with other Google Workspace apps, especially Google Sheets for data analysis.
Simple interface: Easy to use, with no learning curve.
Cons
Limited customization: Lacks advanced branding options compared to other survey tools.
Basic analytics: Offers simple data collection and visualization, with fewer advanced reporting features.
Price
Completely free: No paid plans or tiers.
Change the way you survey with IFTTT
No matter which service you choose, IFTTT, short for "If This Then That," is our free unique tool that can enhance your survey process. IFTTT is not a survey tool per se, but it can create powerful automated actions based on survey responses, which can be an invaluable leg up.
IFTTT is our free web-based service and mobile app designed to boost productivity by automating tasks. It works by creating connections between over 1000 popular apps and services, allowing them to work together seamlessly. Best of all, you don't need any coding background to start with our user-friendly platform.
The basic idea behind IFTTT is to create "applets" or sets of instructions that trigger when certain conditions are met. This can be turning on the lights automatically when you enter your house, for example. These applets can be further expanded with filter code, query, and delay functions to allow you build powerful systems tailored to your needs.
Survey use cases with IFTTT
Staying in the know when a new response is submitted
You can set up an IFTTT applet that notifies you whenever a new survey response is submitted.
Trigger: A new response is submitted in your form/survey tool (e.g., Google Forms, Typeform).
Action: Send a notification (via email, push notification, or SMS) to keep you updated in real time.
Organizing responses
Automatically categorize or store survey responses in a more organized manner by connecting your form service with tools like Google Sheets or Trello.
Trigger: A new survey response is received.
Action: Add the response data to a Google Sheets spreadsheet or create a card in Trello for better organization.
Share responses with others
Automatically share survey responses with team members or collaborators.
Trigger: A new response is received.
Action: Share the response via Slack, email, or post it to a private social channel.
Create an event from a response
Turn a survey response into a calendar event or task automatically.
Trigger: A new response is received.
Action: Create an event in Google Calendar, or add it as a task in Todoist or Asana, especially useful for time-sensitive responses like appointment bookings.
Join IFTTT
Founded in 2011, IFTTT has been used by over 25 million individuals to automate both business and home tasks, saving time and increasing efficiency. It's commonly used to connect disparate services and systems, making all products and services work well together in a way that instills user confidence. Best of all, it's free to start and only takes a couple of minutes to set up.
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