Online Survey forms - Market Research

[skeeter]

I found the earlier post about "Survey for Electric Cars" quite good.

I am also hosting a similar piece of research for Top10. I wouldn't have posted this before, but as it seems so relevant I figured someone may well be able to advise.

The "bounce rate" (as I've heard it called) is quite high in my opinion...I can guess the reasons why, but I would rather ask the audience. I am not asking anyone to fill in the questionnaire(s) (you may), although would like a critique on why people may feel inclined not to complete.

I am used to doing closed circuit things, where there is already a strong bond between customer and service provider, i.e. people are very willing. This is different. Here are the details:

Two surveys (Demand & Review):
http://www.top10tips.co.uk/interact.php

There is a Data Protection Policy too (this is linked from page bottom):
http://www.top10tips.co.uk/policy_data-protection.php

WHAT I NEED POINTERS ON:
1. How to ask online people to take survey
2. How to reassure to ensure most likely chance of filling it in

Please don't slate it....the survey has provided some valuable results and quite honestly, would like to ask people to fill it in from public forum type places.

Please guide me...
Please state the obvious and get concerns off your chests...

Thanks. Looking forward to answers.

Nb. I don't know if this is of any interest...but there are approx 100 visitors daily and the feedback system is not really sniffed at too much. It is such an important part to get right. Thanks.

[SimonM]

Simple for me... too much typing and thinking required on a subject matter that I am not passionate about --> Your website!

There are 7 huge text boxes on that page, and the thought of filling them all in is a little daunting.

For this kind of survey multiple choice would be much better. This would required 2 minutes of my time as apposed to 20.

Hope that helps.

[skeeter]

Thanks...that's interesting about "open ended questions" - all the closed questions are on following pages to keep time down. Perhaps they should open with simple, easy closed questions that take seconds to complete.

Thank you.

[blissy]

To be honest if you're strugging with numbers, the easiest way to create a sizeable and reliable panel is alongside a market research professional. It may cost more than doing the legwork yourself, but as you have found it isn't always easy to get people to complete your survey. This way you will often get an opt-in panel, vetted for your market.

I would agree with SimonM completely with regard to the format, if you break them in with the multiple choice questions first you will get a much lower bounce rate. Once people have started the survey they will be far more inclined to fill in your open questions.

Good luck

[skeeter]

Thanks

No work has taken place to encourage people to complete. It will.

i was more concerned with feedback on this approach first. Seems that first page is very important.

For every 100 people clicking through there are 4 individuals taking the survey. They are the numbers.

Should this not be higher? Or is it about right?

[SimonM]

I have to admit I have no idea about what the expected response rate from 100 visitors will be, but I would put money that if you put the multiple choice questions first and compare the same metric I would expect a significant increase.

[skeeter]

The system is there

100 visitors daily to website > a tiny tiny amount look at the survey

Then...
100 survey visitors > 4 surveys filled-in


I think you're bang on about the first page. Perhaps we can change it next month and see the difference (if any)...I think you'll be right somehow.

[blissy]

4% isn't that bad, maybe getting more visitors onto the survey page would help boost your numbers.

I think we're all agreed that that percentage will rise when you switch around the survey format

[skeeter]

Thank you so much. Everybody needs a little guidance...praise A1. Thank you all.

If anybody would like to comment about the URL issue - the survey runs of a seperate url, i.e. microsite. Knowing how people harvest email addresses, is this something that you think maybe a factor?

Is it enough to have a Data Protection policy? Or is this policy just considered waffle with everything that goes on?

PS - What has been put forward so far is v.useful.

[LOS Design UK]

Skeets

In addition to the above, maybe a link to your privacy policy may help peeps become more inclined into completing your form.

Industry standards differ on CTA, conversions and VtoS ratios.

4% is OK but not brilliant for this ilk, you should be aiming at around 10-15% eventually.

Regards
Daren